Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan joins co-star Helen Mirren's calls to ensure new 007 is a man following fears the iconic franchise was being taken over by 'woke' Hollywood

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has joined Helen Mirren 's calls for the new 007 to be male, following Amazon's £770M takeover of the iconic franchise.
The actor, 72, who starred as the secret agent between in four films 1995 to 2002, said he was excited to see the 'next man' that will replace Daniel Craig.
Meanwhile Helen, 80, who appears alongside him in the new Netflix mystery The Thursday Murder Club, said Bond could never be a woman.
She told SAGA: 'I'm such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy. You can't have a woman. It just doesn't work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else.'
While Pierce said: 'I'm so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character. I adore the world of James Bond '.
'It's been very good to me. It's the gift that keeps giving. And I'm just a member of the audience now, sitting back, saying: 'Show us what you're going to do'.
Oscar winning Helen previously slammed the James Bond franchise, despite her deep admiration for the actors who have played the character.
She told The Standard earlier this year:'I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond], I'm a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan '.
'He also happens to be one of the nicest people you'll ever have the pleasure to work with,' she continued. 'And indeed Daniel Craig, who I've met and know a little bit. Again, a very lovely gracious person.'
But while she holds Pierce and Daniel in high regard, Helen has little affection for the Bond franchise itself.
'The whole series of James Bond was actually not my thing, It really wasn't. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.'
She also said she was 'opposed' to a female 007: 'The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism.'
Helen went on to insist espionage stories centered on real-life women deserve the spotlight.
'Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been,' she explained.
'And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they're amazingly, unbelievably courageous.
'So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who've worked in that world.'
It comes following The Mail On Sunday's reporting that 007 will remain a man and will still be British or from the Commonwealth.
Fans of 007 feared Amazon Studios – owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos – would corrupt the British super spy after buying the Bond franchise and rights for £770 million from Bond stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.
But a source said: 'There have been so many erroneous rumours about the future of Bond. Amazon is committed to keeping the spirit of Bond alive and that means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth – and he has to be male.'
Ms Broccoli and Mr Wilson have fiercely protected the image of the British hero since taking over Eon Productions, the UK company behind previous Bond films, in 1995.
Ms Broccoli is said to have insisted on Bond remaining British before agreeing to sell. Eon was founded by her father and Mr Wilson's stepfather, Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli, who bought the film rights to the martini-sipping, womanising spy from Bond creator Ian Fleming in 1961.
There have since been 25 Bond films, starting with 1962's Dr No. But last month Ms Broccoli, 64, and Mr Wilson, 83, announced they had sold all creative rights to Amazon, headed by bald-headed Mr Bezos, who some fans compare to a Bond villain.
Fans complained Amazon's plans to develop spin-off shows including one focusing on the early days of 007's secretary Miss Moneypenny would ruin the franchise. And they feared Amazon would try to 'wokeify' Bond.
But last night an Amazon insider said: 'Jeff is a massive Bond fan and while he's excited to see how Amazon can take the franchise forward there are certain things which are sacrosanct. That's why the memo went out this week, to reassure everyone.
'But certain things are up for discussion, like whether the next Bond should be played by a man of colour.'
The last Bond film was 2021's No Time To Die, starring Daniel Craig and Lea Seydoux.