James Bond: Pierce Brosnan BLAMES Jason Bourne for modern 007’s lack of humour

When Daniel Craig became James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, the gritty spy thriller was a far cry from the franchise’s last outing Die Another Die.

Brosnan had bowed out in 2002 with a camp, silly affair involving an invisible car and cheesy one-liners.

That same year the first Jason Bourne movie was released, a much more serious take on the spook genre.

And its films like these that Brosnan now blames not only for his contract ending as Bond but the franchise’s current lack of humour.

Speaking with The Rake, the 65-year-old actor said: “I knew there had been a seismic shift [with films like The Bourne Identity], and little did I know I was going to be part of that in the curtain falling on my contract.

“I knew they had to make adjustments. They had strong competition and they haven’t reinvented it, but given it a much more muscular, dynamic twist.

“When I played [Bond], you have to let the audience in that this is a fantastic joke.

“What I am doing here, jumping off a motorcycle and catching up a plane, is completely preposterous.”

Back in June Brosnan admitted that apart from Goldeneye, his Bond was never good enough.

Speaking with Daily Mail, he said: “I was caught between Sean Connery’s Bond and Roger Moore’s Bond, and it was only really in GoldenEye that I did my Bond.”

The 65-year-old also explained how he had “issues for many years” having been dropped from the role, after 2002’s Die Another Day, by a teary Barbara Broccoli over the phone.

Nevertheless he’s much more positive about his time as 007 sixteen years since he left the role.

Brosnan added: “Now I just have great feelings about Bond.

“I loved the irony of being an Irishman playing this quintessential English character. I love what it did for me as an actor.”