Former 007 Pierce Brosnan on Who Should Play the Next James Bond

Pierce Brosnan, who embodied 007 in four films from “GoldenEye” (1995) through “Die Another Day” (2002), is weighing in on who should inherit the tux. Brosnan, 72, remains proud of his James Bond legacy, though now he prefers to enjoy the franchise as a spectator.

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Brosnan On the Future of James Bond

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“I wish them well,” he told Saga Magazine (via BBC).

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“I’m so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character. I adore the world of James Bond. It’s been very good to me. It’s the gift that keeps giving. And I’m just a member of the audience now, sitting back, saying: ‘Show us what you’re going to do.’”

In March, Brosnan, who played 007 from 1995 to 2002, argued that the actor has to be British. In fact, he calls that requirement a “given” in a new interview in the “Telegraph.”

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Helen Mirren Says Bond Should Stay Male

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Seated beside Brosnan was Dame Helen Mirren, who also weighed in with her candid thoughts.

“I’m such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy. You can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work,” Mirren, 80, said. “James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else.”

Though she never appeared in a Bond film, Mirren has a family connection to the franchise, her cousin Tania Mallet played Tilly Masterson in 1964’s “Goldfinger.”

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Now, Mirren takes on her own spy role as Elizabeth in Netflix’s “The Thursday Murder Club,” in theaters Aug. 22 before streaming August 28th.

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A New Era for 007

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Their comments come as Amazon MGM takes creative control of the Bond franchise alongside longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

According to Deadline, Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”) will direct the next installment, with “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight writing the script. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are also on board, signaling a major shift for the iconic series.

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Who Could Be the Next James Bond?

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Speculation has been nonstop since Daniel Craig stepped away in 2021. Contenders such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill are frequently mentioned, but no official casting has been confirmed.

Until then, fans and former Bond stars like Brosnan are left waiting for the announcement of who will next deliver the legendary line: “Bond. James Bond.”