Pierce Brosnan was offered the role of James Bond, but the publicity improved "Remington Steele"s ratings and it was renewed, requiring Brosnan to contractually return to the show, this caused Eon Productions to have to look elsewhere for the new 007. The producers instead hired Timothy Dalton for "The Living Daylights" (1987), and "Licence to Kill" (1989). While Brosnan was reluctant to discuss losing the Bond role, in part because Dalton was a friend, he appeared in Diet Coke commercials portraying what the "Los Angeles Times" described as "a dashing Bond-like character", and NBC advertised "Noble House" with Brosnan dressed in a
Timothy Dalton Lord Asriel in the stage version of "His Dark Materials". Dalton played Simon Skinner, who ran the local supermarché, in the action/comedy film "Hot Fuzz", which was released in 2007. Dalton returned once again to British television in a guest role for the "Doctor Who" 2009–10 two-part special "The End of Time", playing Rassilon. He was first heard in the role narrating a preview clip shown at the 2009 Comic Convention. In 2010 and 2011, he starred in several episodes of the fourth season of the American spy comedy "Chuck" as Alexei Volkoff. Dalton voiced the character Mr. Pricklepants in