The upcoming 30th anniversary of Pierce Brosnan’sGoldenEyemakes me want him to return for an Old Man 007 movie more than ever. Since the inception of theJames Bondmovie franchisewithDr No, the Broccoli family has been shepherding the saga. The Broccolis wanted to make each movie a true cinematic event, which meant carefully developing each entry and not watering down the brand with various spinoffs.I was stunned as anyone to hear that the family had soldthe creative rights to Bond to Amazon, freeing the way for more movies and TV shows.
I’m nervous about this change, as the Broccolis were an essential part of shaping the series. Even so, I’m curious as to what the future will look like without them and what the next creative direction will be.The Amazon deal opens up theJames Bondseries like never before; in addition to theatrical mainline entries, there can be spinoffs revolving around the 00 program or characters like M or Moneypenny. There could be TV miniseries that offer faithful adaptations ofIan Fleming’s originalBondbookstoo. What I really want, though, is a new Pierce BrosnanBondmovie.
Pierce Brosnan Vs. Timothy Dalton: Which Former James Bond Actor Should Do An “Older 007” Movie?
Although Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan could both play James Bond again in an older 007 movie, only one of the stars is perfectly suited to this.
The 30th Anniversary Of GoldenEye Makes Me Want An Older 007 Movie With Pierce Brosnan
Brosnan’s James Bond debut saved the series
The firstJames Bondmovie I saw in a cinema wasGoldenEye, which marked the franchise’s return after a six-year absence. To my generation, he’s the Bond we grew up with. Sadly, Brosnan was never that well-served by the material. He grew more comfortable with the role with each passing sequel, but the films themselves got gradually worse.GoldenEyeis easily the best of Brosnan’s era, featuring a great blend of spy jinks, action and comedy.
Brosnan is arguably the hottest actor to pick up the Bond mantle too, and the role fit him like a glove.GoldenEyehad a hard job in 1995; critics and cultural commentators felt the property was hopelessly dated and audiences were no longer interested. The belated sequel not only managed to merge the elements audiences loved (exotic locations, wild gadgets, creative setpieces, etc) it also offered a darker story with a more introspective 007.
Part ofGoldenEye’scultural legacy is also tied up with its excellent N64 video game adaptation.
It’s not a flawless adventure by any means (Sean Bean’s 006 faking his death in such an elaborate fashion inGoldenEye’sopening is a plot point that always confused me), but it’s a key example of what makes theJames Bondseries special. Unfortunately,Brosnan’s run got worse and worse and never lived up to his debut. Brosnan was shoved out of the franchise following 2002’s woefulDie Another Day, but he deserved a better finale - which an older 007 movie could give him.
Pierce Brosnan Is The Best Candidate For An Older Bond
It certainly won’t be Daniel Craig
Despite running for over 60 years, only six actors have played Bond on the big screen.An old manJames Bondmovie would only work if it were fronted by an actor who has played the role before, and Brosnan is the only realistic choice. Daniel Craig slammed the door shut on his time withNo Time to Die, where his version of 007 was blown up in the finale. Timothy Dalton is still working on the likes of1923but hasn’t featured in an action role in many years.
Brosnan is looking dapper and fit as ever… and he could still pull off the action the role required.
I always wanted a third 007 adventure with Dalton, whose run ended prematurely withLicence to Kill; this was the last Bond outing before the six-year hiatus.At least in Dalton’s case,Licence to Killis a banger and a great film to finish on- even if that wasn’t his intention. That only leaves Brosnan, who is currently as busy as he’s ever been. In recent years, he stole the show in movies likeBlack Adamand Steven Soderbergh’sBlack Bagand has more recently appeared in the Guy Ritchie seriesMobLand.
Brosnan is looking dapper and fit as ever too, and while I doubt an olderJames Bondfilm would be as physically intense asGoldenEyeorTomorrow Never Dies, he could still pull off the action required. If nothing else,it would be fascinating to explore what a character like James Bond would be like in his later years. He doesn’t seem like the type to retire quietly, so he would likely end up getting involved in one last mission to prove his worth.
Die Another Day is 007’s franchise’s nadir
Image via Focus Features
The Broccolis didn’t always have a golden touch with the series. Plenty of duds happened under their watch, includingThe Man with the Golden Gunand Craig’sSpectre. Even the weaker installments tend to have redeeming features, but I can’t think of a kind word to say aboutDie Another Day. It’s a puzzlingly dire entry that tried (and failed) to pay homage to the series on the eve of its 40th anniversary. It’s the lowest the series ever sank, butI’d like an epilogue for Pierce Brosnan’s Bond that finally lived up toGoldenEye’spromise.
80%
57%
51%
Die Another Day(2002)
56%
Amazon is no doubt running through the potential projects they can get off the ground - and a Pierce Brosnan return should be high up on that list. It could be a Prime original completely unconnected to the rebooted theatrical series, and it would be a guaranteed streaming smash. I’ll confess a BrosnanJames Bondcomeback is unlikely, but hey, a man can dream.
GoldenEye
Cast
The seventeenth installment in Eon Productions' James Bond movie franchise, Goldeneye marks Pierce Brosnan’s first time playing MI6 agent James Bond. Goldeneye follows 007 as he works to prevent a former fellow agent from using a satellite weapon to attack London in order to cause a global financial crisis. Also stars Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming, and Judi Dench.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
