Pierce Brosnan has weighed in on the continuous whispers about the rumored new James Bond — saying the next 007 actor simply must be British.
Brosnan, who helmed the iconic 007 role from 1995 until 2002, has been vocal about the iconic franchise’s future as the search for Daniel Craig’s successor rages on.
Still, the Irish actor says it’s a “given” that the next Bond is British — despite there previously being two non-Brits helming the role of the “shaken, not stirred” martini-sipping secret agent.
The 71-year-old also said it was the “right decision” for producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to hand over the franchise’s creative control to Amazon MGM Studios.
“It takes great courage for them to let go,” he told the Telegraph. “I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect.”
“In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, [the takeover] does come with a certain lament,” Brosnan continued. “I thought it was coming for some time I guess, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael.”
“They will still have a say in matters,” he added, though admitted that “no one really knows” the fate of the franchise following the new deal with Amazon.
During Brosnan’s seven years as Bond, he appeared in four films, including “GoldenEye” in 1995, “Tomorrow Never Dies” in 1997, “The World Is Not Enough” in 1999, and 2002’s “Die Another Day.”
“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,” Brosnan said.
“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.”
While there’s been no official word, the rumored current front-runner is British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Last year, it was reported that the “Bullet Train” actor, 34, was offered the role, with Brosnan throwing his support behind the rumored decision.
Should he accept the deal, the “Tenet” actor will take over the reins from Craig, who starred as Bond in a total of five films spanning over 15 years.
Craig, 57, was in his 30s when he signed on for the role.
After playing Bond in the 2006 film “Casino Royale,” he went on to star in “Quantum of Solace,” “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” before his final hurrah in 2021’s “No Time To Die.”