Brosnan’s brand-new ‘Bag’

[Blowfeld]

‘Remington Steele’ star returns in Stephen King miniseries

By JILL RACHEL JACOBS

Last Updated: 8:27 AM, December 11, 2011

Posted: 6:47 PM, December 10, 2011

Two decades have passed since Pierce Brosnan starred on ABC as Remington Steele. Now the 58-year-old actor, best known for his role as James Bond, returns to television as best-selling novelist, Mike Noonan, in Stephen King’s, “Bag of Bones.” The four-hour miniseries is set to air Sunday and Monday, Dec. 11 and 12, on A&E, at 9 p.m.

As a grieving widower, Brosnan’s character is close to the actor’s own experience — his first wife, actress Cassandra Harris, died 1991.

Noonan is faced with a series of Stephen King-esque dilemmas and conundrums, permeated by dreams, hauntings and a custody battle, after he returns to the lakehouse property he shared with his late wife in an isolated setting in Maine.

There he is guided by a series of ghostly visits from his wife as mysterious secrets from the past and present collide in this King thriller.

Q: How did you prepare to play the part of an author who suffers from writer’s block after losing his wife in a terrible tragedy?

A: I think that the life of an artist, actor and writer share many similarities, so I understood the needs and desires of that character and what it feels like to lose your way with your talent. Being a widower, I certainly experienced that tragedy of life, so I was able to identify with that experience.

Q: Your legions of female fans will be pleased to learn that you’re in nearly every scene of this physically demanding role. Did you do your own stunts?

A: Yes, I did some of my own stunts and there was a wonderful stunt man named Rene who took the fall off the rock and leap off the ladder. I used to jump into the fray quite a bit, but one pays a price over the years if you’re an actor who likes doing stunts like I have. Being in every scene every day was the marathon of it. Director Mick Garris was a wonderful man to be in the trenches with. He’s very seasoned and much loved by Stephen King.

Q: Not surprisingly, the first night of the miniseries ends with a cliffhanger. What do you think will bring audiences back for a second night?

A: Stephen King is a masterful storyteller. I think that’s why his work is always held in such high esteem, because he manages to include topics of fantasy and racism and embroiders the story with such layered storytelling amidst all the shock and gore horror of it all. I just want people to enjoy the first night of the series and leave saying, “I can’t wait for tomorrow night. I wonder what’s going to happen.”

Q: People may be surprised to learn that you’re an accomplished painter/artist. Who are some of your influences?

A: I have put some of my work on display, but it’s fairly private. As a young man in my teens, I started as a commercial artist, and I have always had a studio in the house. I work mostly in acrylics, oils, landscapes and I have been strongly influenced by the impressionists, Picasso, Matisse. Art is something that is quite personal. It’s a great form of relaxation for me.

Q: You once said “Fame is like a big piece of meringue — it’s beautiful and you keep eating it, but it doesn’t really fill you up…” Does this metaphor still hold true?

A: As a young man starting out you strive for success come under the guise of fame. I always wanted to be the best at what I do for myself and to honor the work, the artists, the writers the directors. My success all comes from hard work, good timing and any bit of talent you can pull out of your back pocket and polish and make something of it. I love what I do now as much as when I was 24.

Q: Sequels are all the rage these days. Do you ever think you’ll reprise your role as James Bond or Remington Steele?

A: There’s only one Bond and that’s Daniel Craig. Dan has got the mantle and carries it with such grace and style and passion. For me, there are a few stories about the world of espionage that I am exploring and hope to get off the ground, because it’s still a fertile territory.

Q: So no “Mrs. Doubtfire” in your future?

A: There’s only one “Mrs. Doubtfire.” That story’s been told.

Q: To many, you’ll always be best remembered for your role as James Bond. Has this been a curse or a blessing?

A: It’s definitely a blessing to be part of a small group of men who have performed this role, and I will always be grateful to be part of that franchise. It was life-changing for me, so I will always remain grateful.

BAG OF BONES

Tonight & Monday, 9 p.m., A&E

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/brosnan_brand_new_bag_N0tzSYBu0vr9pOm7GQhQwI/

[James]

Dreadful reviews for this. I read some on AIC.

[FormerBondFan]

Pierce deserves a lot better than this. His works either get not-so-good reviews or don't get the recognition they deserve or both. His highest peak was GoldenEye, which was both a financial and critical success. After that, none of his works captured this success. Thomas Crown came close but only attracts mainly the mature audiences. His 3 Bonds surpassed GE's numbers, but critically, they are not as good as GE. Everything else, like I said, either get not-so-good reviews or don't get the recognition they deserve.

[Blowfeld]

Dreadful reviews for this. I read some on AIC.

It is Steven King what else can we expect.

It got so decent reviews with hope that part two is a little better. Have you seen it FBF?

[FormerBondFan]

I still need to see it myself. It can't be worse than I Don't Know How She It.

[shaken not stirred]

Brosnan needs a taken sytle film, fbf yeah he does deserve a lot more recogition and it's a shame that stephen king's once again done a bad film.

[Dr. No]

I saw the ad s but we are not big on horror

[James]

The Stephen King one with Tim Curry as the clown was good. No idea what that was called at the moment. Salem's Lot scared a lot of people when it was first on television too.

[FormerBondFan]

I don't know why Pierce is given these films that ended up bad. His last 3 Bonds not capturing the greatness of GE was bad enough, not to mentioned his singing in Mamma Mia. Well, at least Pierce keeps himself busy to prove his craft.

I was hoping Bags of Bones would boost his career, but as with his post-Bond career in film, his return to TV is no different. The Ghost Writer is very well done but received no attention from the Oscars. Like BJ said, his agents seem to let him down.

[bjmdds]

Maybe he should sleep with Boar-bara so she would get her mind off DC and RE-focus on Pierce. She dumped Pierce poorly and his handlers have not done him justice. Why not get a role like Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive and US Marshals? Playing centaurs on HBO looks desperate for an actor.

[Dr. No]

HBO? What HBO?

[bjmdds]

Some greek mythology film they played this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ7QGGv7ZPY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29CY3pXYUY

[Kristatos]

Some greek mythology film they played this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ7QGGv7ZPY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29CY3pXYUY

That was a theatrically released film, though. It wasn't made for TV.

[bjmdds]

I know, but it was all over HBO. He had no business playing that role.

[FormerBondFan]

Getting himself busy and proving his craft is one thing, and this is good though, but this alone is not enough. The other thing is doing great films (and TV series) that receive a whole a lot of attention, and this is something Pierce lacks, especially after Bond. As said before, The Matador and The Ghost Writer are great, but they don't get the recognition they deserve even though Pierce himself got a Golden Globes nomination for the former.

[Kristatos]

I know, but it was all over HBO. He had no business playing that role.

He was probably glad of a role in what was intended to be a huge blockbuster movie, even though it didn't turn out that way.

[FormerBondFan]

I know, but it was all over HBO. He had no business playing that role.

He was probably glad of a role in what was intended to be a huge blockbuster movie, even though it didn't turn out that way.

I hoping Percy Jackson would clean up his act in Mamma Mia, but it didn't. It got not-so-good reviews but not mentioned gross lower than $100 million in the US.

[Dr. No]

Some greek mythology film they played this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ7QGGv7ZPY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29CY3pXYUY

That was a theatrically released film, though. It wasn't made for TV.

He was great in that role! Reading the books he is the perfect Chiron. The movie didn't do the books justice neither did the kids cast, but Pierce, Sean bean, uma and the others were great.

[bjmdds]

He will be standing next to Cr-egg at the big 50th reunion gala in October at the Bond 23 premiere in the UK. I hope he looks better than DC.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

He will be standing next to Cr-egg at the big 50th reunion gala in October at the Bond 23 premiere in the UK. I hope he looks better than DC.

This man would look better than DC :