Pierce Brosnan’s Career Low Point 23 Years Ago: “That Call Hurt Like Hell”

Some phone calls are unforgettable. For Pierce Brosnan, who recently supported Tom Hardy amid the MobLand controversy, one such call marked a pivotal moment in his career: he was informed that he would no longer play James Bond. This harsh news took a long time for him to come to terms with, as he revealed in an interview with Daily Mail.

Pierce Brosnan Struggled with Ending His James Bond Journey

In the early 1980s, Pierce Brosnan landed the role of Remington Steele in the namesake series, starring opposite Stephanie Zimbalist as Laura Holt. Over five seasons and 94 episodes, he played the enigmatic gentleman. Around the same time, he also received a golden opportunity to join the 007 saga, thanks in part to his former wife, Cassandra Harris, who had appeared in the 1981 film, For Your Eyes Only, opening doors for him.

However, a contractual issue with the Remington Steele series disrupted his plans. The actor found himself unable to accept the role. The way Pierce Brosnan learned that he would ultimately not play James Bond, whose salary is now public knowledge, was extremely upsetting. In the interview, he recalled the phone call that broke the news: “It was incredibly painful to receive that call“, he said, describing his reaction: “I just said ‘Okay’, hung up, and that was it. I was no longer Bond.”

The Role Later Went to Daniel Craig

It was a tough moment for the actor who, a few years later, finally secured the coveted role and held onto it for nearly a decade, from 1995 to 2002 (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day). Following Pierce Brosnan’s exit, producers began searching for a new actor.

As we all know, Daniel Craig was chosen to wear the tuxedo, starting in 2006 with Casino Royale. This decision proved to be successful, as he went on to portray James Bond in four additional films: Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and finally No Time to Die.

Now, after Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, it’s time for another actor to take over. In 2028, Denis Villeneuve will direct James Bond 26. The successor may have already been chosen. So, who will be the next worthy heir to Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig?