Pierce Brosnan: Lost Bond

Los Angeles, Aug. 31 (Reuters): Where is James Bond?

With production set to begin in January on the 21st Bond picture, Casino Royale, the dashing movie hero who dates back to the 1960s might as well be missing in action.

The latest Bond film, Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan, was released by MGM in 2002. But last year, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the sibling producers who control the Bond franchise, told the 52-year-old Irishman, the fifth actor to portray Bond, that after four films they would not require his services for the new one.

According to sources, the producers and Brosnan were too far apart on terms to close a deal. One executive at Sony, which now controls MGM, described Brosnan’s salary demands ? reportedly near $30 million ? as “usurious”. Still, commented Steven Jay Rubin, author of The Complete James Bond Encyclopedia: “They shouldn’t have let him go. Now they have to find a guy they can patch up to a seven-year contract.”

“It was a big mistake to let Pierce go,” agreed casting agent Debra Zane. “He’s got it all. Who cares if he’s in his early fifties? He’s completely Bond.”

As a result, the producers now face the difficult challenge of casting a new Bond.

The difficulty of that task became apparent shortly after a consortium headed by Sony announced its plan in September to acquire MGM and its assets.

In November, the many players who are involved in casting the new Bond, including Amy Pascal, chairman of the Sony Pictures Entertainment, held their first meeting at a British men’s club in London, but they were unable to reach an agreement.

Casino Royale is scheduled to start production in January for an October release. Once again, Judi Dench will play M. and John Cleese will be Q. The casting of a new Miss Moneypenny is moving forward.

But so far there’s no Bond in sight. Broccoli and Wilson, her half-brother often don’t agree with each other on the casting possibilities. Broccoli liked Layer Cake star Daniel Craig, 37, but Wilson didn’t.

Broccoli also thought Australian Hugh Jackman, 36, who played Wolverine in X-Men, wasn’t masculine enough. Colin Farrell, 29, was too much of a bad boy. Eric Bana, 37, star of Troy and the upcoming Munich, wasn’t good-looking enough. Ewan McGregor, 34, was too short.

“It’s a tough casting job to replace someone whose qualities are stuck in people’s heads,” said Marcia Ross, senior VP casting at Walt Disney Studios. “You have to find someone with similar elements. He has to be charming, intelligent, sexy, commanding and authoritative.”