Next James Bond should be British, Pierce Brosnan says

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan recently stated that the next 007 should "rightfully" be British. He expressed this view in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, adding that handing over creative control to Amazon by the producers was a "correct decision."

Brosnan said, "It takes a lot of courage for them (the producers) to let go." He himself is Irish. "I hope Amazon will handle the work and the character with dignity, imagination and respect." The choice of Daniel Craig's successor will be decided by Amazon MGM Studios.

Currently, James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Theo James—all of whom are British—are the bookmakers' favorites to succeed Craig. Historically, the role of Bond has been played by two non-British actors: Australian George Lazenby and Irishman Brosnan. However, 007 has never been played by an American, although there were rumors that California-born Austin Butler was on the shortlist.

Other non-British actors mentioned include Irish stars Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, and Aidan Turner, as well as Australian Jacob Elordi. It has been reported that American actor Clint Eastwood once turned down the role. He previously claimed that he was invited to take over after Sean Connery in 1967, but he said: "I felt I didn't have the right presence for the part."

Under a deal announced last month, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will continue to co-own the franchise, but Amazon MGM Studios will "gain creative control." Brosnan, now 71, told The Telegraph: "History has been passed down, and I am very proud to have been a part of Bond history and legacy, and the films I made with Barbara and Michael."

It is currently unclear when the next Bond will be announced, nor is there a confirmed production schedule for the next film. The series' previous film was 2021's "No Time to Die," which was also Craig's last Bond film. But given the significant time it takes to produce a blockbuster, the gap between "No Time to Die" and the next film could break the six-year record for the longest interval between Bond film releases. Brosnan starred in four Bond films, from 1995's "GoldenEye" to 2002's "Die Another Day."