The James Bond franchise, one of the most iconic and enduring series in cinematic history, is once again at a crossroads as the search for the next 007 intensifies. With Daniel Craig’s tenure as the suave spy concluded in No Time to Die (2021), the question of who will next don the tuxedo has sparked widespread speculation. Amidst this, former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has weighed in, emphasizing that it is a “given” and “perfectly natural” for the next James Bond to be British.
Brosnan, who portrayed the legendary spy in four films from GoldenEye (1995) to Die Another Day (2002), shared his thoughts in an interview with The Telegraph. The Irish actor, who himself broke the mold as a non-British Bond, expressed his support for the franchise’s decision to hand creative control to Amazon MGM Studios. “It takes great courage for them to let go,” Brosnan said, referring to longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. “I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity, imagination, and respect.”
“It takes great courage for them to let go,” Brosnan said regarding Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson’s decision to hand creative control to Amazon MGM Studios while remaining co-owners of the franchise. “I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect.”
Who Will Be the Next 007?
The casting of the next Bond is arguably the most anticipated decision in Hollywood right now.
The race to become the next 007 has sparked widespread speculation, with English actors James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Theo James among the bookmakers’ favorites. While Bond has previously been portrayed by non-British actors—including Australian George Lazenby and Irishman Brosnan himself—the character has never been played by an American.
Nevertheless, California-born Austin Butler has been mentioned as a potential candidate, alongside Irish stars Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, and Aidan Turner, as well as Australian Jacob Elordi. Historically, American actor Clint Eastwood reportedly turned down the role when approached to replace Sean Connery in 1967, stating: “It didn’t feel right for me to be doing it.”
According to Ian Fleming’s original novels, James Bond has a Scottish father and a Swiss mother.
Brosnan expressed pride in his contribution to the franchise, telling the Telegraph: “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 I made with Barbara and Michael.”
No timeline has been announced for the next Bond film or casting decision. The most recent installment, “No Time To Die” (2021), marked Daniel Craig’s final appearance as 007. Given the typical production timeline for blockbuster films, the gap between “No Time To Die” and the next Bond film could potentially break the franchise’s record for the longest period between releases, which currently stands at six years.
