Brosnan: Bond is 'behind me'

Pierce Brosnan appears to be turning in his licence to kill.

“That’s it,” Brosnan told Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com. “I’ve said all I’ve got to say on the world of James Bond.”

In an interview on the magazine’s website yesterday, the Irish actor said 2002’s Die Another Day was his last mission on Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

“Bond is another lifetime behind me,” Brosnan said.

But the 51-year-old’s statement might be a negotiating ploy. Original Bond Sean Connery quit for a whole movie before being lured back for a bigger fee. If true, England-based Eon Productions, which produces the Bond films, must find another star to carry 007’s Walther PPK in the 21st Bond movie, scheduled for release next year.

Speculation surrounds actors Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gerard Butler, Jude Law and Ewan McGregor, as well as Aussies Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Eric Bana.

For Brosnan, playing Bond will always be a fond memory.

“We went out on a high,” Brosnan said, “and I look back affectionately at that time and doing those four movies. But I’ve said all I’ve got to say on it.”