I just heard that Pierce Brosnan (the latest in a series of 007 actors) had his “license revolked” because is was “too old” to play the role. For petes sake the guy is only 50. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that Roger Moore was around 57 when he last played the role of 007. Personally I think Pierce Brosnan is getting the shaft on this one. Has anyone else here heard about this?
I don’t think he’s too old; certainly not on the scale of near-geriatric Sean Connery in For your eyes Only (or was it The Spy Who Loved Me ? The Thunderball remake, either way).
I’m worried Ewan McGregor will be the new Bond though.
He certainly doesn’t look very old. I think he’s one of the best Bonds.
I always thought Brosnan would make a good Bond, but when he got the job, I was disappointed - he is a little bit wooden.
I do enjoy Bond movies though; the trick is to imagine you’re watching a cartoon.
I still rate Moore as the best Bond as I think he brings the ‘cheese’ factor to the films which is lacking in Brosnan and which I enjoy. I certainley don’t think Brosnan is to old for the role, in my mind Bond should be about 40 - 50 anyway.
(I may be biased as my Uncle did all the special effects for the Moore/Brosnan films until his death during the making of Goldenye - he is credited at the beginning of the film)
Maybe this thread should be in Cafe Society though?
Yes, I think it should. I’ll move it.
It’s Never Say Never.
No way Brosnan’s too old. Now Roger Moore, he was too old. I’ve never liked Brosnan as Bond, though. He’s way too serious and clenched–does he ever stop squinting? They need to find someone who can reproduce the easygoing, wisecracking style of Connery.
I wonder if the Bond franchise is in fact coming to an end. AFAIK they’re out of Fleming novels; Die Another Day was such a rehash of previous ideas; how many times can the plot revolve around a satellite with a (1920’s style) death ray? There’s a danger of seeming dated, so they need to keep Bond ‘modern’, but the latest attempts to do so have just been ridiculous: an invisible car? That’s a shark-jump if I’ve ever seen one.
With Roger Moore, they went on too long. The last one (Octopussy?) is getting a bit pathetic. Brosnan on the other hand could easily chalk up one or two more before ‘retirement’.
Believe it or not when Connery made *Never Say Never Again * he was “only” 53 - the movie came out in '83, he was born in 1930.
I share your fear about Macgregor. I worry this is the trickiest hand off for the series yet. If they choose the wrong Bond, and it flops, the series may end for more than a decade. OTOH I think the franchise holders are thinking : “If we can get MacGregor* and it is a sucsessful film - the Bond Franchise is good to go through 2020” That is the motive, IMO to dump Brosnan now.
I’d prefer them to be more conservative, Brosnan has at least 2 good films left in him.
(* I am not sure they aren’t thinking Jude Law)
When did they decide this? From interviews that they had from die another day they siad the role was brosnans as long as he wanted it
I’ve just heard “rumors” type stuff … but I believe Brosnan only has 1 Bond left on his contract
Clive Owen. The next Bond must be Clive Owen.
I thought I heard that Brosnan didn’t want to keep doing it. Can’t remember where I heard that, though. So basically this comment was completely worthless.
I imagine that as people generally start to tire of Bond, that whoever plays him will be less inclined to keep the role for more than a couple of films. While it was still fresh and exciting, Connery sat very well in the role. Like most people here, I agree that Moore went on for about two films too many.
Brosnan’s probably smart enough to realise that being 007 isn’t the only thing in life, and that it isn’t being on the ‘heroic gravy train’ that Connery enjoyed.
Hi, DP by the way. 
I think Brosnan said after Die Another Day that he would do one more, and then he said he thought he would be too old. There have been a few names bouncing around as to who would replace him, but this is the first time I have heard Macgregor. There was a story on Imdb.com a couple months ago that discussed potential replacements. Clive Owen, Christian Bale, and Jude Law were mentioned among others, but it said that Brosnan would like Hugh Jackman to take over. I looked for that story on imdb, but couldn’t find it. They have some interesting articles here though.