Eight years before becoming James Bond, Pierce Brosnan starred in the spy thriller The Fourth Protocol, a film now largely forgotten. While the actor is most well-known for his role in the British spy series, Brosnan has plenty of great movies outside of Bond, and this one thriller from 1987 certainly serves as a reminder of this.

Written by Frederick Forsyth, who adapted it from his own novel of the same name, The Fourth Protocol is a 1980s spy movie set centered a conflict related to the Cold War. At its core, this grounded spy thriller focuses on a joint effort by American, British, and Russian forces to halt weapons smuggling. Even though Michael Caine also stars in The Fourth Protocol, Brosnan truly shines, delivering a performance that foreshadows his future as Bond.

Pierce Brosnan Played A KGB Agent In The Fourth Protocol

Pierce Brosnan In The Fourth Protocol Is One Of His Strongest Roles

Pierce Brosnan plays the leading Russian operative in the thrilling spy movie, The Fourth Protocol. Valeri Petrofsky, who possesses an outwardly cheerful personality, is otherwise intensely somber and troubled. Despite being a Russian agent, Brosnan depicts Petrofsky with a remarkably convincing British accent. Ultimately, the character aims to detonate a bomb near a U.S. base, staging it to appear as an accident.

Petrofsky operates under an alias in order to maintain his disguise throughout the film’s length. The character’s ability to impersonate a British citizen is imperative to his objective, which makes his accent particularly vital. Essentially, The Fourth Protocol presents a game of wits and evasion between Brosnan’s character and the British agent, John Preston, depicted by Michael Caine, who is eager to uncover Petrofsky’s scheme.

Brosnan excels at portraying Petrofsky as a brutal, alarmingly effective agent. The Russian operative is characterized by his unwavering confidence, even as he confronts his main adversary, Preston. Brosnan’s standout performance in The Fourth Protocol is especially memorable and effective because it’s a departure from his usual roles, unlike Caine’s more familiar portrayal.

Brosnan was clearly a perfect fit for the role of Petrofsky, and in hindsight, The Fourth Protocol showcases a darker, more ruthless side to Brosnan’s acting — which is a major contrast to the charming hero he’d later embody in the James Bond franchise.

The Fourth Protocol Was An Early Sign Of Pierce Brosnan’s Potential As James Bond

Brosnan Was The Clear Choice For Bond After The Fourth Protocol

Fans of James Bond will likely love The Fourth Protocol, and if you like The Fourth Protocol, you’re likely to enjoy James Bond. This film was a clear precursor to Brosnan’s casting as James Bond. In fact, Brosnan initially accepted the Bond role in 1986, just before The Fourth Protocol, but contractual obligations to his TV series, Remington Steele, forced him to later decline.

So, when The Fourth Protocol hit cinemas, audiences were probably already clued in on Brosnan’s near-miss with Bond and consequently saw the movie as a direct showcase of his capabilities in a spy thriller. What truly mattered was that, despite the vast differences in their characters, Brosnan still exuded a natural charm and sophistication in The Fourth Protocol which is crucial to Bond.

Needless to say, The Fourth Protocol is more grounded in its approach than a film from the Bond series, but Brosnan still maintained a credible physical presence in The Fourth Protocol. Though action isn’t central to the film, Brosnan still subtly revealed Petrofsky’s expert training through his movements and the combat sequences. This indicated Brosnan was physically capable of handling the action sequences integral to the 007 franchise.

The ability to switch between a suave exterior and a ruthless individual is exactly what was needed for the role, as the effortless charisma and charm are a hallmark of James Bond. Brosnan unquestionably had a natural command of the screen in The Fourth Protocol, proving he could handle the demands of a high-stakes spy thriller.