Ship kicker Bond?

BEVERLY HILLS. 

Pierce Brosnan is ready to kick some serious butt. Most specifically some Titanic butt.

James Cameron's $200-million US romantic epic Titanic opens the same day as Brosnan's second outing as British superspy James Bond, Tomorrow Never Dies.

The Bond film was always slated for a Dec. 19th opening, whereas Titanic sailed into the spot when Cameron was unwilling to deliver his film for a summer release.

"I understand Cameron has been making some disparaging remarks about us," says Brosnan in response to Cameron's recent remark that the last Bond film, Goldeneye, grossed less than his Titanic cost to make.

"Our worldwide grosses for Goldeneye exceeded $350 million US. That makes it the biggest grossing Bond film of all time.

"That hardly suggests the franchise is on its last legs.

"James Cameron is a big old pussycat. He's scared. He knows we're going to kick his butt come Dec. 19."

Brosnan has been feeling this feisty for the better part of 1997. He starred in Mars Attacks and Dante's Peak and then stepped back into Bond's tuxedo.

"I'll admit now that I was pretty scared making Goldeneye. There was a real comfort zone with this second one. The success of Goldeneye proved I didn't embarrass myself."

Brosnan replaced Timothy Dalton after The Living Daylights and License to Kill received only lukewarm reception. He knew he was expected to revive the Bond franchise.

Brosnan has already been signed for the 19th Bond feature, which is slated for a Thanksgiving 1999 release.

"In my contract, the studio (MGM/UA) has the option to use me for a fourth film. That puts all the decisions in their corner.

"It's pretty difficult to say what I'll be doing four years from now. If I still have my own hair and the old body isn't exactly falling apart, I'd be game," says Brosnan, who turned 44 this year.

In Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond's assignment is to stop a power-hungry media mogul from starting a war between Britain and China.

Though there is a tentative start date for the 19th Bond feature, there is no plot, writer, director or stars other than Brosnan assigned to the project.

"I'd love to see a real wild spin for the next one. I'd like to see what would happen if Bond tried to retire. I know you can't mess too much with a successful formula but it would certainly be fun to push the envelope as far as possible."

Brosnan says he'd also like to see a new breed of director at the helm of the next Bond film.

"It boggles my mind what somebody like Quentin Tarantino, Danny Boyle, John McTiernan or John Woo could do with a Bond film. I know any one of them would give the franchise a real kick in the pants.

"Martin Scorsese said he'd like to direct one or, failing that, play a villain in one.

"I doubt any of this will happen because these films are a family affair and it's a pretty closed shop."

Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have been guiding the Bond films since 1977 under the watchful eye of Albert (Cubby) Broccoli who, with the late Harry Saltzman, created the franchise in 1962. Cubby Broccoli died in 1994.

There are a few subtle changes in Brosnan's Bond this time around.

He no longer smokes, even though Brosnan is a cigar aficionado.

"It didn't seem like it would be a cool thing for Bond to smoke any more. I find that a bit ironic considering he still drinks his martinis and shooters of vodka. He also beds his share of women.

"Sex and booze are still acceptable vices. Smoking isn't."

Brosnan's Bond is also carrying a bit more weight.

"I bulked up a bit because this one was even more physical than Goldeneye. I have a personal trainer working with me at all times.

"It you're going to do movies like this, you'd better have the stamina."

On Dec. 3, Brosnan received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"It was a real thrill. I've been in Hollywood for 16 years now but this says I've finally arrived. I'm going to be down there every morning polishing it."

Brosnan's star is shining is his private life as well.

He and his companion Keely Shaye-Smith had a boy, Dylan Thomas Brosnan, this past April.

"He's called Dylan because Keely and I both love that name and Thomas after both our fathers. I can't describe how happy Keely and Dylan Thomas have made me. They have completed my wonderful family."

Brosnan has two stepchildren, Charlotte, 25, and Christopher, 24, and Sean, 13, from his first marriage to Cassandra Harris. She died at age 39 in 1991 from cancer.

"I am a very lucky man. Many people never find one perfect partner. I found two."