Actor Pierce Brosnan has said it is "perfectly natural" for the next James Bond to be British, the BBC reports.

The former Agent 007 performer also said he thought it was the "right decision" for the franchise's longtime producers to hand creative control to Amazon.

"It takes a lot of courage to let go of control.I hope Amazon will approach the story, the character and the work with dignity, imagination and respect," Irishman Brosnan said.

The choice of Daniel Craig's successor will be picked up by Amazon MGM Studios.

Who could be the next Bond?

Among the bookies' favourites are James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James - all English.

Two non-British actors have played Bond in the past - Australian George Lazenby and Irishman Piers Brosnan.

So far 007 has never been American, but among the names being bandied about for the role is California-born Austin Butler.

Other possible non-British candidates include Irishmen Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy and Aidan Turner, as well as Australian Jacob Ellordie.

Clint Eastwood previously revealed he turned down the role after being asked to succeed Sean Connery in 1967.

"I didn't feel in the right place to play Bond," Eastwood later shared.

The future of the franchise

Under the deal announced last month, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson - will remain co-owners of the franchise, but Amazon MGM Studios will get creative control.

Brosnan, 71, told Britain's Telegraph:

"The story goes on and I'm very proud to have been part of the Bond legacy and the films I made with Barbara and Michael."

It is not clear when the next Bond film will be announced, nor when filming will begin.

The last film in the series, No Time To Die, was released in 2021 and was the last with Daniel Craig in the lead role.

Since a blockbuster takes years to make, the gap between Death Can Wait and the next film could become the longest in the franchise's history, surpassing the six-year record between previous films.

Brosnan played James Bond in four films, from 1995's GoldenEye to 2002's Die Another Day | BGNES