Pierce Brosnan, the former James Bond himself, believes that the next 007 must be British. This statement comes as Amazon MGM Studios recently acquired control over the iconic franchise, ensuring its continued legacy in British culture.
According to The Telegraph, Brosnan believes that it is only logical for a British actor to be chosen as the next 007. He considers it “a given” that the iconic role should be portrayed by someone from its home country of Britain.
Although there have been multiple actors who have played the iconic role of James Bond, none of them have been American. The only non-British actors to take on the character have been Irish actor Brosnan and Australian actor George Lazenby.
Although some are mourning the deal, Brosnan said it was nonetheless “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,” he added.
Brosnan first appeared as Bond in 1995’s “GoldenEye” and played the part in three more films ending with 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,” he added.
About Pierce Brosnan :
Pierce Brendan Brosnan (born 16 May 1953) is an Irish[a] actor and film producer. He was the fifth actor to play the fictional secret agent James Bond in the James Bond film series, starring in four films from 1995 to 2002 (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day) and in multiple video games, such as GoldenEye 007.