The nineties were a vibrant, chaotic era for action cinema, dominated by mid-level heroes like Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal. Studios were constantly hunting for their next homegrown star, churning out increasingly profitable action programmers. While some studios managed to launch specific talents—like Paramount’s Jeff Speakman with The Perfect Weapon or Fox’s Howie Long in Firestorm—the ambition was palpable: every major studio desperately wanted its own action icon.
New Line Cinema, hungry for a fresh angle on the genre, attempted to develop their own heroes. Before they found their true niche with hits like Rumble in the Bronx and Mortal Kombat, the studio tried developing two promising action figures. One was Thomas Ian Griffith, whose flick Excessive Force received only a limited regional release. The other, Pierce Brosnan, was slated for a different kind of trajectory with his film Live Wire.
Brosnan’s career in the early nineties felt caught in an industry limbo. In the preceding decade, he had flirted with global stardom as James Bond and won the role in The Living Daylights. However, when NBC decided to revive their TV series Remington Steele, a historic spat occurred. As producer Albert R. Broccoli famously warned NBC that James Bond will not be Remington Steele and Remington Steele will not be James Bond, the deal collapsed after only seven episodes. This decision left Brosnan in a fascinating spot—almost the ultimate action star, yet navigating the realities of post-Bond Hollywood.
Despite his pedigree, Brosnan found himself stuck in a string of supporting roles and cable thrillers. Yet, New Line Cinema saw potential in him and greenlit Live Wire, hoping it would serve as a stepping stone to establishing him in the action genre. The premise of the film was delightfully absurd: Brosnan played Danny O’Neill, a wisecracking cop who also happened to be an expert bomb disposal specialist. His mission involved uncovering a plot where people were being fed an invisible liquid explosive that caused spontaneous combustion, turning them into living bombs.
The action in Live Wire relied on Brosnan delivering kinetic, improvised choreography, featuring MacGyver-style weapons rather than polished martial arts. The film was anchored by the comedic dynamic between Brosnan and his sexy ex-wife, while navigating a plot orchestrated by a mad bomber—played by Ben Cross—whose ultimate target was a U.S. Senator. It was a gloriously silly B-level effort that allowed Brosnan to explore an American-style action persona, far removed from the sophisticated glamour of 007.
Ultimately, New Line Cinema seemed hesitant about capitalizing on Brosnan’s image through this project, opting instead to release Live Wire on cable. While it may remain a forgotten gem in his filmography, the movie endures as a charming footnote. Years later, Brosnan cemented his status with his starring role in Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, showcasing his versatility and proving that whether you’re navigating action plots or family dynamics, Pierce Brosnan always found a way to deliver a compelling performance.
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Credit: JoBlo
