Pierce Brosnan starred in four James Bond films from 1995-2002

Brosnan, who has appeared in four Bond blockbusters, said he agreed to film a fifth but was "gutted" when filmmakers changed their minds.

"When they told me, I was angry and the conversation was pretty short and sweet," he told Jonathan Ross' TV show.

Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor have been mooted as possible replacements.

Brosnan first played the famous spy in 1995's GoldenEye, followed by Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

Pierce Brosnan has said he wants Colin Farrell to replace him

"They invited me back, and they changed their minds half-way through negotiations. It's hard to find the truth," he said on BBC One's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

"If you get uptight it just does your head in so you've got to let it go."

He said he felt a "great sense of liberation" after he was told. "I thought they did me a favour, really... leave while you're on top."

Sean Connery first played Bond in the 1960s, followed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton before Brosnan took over.

Brosnan recently said Irish hellraiser Colin Farrell, who one of the stars of Minority Report, Phone Booth and forthcoming epic Alexander, would be his choice to be next.