[mi6]

Rumors have been circling about Brosnan's continued participation in the series since February of this year when a story "leaked" to the press that MGM had privately fired Brosnan from the role. Generally regarded by most as a trial balloon by the studio to see what the public reaction would be to a change of actor in the Bond franchise, the public's reaction seemed to overwhelmingly support Brosnan. MGM has kept quiet since Brosnan's statements this week but representatives at EON Productions contacted by IGN FilmForce have told us privately that they weren't surprised by the comments in the press. "If the money and some other things are right, Pierce is back but he'll walk if those things don't come together. He's at a place [in his life] where he can do anything he wants and if he never makes another Bond film, he'll be just as happy as he would be if he starred in Bond 21."

Brosnan has been vocal about the quality of the scripts for the films since he took over the role. In an interview with our pals over at CHUD, Brosnan commented that the films were in a rut and that the first 1/3 of Die Another Day should have been the tone for the rest of the film. "...they [the producers] broke out of it too soon into the formulaic, safe side. They're too scared." Brosnan also dropped some clues in that interview that may indicate what he's looking for if he's going to sign a contract for Bond 21. "More of a character-driven piece.... Certainly more of a character-driven piece and what is going to happen next in the story because now we're just saturated †“ it's wonderful the spectacle they create. It's fantastic. But I love the last one and where it was going †“ until we got to Hong Kong and I was into the suit and into the old straitjacket of playing [Bond].""