Brosnan Quits Bond

It's official: Pierce Brosnan's 10-year reign as James Bond is over. Brosnan recently confirmed via his website and a BBC TV interview that Eon Productions, the company that produces the Bond films, had decided not to renew his contract for the Bond franchise. This quells months of rumors that Brosnan would come back to the role if negotiations with Eon were successful.



Brosnan's statement:

"I would like to thank all of you who have supported me over the last year or so in regard to my playing Bond. It was a decade of my life that I will always hold dear to my heart and a time that will never be forgotten. And you dear friends stood by me throughout. Many, many thanks! But everything comes to an end, and one must accept this decision which cannot be dealt with in any other way but with some kind of grace and knowledge that I did the job to the best of my ability."

I for one am CRUSHED that Brosnan won't be returning. He was a great Bond and he brought a much needed breath of fresh air to the series. I was ecstatic back in 1986 when Brosnan was first offered the role, but NBC wouldn't let him out of his Remington Steele contract. I was thrilled for him a decade later when he finally assumed the role.

In related news, Eon Productions has confirmed that the 21st Bond film will be titled Casino Royale (the same as Ian Fleming's first Bond novel) and will be directed by Martin Campbell, whose last contribution to the Bond series was the smash success Goldeneye, Brosnan's 1995 debut as Bond.

The production has been pushed back a year to 2006 due to delays in securing a director and because of Sony Pictures impending takeover of MGM, the studio that finances and distributes the Bond films.

Naturally rumors are circulating about who will take over the role of James Bond, with names such as Clive Owen, Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor being mentioned, but no official announcements have been made.