Pierce Brosnan has revealed he would be keen to stage a surprise return to James Bond, more than two decades after he bowed out of the franchise.
The 72-year-old began his reign as 007 in 1995 and appeared in four movies in total – GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day – before Daniel Craig took over the role.
While we’re waiting for any hint of who the next actor portraying the suave spy will be, it was recently announced that director Denis Villeneuve will be helming the upcoming movie.
In a new interview to promote his next movie, The Thursday Murder Club, Pierce shared that he would consider a comeback if the filmmaker had ‘something up his sleeve’.
When asked if he would take up the role again, and whether it was ‘time for a senior citizen 007’, he didn’t exactly say no…
‘My wife Keely [Shaye Smith] and I have been listening to the drumbeat of expectation of who’s going to be the next James Bond,’ he told the Radio Times.
‘There are many great candidates out there, and I’m sure they’re going to make it a spectacle of delight.
‘I don’t think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if Villeneuve had something up his sleeve I would look at it in a heartbeat.
‘Why not? It’s great entertainment. It could be lots of laughs. Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows?’
Someone get Denis on the phone, immediately.
Pierce last appeared as Bond in 2002 blockbuster Die Another Day, and is regarded as one of the best 007s in history.
This isn’t the first time that he has touched on possibly popping back up in the franchise – and admitted that he would be tempted.
’Of course, how could I not be interested? But it’s a delicate situation now. I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, really. I think so,’ he previously told GQ, describing the possibility as ‘a rather romantic notion and idea’.
He added: ‘I think that it’s best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.’
The search for a new lead began after Daniel left the role in 2021, following the release of No Time To Die.
Although film bosses have not yet unveiled his replacement, speculation has gone into overdrive over who could follow in his footsteps.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, Taron Egerton, Henry Golding and Aaron Pierre are just some of the famous faces who have been linked to the franchise.
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