http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/01/PKGTCGCNDS1.DTL&type=movies
Brosnan was fired from the role in 2004 after four successful
films, from "GoldenEye" in 1995 to "Die Another Day" in 2002. The
Brosnan Bonds, which resurrected a franchise that had languished
since 1983's "Octopussy," grossed $1.45 billion.
"There have been preposterous ideas that I was asking for $40
million and $30 million, which is not true," Brosnan says. "There
was certainly a salary there that was not out of the ballpark, that
other men and women have received for the same (type of
film)."
Brosnan leans back a little farther in his chair.
"The phone just (rang) one day and negotiations stopped. To this
day, I'm not sure why," he says. "I was terribly upset. It was a
real body blow. I thought I'd made some good inroads with the
character." So "The Matador" is his first post-Bond film, and also
his first film as an American. Brosnan, an environmentalist and
keen political observer, became a U.S. citizen in 2004.
"America embraced me 23 years ago when I got off the plane, and I
embraced it right back. I have an American wife, American
children," he says. "It's very simple, really. I wanted to vote. I
wanted a voice. I'm frightened for the future, for my children. I'm
concerned.
"But above all else, I'm hopeful," he adds. "You must keep the
faith -- and keep a sense of humor."
