Pierce Brosnan Reacts to Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Rumored Casting as James Bond: He 'Has the Chops' to Play Him

“I would definitely tip my hat to the fellow,” Brosnan said of the actor, whom he worked with in 2009's 'The Greatest'

Pierce Brosnan would happily watch Aaron Taylor-Johnson step into James Bond’s perfectly polished shoes.

While appearing on RTÉ Radio 1’s The Ray D'Arcy Show last week, a fan asked the actor — who portrayed the iconic spy in four films from 1995 through 2002 — how he feels about the rumor that Taylor-Johnson may be the next Bond.

“I think the man has the chops and the talent and the charisma to play Bond, very much so,” Brosnan, 70, said of the actor.

Related: From Connery to Craig, All the Actors Who've Played James Bond 

Brosnan also recalled acting alongside Taylor-Johnson, 33, in one of his production company Irish DreamTime’s earliest projects, and lauded his performance in the film.

“One of the first movies we made, one of the earliest movies, was The Greatest. And he was the greatest in it,” he said of the 2009 film, which also starred Brosnan, Carey Mulligan and Susan Sarandon.

“So, yes, I read the news about his possibilities of being a Bond, so I would definitely tip my hat to the fellow,” Brosnan added.

When asked what advice he would give Taylor-Johnson should he step into 007’s iconic shoes, the actor said: “Be bold. Go out there. Have a great time.”

“Just love it,” he added. “Just go for it. You can do it.”

Taylor-Johnson has not confirmed or denied his involvement in a new Bond project. He avoided the topic altogether in a recent interview with Rolling Stone UK, saying, "I can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell."

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Elsewhere in his The Ray D'Arcy Show appearance, Brosnan reflected on his own stint as the British secret agent — created by famed spy novelist Ian Fleming — whom he said he was destined to portray.

Brosnan said long before he nabbed the role, he and his first wife, the late actress Cassandra Harris (who starred in a Bond movie of her own, For Your Eyes Only) “joked about my being James Bond” — and then he actually got the chance.

The Mamma Mia actor was offered the role for 1987’s The Living Daylights, but had to turn it down to continue his stint on the drama series Remington Steele, so Timothy Dalton became the next Bond.

Related: Pierce Brosnan Says Cillian Murphy Would 'Do a Magnificent Job' Playing James Bond

Then, two Dalton Bond films and six years later, Brosnan was offered the role once again, and made his big-screen debut as the secret agent in 1995’s GoldenEye.

“It was my destiny, I guess, to play this role, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” he said, adding, “I’m very proud of the work.”

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