 The Bond film to follow _Licence to Kill (1989)_ (qv) (intended to  be Colonel Sun but which eventually became  _GoldenEye (1995)_ (qv)) was supposed to be released in 1991, but  legal squabbles over the ownership of James Bond, disappointing box  office results on _Licence to Kill (1989)_ (qv), and the death of  longtime screenwriter Richard Maibaum (qv), delayed the start of  production for several years. Although he was contracted to play  Bond a third time, after several years elapsed with no new film,  Timothy Dalton (qv) announced he didnt want to play the role  again. This opened the door for Pierce Brosnan (qv).