Pierce Brosnan Tips His Hat to Aaron Taylor-Johnson: “He Would Be Very Good” as Bond
There’s something rather delicious about ex-Bonds giving their blessing to their would-be successors. Like old kings raising a knowing eyebrow as a new princeling enters the court.
And now, Sir Pierce Brosnan (well, not technically knighted—but let’s not quibble), the Bond of impeccably arched eyebrows and well-tailored gravitas, has weighed in on the latest round of 007 speculation.
The name on his lips? Taylor-Johnson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
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“He Filled the Space with Passion”
Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment, Brosnan was disarmingly warm in his assessment of Taylor-Johnson’s Bond potential. “I think he would be very good,” he said, in that velvet Irish burr that once suavely ordered a vodka martini and dispatched villains with equal nonchalance.
Bronsan, who recently said he was interested in reprising a role with the Bond franchise, went on to reminisce about their time together on the 2009 indie drama The Greatest. “I cast him in one of the movies I made a long time ago called The Greatest, actually, and he played ‘the Greatest.’”
There’s no denying that Taylor-Johnson has the brooding intensity and physicality that modern Bonds seem to require—less Roger Moore’s raised eyebrow, more Daniel Craig’s clenched jaw. Brosnan clearly saw it early.
“This young man came on the set and took the space, filled the space with passion and energy,” he said. “So yeah, I think if he wished it, wanted it and got it, he would be great.” This, in Bondland, is practically a knighthood.
Who Holds the Keys to the Aston Martin?
As speculation swirls, it’s worth noting that Brosnan’s endorsement carries more weight than your average red-top columnist. This is the man who was James Bond, through four films (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day)—and helped resurrect the franchise in the 1990s, adding just enough grit to the gloss.
But while Brosnan sings Taylor-Johnson’s praises, speculation is all the more feverish since Amazon MGM Studios has taken the wheel of the Bond juggernaut. And this could be a paradigm shift.
What does it mean for Bond? Well, perhaps a grittier reinvention. Perhaps a whole new tone. Or—dare one say it—a Bond plucked from Amazon’s own talent stable. One need only glance at the streaming behemoth’s roster of marquee names and prestige darlings to imagine the possibilities.
Could the next 007 be someone already gracing Prime Video’s marquee shows? Someone who’s been quietly cultivating a relationship with the Amazon machine? In the brave new world of digital dynasties, unfortunately Bond isn’t immune to a corporate facelift.
Brosnan’s Blessing—and the Waiting Game
In the meantime, Pierce Brosnan’s endorsement carries the quiet weight of legacy. Whether it’s a genuine nod to a worthy successor or simply a courteous hat-tip from one actor to another, it adds another layer to the ever-churning 007 rumour mill.
As the Bond faithful sip their martinis and refresh their casting blogs, one truth remains eternal: until the producers speak, all bets are off. Taylor-Johnson may well be the next to don the tuxedo, or he may be just another name in the long queue outside MI6.
Either way, the game is on.
