007 race heats up

2004-11-02 12:32

Dublin - Pierce Brosnan, the actor who has played British agent James Bond in the last four 007 films, says he thinks fellow Irishman Colin Farrell would be his ideal successor.

Brosnan, 51, said several actors could fill his shoes for the coveted role, which he began in 1995 with GoldenEye and concluded with 2002's Die Another Day.

"But I'll give it to Colin Farrell. He'll eat the head off them all," Brosnan said following an entertainment awards ceremony in Dublin.

Farrell, 28, appeared with Tom Cruise in the 2002 science fiction movie Minority Report and has the title role in Oliver Stone's forthcoming epic Alexander.

Brosnan didn't specify any other actors that he thought would make a good 007.

Making a plea

Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman is calling on James Bond casting directors to make him the new 007.

The Australian actor says he is desperate to take over the role from Pierce Brosnan and is happy to fight fellow frontrunners Farrell, Jude Law and Colin Firth for the part.

The X-Men star is so obsessed with playing the spy, he admitted to starting the rumour he was in negotiations with producers, reports Femalefirst.

But, while his rivals are keeping quiet, Jackman reportedly said: "There is something very secretive about the way they cast that role. I've never had an official call asking: 'Are you interested or not?'

"But there's no guy I know who wouldn't want that role - and that includes me. Anyone who says otherwise is lying."

Last October, the producers of the planned 21st Bond film, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, informed Brosnan he's too old to be cast again as Bond.

Speculation about the next Bond has since been rife.

- AP