Home › Bond Movies › Actors
Reporting For Duty
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
Whose idea was it to cast Brosnan as Bond?
Obviously the Broccolis approved of his casting as they had originally wanted him for the Living Daylights, but were there any other external factors involved in Brosnan's casting? I read somewhere that MGM were not keen on Dalton returning and were pushing for Brosnan to be cast.
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
Brosnan was just an up-and-coming young actor who hadn't really been in a lot, and accompanied his wife Cassandra Harris on the set of FYEO where he met Cubby Broccoli- that was the first step.
Brosnan continues to act and I think Cubby may have mentioned him in interviews as 'brilliant potential' or something like that; Brosnan lands the part of Remington Steele, a show where he plays a 'spy' type character, often in a suit and sometimes even in a tux.
I believe those two components are what got the public interested in Brosnan playing Bond.
He was even at the top of the list and all but signed on the dotted line- everybody wanted him! But at the last second Remington Steele forced him by contract to do another season (which they never even finished). The back and forth nonsense went on to delay filming just long enough for Dalton to become available!
I think it's safe to say, Brosnan was PISSED. But good things to those who wait!
Then he was let go when he wanted to continue. All in all, I wonder if he thinks the experience was worth it? Still seems, quite uneasy to talk about it even today.
Remington Steele was an extremely average series whose main star was Stephanie Zimbalist. For all his faults Pierce took the role and run with it and his persona was suited to the fantasy spy of Remington Steele. He was not in the John Le Carre mode but the wisecracking Roger Moore mode. Steele was constantly in a tuxedo, constantly talking spy and using his charm on the ladies.
Comparisons with Bond were ineveitable and it was promoted by several US TV critics who suggested him openly print in the role. He became the king in waiting.
I sort of feel sorry for Pierce because he was messed around when he had a crack at the role but I kind of think because he was promoted and expected to be James Bond he never put his stamp on the role. Sean, Rog, Tim, Dan and even Laz tried to do something different.
With Pierce is was same old same old. But some people want that.
In 1986 however? Yes, I'd feel extremely sorry for him.
Just imagine, being in a lame TV show that's almost over, allowing you to play the part of a lifetime in a big budget movie to be shown all over the world-- only for the show to step in and say 'oh, well we're going to do another season after all, so you won't have time to play Bond. It's in your contract that you have to come with us. Sorry, lulz.' I would have gone insane. Back then you see-- nobody knew Dalton was only going to play Bond twice-- he could have played him 10 times for all anybody knew. Brosnan probably thought that his chance was done for!
I hope in 1995 when he finally signed on that dotted line, that he sent the Remington Steele folks a letter with a picture of a giant middle finger on it! ;)
He's been lucky all his career....for one reason...
..his good looks..
They are headturning. They are extraordinary. They are the kind of looks which would have attracted girls at a very early age. And to be frank he has traded on them. They are the things which have opened doors. As he is not a strong actor.
I watched The Ghost on C4 the other night for the first time and he was outacted in every scene by Olivia Williams and Ewan McGregor. Adam Lang, a very thinly veiled Tony Blair. Its a good role which an actor can play the tragedy, delusion and pathos of a man who was instrumental in destroying his own reputation. Its all one note from Pierce - and this is with Roman Polanski directing him.
If ever there is an actor which has had doors open for him with his good looks it is him..
of course in my humble opinion.
Brosnan was the "people's choice" and had been since 1985. When Dalton chose not to return then EON turned to him. Bond had been off the screen for years and I'm sure Cubby was wondering how Bond would be received. The public was still hot for Brosnan so Cubby pulled the trigger. Maybe Cubby figured this was a "safe" move.
I for one was sad to hear that Dalton would not be back. I liked Brosnan in other movies but not as James Bond.
That was john glen's take on it on the extras dvd for FYEO. brosnan accompanied his late wife to the FYEO set, cubby liked the look of him.
I second that. His excuse seemed "lame". I think it was something like, "despite his affection for the franchise, he decided to pursue other projects". GE could have been a tour de force for Dalts. Just imagine certain scenes with Dalton: showdown and fight with Trevelyn...the scene on the beach with Natalya...
GE was so intended for Dalton and his talents. But the public wanted Brosnan. the rest is history.
Take a look at that. All of you need to know on the decision that should never have been made.
It will be interesting to hear - very many years from now - what really happened with Dalton leaving. I am inclined to believe that Dalton knew that he wasn't an audience favourite (at least as far as the studio was concerned) and saw the writing on the wall. Looks like all involved handled it in a very mature, professional manner.
Unfortunately it's true, Dalton, while successful, isn't a tenth of how big he could have been had he stuck with Bond.
Though maybe he prefers that. He's a pretty quiet guy
The whole scene with Dame Judi giving him a dressing down as a 'mysoginist dinosaur' would have been better with Dalts - by then he'd have been a good deal older and it would have all worked quite nicely. Cut the stupid plane stunt at the start and it might have been a decent movie. Although the naff look and tone of the film might not have suited Dalton's style.
Actually Remington Steele was almost canceled until news broke that Brosnan was cast as Bond (he was actually signed). NBC renewed Steele at the 11th hour in order to ride the Bond publicity waive. The producers of Steele wanted to work around the Bond shooting schedule, but it was Cubby who decided to drop Brosnan. He did not want his big screen Bond on the small screen every week.
As for Dalton quitting the role for GE, that is the story that was given to the press. It is not a greatly kept secret that the real reason "Dalton retired" is that John Calley (then head of MGM) refused to greenlight GE unless the role was recast. Calley was the one pushing for Brosnan, EON wanted to continue with Dalton.
DICK!!!! You mean Dalton may have wanted to come back for GoldenEye if not for Calley's meddling??
We must find this man and destroy him
>:)
Too late, Calley passed away last year.
Good movie that.
I'd say Brozza was definitely out-acted by Williams (the best performance in the film) but not sure about McGregor.
The irony is that Brozza himself has a fair bit in common with the Lang character. A man who was once loved but now isn't and left under a cloud. That's probably why they cast him.
A couple of good interviews below.
But then he said "keep it simple" and "dont walk into the furniture" and I thought...umm...maybe I wasnt wrong on him after all...
Why chose Pierce? Well, he oozes charm like Blair and can win people over. He is charming and funny during the GMTV interview. Blair was the most charming man in the world until people saw through him.
Maybe he just needs good material and The Ghost was that.
So who to turn to next? Obviously the guy who had almost been selected nearly a decade before.
I don't think there wasn't a consensus when they chose Pierce.
Speaking of Goldeneye, At time of production in 1995 the producers actually pulled off a cunning deal to save a few pounds on a party for the cast and crew. It was thrown at Planet Hollywood free of charge - in return for memorabilia handed over by (new at the time) 007 Pierce Brosnan. A major Vodka company provided free liquor also. Former Bond actor Roger Moore turned up on the last day of filming on 12 June 1995 also and was pictured with Brosnan on the set of Leavesden Airfield and even told bosses 'If Pierce doesn't work out, I'm free for the next Bond picture'