LONDON - Actor Pierce Brosnan has conceded that his days as James Bond are over, and is tipping fellow Irishman Colin Farrell to fill his shoes as the world's most famous spy. A successor to the debonair 51-year-old as agent 007, who has brought in nearly $4 billion in ticket sales since "Dr. No" hit the screens 22 years ago, has been the subject of intense speculation for months.

Brosnan fulfilled his four-film contract with "Die Another Day" in 2002, although Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which owns the film franchise, has not ruled him out for a fifth picture.

Speaking to reporters, Brosnan left his fans in no doubt. "They contracted me for four, it was a great time, a great 10 years, but there will be someone else, of that I'm sure," he said.While conceding that a number of actors could play the suave British agent, Brosnan singled out Farrell, who is 23 years his junior and stars in the title role of Oliver Stone's film "Alexander". Also tipped to don Bond's trademark tuxedo have been Hugh Jackman and Jude Law.

Of the 20 Bond films made so far, Brosnan has taken the top four slots in terms of ticket sales, and will be a hard act to follow. MGM has pushed back its target release date for the 21st Bond instalment from late 2005 to some time in 2006, amid uncertainty over who will direct the movie apart from who will star in it. According to "The Top 10 of Film" reference book, which collated figures to the end of 2002, the Bond franchise has outgrossed the "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park" series. Reuters