Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan addresses his potential return as the iconic character in Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming reboot. Picking up the mantle from Timothy Dalton, Brosnan made his 007 debut in 1995’s GoldenEye, ultimately playing the character across four films, concluding with Die Another Day in 2002.

Following Daniel Craig’s departure from the role in 2021 with No Time To Die, all eyes have been on who will be next to play the iconic British spy. Amazon now has creative control of the franchise, and they announced earlier this summer that Villeneuve will direct Bond 26. Who will star, however, remains a mystery.

During a recent interview with RadioTimes, Brosnan comments on whether a return to the Bond franchise is on the cards. While the actor says he’s not sure an older 007 is what the audience wants, he admits that a clever story idea from Villeneuve could lure him back to the role. Check out Brosnan’s comment below:

My wife Keely [Shaye Smith] and 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.

I don’t think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if [next 007 director Denis] 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?

What This Means For James Bond 26

As of writing, the only sure-thing when it comes to the next 007 film that Villeneuve will direct it and screenwriter Steven Knight will pen the script. Casting is seemingly the next major order of business, and the successful Craig era of Bond movies certainly means the next actor has big shoes to fill.

It was recently reported that British actor Scott Rose-Marsh has screen-tested for 007, and, if true, this would support the long-held belief that Amazon is looking to cast a British male actor in his 30s. Casting an actor of this nationality and age range would also uphold a tradition for the franchise. Craig, for example, was cast in his late 30s.

There has been no indication that Villeneuve and Amazon are looking to mix things up with an older Bond. If they were, however, and Brosnan were to return, this would make him the oldest actor to ever play the character. This would also raise questions about the franchise’s future given most new Bonds are expected to sign on for multiple films.

Brosnan’s Bond run was generally well-received, with GoldenEye widely considered the strongest of the four. Though Die Another Day released to a very mixed reception, this wackier and more gadget-centric era of 007 is now looked back upon relatively fondly. Whether a 72-year-old Bond would bring younger audiences to theaters, however, is where the idea may struggle.

Our Take On Pierce Brosnan’s Potential 007 Return

It seems incredibly unlikely that Villeneuve, Knight, and Amazon will take Bond in this direction. Commercially, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense, and the company will surely be looking to bring younger audiences on board with this new iteration, not alienate them.

That being said, it could be a lot of fun seeing Brosnan return as 007 for a one-off movie. His age would allow for an exploration of the character from a totally new perspective. It remains to be seen what happens with the next James Bond movie, but Brosnan evidently hasn’t totally ruled it out.