"Bond, James Bond." The movie world has not been the same since Sean Connery uttered those three magic words over 40 years ago in the first Bond film, "Dr. No." Bond has captivated, fascinated, thrilled and enthralled audiences throughout the world with 20 films translated into many languages. He is an institution, a legend, and, to be sure, a money-making machine.

Through five incarnations of James Bond, the basic formula of girls, glamour, gadgets, and, oh yes, the fight of Good against Evil, has remained the same, though the ancillary trappings have changed to match the times. Where once Bond wooed the likes of Pussy Galore and Honey Ryder, now he beds more modern women including rocket scientists and cops expert at martial arts. Where once he sparred with a very proper, very stereotypical British male M, now he faces off with a very proper, very unstereotypical female M, played by Dame Judi Dench with fierce sternness.

The latest incarnation, Pierce Brosnan, has played the Bond character brilliantly, bringing a dark edge and subtle undertones to the role that does justice to the original Ian Fleming books. But Brosnan, who is over 50, is set to retire soon. Bond fans are beginning to wonder and speculate--who should play the next Bond? The buzz is on.

A variety of actors' names have been bruited about. Many of them, too young and callow, are not even remotely satisfactory, in our opinion. None of them measure up to the demanding role of the movie world's most sophisticated and dangerous man, a man who has become larger than life. An actor who has not been mentioned heretofore outside of his fan sites is the one man that we believe is perfect for the role, the one man who can do justice to the legend that is Bond, and we want to tell you why. His name is Bruce Payne.