James Bond has now been a part of the cultural landscape for over 60 years. Sean Connery was the first actor to play the iconic British spy in 1962's Dr. No, and he has since been followed by a handful of other actors, including George Lazeny, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and, most recently, Daniel Craig.

Brosnan played 007 for movies in total, making his debut as the character in 1995's GoldenEye. His first installment was well-received critically and was a box office success, grossing over $356 million worldwide, a marked improvement over the Bond films from the previous decade. Not all of Brosnan's subsequent Bond movies, which include Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002), were able to reach these same heights, though, and Brosnan's final installment earned mixed reviews.

Pierce Brosnan Offers Intriguing Response To Potential James Bond Return

The Former 007 Departed The Franchise 23 Years Ago

Brosnan addresses whether he would be interested in returning to the Bond franchise. After the lackluster reception to Die Another Day, which was still a financial success, Brosnan left 007 in the rearview mirror in 2002, with actor Daniel Craig stepping in to replace him with Casino Royale in 2006. Craig stuck around for five films in total, bidding farewell to the character with 2021's No Time To Die. Following Amazon's takeover of the franchise, James Bond 26 is confirmed, and some have called for Brosnan to reprise his role.

In a recent interview with GQ, Brosnan is asked if he's aware of the calls for him to return as an older Bond and whether he would actually be open it. While Brosnan, 71, its that he's "interested" in a franchise return, he does say that he thinks it may be best to let someone new take over. Check out his comment below:

I've heard of that. 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. It's a rather romantic notion and idea, but I think everything changes, everything falls apart. I think that it's best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.

What Brosnan's 007 Interest Means For James Bond 26

Amazon's 007 Takeover Explained

Amazon acquired Bond distributor MGM in 2022, and it was confirmed last month that longtime franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have now handed over total creative control to the company. It's been 4 years since No Time To Die, and reports have suggested that Broccoli and Wilson made no meaningful progress on a new film, apparently unsure of where to take the character next. Amazon, however, once the deal es regulatory approval later this year, is sure to move quickly to get another Bond movie off the ground, and that will mean casting a new actor.

Considering Amazon will probably want the next Bond to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, it's unclear whether Brosnan could return. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, after all, just recently put a poll up on X asking Bond cinematic universe of sorts with spinoffs and TV shows, it's certainly conceivable that Brosnan could appear in a one-off project as an older 007.

Cavill was once in the running to star in Casino Royale, but he lost out on the role because he was deemed too young.

Who Will Be The Next James Bond?

Amazon Could Abandon A Traditional Franchise Casting Strategy

Traditionally, new Bonds have been actors who aren't already major movie stars. Craig, for example, was probably best known for Layer Cake (2004) prior to Casino Royale, but he had also had ing roles in movies like Road to Perdition (2002) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001). Before becoming 007 with GoldenEye, Brosnan was also by no means a big-name star, and had appeared in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Live Wire (1992), and TV movies like Don't Talk to Strangers (1994) and Detonator (1993).

Cavill has long been a popular Bond fancast, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson emerged as front runner not long after the No Time To Die ending. Other names seemingly in contention were James Norton, Josh O'Connor, and Regé-Jean Page. Though Broccoli and Wilson reportedly did meet with several actors about the role, none were close to actually being cast. With Amazon now in charge, it's possible that the company will abandon the Broccoli strategy of choosing actors who aren't yet quite famous, instead opting for a recognizable face and name to make Bond 26 as big and as flashy as possible.

With the franchise now sure to expand beyond just one movie every few years, it's possible that there could be more than one Bond actor at a time.

Amazon now being in charge also raises a new possibility that was never on the table before. With the franchise now sure to expand beyond just one movie every few years, it's possible that there could be more than one Bond actor at a time. In the same way that the company could make a one-off older Bond film with Brosnan, they could also make a 007 origin story movie or series, casting a teen actor in the role. There is already a successful Young Bond novel series, after all.

Our Take On Brosnan's Potential Bond Return

Where The Franchise Should Go Next

As with essentially all iterations of 007, Brosnan's run had its ups and downs, with GoldenEye generally considered a highlight and Die Another Day sending him out on a bit of a sour note. That being said, he was generally well-liked as 007 and, even in his 70s, he certainly looks like he could pull the part off. Though many are sure to be skeptical of Amazon's Bond takeover (for good reason), it does open the door for an array of 007 projects that would have never before been possible, and a one-off older Bond movie could certainly work.

That being said, as Brosnan himself suggests, Amazon arguably needs to bring in some new blood and really nail Bond 26. This would help to usher in a new era for the franchise, and hopefully one that appeals to new fans, too, instead of just those who were around during the Brosnan era. It remains to be seen whether Brosnan will ever actually return as James Bond, but it's certainly an interesting possibility.

Source: GQ