Pierce Brosnan still deeply cherishes his time playing 007 in the James Bond franchise and hopes that the new owners of the property will treat it with “respect” and “dignity.”
Last month, Amazon MGM Studios announced that Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the producers who have overseen Bond for three decades, would remain co-owners of the franchise while handing over the creative control to the Jeff Bezos-founded company.
Brosnan, who famously portrayed Bond between 1995 and 2002 under Broccoli and Wilson’s guidance, told the Sunday Telegraph in an interview that the franchise’s change of ownership “does bring a certain sense of regret.”
“I thought it was coming for some time, I suppose, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael,” he said. “It takes great courage for them to let go. They will still have input on matters. I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity, imagination, and respect.”
He further stated that he believes it is “a given” that the next Bond should be British, despite the franchise’s new ownership being an American-based company.
A new “Bond” film has not yet been announced.
Brosnan played the lead role in 1995’s “GoldenEye,” 1997’s “Tomorrow Never Dies,” 1999’s “The World Is Not Enough,” and 2002’s “Die Another Day.”
He succeeded Timothy Dalton, who last played the special agent in 1989’s “License to Kill.”
Brosnan added that he is “very proud to have been part of the history and the legacy of Bond and the movies.”
“You know, everything changes, everything falls apart, and I wish them well,” he added.
