Actor Pierce Brosnan, who famously portrayed the iconic British spy James Bond from 1995 to 2002, has weighed in on the ongoing speculation about who will take over the coveted role after Daniel Craig's departure.

Brosnan believes that it is a "given" that the next Bond should be British, emphasizing the importance of preserving the character's cultural roots.

Report says, Brosnan expressed his support for the decision of the Bond producers to hand over creative control to Amazon, following the streaming giant's acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) — the studio behind the James Bond franchise. The actor said he thought it was the "right decision" to allow Amazon to shape the future of the franchise, given the rapidly evolving landscape of the entertainment industry.

With Craig's tenure as Bond officially ending after his final appearance in No Time to Die in 2021, the hunt for the next James Bond has been the subject of widespread speculation. Fans and bookmakers alike have been placing their bets on who will succeed Craig, with several popular British actors emerging as frontrunners.

Among those widely rumored to take on the role are Happy Valley star James Norton, Bullet Train actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and White Lotus breakout star Theo James — all of whom are English. Their names have consistently topped the bookmakers' list, and each has amassed strong fan support to become the next face of the MI6 agent.

Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in four films including GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002), believes that the British identity of the character is essential to maintaining the authenticity of the role. He noted that while global audiences have embraced the franchise, it remains crucial that Bond's roots are honored by casting someone from the United Kingdom.

"Whoever they choose will undoubtedly bring their own flair to the role, but I think it’s a given that James Bond should always be British," Brosnan remarked.

As the anticipation continues to build, fans are eagerly waiting for the official announcement from EON Productions regarding who will fill Bond’s shoes. Whether it will be Norton, Taylor-Johnson, James, or another rising star, one thing remains clear — the legacy of James Bond, as Brosnan emphasized, should stay authentically British.