Pierce Brosnan has entered the 007 chat.
The James Bond casting speculation has well and truly ramped up with a shortlist of rumoured frontrunners to succeed Daniel Craig. After Jack Lowden received public support from his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman to be the next Bond, former 007 himself, Pierce Brosnan, has weighed in on who would be a "strong" choice to play the world's most famous secret agent.
Pierce, who transformed into the iconic spy for four films from 1995 to 2002, has given his former co-star Callum Turner his stamp of approval. The pair co-starred in Marc Webb's 2017 drama film The Only Living Boy.
© Getty Images"Oh, I’m just an audience member now. I’m just the man in the street who is eager to see who is going to play this epic role of cinematic history," Pierce told Vanity Fair in a new interview.
He continued: "All the men who are on the list now are actors I admire. Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong.
"They all have a voice and a physique, and a presence on film. They all have longevity as actors, all of these young men."
© Getty ImagesWho are the other frontrunners?
Jack Lowden recently broke his silence on the 007 speculation, telling British GQ that it was "all very flattering" after his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman previously admitted that his "fingers are crossed" for Jack to land the part.
"It’s nice to be mentioned – for any role – and I’m just not really going to add to the noise," Jack told the publication.
"It’s very nice, and Gary’s a sweetheart – it’s particularly lovely, coming from someone like him. But I don’t really listen to it."
"As a young male actor, generally, the minute you’re not playing a zany artist type, the minute you’re in a suit, people fling it at you."
© Getty ImagesAnother of Jack's Slow Horses co-stars, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, told The Times that Jack would be "very good" in the role.
"Oh God, I wish I knew. He’d be very, very good," she said when asked about the rumours. "He’s got that twinkle, he’s cheeky and he’s a very, very good actor."
With screen tests reportedly well underway, The Crown star Josh O'Connor has been rumoured as another 007 frontrunner alongside a fourth "mystery" actor.
