Brosnan Done With Bond

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14603,00.html

 

Brosnan Turns in Bond's Badge?

 

by Joal Ryan

Jul 27, 2004, 9:05 PM PT

 

One way or another, Pierce Brosnan's days as 007 appear numbered.

 

Varying reports have the suave Irish-born actor (a) writing off the secret-agent role after four films; or (b) getting the boot from youth-seeking producers.

 

In an interview posted Tuesday on Entertainment Weekly's Website, Brosnan sounded like a man who has had it with introducing himself as, "Bond. James Bond."

 

"That's it," Brosnan told EW. "I've said all I've got to say on the world of James Bond."

 

Brosnan also sounded like a man who thinks his bosses should similarly get over the gadget-loving spy.

 

"They don't know how to move on," Brosnan said of 007 producers. "A sense of paralysis has set in."

 

Or has it?

 

Last weekend, British tabs floated stories that it was producers who were ready to move on--without Brosnan.

 

The U.K.'s Sunday Mail claimed that Bond's backers have decided the next film--the 21st entry in the official series--should be a turn-back-the-clock, lower-tech affair.

 

Producers also have ruled the clock should be turned back on Bond--in the form of a younger, as yet uncast actor, the paper said.

 

"Without all the special effects, the film will work best with a young, fresh actor," a source told the Sunday Mail.

 

The 51-year-old Brosnan, who lost out on a chance to become Bond in the mid-1980s when TV's Remington Steele kept him otherwise engaged, has carried 007's badge for nearly a decade, beginning with 1995's GoldenEye. His other Bond adventures are: 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies; 1999's The World Is Not Enough; and 2002's Die Another Day.

 

He is the fifth actor to hold down the franchise after Sean Connery, one shot George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton.

 

But before advocates for the middle-aged file a brief on behalf of the fiftysomething Brosnan, it should be noted that the Sunday Mail's story cites mixed motivations for producers' reputed desire for a casting change.

 

On one hand, the tab reports, producers want somebody with fewer wrinkles; on the other hand, it says, producers want somebody with fewer zeroes in his contract.

 

"Apparently, [brosnan] was demanding a Tom Cruise-level pay check," a source is quoted as telling the paper. (In the unnamed source's humble opinion, by the way, Brosnan isn't "quite in that league" as the $25 million-earning Cruise.)

 

There was no official word on Brosnan's status Tuesday from Eon Productions, the film company that sends Bond out to save the world every two or three years. (The next film, known right now only as Bond 21, is on the calendar for a 2005 release.) MGM, which distributes the 007 films, declined comment.

 

Reports of Brosnan's Bond demise, meanwhile, are about as old as the franchise itself.

 

In 2001, producers were so flooded with rumors that they'd jettisoned Brosnan, they issued a formal denial. True to their word, Brosnan was back in action that year for production on Die Another Day.

 

Then as now, Hugh Jackman was rumored to be in line for a Bond tux fitting. (E! Online's Ted Casablanca reported in March that the Australian-born X-Man was out of line, and no longer on producers' wish list.)

 

Others whose names--and appropriately accented voices--have been linked to Bond include: Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom.

 

The only sure thing in the Bond universe right now? Things are shaken--and stirred.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I knew this about six months ago, and all I can say is that this will either be the best thing to happen to the franchise in twenty years... or it might kill it altogether. It all depends on whether MGM and EON pull their heads out of their asses and try and show Brosnan that they bring Bond back to basics... or if they want to keep making safe Bond movies.

[razazteca 0]

I thought it has already been confirmed that Clive Owen will be the next James Bond?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I thought it has already been confirmed that Clive Owen will be the next James Bond?

He's said numerous times he'll never do it.

[Guest SP-1]

McGregor.

 

Ewan McGregor needs to be Bond. He's scottish, he can make the ladies swoon, and he's a heck of an actor.

 

 

But I'll only care if they write Bond correctly and concentrate on a good story. Because right now IMF Agent Ethan Hunt > James Bond to me. The first MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE smokes the recent Bond movies.

[razazteca 0]

Out of that list I would like to see Jude Law as Bond. Everybody else is too young.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

McGregor.

 

Ewan McGregor needs to be Bond. He's scottish, he can make the ladies swoon, and he's a heck of an actor.

 

 

But I'll only care if they write Bond correctly and concentrate on a good story. Because right now IMF Agent Ethan Hunt > James Bond to me. The first MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE smokes the recent Bond movies.

Nah, I do think GOLDENEYE was better than M:I.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

Yeah I'd put Goldeneye above Mission Impossible, but not the Bond movies after Goldeneye.

 

Ewan McGreggor has the ladies man part down pat, but he's just not mean enough for the rest.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

I thought it has already been confirmed that Clive Owen will be the next James Bond?

Not after King Arthur...

[Guest Vitamin X]

It's sad, because I think physically speaking, Pierce Brosnan had that Bond role down pat perfectly. He is exactly as I'd picture James Bond to be. Ewan Mcgregor, Heath Ledger, Clive Owen, Jude LAW? Maybe out of all those I think Jude Law would be the best to cast.

[Guest SP-1]

Goldeneye yes.

 

But nothing afterwards.

 

 

Jude Law would be good as well.

 

And King Arthur was awesome. It's not Owen's fault that people can't appreciate a historical twist on the events. I love that movie . . .

[Art Sandusky 0]

It's going to be weird to see someone else doing it. Like Vitamin X said, Brosnan is what pops into my head when I think of Bond.

 

Speaking of the next film, Melbourne's FOX FM reported that Kylie Minogue is on the short list to be the next Bond girl.

[Vyce 0]

I do NOT feel Clive Owen as Bond.

 

Of the names mentioned here, I'd have to pick Jude Law. I think he could make a pretty good Bond.

 

Everyone else I couldn't really take seriously. Not even Ewan MacGregor.

 

But here's an even better idea for the franchise: hire some good WRITERS to do the screenplay for the next film - everything else should fall in line nicely.

[Cran Da Maniac 0]

Orlando Bloom as the New James Bond.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Orlando Bloom as the New James Bond.

Ain't going to happen.

 

Miramax doesn't own the rights to Bond in any form.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

It's going to be weird to see someone else doing it. Like Vitamin X said, Brosnan is what pops into my head when I think of Bond.

 

Speaking of the next film, Melbourne's FOX FM reported that Kylie Minogue is on the short list to be the next Bond girl.

This has happened three times before, when Connery left in 66/67 and then again in 71, and when Moore left in 86.

 

Believe me, both those gentlemen had longer, more influential runs with the Bond series and they proved replacable.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I wasn't really alive during those runs, either. Since Brosnan has been Bond for pretty much of my life while aware of popular culture, he's who pops into my head.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Well when Connery left the first time he had been Bond since the character's inception in the film medium.

 

So it's really the same thing.

[Art Sandusky 0]

... except not even my own mother had been conceived yet when the films began. Please stop arguing a point based on indivdual experience.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

... except not even my own mother had been conceived yet when the films began. Please stop arguing a point based on indivdual experience.

It's the same thing for people who had been alive during that period.

 

Obviously not YOU. My point was that what you said has been said time and time again and it's been proven that any Bond is replacable.

 

So there.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Ashton Kutcher

[Guest SP-1]

Ashton Kutcher

. . .

[Guest Smark-Raving Mad]

I'd love to see Russell Crowe as Bond. It'll never happen, just saying...

[Vyce 0]

 

Makin' music, makin' songs & fightin' round the world!

 

Crowe as Bond? I just can't see it. But he'd be better than fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman.

[Dr. Tom 0]

Crowe doesn't look the part, so I really can't see him in it. I have no doubts he would NAIL the role if they gave it to him, though.

 

Really, who stars in the movie is less important than the quality of the story. Bond isn't supposed to be about gadgets, plot coupons, and explosions. There's supposed to be some thought and story in there, and those have been very lacking of late. Compare something like From Russia With Love to any of the recent movies.

 

Either Bourne movie > any Bond movie in the last 10-12 years

[Guest Vitamin X]

It's going to be weird to see someone else doing it. Like Vitamin X said, Brosnan is what pops into my head when I think of Bond.

 

Speaking of the next film, Melbourne's FOX FM reported that Kylie Minogue is on the short list to be the next Bond girl.

This has happened three times before, when Connery left in 66/67 and then again in 71, and when Moore left in 86.

 

Believe me, both those gentlemen had longer, more influential runs with the Bond series and they proved replacable.

Connery was the best Bond overall.. in terms of being the character as well as looking like it... Brosnan however was second best, and that's only because he looked the part much better than Moore. I trust the replacement will be up to par, but I remember when Pierce was introduced as the new Bond, I was like...whoa...did they make this guy up or something? Because he looks EXACTLY as a person I would think of as James Bond.

 

Orlando Bloom would be a MAJOR step down. He's too much of a skinny wuss to be a Bond. Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, are both too rough and have that unrefined Aussie accent. It would be difficult to change that into a classy British one. Clive Owen I'm not sure on, but Jude Law would make an excellent replacement. The man can act, he has the Bond look and style as well. Watching A.I. the other day with him playing the part of the mecha gigolo, I was thinking the guy DEFINITELY has the ladies' man part down.

 

Too bad Bond can't click his head and make romantic music play. Or maybe that's a good thing, anyways.

 

Really, who stars in the movie is less important than the quality of the story. Bond isn't supposed to be about gadgets, plot coupons, and explosions. There's supposed to be some thought and story in there, and those have been very lacking of late. Compare something like From Russia With Love to any of the recent movies.

 

This is very true, although I personally preferred The Spy Who Loved Me as my favorite. The abortion that was The World Is Not Enough is nothing in comparison, although Die Another Day was at best mediocre.

 

Either Bourne movie > any Bond movie in the last 10-12 years

This is probably very true, and I haven't seen Supremacy yet but god I'm dying to.

[Guest thebigjig]

I really dont care who they pick as long as the next movie is more serious with less gagets and lame special effects... I've been craving a serious espionage thriller for years and when the rumors about Tarrantino doing Royale started to spring up everywhere, I started to drool. I just wish MGM would stray away from the modern formula just once... fuck, the name "bond" alone would be able to sell tickets

[Art Sandusky 0]

As would "Kylie Minogue" up there with the name of the new Bond actor.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Jack Black

[Guest croweater]

As would "Kylie Minogue" up there with the name of the new Bond actor.

Yes, because Kylie has had so much Box Office Success.

 

Anyone remember "Cut"?