The producers of the James Bond films have denied rumors that movie star Pierce Brosnan will be replaced as the super smooth secret agent.

　　LONDON (Reuters) - The producers of the James Bond films have denied rumors that movie star Pierce Brosnan will be replaced as the super smooth secret agent.

　　Tabloids and several Web sites reported this week that Brosnan, 48, was to be replaced by little known Scottish actor Gerard Butler.

　　"It just isn‘t true and I wish these rumors would stop. We have been inundated with calls all week,‘‘ a spokeswoman for the Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, told Reuters.

　　Pierce Brosnan will play James Bond in the forthcoming production and for the foreseeable future.

　　Butler himself had fueled the speculation by confirming the story in Scotland‘s Daily Record on Monday.

　　The story was repeated on a web site where Butler was quoted saying the "news‘‘ had been announced on CNN.

　　The spokeswoman admitted that Butler, who is currently starring in Wes Craven‘s Dracula 2001, was bound to be embarrassed by today‘s announcement.

　　"Barbara hasn‘t even spoken to him (Butler) but I‘m sure he‘s just as embarrassed by this as we are.‘‘

　　Brosnan is due to start filming the next Bond film -- currently untitled -- at London‘s Pine Wood studios in January.

　　The Irishman has played lady-killer Bond in three movies ‘‘The World Is Not Enough,‘‘ "Tomorrow Never Dies‘‘ and "Golden Eye.‘‘