Pierce Brosnan: It’s a ‘given’ that a British actor should be cast as the new James Bond

This year’s Oscars did a bizarre tribute to James Bond, getting Doja Cat, Lisa and Raye to perform a medley of Bond theme songs – you can see the video here. I’m still shocked by how Doja butchered Shirley Bassey’s iconic “Diamonds Are Forever.” Some people theorized that the tribute was more of a goodbye to the old 007 franchise, given that the Broccoli family had sold creative control of the franchise to Amazon, and that James Bond will never be the same after the sale. They’re probably right. God knows what will happen now that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon bros are taking over. Well, Pierce Brosnan is concerned about Bond’s future too, and he described his worries with the Telegraph:

Pierce Brosnan has said the next James Bond should not be American after Amazon’s takeover of the beloved British spy franchise. The former 007 actor said it was a “given” that Daniel Craig’s successor should be British, amid rumours an American could be tipped for the role.

He also said he “lamented” the takeover and that long-time custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson showed “great courage” in handing creative control to the US firm after more than 30 years. The half-siblings have presided over the franchise, based on Ian Fleming’s spy novels, for three decades after inheriting it in 1995 from their father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the decorated producer.

Andrew Garfield, the British-American Spiderman actor, is among the favourites for the role, while Oscar Isaac, an American, and Pedro Pascal, who is Chilean-American, are also said to be contenders. British-born James Norton, who starred in Happy Valley, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who appeared in Kick-Ass and Kraven the Hunter, are also favourites to step into Craig’s shiny black shoes.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Brosnan said: “In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, [the takeover] does come with a certain lament. 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.”

Brosnan, who played Bond in four films from 1995 to 2002, added that “no one really knows” what will happen to 007 in Amazon’s control. The GoldenEye and Die Another Day star added: “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…You know, everything changes, everything falls apart, and I wish them well.”

[From The Telegraph]

I was going to say “of course Amazon will cast a British guy” but honestly, I don’t know. Andrew Garfield… no, I don’t think he could pull it off, for the same reasons why Tom Hiddleston couldn’t pull it off. Pedro Pascal doesn’t have to be cast in EVERYTHING, you know? I was sort of disappointed to see how he phoned it in for Gladiator II. But Oscar Isaac… sh-t, yeah, Oscar Isaac should absolutely get cast as James Bond. Jesus, that would be amazing. Anyway, Pierce was a great James Bond and he revitalized the franchise in his day, although I’ll always have affection for Timothy Dalton’s Bond too. But whatever happens next is just… something different. The Broccoli-era is over, this is a new thing.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.