Between Sean Connery’s suave and humorous take on the Brish spy to Daniel Craig’s more rugged version in the modern era, Pierce Brosnan’s take on the character often gets overlooked by fans. After Die Another Day dropped the ball among critics, Brosnan’s stint as 007 came to an abrupt stop, and Daniel Craig was brought in to reinvent the character for the modern audience with Casino Royale.
While he never got his farewell moment as Craig did with No Time to Die, one James Bond theory could bring him back for one final run as the charismatic spy.
The Codename Theory Could Explain Pierce Brosnan’s Return
According to the codename theory, every James Bond feature, from Dr. No to Die Another Day takes place in the same universe. The theory suggests that James Bond is just a codename that is given to British spies by their superiors and is passed down from spy to spy. The fact that recurring actors, including Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell, reprised their roles in different Bond entries does add some weight to this theory.
Although this theory doesn’t add up with Daniel Craig‘s Bond flicks, as in Skyfall, it was revealed that Bond is his family name, with his stint over, this leaves the door open for Brosnan.
With the upcoming reimagining of 007, the Bond producers could take the wheel back to its root, and if they do decide to acknowledge this theory, it could make some room for Pierce Brosnan‘s return. Considering the actor was never allowed to bid goodbye to the role like Craig, the codename theory could be used to bring him back as an older Bond for one more ride like Hugh Jackman in Logan.
With reports stressing that the Bond producers are looking forward to casting a younger actor in the role, Brosnan’s Bond can be brought back to mentor and guide a young and inexperienced 007. Not only incorporating an older Bond will give the actor his deserved farewell as the charismatic British spy, but it also will be a nice change of pace from the usual Bond stories.
Pierce Brosnan Was Shocked When His James Bond Stint Was Cut Short
Being stripped of the Bond role was hard for Pierce Brosnan. Even though Die Another Day made a major splash at the box office, its critical reception was less-than-stellar, which prompted the producers to reinvent the IP for the modern audience.
Reflecting on being fired from the role, the Black Adam star recalled he was in the Bahamas when his agents called to inform him, “Negotiations have stopped“. Shortly after, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson called him to deliver the bad news, which came as a gut punch to the actor.
I sat in Richard Harris’s house in the Bahamas, and Barbara and Michael were on the line —‘We’re so sorry.’ She was crying, Michael was stoic and he said, ‘You were a great James Bond. Thank you very much,’ and I said, ‘Thank you very much. Goodbye.’ That was it. I was utterly shocked and just kicked to the curb with the way it went down
It remains to be seen if the Bond flicks ever acknowledge the codename theory in the future and opt to bring Brosnan back for one more ride, which he certainly deserves.
Die Another Day is available to stream on Apple TV.
