When you’re a James Bond fan like I’m, it’s truthful to say it’s possible you’ll be having whiplash with all of the information across the franchise. Godamn, even I’m scuffling with this Herculean process. Since 2005, on the time when Daniel Craig was first introduced as the brand new 007, there hasn’t been AS MUCH new data and hypothesis about the way forward for this franchise as now.
After all, what began all of this was the stunning (and never ‘positively stunning’ like Sean Connery as soon as stated in Goldfinger) information that Amazon MGM Studios has formally gained artistic management over the 007 franchise from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson from EON Productions. The complete Bond fanbase went into disarray, many people worrying over the attainable finish of the Golden Age of James Bond, others curious to see what extra content material, apart from movement photos, this deal might carry. The plain query above all: who would be the subsequent Bond? Henry Cavill? Josh O’Connor? Aaron Taylor-Johnson? Too early to inform…once more.
Nonetheless, I gained’t actually cowl this right here. There are such a lot of articles overlaying the Amazon takeover information and the hypothesis concerning the subsequent Bond actor that it’s laborious to be distinctive in all this media noise. I do wish to consult with a latest interview {that a} “earlier” Bond, Pierce Brosnan, gave to GQ Journal relating to the way forward for the franchise. Backside line, the interview raised this fascinating query: Ought to Brosnan come again as an older model of Bond in a new movie or TV venture piloted by Amazon MGM Studios?
Let’s give some context. The final time Pierce Brosnan wore the Bond tuxedo was virtually 23 years in the past in Die One other Day (2002). After showing in 4 motion pictures – additionally together with Goldeneye (1995), Tomorrow By no means Dies (1997), and The World isn’t Sufficient (1999) – movies that generated good cash on the field workplace however obtained combined critiques from critics, Brosnan’s period got here to an finish on an unlucky low observe. Die One other Day stays one of many worst motion pictures within the franchise to today. It was later revealed that Pierce wished to come back again as 007 one final time, however EON producers declined to have him again. Since then, Brosnan nonetheless had enormous respect for the function, as he gave his voice to Bond in online game variations, however we might inform that he was glad that it was throughout.
The latest GQ article appeared days after the Amazon deal over the artistic rights on the Bond franchise, and Brosnan responded to this potential return to the function: “I’ve heard of that. After all, how might I not have an interest?”. Additionally, based on GQ:
“By the tip of his reply, Brosnan’s enthusiasm appeared to waver, as he concluded that although it might be a “somewhat romantic notion and concept,” the function is now “greatest left to a different man, actually.”
The important half that received my consideration: he can be able to reprise the function beneath the fitting circumstances.
So, in 2025, let’s ask this query: why ought to Brosnan return as James Bond? If it wasn’t clear sufficient, YES, he ought to take into account it! The concept of an “older” James Bond is one thing we by no means actually explored prior. In each latest motion pictures and up to date books launched with the approval of Ian Fleming Publications, Bond was all the time featured in his prime. Realistically, how would an older James Bond be portrayed on-screen? Is he nonetheless the charming, refined undercover agent that shoots faster than his shadow? Or perhaps one thing nearer to what we received with the fifth and remaining Indiana Jones film: an previous relic of the Chilly Struggle residing with liver failure, and perhaps not conserving his ‘tip up’ like in Die One other Day (pun meant)?
In my imaginary eventualities, our older Bond is retired from the service, with well being issues as a result of copious quantity of alcohol and bodily ache he endured in life, however will be known as again to serve King and Nation as a favour to MI6 or previous allies. Now, take a look at that also from The November Man (2014) under and inform me you see it as effectively!
To make a fair higher case, listed here are all of the explanation why having Brosnan again as 007, both in a movement image or a restricted collection produced by Amazon MGM Studios, is the daring concept James Bond followers want proper now on this troubled time in leisure.
At 71 years previous, Brosnan appears nice and is as energetic as ever
Sure, you learn appropriately, the Irish-born actor is now 71 years previous, however rattling does he nonetheless look nice. Really, if a real-life James Bond would age, he would most likely look a bit of like Brosnan: suave as ever, rocking the fits and having fun with a satisfying profession. Additionally, Brosnan is extremely energetic within the trade, starring in both motion motion pictures or spy dramas a few times yearly. Regardless that his most up-to-date movies are kind of profitable, there are few notable performances, just like the superhero Dr. Destiny in Black Adam (2022) and Devereaux, the November Man super-spy, in The November Man (2014). In latest information, he’s starring in Man Ritchie’s subsequent gangster epic alongside Tom Hardy in MobLand in 2025. Evidently, Pierce is prepared for motion as soon as once more; he’s been prepared since 2002.
It might lastly give Brosnan the swan tune he deserved
It was all the time a disgrace for a charismatic and nice motion movie star like Brosnan – he by no means actually received his swan tune as James Bond 007. Contemplating how Die One other Day was so poorly obtained again in 2002, it made sense that EON Productions wished to chop ties with him and reboot the franchise with the contemporary face of Daniel Craig and the superior spectacle that was On line casino Royale (2006), thought-about by many to be one of the best movie within the franchise. Though all of this was removed from Brosnan’s fault as he all the time gave his best possible within the function, however he didn’t have the luck to be gifted with scripts that cherished his 007…besides perhaps for Goldeneye (1995).
Having grown up with Brosnan as my Bond, I’ve additionally loved his movies, and I’m fairly joyful to see that followers are appreciating to like these motion pictures for what they’ve to supply. Goldeneye was an superior ‘techno-action’ epic that launched Bond within the Nineteen Nineties. It was an action-packed movie that delivered memorable villains (together with the wonderful Sean Bean as Agent 006) and maybe one of the best Nintendo 64 recreation of all time. Tomorrow By no means Dies was a distinct beast, providing much more spectacle but additionally extra ludicrous stakes. Apparently, this movie is beginning to obtain excessive reward for a way forward of its time it actually was: a media mogul is able to begin World Struggle III in an effort to get extra media rankings (anyone involves thoughts?). The World is Not Sufficient is a private favorite of mine and thought of some of the underrated movies within the franchise. A Shakespearian drama disguised as a spy movie, the story honors Fleming’s writing by placing a wounded oil heiress recognized with Stockholm Syndrome as the primary villain; a daring twist that’s memorable. As everyone knows, Die One other Day closed Brosnan’s period with completely bonkers stunts and devices, misplaced humor and infantile gimmicks, a uncommon razzie in an general spectacular line-up.
Amazon MGM Studios most likely wants a well-known face to place followers comfortable
Now, the Amazon takeover leaves a whole lot of followers (myself included) frightened about what the longer term could maintain for Bond. The Broccoli household was on the helm of the franchise because the very starting; they knew Bond higher than anybody else as they helped Fleming flesh him out for the large display. Nonetheless contemporary is the reminiscence of main franchises falling into the palms of studios with streaming platforms on the entrance; the hate that Star Wars followers have had for Disney because the 2012 takeover and the discharge of controversial motion pictures and TV exhibits is now legendary. Likelihood is, it might probably additionally occur with the brand new producers behind James Bond. Can they be hungry for revenue over the model whereas additionally treating the franchise with the respect it deserves?
Now, no matter what occurs, having a earlier Bond actor come again would possibly simply be the absolute best stunt a studio can consider to get followers behind them. Everyone knows and love Brosnan as an actor and as Bond, so it might be a straightforward win to start out this new journey with Amazon MGM on a constructive observe! It may reassure us, put us comfortable and provides us a few of that candy, candy nostalgia. Simply sayin’, there’s no hurt in ‘well-handled’ hommages.
It’s a superb alternative to carry again earlier Bond Ladies as side-kicks
How about a bit of cherry on prime of the cake to enhance it? What I additionally fairly like concerning the concept of getting Pierce Brosnan within the function as soon as extra is the opportunity of bringing again characters from his 007 movies, most realistically Bond Ladies as previous flames. Apparently sufficient, that is 100% achievable if we take a look at the place these actresses are of their profession.
The plain #1 selection for me is Michelle Yeoh because the Chinese language agent Wai Lin from Tomorrow By no means Dies, who additionally occurs to be a latest Greatest Actress Oscar winner for The whole lot In all places All at As soon as (2022). Within the political panorama of 2025, China performs an imposing and scary function within the instability of the world financial system, which might be a superb alternative to carry Wai Lin again to both assist Bond as soon as extra and even face him on behalf of her authorities. Michelle Yeoh can be very energetic as an actress and would stay an ideal pairing for an older James Bond.
The second most suitable choice is one I might by no means have thought-about selling, however now it is smart: Halle Berry (additionally an Oscar winner for Monster’s Ball in 2001) might come again as NSA agent Jinx to assist Bond after the occasions of Die One other Day. Talking beforehand concerning the 2025 Oscars, it was Halle Berry who walked on stage to honor Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson’s profession, which is nearly setting the stage for her character’s return. Similar as Michelle Yeoh, Berry is extremely energetic, nonetheless appears nice and might deal with motion like a professional (see John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, and also you’ll know what I imply). Jinx was removed from a likable Bond Lady within the movie, and her solo film was even being mentioned, however poor critiques of Die One other Day dismantled the entire thing. If the script handles her effectively and drops the infantile humour she was identified for, it may very well be truthful to present Berry one other crack at Jinx. The US can be in a rare political state with the return of Donald Trump; this will additionally set the stage properly for Bond to go to the US to crew up along with her once more, with out ever diving into real-world occasions straight.
All in all, the explanations to want for the return of Pierce Brosnan within the function of James Bond so as to add to the legacy of the character are quite a few. Stays to be seen if the producers working beneath the Amazon MGM banner can respect this daring concept for what it’s: the most secure artistic resolution to start out this new chapter of the world of 007, hand-in-hand with joyful followers!
