Pierce Brosnan leaves James Bond fans furious after ‘ridiculous’ demand about next actor

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has weighed in on the future of the iconic 007 role, stating it’s a “given” that Daniel Craig’s replacement should hail from Britain.

This comes amid worries that the quintessentially British franchise might lose its identity after Amazon MGM Studios took a stake in the creative direction of the character. In February, the American studio announced a joint ownership deal with long-time Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who have been at the helm since Brosnan’s debut in the 1995 hit ‘ GoldenEye’.

Chatting with The Telegraph, the Irish-born actor Brosnan remarked: “I thought it was coming for some time I guess, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael. It takes great courage for them to let go, they will still have a say in matters, I hope that (Amazon) handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect”.

The actor, 71, who portrayed the suave spy in four films, conceded that “no one really knows” what the future holds for Bond under Amazon’s watch. “In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, (the change) does come with a certain lament”, he expressed. However, some James Bond fans are not impressed with Pierce’s demands, given that he is Irish himself.

Amidst growing speculation about who will next don the tuxedo, there has yet to be an official announcement following Daniel Craig’s last outing as Bond in 2021’s ‘ No Time To Die’. Reflecting on his tenure as the legendary secret agent, Brosnan said: “History has been passed on and I’m very proud to have been part of the history and the legacy of Bond and the movies that I made with Barbara and Michael. That we moved the needle, that we brought it back to life. It had been dormant (for) six years and GoldenEye was such a success that it continued and went from strength to strength… I wish them well”.

Pierce made his debut as James Bond in GoldenEye, marking the beginning of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson’s creative reign. His final appearance as the iconic spy was in 2002’s Die Another Day. Since the release of the first 007 film, Dr No, in 1962, the official Bond franchise has been under the stewardship of the American-British Broccoli family, either independently or in collaboration with others.

Broccoli and her half-brother Wilson have been at the helm of the last nine Bond films, including Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Spectre, and No Time To Die. Their contributions to British cinema have been recognised with CBEs, and they clinched the outstanding British film Bafta for 2012’s Skyfall, alongside director Sir Sam Mendes.

In a significant development in 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, thereby gaining the rights to distribute James Bond films and control over the intellectual property rights. The following year, they launched the spin-off Bond Prime Video game show 007: Road To A Million, hosted by Succession actor Brian Cox, which is slated for a second series.

There have been reports of friction between Broccoli and Amazon MGM Studios over creative control, with the Wall Street Journal quoting her as saying “don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions”. Claims have also surfaced, courtesy of the newspaper, that Amazon MGM Studios is eyeing up opportunities to broaden Bond’s reach into TV and other ventures.

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Source: Mirror