Pierce Brosnan has a simple idea for the next James Bond: nobody knows who it should be. In a new interview with The Times, the former 007 agent said the studio should go left-field and cast someone entirely unknown.
“I have no desire to see myself in Bond,” Brosnan said. “I’m just a member of the audience now awaiting the next Bond and wishing him well.” He added that there are “lots of great actors” auditioning for the role in the Denis Villeneuve film, but the studio could “probably just go left-field and pick someone that none of us know about.”
Auditions Underway
Brosnan’s comments come as auditions for the role have taken place over the summer. He followed up his remarks by refusing to name any candidate.
“I wouldn’t pick anyone,” Brosnan said. “My wife told me not to say anything and I’ve said too much. Because once I say something, it goes [everywhere] and I get hanged.”
Tom Ellis Weighs In
Brosnan’s co-star on The Thursday Murder Club, Tom Ellis, said that Brosnan had told him he would “make a good Bond.”
“He did tell me he thought I’d make a good Bond, and I was like, ‘Pierce, I think I’m probably too old now. But I’ll take it from you, mate. I’ll take it from you,'” Ellis told Metro UK.
Brosnan’s Bond History
Brosnan began his tenure as 007 in 1995 with GoldenEye, directed by Martin Campbell. He reprised the role in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough, and 2002’s Die Another Day.
Daniel Craig succeeded Brosnan for 2006’s Casino Royale and ended his tenure with 2021’s No Time to Die.
Casting Director Deal
Deadline reported in March that Nina Gold had closed a deal to become the casting director for the next James Bond film. Her credits include HBO’s Game of Thrones, the Netflix series The Crown, and five films in the Star Wars franchise.
What Brosnan Wants
Brosnan’s suggestion of an unknown actor is a genuine one. He is not dismissing the established names in the mix; he is proposing something else entirely.
His refusal to name anyone, however, reads as playful rather than cagey. He admits he has said too much already and lets his wife step in to stop him.
The Timeline So Far
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Brosnan’s interview with The Times | Recent |
| Auditions for Villeneuve film | Summer |
| Deadline’s casting director report | March |
“I wouldn’t pick anyone.”
The Odds Against an Unknown
Brosnan’s plan to cast an unknown has legs. It is a bold move that would shake up a franchise used to putting famous faces on screen.
Whether the studio follows it is another matter. The odds of finding a star-quality actor nobody has heard of are long, and the industry tends to favour names over talent alone.
But Brosnan’s refusal to name anyone gives the proposal some weight. He is not just talking about a left-field idea; he is living it by not giving away his own picks.
For now, the next Bond remains a mystery. Brosnan wants it that way.
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