Pierce Brosnan's dramatic transformation for "Giant" role
12:22 PM EDT, May 4, 2024
Pierce Brosnan became known for his role as James Bond in the years 1995-2004. The actor starred in four films, and although not all of them were well received, they still attracted millions of viewers to the cinemas.
Not everyone may know that Brosnan had a rather long slog through the world of cinema. In the early 80s, he was more famous for series like "The Irish" or "Detective Remington Steele". His climb to the top was laborious, but when he got the role in "Goldeneye", everything changed for the better. Interestingly, he could have played Bond already in the mid-80s but had to turn down the offer due to an existing contract.
The 70-year-old is still active professionally but, understandably, has been playing a bit less for a few years. Viewers could see him in productions such as "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" or "Black Adam". Currently, the actor is on the set of the boxing movie "Giant". And he is almost unrecognizable.
Brosnan doesn't resemble himself
Photos of Brosnan in a new role are circulating online. Fans might be surprised by this sight because although the actor is still in good shape and has thick hair, he has been characterized in such a way that he is not easy to recognize. He has thinning gray hair, wrinkles, and a frail body. Daily, the distinguished actor walks hunched over in a tracksuit.
Brosnan looks this way for a reason. He has taken on the role of Brendan Ingle - an Irish boxing coach who helped Naseem Hamed become a boxing champion. Hamed, now 50, is a former boxer of Yemeni descent. The peak of his career was from 1992 to 2002. From 1995 to 2000, he was the world champion in the featherweight division and is a well-known figure in British sports.
Ingle died in 2018 at the age of 77. In his career, he trained three other world champions besides Hamed: Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, and Kell Brook.
Stallone is producing
"Giant" will trace Hamed's life and career, starting from his humble beginnings on the tough streets of Sheffield, inhabited by the working class. Hamed's unlikely partnership with Ingle, combined with the boxer's unconventional style, arrogant personality, and sheer domination in the ring, quickly propelled them to the sport's top. However, Hamed's career development coincided with the spread of Islamophobia and racism in the UK during the 80s and 90s.
Interestingly, one of the show's producers will be Sylvester Stallone, known as the most famous cinematic boxer, Rocky Balboa. His Balboa Productions will produce the film in collaboration with AGC Studios, which, along with BondIt Media Capital, will finance this production. Originally, the movie about Hamed was to be shot in Malta, but the entire production was moved to England. This was thanks to financial incentives for filmmakers proposed by the British government.