Pierce Brosnan has inked
to star in and produce "Defiance," an action drama
for Phoenix Pictures. Scripted by Todd Baker, pic
is an action-adventure set in the near future, with
Brosnan playing the leader of a renegade band of
soldiers battling a totalitarian government.
Brosnan and partner Beau St. Clair will produce
under their Irish Dreamtime banner.
"Defiance" will be vying with several other
projects Irish Dreamtime is involved in which will
get Brosnan's slot before he starts his third James
Bond film in January. The actor, who currently
stars in "Tailor of Panama," had been expected to
topline the Renny Harlin-directed adaptation of Ray
Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" for Warner Bros.
and Franchise, but the script went back for a
rewrite.
He's also had a flurry of offers for pre-strike
pictures that included "Basic Instinct 2," but has
instead been concentrating on his own productions:
Brosnan and St. Clair are also developing the
Philip Lasker-scripted "Larceny for Lovers" at
Mandalay and have relocated a Roger
Donaldson-directed adaptation of "The Day After
Tomorrow" to be financed by Myriad.
"Defiance" came to Phoenix-based Bradford W.
Smith from Baker's agent Jon Klane, and Smith will
exec produce with Baker. Phoenix's Anne Rodman will
oversee the project. Phoenix chairman/CEO Mike
Medavoy made the deal.
The actor will reprise his role of James Bond in
the 20th installment of the 007 franchise in
January.
