With the race for the next 007 reaching a fever pitch, Pierce Brosnan is stepping forward to share his thoughts on who should step into the iconic tux.
Brosnan has played the famous role across four movies, joining other stars such as Daniel Craig, Sean Connery, and Timothy Dalton.
The last actor to play James Bond was Craig, who made his final appearance in “No Time to Die,” which was released in September 2021.
Pierce Brosnan Backs Callum Turner For The Next James Bond
Having starred as the legendary spy across four blockbuster movies, Brosnan admitted that he now feels like a regular fan eager to see who lands the gig. He praised all the talented actors linked to the role, however, he also gave an extra special shoutout to Callum Turner, whom he previously worked with in the drama “The Only Living Boy in New York.”
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Brosnan raved about his former onscreen son’s talent, saying, “Callum is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong.”
In addition to giving his seal of approval to the rising star, Brosnan shared that he is fully on board with “Dune” director Denis Villeneuve taking over directing duties. He also teased that audiences are going to be pleasantly surprised by the filmmaker’s take on the classic series.
“I think we’re all going to be blown away,” he said. Nevertheless, Brosnan had these words for whoever takes up the mantle: “Whoever plays the role, I wish him the very best of life and strength and courage. You know, it’s hard to tell who it would be, but I eagerly await to hear the news.”
Jack Lowden Addressed The James Bond Rumors, Tagging Them ‘Flattering’
Although the next 007 agent is yet to be revealed, several names have been rumored to be the next Bond. Another high-profile name, Jack Lowden, addressed the rumors, noting that he was flattered.
The Scottish actor found himself right at the center of the 007 casting race after his co-star Gary Oldman publicly teased that producers had already picked their man and he had his “fingers crossed” for him.
According to the BBC, the 36-year-old star refused to give away whether he had gone through the audition process. Instead, he chose to handle the widespread speculation with pure charm. He called his co-star a “sweetheart,” and made it clear he wouldn’t be feeding into the rumor mill.
“On this… it’s all very flattering. It’s nice to be mentioned – for any role – and I’m just not really going to add to the noise,” he said bluntly.
Pierce Brosnan Had A Viral US Open Moment That Led To More James Bond Speculations
Building on the buzz around who should take over the iconic tuxedo, Brosnan recently sparked more rumors during a surprise viral moment.
While watching the men’s singles final between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, the movie star accidentally stole the show without saying a word.
The camera operator focused on the court’s official Rolex timer right as it hit “0:07,” before smoothly panning over to the actor casually watching from the crowd.
The witty TV cut instantly went viral across social media, with fans praising the production team for the acknowledgment. “Give that cameraman or camerawoman a raise,” one fan wrote on social media, as reported by The Blast.
Spectators flooded comment sections to celebrate Brosnan’s legacy as the legendary spy. Most of them declared that no matter who eventually gets cast as the next agent, he remains the ultimate face of the franchise for an entire generation of fans.
George Clooney Named Callum Turner His Top Pick for the Next James Bond
Notably, Brosnan isn’t the only legend to back Turner as the next 007. Joining the debate over who should take over after Craig, George Clooney enthusiastically backed Turner for the iconic role.
During an interview, Clooney didn’t hold back his admiration for the star. He praised his talent and handsomeness among other qualities.
“He’s tall and handsome and charming and British, so he’s the perfect guy to do it,” Clooney said, per The Blast.
Steven Spielberg Once Asked To Direct The James Bond Films
Amidst the casting hunt for the Bond franchise, Steven Spielberg previously confessed that his own dreams of tackling 007 were crushed earlier in his career.
The iconic filmmaker sat down with Richard Osman and Marina Hyde on “The Rest is Entertainment” podcast, answering fan questions about his career.
When asked if he had ever been approached to direct a 007 installment, the director revealed that he was actually the one begging lead producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli for a chance.
“I called Cubby Broccoli after ‘Jaws’ and volunteered. I said, ‘If you need a director, I would love to direct one.’ And he said no,” Spielberg revealed.
The rejection didn’t stop him from trying again, only for the producer to reject him again. Decades later, with numerous Oscars and iconic franchises under his belt, the Hollywood icon joked that the ship has officially sailed and the studio simply couldn’t afford him anymore.
