Legendary actor Pierce Brosnan, once the face of the iconic James Bond series, recently addressed speculation about his return to the franchise. Known for portraying the suave spy across four films from 1995 to 2002, Brosnan, now 71, commented on these rumors while appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show. When asked about his potential reprise as an older version of Bond, Brosnan responded with: “No-one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumors. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.”
Despite this speculation, Brosnan reaffirmed, “It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.” His remarks come at a time when the future of the James Bond series remains uncertain, following the departure of Daniel Craig after 2021’s “No Time to Die.”
Interestingly, Brosnan was instrumental in encouraging Craig to take on the mantle of Bond. During the interview, Brosnan noted, “I don’t know if I helped Daniel make up his mind. Daniel is his own man. We talked about that period of time and said, ‘Go do it. You’ve got it, run with it.’”
As conversations continue concerning who might be the next Bond, Brosnan weighed in on rumors surrounding Aaron Taylor-Johnson, stating, “I think he would make a very fine Bond. He was actually in one of the movies I made called ‘The Greatest.’ This young man we cast as ‘The Greatest.’ He was so impressive then. He just had this charisma, he had this presence… so he would be good. But there’s many men on the list I’m sure.”
Brosnan’s enduring association with James Bond has undeniably marked his career, as he shared, “I’m recognized. He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies – ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ ‘The Matador’ – it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment.”
Reflecting on his memorable moments portraying Bond, he vividly recalled, “Going down the Thames in the bullet boat was pretty impressive. I was in that boat, yes… on a Monday morning said goodbye to the wife and kids, there’s an oxygen tank here, there’s an oxygen tank there… you’re strapped in double, double. They said, ‘If you flip, you’re going to go to the hospital to have your stomach pumped.’ That was memorable.”
As fans and critics alike eagerly await the next steps for the James Bond franchise, Pierce Brosnan’s comments have certainly added another layer of excitement and curiosity. While the series’ direction remains indefinite, Brosnan’s statement, “They know where to find me,” leaves open a window of possibility that keeps audiences hopeful for what might come next.
The Jonathan Ross Show, Saturday at 9:20 PM on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.
