Ex-Bond Trades Spying for Singing

Ex-Bond actor Pierce Brosnan's next role is a far cry from the action and adventure-packed world of British espionage. Brosnan has jumped on the opportunity to act in a big-screen adaptation of Mamma Mia. The musical is one of the most successful in Broadway history, grossing more than $2 billion since its London debut in 1999. The story revolves around a young woman attempting to find her real father, played out to the hit songs of the Swedish super-band, Abba. According to Brosnan, he leapt at the chance to work with Oscar-winner Meryl Streep, and producer Judy Craymer hopes that the pair will have great chemistry. Brosnan's secondary motivation in taking the role, according to the actor, is that he watched the musical with his family, and thought it was "just so wonderfully happy and joyful."

The former Bond star is not known for musical roles, though he sang onstage in the early phases of his career. He also sang Irish folk songs in the drama Evelyn. Brosnan will play a character named Sam, one of the father candidates in the story.