Pierce Brosnan is doing a pretty good job feeling sorry for himself. He gave a “woe is me” interview to Parade Magazine, bemoaning the ageism that’s rampant through Hollywood. Women have dealt with it from the beginning, but apparently it’s trickling down to the men, too. Pierce didn’t know that he would be replaced as James Bond at a mere 51-years-old. Though he still had a decent film career, Brosnan talks about the trauma and sadness of being kicked out for a younger model.
While Sean Connery and Roger Moore played James Bond well into their 50s (58 and 53, respectively), Pierce was revoked of his license to kill at age 51 for the then-37-year-old Daniel Craig, which definitely took him by surprise.
“I didn’t see that coming,” the actor tells Parade magazine. “I never thought of myself as being too old. It was startling to hear such things said about oneself, especially when you thought you were going down that particular avenue and then the door gets slammed in your face.”
The Irish stud knew his days as 007 were numbered, but figured producers would give him one last hurrah before passing the torch. “I thought we were going to do a fifth film,” he says. “And I was going to take a gracious bow off the stage. Instead of that you’re just told, ‘Goodbye.'”
Now 55, Pierce has since traded in tuxes for t-shirts, living with wife Keely and their sons Dylan, 11, and Paris, 7, in Hawaii. His next flick, a big-screen production of Mamma Mia! hits theaters July 18, and he has made peace with his Bond axing. “That’s the way it goes down in life,” he says. “It’s as hard and as fast as that.”
[From OK! Magazine]
It’s hard to tell if it’s OK’s spin on the story, but it comes off like Pierce Brosnan is throwing himself quite the pity party. Here he is on the beach in Hawaii with his son today. Images thanks to Splash.
Did it really have anything to do with his age? I thought it had more to do with the fact he was the least commercially successful Bond since George Lazenby.
To me it sounds like he is sharing his story about his feelings-something he does not often do. He is showing his vulnerability. It is not as if he went on and on. I was very surprised too. I actually have not seen a Bond movie since him.
I don’t think the problem was Brosnan, the problem was the movies. They just kept getting worse! Casino Royale was a much-needed shot in the arm for the franchise and Brosnan’s Bond wouldn’t have fit into it.
WHAT?!? I’ve just read that and then re-read it and I don’t get one single ounce of self-pity in what he said. It was a major coup for him when he got the role, and a real shock when he was axed and dumped for a younger, edgier model. I think he’s being really honest here – other guys might pretend it was of no importance but this shows his lack of ego if anything.
I think you’re being really hard on him.
Scott F – Actually, I think Brosnan’s four films made more money than all of the other Bond films combined (even adjusting for inflation)… but I could be wrong on that. 🙂
Geronimo – I disagree. It does sound like a pity party to me, and it’s one he’s been having for several years. This is like the tenth interview where he’s bemoaning the fact that the Bond producers wanted to go in a new direction. Or perhaps my love of uber-hottie Daniel Craig is swaying my emotions…
But, in any case, I like Pierce Brosnan, and hope he gets more work. There was some rumor about him doing a sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair…
Less successful than Dalton? You sure about that Scott. I could check for myself of course, but he’s my favourite Bond, so I’m sticking to what makes me feel better 😉
I believe that the old Cubby Broccoli formula had pretty much run it’s course. The success of the Bourne Ultimatum showed that a Bond-like franchise that was high on action but also high on plot and characterisation would bring on more women than traditionally assumed
(I’m basing this partly on the fact that in the organisation I worked last year, the Bourne Ultimatum was far more anticipated by the women than the men).
Anyway, he’s such a lovely bloke, so I doubt that he’s being self-pitying – just candid about what he’d expected to happen and what really did happen.
I believe, as said by another blogger in above comments, that the movies sucked (script and plot-wise speaking).
Changing of James Bond face allowed the franchise to introduce the audience to a new James Bond era… It’s a simple strategy.
Personnally, I thought Pierce Brosnan looked very much James Bond-ish. I’m not crazy about odd-lips Daniel Craig.
Really, K/DH/WTF? Can’t say I’ve paid much attention so don’t recall him moaning in the past. I’m just going on this and certainly didn’t read it like that.
ps. I love Daniel Craig too and think he’s most definitely capable of swaying a gal’s emotions. 😆
BTW, my guess is that Brosnan is answering questions, and the interviewers don’t have any new ones.
Daniel Craig can sway any part of me he wants.
I actually liked Dalton as Bond, and I was rooting for Brosnon to get it back in his Remington Steele days, but now that I’ve seen Craig in the role, no one else is gonna do.
*sigh* *drool*
I love Pierce and he was hilarious in ‘The Matador’ a movie that kind of got overlooked. His comedic timing in that was
excellent. He’ll still get work it’s a blessing in disguise; the Bond franchise has long lost it’s cache.
i like him fine i just don’t think he was BOND. Im glad for the change with Daniel Craig who… does things to me I didn’t know were possible just by existing.
but the new movies are just such a great refreshing change to the tired old bond persona.
Um…wasnt Casino Royale supposedly set in Bonds earlier years? Pierce, although i love him as Bond…would not have fit the mold of a younger Bond. So its understandable to me that they moved on to Craig.
I personally loved all the Bonds. Sean Connery the most!
Maybe if he became a scientoolagist he coulda kept his gig.
Not really seeing the pity here. I liked him as Bond. I like him as an actor. I like Daniel Craig. Actually, I wouldn’t turn either of them down.
But unless there is some part of the interview that we’re missing, I don’t hear any whining.
He’s so insanely handsome. I don’t care for the Bond movies but I thought he suited the role. When they announced Daniel Craig, I couldn’t figure out why they’d take an ugly Bond. Then I saw the previews. I’d bang that guy six ways to Sunday.
Hey I dont care what anyone says. Pierce is, has and will always be my lover man. Talk about sexy as hell. mm mm mm
I don’t think Brosnan is throwing a pity party at all. And I think he was a great Bond. That said, Daniel Craig is so drop dead gorgeous but in a totally different way than PB. I think they were just going for a totally different look for Bond–and even though they say Craig is now 40, I think he looks the same age as Brosnan.
Being damn near 50 myself, I don’t think it’s a pity party. You really DON’T feel inside, like what people are seeing outside. You think adolescence was a weird identity trip, try midlife!
But it kinda serves him right, I don’t know if he was ready to defend Rene Russo when they were talking about sequeling The Thomas Crown Affair but they didn’t want to use her…
Anyway, they were hot in that movie. Much more erotic than these little skinny 20-somethings….
Men are surprised that age is a factor for them, too. Women want eye candy and as a man ages, he gets less appealing to us. Sorry Brosnan, get over it.
I liked Daulton as Bond much better than Brosnan. But next to Connery (who is the real Bond) I will take Daniel Craig any day of the week.
He has that Steve McQueen thing going on for him…manly sexy in a weird way. I was not a Bond fan of late as the scripts were awful (invisible aston martin at the ice palace anyone?)
But when Craig came out of the water at the Ocean Club….I was on board. He has refreshed the franchise and I am looking forward to the next installment
I personally think Daniel Craig doesn’t look that drastically younger than Brosnan… I think I may be in the minority in that I didn’t think Craig was all that hot.
Not a pity party, just stating his feelings.
And yes, Craig looks good in his swimsuit but no, he is absolutely not better looking than Brosnan.
i cannot stand daniel craigs lips. he is obviously always sticking them out in a pout and it was to the point where it was distracting in the movie for me. it’s the only bond movie i’ve ever seen so i cant judge either way, but i think pierce brosnan is SO hot, and i always have lol
I think he had every right to be upset/disappointed, and he’s just being vocal – which is refreshing, actually! I adore Brosnan, because I think he’s always been genuine…and honestly, after Connery, he was my favorite Bond. Just yummy, classy and able to deliver those cliche-campy lines perfectly. New one is rawer, and sexier but Brosnan was pure class and closer to the original character. Am sad that I will never see him as this character again, but he’ll be around for a long time – he has nothing to worry about. Women under 30 still want him — me, included!!
I love pierce he is genuine and honest he can only repeat himself so many times, he gave us great bond films his face is an icon of james bond, like all thing in life there will always be change, he has come to terms and is going forward, i will continue to watch and wait for all his new and upcoming projects. sincerely cj
I love you . I think you r HOT. You where so good in Mamma Mia. Can i be you Bond girl from South Africa 🙂