Michael Madsen says his neighbour Brosnan is done with Bond, and the next 007 is a young Australian

The "Kill Bill: Volume 2" press junkets have created another 007 story this week.

Speaking to the Toronto Sun, Michael Madsen (NSA Chief Damian Falco in "Die Another Day"), has said the Brosnan is done with Bond, and the next 007 will be a young Australian.

"Pierce lives right down the beach from me. Our kids play together, and he told me he doesn`t want to do another one."



The newspaper claims Madsen said he was told that Brosnan will be replaced with an Australian, although he did not know who and could not confirm the identity of the 6th 007.

Madsen said he himself is interested in the new Bond because he was supposed to get a role in it. Now Madsen is wary.

"Well, I was going to do it with Pierce but, now that Pierce is out of the Bond picture, I don`t know what is going to happen. If (producer) Barbara Broccoli calls me up and says: `Michael, I want you to be in the James Bond picture,` I`ll probably go do it, but I`m not going to call her.

"I don`t know the new Bond guy. I`ve never seen anything he`s done. I don`t even know what he looks like. I can`t remember the guy`s name. I would have to feel like he`s going to be a good Bond for me to want to do it."

"You know, making a Bond film is not an easy thing to do. That`s a heavy shoot, man. That`s a long, long, big, big, heavy thing. The Bond thing is a tremendously gigantic production and the last one was hugely successful.

"For Pierce, that was the fourth one that he did. He`s tired, man. You know, he`s James Bond. He doesn`t have to do another one. Why would you? Why would you bother?"

Click here for the MI6 Interview with Michael Madsen.

MI6 Rumour Rating: Madsen is a straight shooter, assuming these are his words.

The obvious Australian who is always linked to Bond is Hugh Jackman, but his schedule is busy and his agent denied all links to MI6. Another suitable cadidate is Eric Bana ("Hulk", "Black Hawk Down") who fits the Bond profile and currently has no forthcoming projects scheduled.

Thanks to Luds for the alert.

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