Pierce Brosnan, Former James Bond, Endorses Casting of Jewish Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Iconic Role

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan is the latest former James Bond to endorse British Jewish actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson amid reports that the latter may be cast to play the iconic British secret agent role in a new film.

Taylor-Johnson, 33, has reportedly been offered the role of Bond, which has been most recently played for the last two decades by British actor Daniel Craig. Taylor-Johnson, who is a Golden Globe winner, was given a formal offer to star in the 26th Bond film, and production on the project is set to commence later this year, according to media reports. After news surfaced about Taylor-Johnson’s potential casting, “#BoycottJamesBond” began trending on X/Twitter. Social media users said they would stop watching the 007 films if the Jewish Bullet Train star was cast in the lead role.

However, Brosnan said last week on The Ray D’Arcy Show, an Irish daily radio show, that he thinks Taylor-Johnson would make a great 007.

“Yes, I read the news about his possibilities of being a Bond, so I would definitely tip my hat to the fellow,” Brosnan said about Taylor-Johnson, who played his son in the 2009 film The Greatest. “I think the man has the chops and the talent and the charisma to play Bond, very much so,” Brosnan added.

Brosnan played Bond in the films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day.

George Lazenby, the Australian actor who played Bond in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, has also voiced support for Taylor-Johnson in a recent interview with TMZ.

Jonathan Pryce, who played the villain Elliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies, said he also thinks Taylor-Johnson would be a terrific Bond. Pryce said last week on the talk show Good Morning Britain: “He’s grown into a wonderful actor and when he was a little younger, he did this extraordinary sort of action film where he played a superhero. And he’s great, look at him now, he’s black tie, handsome and yeah, he’d be a great Bond.”

Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton are among the actors who have played the iconic role of Bond. Craig stepped away from the character in 2021 after No Time to Die, his fifth film in the franchise.