Pierce Brosnan Returns to Spy Films in 2025, 23 Years After James Bond – Watch the Trailer!

Back in 2013, Steven Soderbergh declared his retirement following the release of “Behind the Candelabra.” Fast forward eleven years, and he has not only returned to the director’s chair but has also completed ten more feature films. His latest, a comedy titled “The Christophers,” is soon to be finished. Notably, none of these films have hit the big screens since “Unsane” in 2018. Thankfully, 2025 will change that, doubling down on new content.

First up is “Presence,” a horror film from the perspective of a ghost, premiering on February 5. Following closely is the espionage thriller “Black Bag” (renamed “The Insider” for French audiences), set for a March 12 release, with its promising first images just released.

Both films showcase Soderbergh’s ability to rapidly switch between genres, a talent he shares with screenwriter David Koepp, known for “Snake Eyes” and “Mission: Impossible.” Koepp’s love for deception will surely shine in these projects.

“Black Bag” features a spy couple played by Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, who struggle to keep their personal and professional lives separate until Kathryn is accused of betraying her country, forcing George to choose between his marriage and his allegiance to the nation.

The plot brings to mind “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” especially given its spy-couple dynamics. It also echoes “Allied” by Robert Zemeckis, which starred Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard in a World War II setting. The film boasts an impressive cast including Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela (known for her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in “Back to Black”), and Pierce Brosnan.

Over two decades since his farewell to the James Bond role, Brosnan returns to the spy genre. He will be seen alongside Naomie Harris, who played Moneypenny in the Daniel Craig Bond films. With Michael Fassbender reuniting with Soderbergh fourteen years after “Haywire,” where, like the rest of the male cast, he was dominated by Gina Carano, we can only hope “Black Bag / The Insider” ends on a better note for him. Yet, everything indicates that we, too, will hardly emerge unscathed from this intense thriller that reminds us why Soderbergh was right to delay his retirement.