There’s been much talk about Idris Elba being cast as the next James Bond, potentially becoming the first black man to portray 007 on the big screen. However, Pierce Brosnan has said that he could also see the womanising secret agent being portrayed as gay man in future movies.

“Sure. Why not?” he said to Details magazine about whether such a script might be possible, before adding, “Actually, I don't know how it would work. I don't think Barbara [Broccoli, Bond producer] would allow a gay Bond to happen in her lifetime. But it would certainly make for interesting viewing.”

Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan sees no reason why Bond couldn't be written as a gay character

Brosnan was the fifth actor to be cast as Bond, and starred in four movies: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). He was then succeeded by Daniel Craig, who is the current 007 and due to star in his fourth film Spectre in October this year.

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The Irish actor then chimed in with his thoughts on the (totally unconfirmed) rumours about Elba's potential casting, giving his support to the idea. “Let's start with a great black actor being James Bond. Idris Elba certainly has the physicality, the charisma, the presence. But I think Daniel will be there for a while yet.”

Earlier this month, British actor David Oyelowo was announced as the first black actor to portray Bond in any medium. He’ll be providing the voice of 007 in the audiobook version of the new Bond novel ‘Trigger Mortis’ penned by Anthony Horowitz, which is released in September this year.

Speaking to The Guardian, the Selma actor said “I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: 'I am the new James Bond' - even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the 'to be or not to be' speech.”

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