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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The identity of the next British superspy James Bond remained a tightly-guarded secret, as rumours swirled in Hollywood over who will take over the role of the world's most dashing covert agent.

A day after a British newspaper reported that British actor Daniel Craig had been chosen to take on 007's mantel from Pierce Brosnan, Hollywood media suggested that Brosnan may not be turning in his Walther PPK pistol after all.

Industry bible Daily variety quoted US sources as saying that the 37-year-old Craig was "no more of a certainty than other candidates" that reportedly include British actors Clive Owen and Dominic West.

The daily instead cited rumours that Bond producers had "patched things up with former 007 Pierce Brosnan and were negotiating a two-picture 40-million-dollar deal for him to reprise his role as the dapper spy."

But it also cited further speculation that Brosnan had only signed on to make one more Bond film to give producers a chance to find a new star.

Producers and distributors of the hugely-successful Bond franchise however declined to comment.

"Nothing official has been announced yet," said Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios spokesman Peter Peterson. "We are in the same position as you," he told AFP.

Brosnan's publicist Jennifer Allen also declined to confirm any of the conflicting stories surrounding her client.

No announcement of the next Bond is likely to be made until Sony Pictures completes its take-over of MGM later this month, industry sources said.

The 52-year-old Irish actor Brosnan announced last July that he would abandon his starring role as Bond after four smash hits as the suave spy.

Bond producers, Eon Productions, and distributors MGM launched a worldwide search for the next Bond.

The names of Oscar-nominated British actor Clive Owen, Britons Jude Law and Ewan McGregor and Australians Hugh Jackman and Eric Bana soon hit the headlines, but no star was announced.

Variety suggested Brosnan may have been dissatisfied with his last Bond paycheque for "Die Another Day," which raked in 350 million dollars at the box office.

While Brosnan received a total of around 20 million dollars, the figure dwarfed the cash received by "Matrix" star Keanu Reeves and "Mission Impossible's" Tom Cruise who also got a share of box office profits, it said.

Britain's Sun newspaper on Wednesday cited an unnamed "movie source" as saying that Eon Productions had been told Craig would star in the next films.

But website Darkhorizons.com said Craig had denied being asked and that Brosnan was very likely to return as Bond. It said all the talk of him quitting was a negotiating ploy.