Pierce Brosnan gave James Bond fans an unexpected thrill when a perfectly timed camera shot at the US Open appeared to pay tribute to his iconic 007 character, states NDTV.
The Irish actor was among the celebrities watching the US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Germany’s Alexander Zverev took on American player Ben Shelton.
During the broadcast, the ESPN camera briefly focused on a clock showing 0:07 before cutting to Brosnan in the stands. The timing immediately reminded viewers of his famous role as British secret agent James Bond.
The official US Open Instagram account also joined in on the fun, sharing the moment with the caption, “The name is, Bond. James Bond.”
Fans quickly praised the camerawork and its timing. One viewer wrote, “Give the cameraman a raise,” while another called the moment “so cool”.
A third fan suggested the sequence had been deliberately planned, writing, “Naaaah! This was strategically planned. 007 style.” Another simply described it as “Absolute cinema.”
Brosnan played Bond in four films — GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day — between 1995 and 2002.
His run as 007 helped revive the franchise after a six-year gap following Timothy Dalton’s final Bond film. Daniel Craig later took over the role in Casino Royale in 2006 and played the character in four films before ending his tenure in 2021.
The search for the next Bond actor is now under way. Brosnan recently discussed the casting process in an interview with The Times, saying that several strong candidates are being considered.
“There are lots of good hats in the ring,” he said, adding that “lots of great actors” could be in contention.
Brosnan also suggested that the producers could surprise audiences by choosing an unknown actor. When asked if he could name his preferred candidate, he refused to give anything away.
“I wouldn’t pick anyone. My wife told me not to say anything and I’ve said too much,” Brosnan said, explaining that his comments could quickly spread and create trouble for him.
Meanwhile, Brosnan is set to appear in Extraction 3, starring Chris Hemsworth. The film is currently in production.
