Pierce Brosnan Talks ‘MobLand’ Finale, James Bond and Who Sophie’s Real Dad Is in ‘Mamma Mia!’

[This story contains major spoilers from the season one finale of MobLand]

Even in prison, Conrad Harrigan remains the kingpin.

Following the penultimate episode of MobLand when Maeve (Helen Mirren) and Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) were arrested for murder and heading back to prison, Conrad receives a warm welcome to end the first season fo the Paramount+ crime thriller. The last scene in the finale, which released on Sunday, showed all the prisoners cheering for him, as he’s now earned the respect of criminals in the mob world.

In an interview bout the season one finale, Brosnan told The Hollywood Reporter that scene was “a cinematic homage” to the 1968 film The Italian Job and filmed in the former prison Reading Gaol; he said being in the “powerful Victorian tomblike presence” where Oscar Wilde was imprisoned “was quite memorable.”

While his status professionally still holds up from prison, knives are cutting deeper in the Harrigan family. After Kevin Harrigan (Paddy Considine) found out that Conrad didn’t know that the real rat of the family was O’Hara (Lisa Dwan), instead of Archie (Alex Jennings), and that Kevin’s son, Eddie (Anson Boon), is actually the son of his dad, Conrad, he loses all respect for the Harrigan leader and threatens to take over their world.

The finale is packed with more pivotal moments, like when the clan’s biggest enemy, Richie Stevenson got killed by Kevin, the potential new leader. But the big cliffhanger came when Harry, the Harrigan fixer played by Tom Hardy, accidentally got stabbed by his wife during an argument in the kitchen — ending with Harry sitting down acting all cool, calm and collected.

Below, Brosnan discusses the finale with THR, while also talking about the future of James Bond — saying Hardy would make a “wonderful” lead — former discussions about a Remington Steele revival and revealing that he does, in fact, know the answer to that Mamma Mia! dad theory that’s been lingering for years.

***

There are moments in MobLand when Conrad expresses more empathy than others in the Harrigan family — like at Tommy’s funeral, when he and Maeve react very differently. Do you think there’s a softer side of Conrad that we don’t see? 

Most certainly. This is a man who comes from a very broken background, one more than likely of abuse, sexual abuse, violence, self-loathing … fearless, courageous. He’s a sentimentalist as well. He’s Irish. He loves the old gargle — the gargle being the booze. He’s filled with great humor and passion and deep pride in being an Irishman, but he’s also a father and someone who has a pride in that and what he’s done by his family. So I think there’s a softness to him. There’s a human core of emotion that’s mixed with brutality, which he can’t control. He’s definitely unhinged.

There were times when it looked like Maeve and Conrad’s marriage might crack. Do you see that ever happening? Or do they have to stay together for business? 

Oh, I think they have to stay together. These two will go down together. I really don’t know where it’s going to go. I have no idea. I have certain images and sensations of the character, which are very violent images because the violence is what makes it so intoxicating and it comes out of nowhere. And they’re all like these bottled spiders that are so toxic of nature and we love ’em for it. (Laughs)

Why did Maeve and Conrad sing together when they got arrested?

It is a big “F- you” to the establishment, to the British, to the coppers, to the law enforcement in England. They’re Irish, they live in the heart of the Cotswolds. They have money. Nobody comes close to them. So they know they’re going to get out, and they like it. They’ve been inside before. Conrad’s done time. He knows that world. He knows how to control that world within the confinement of prison.

By the end, Kevin and Conrad’s relationship seems irreparable. Do you think that’s the case or could they salvage it?

I’d like to think we will salvage things. I haven’t seen the last episode [yet]. My wife and one of our sons who was staying with us watched it the other night. He was going back home to L.A., and Keely, my wife, said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get the company to send us a link [before it airs]?” And they did, but we couldn’t make it work on the TV. I have absolutely no idea how to do mirror [viewing]. So I will watch when it releases like the rest of the country. [Note: We spoke before Sunday’s episode aired.]

Well, I didn’t see it coming that Harry would get accidentally stabbed by his wife. Is he going to be OK? And if Harry ever does die, how could the Harrigans manage without him?

I don’t think Harry is going to die. Harry is the backbone of the piece. Without him, I don’t know if Conrad or Maeve could function. He holds so many secrets and has such an insightfulness to each person. But we waited as the season rolled on when we were filming; we as actors would not know where it was going. I never spoke to Guy Richie or the writers about what direction we were going to go in. So every time I got an episode, it was a revelation to me who was still in the picture, who was still standing.

What shocked you the most?

Richie going out of the picture. I love Geoff Bell. He’s such a magnificent actor and character. Brendan, my son, getting topped, getting his head locked off. Daniel Betts, who played the character Brendan, he and Tom Hardy and I were taught by the same teachers. So I was looking forward to hanging out with Daniel a lot more. But then his character disappeared.

The final scene shows all the prisoners cheering on Conrad. Can you talk about why it was important to end the season with that scene and what it meant to you? 

Well, it meant that I’m still alive, and I’m still alive for a second season. It’s a great homage to Conrad, but it’s also a cinematic homage to The Italian Job, which is a film Michael Caine made and Noël Coward played the kingpin. In the film, you’ll see Noël Coward come down to the gantry in the prison being applauded by the prisoners. We shot it in Reading Gaol, the last torturous, humiliating place where Oscar Wilde was a prisoner for two years in hard labor. It’s a powerful Victorian tomblike presence. So, it was quite memorable to be filming there on a dank, cold Thursday afternoon. We rehearsed the scene; Conrad comes out of the cell; he’s not sure if he’s going to be attacked or thrown off the balcony, and they applaud him. He lives again. I said to Anthony Byrne, the director, “Why don’t we crank out the stone sympathy for the devil?” So we played that music and the place just erupted.

Tom Hardy previously told me: “The plan is definitely to see more seasons” of MobLand. Have there been more discussions about that? What would you like to see next for Conrad?  

Yes, we have spoken about that and I would very much like to see more seasons. There’s a lot of life (laughs) and death within this family and these storylines. People love these kind of characters, especially when they’re so beautifully rendered by playwrights like Ronan Bennett and Jez Butterworth. And when you have an ensemble cast like we have, which is so strong, so powerful. Of course, I would like to go again for a second season.

I honestly haven’t given much thought of where I would like to see Conrad go. I just have images, vague sensations at the moment. It was a very intense shoot. Guy Richie called me last July here in Hawaii, where I live, and he sent me the five episodes by Ronan Bennett, I said, “Yes,” and I just jumped in. There was no one else on the ticket. Helen and I were working that summer on a show called Thursday Murder Club, which is coming up, and she said, “Are you going to do MobLand?” I said, “Yeah, I want to do it. I want to come home to England. I want to see my family here. I want to work in London.” And she read it and she said, “I’m in.” So that was wonderful. Then who’s going to play Harry? And Tom was the man. Then come November, it took off and we had five months of really intense filmmaking. So you were never quite sure where the story was going, who was going to live and who was going to die, and that was rather exhilarating.

Your take on 007 is timeless and so many people have connected with that franchise and are excited for the next spin on it. Who would you pick to play the next Bond?

I have no picks. I shall leave it open to the powers that be. It’s a very exciting moment in the history of James Bond. Now that Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [G. Wilson, former franchise producers] have relinquished the reins of it.

How do you think your MobLand co-star Tom Hardy would do?

Oh! (Laughs) Tom would be wonderful. There’s so many great actors out there who could portray this character. I have no idea who, I have no idea. I wish whoever it is great success. Toi toi toi.

As studios and networks are now keen on revivals, have you ever given thought to or been approached by execs for a Remington Steele revival?

They have brought it up in discussions, yes. Nothing’s been done about it. So I’ve left it’s just sitting there.

I know you’ve said that you’re ready for Mamma Mia 3. Could you end the debate and share who you think Sophie’s biological dad is?

I think you’ll have to wait for the next movie. I think leave that one right there. I know who it is, but I don’t want to be a killjoy.

***

All episodes of MobLand are now streaming on Paramount+. Read THR’s earlier interview with Tom Hardy.