Fans of the most famous spy east of the Atlantic may be one step closer to figuring out who will portray him next.
According to a recent article from The Hollywood Reporter, Pierce Brosnan has endorsed Aaron Taylor-Johnson to be cast as the new 007. Brosnan has firsthand knowledge of Taylor-Johnson's abilities, as the young actor worked with Brosnan while they filmed 2009's The Greatest.
Brosnan played James Bond in four of the sprawling media franchise's films. Brosnan's last appearance as 007 happened in 2002's Tomorrow Never Dies.
After Brosnan's tenure as James Bond ended, Daniel Craig took over after being cast in 2006's Casino Royale. Craig's last appeared as the super spy in No Time to Die.
Brosnan's endorsement of Aaron Taylor-Johnson drew attention from insiders knowledgeable of the franchise, as Seth Abramovitch threw his own guess into the ring after hearing Pierce's take.
The Hollywood Reporter's senior writer opined that Josh O'Connor, another skilled British actor, could be selected for the role if decision makers like Barbara Broccoli get their way.
A new era for the world famous media franchise
Aaron Taylor-Johnson's stint as James Bond wouldn't be the only change the franchise experienced lately.
Back in February, Amazon MGM Studios received creative control of the James Bond franchise after starting a joint venture with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
While reporting on that story, The Hollywood Reporter clarified that Wilson and Broccoli will retain ownership of the franchise while Amazon MGM Studios controls the James Bond franchise's distribution and creative vision.
In a statement after the transaction, Mike Hopkins, the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said that the company is "honored to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”
Brosnan just opened a new phase of his career with MobLand's record breaking premiere on Paramount Plus. Reports show that the first episode of the Guy Ritchie directed TV series drew 2.2 million viewers in its opening week.
While Brosnan used to take down the bad guys while playing James Bond, MobLand gives him a chance to walk on the other side of the law. His portrayal of Conrad Harrigan is clearly a hit with Paramount Plus' subscriber base, but time will tell if his performance can keep the series' momentum up over the next nine episodes.