"There's always going to be conflict"—Pierce Brosnan joins Helen Mirren's Bond sexism debate

Actor Pierce Brosnan has voiced his support for Helen Mirren, who previously criticized the James Bond franchise for its reliance on sexist archetypes. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, Brosnan agreed with his MobLand co-star but also said that there are bound to be conflicts over creative differences.

"There's always going to be conflict."

Brosnan further acknowledged that while adapting the movies to a modern setting creates tension, Ian Fleming's work is inherently flexible, allowing room for reinterpretation.

"But there's a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what [Bond creator and author] Ian Fleming put down."

Earlier, in an interview with The Standard, Helen Mirren had expressed her disapproval of the portrayal of women in the James Bond film series.

"The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond."

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More on Pierce Brosnan's interview as he expresses support for Helen Mirren's argument

During Pierce Brosnan's exclusive interview with People Magazine on 2 April, at the red carpet event for his latest Paramount+ series, MobLand, the actor remarked that Mirren had very appropriately criticized past portrayals of James Bond for their upholding of sexist archetypes. He said,

"She let them have it."

The Dante's Peak actor also added that, in spite of Mirren's strong feelings regarding the Bond franchise, they did not discuss James Bond while they were filming their new series.

"No, we didn't talk about that. Not at all. Yes, there's a certain agreement there."

Helen Mirren had earlier expressed her views on the inherent sexism in all Bond films in an interview with The Standard. However, her dissatisfaction with the portrayal of women does not rub off on the actors. She added,

"I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond]. I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I mean massive fan. I mean, oh my god. Obviously, he’s gorgeous and everything, and I think he’s fabulous in MobLand, but he also happens to be one of the nicest people you’ll ever have the pleasure to work with. And indeed Daniel Craig, who I’ve met and know a little bit. Again, a very lovely gracious person.”

Mirren further doubled down on the franchise's failure to portray women as active members of the service rather than mere side characters. She further pointed out the incredible role of women during the Second World War, particularly during the French Resistance.

“The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who've worked in that world.”

During Pierce Brosnan's red carpet interview with People Magazine, when asked about who should play the next James Bond, the Laws of Attraction actor did not reveal a name but extended his best wishes to the undisclosed actor and the future of the franchise.

The James Bond franchise is undergoing major changes, following the announcement in February that longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and her brother, Michael G. Wilson, would be handing over creative control to Amazon MGM Studios.

In an interview with GQ, Brosnan, who portrayed the role of the iconic spy from 1995 to 2002, expressed interest in returning as an older version of the character.

"Of course, how could I not be interested? But it's a delicate situation now. I think it's best to let sleeping dogs lie, really. I think so. It's a rather romantic notion and idea, but I think everything changes, everything falls apart. I think that it's best left to another man, really. Fresh blood."

Pierce Brosnan currently stars as Conrad Harrigan, the head of an organized crime family, in the Paramount+ crime drama series MobLand.