At the U.K. premiere of "MobLand," directed by Guy Ritchie and exclusive to Paramount+, Pierce Brosnan heaped praise upon his co-star and on-screen spouse, Helen Mirren. On the gleaming white carpet of London's Leicester Square, the former James Bond actor opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about his reunion with Mirren in Ritchie's latest crime saga, following their initial pairing in the 1980 film "The Long Good Friday."
Brosnan and Mirren reprise their roles as Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, a criminal couple, with Tom Hardy stepping in as their "fixer," Harry Da Souza. "We thoroughly enjoy each other's company," Brosnan shared with THR. "Helen's work is nothing short of admirable. She's a stunning woman, one whom I've admired from afar for many years. My very first film featured her, albeit not in a scene together – it was 'The Long Good Friday.'"
"Helen is a formidable woman, a powerhouse actress with an immense heart and soul. I am utterly enchanted by her," the Irish actor added.
Created by Ronan Bennett and penned by Jez Butterworth, "MobLand" began as "The Donovans," an origin story for the Showtime series "Ray Donovan." However, as the project evolved, it transformed into a standalone narrative.
Discussing the series' potential in an already crowded TV landscape, Brosnan revealed how he convinced Mirren to join him during their filming of "The Thursday Murder Club." "Its true potential remains to be seen, but I believe it brings a great deal to the table. It's a compelling story, beautifully crafted by Jez Butterworth, which is one of the reasons I agreed to be part of it," he said.
"Ronan Bennett was heavily involved, collaborating with Guy Ritchie to bring it to life. After reviewing the five episodes, I gave my nod. Then, I asked Helen if she'd be interested. We were both working on 'The Thursday Murder Club' at the time. She agreed to read the script and fell in love with it instantly," Brosnan recounted.
"And then came the magnificent Tom Hardy. With him, we were ready to race into production."
Ritchie, Hardy, Mirren, along with cast members Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt, Lara Pulver, Anson Boon, Mandeep Dhillon, and Jasmine Jobson, attended the Thursday night premiere. Executive producer and director Anthony Byrne was in high spirits, heaping praise on his stellar cast. "I've never worked with such a talented ensemble in one show. Audiences will be thrilled to see the trio of Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren together. That alone sets it apart," he told THR.
"The camaraderie on set was always fantastic," Byrne added. "I've worked with Tom on 'Peaky Blinders,' so it was a joy to collaborate with him again, diving deep into his character's arc rather than a cameo. Spending time with him was exhilarating. Oddly, being around Helen and Pierce, despite their illustrious careers, wasn't intimidating at all."
