007 Star Is Willing To Return as James Bond

Pierce Brosnan hasn’t suited up as 007 in nearly 25 years, but the actor is game to return as the British secret agent in director Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming James Bond film. Brosnan’s tenure as the beloved MI6 character wasn’t the shortest of those who’ve played Bond in the motion picture series, as that distinction still belongs to George Lazenby, but it wasn't the longest either. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Brosnan would want to enjoy another vodka martini — shaken, not stirred — on the big screen. In a new interview with the Radio Times, Brosnan discussed possibly reprising the role by saying (per Variety):

"I don't think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if Villeneuve had something up his sleeve I would look at it in a heartbeat. Why not? It’s great entertainment. It could be lots of laughs. Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows? I have been listening to the drumbeat of expectation of who’s going to be the next James Bond. There are many great candidates out there, and I’m sure they’re going to make it a spectacle of delight."

Brosnan’s tongue-in-cheek response to playing the role of 007 certainly befits the actor’s sense of humor, but fans would undoubtedly love to see him return in some capacity to the franchise, which will soon feature a new installment helmed by Villeneuve’s capable hands. For those who aren’t as familiar with the James Bond film franchise, Bond 26 would certainly benefit from Brosnan's presence, but the actor's indelible legacy as 007 is already secured.

Pierce Brosnan's 007 Legacy

Pierce Brosnan first portrayed the role of James Bond in 1995’s GoldenEye. It’s well-known that the actor was being pursued much earlier than that to play the part of 007 in the iconic film franchise, but he was contractually obligated to his immensely popular television series at the time, Remington Steele. Cast as the detective show’s titular character for five seasons (1982-1987), Brosnan simply couldn’t afford to take the time away from Steele to become Bond, James Bond. As such, after Sir Roger Moore retired from the role, Timothy Dalton took over as the M16 commander for the next two motion pictures: The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989).

In 1995, though, Brosnan took the wheel of the trademark Aston Martin from Dalton and thus began a new era for 007. Brosnan portrayed James Bond for a total of seven years in four movies: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). Unfortunately, except for GoldenEye, which is "Certified Fresh" at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics were not kind to Brosnan’s other entries as the character, and many fans were equally cruel. However, all four of the actor’s installments still rank in the film series’ Top 10 all-time box office domestically (per Box Office Mojo): No. 5 Die Another Day ($160.9 million), No. 7 The World Is Not Enough ($126.9 million), No. 8 Tomorrow Never Dies ($125.3 million), No. 9 GoldenEye ($106.4 million).

The only other actor who can boast more Top 10 box office hits in the James Bond franchise is Daniel Craig. All five of his films are among the big-screen saga’s biggest moneymakers (four in the Top 5), but it’s important to remember that the aforementioned numbers are not adjusted for inflation. However, it’s clear to see that Pierce Brosnan went out on top when he vacated the role of the legendary secret agent. Those who would question or even dispute Brosnan's Bond legacy need look no further than the financials: each one of Brosnan’s 007 movies made more money than its predecessor. So, bringing Brosnan back for Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming James Bond movie is a no-brainer.