Pierce Brosnan slams James Bond producers and their safe attitude to film making

Fed-up Pierce Brosnan has damned James Bond as an embarrassing fraud - reports The Mirror (UK).

Brosnan, dumped from the role last year, has made more than £20million playing 007 in four movies.

But he is glad to see the back of him. The 52-year-old star said: "I had all these stupid one-liners and loathed them. I felt like such a phony.

"It never felt real to me and I never felt I had complete ownership of the role. I'd look at myself in the suit and tie, and think 'What the heck am I doing here'?"



His cynical comments will end speculation he could return in the next 007 movie, Casino Royale. That leaves Bond producers struggling to find a replacement. Layer Cake's Daniel Craig, Closer actor Clive Owen, ER Croatian hunk Goran Visnjic and Count of Monte Cristo star Henry Cavill have all been tipped.

Brosnan dished his chances even further by accusing Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael Wilson of exerting too much control and failing to develop the part.

He said: "That was always the frustrating thing about the role...they play it so safe. The pomposity and rigmarole that they put directors through is astounding." Brosnan is said to have priced himself out of Casino Royale by demanding £25million.

Revealing that he only learned he was dropped in an abrupt phone call to his Malibu mansion, he said: "After that kind of titanic jolt to the system, there was a great sense of calm.

"I thought 'F**k it. I can do anything I want to do now'. I'm not beholden to them or to anyone. I'm not shackled by some contracted image.

"So there was a sense of liberation. The money was amazing, but I'm just glad it's not my problem any more. One phone call, that's all it took."

Brosnan was a massive box-office success playing Bond in Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. The last earned $250million worldwide.

He has already angered producers by mercilessly sending up his spy image in the indie flick The Tailor of Panama in 2001.

Brosnan is now set to lampoon 007 again in his new low-budget film The Matador, due out in November.

In the movie he plays a down-and-out hitman desperate to escape his grim past of casual assassinations and one night stands.

He told Entertainment Weekly: "For this role to come on the heels of my departure from Bond is a sweet grace - this is my farewell to that chapter in time."

Thanks to `ppk/s` for the alert.

Discuss this news here...