Brosnan returns to the world of spycraft in Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller.

Keith Hamshere/Getty; Focus Features

Pierce Brosnanis shaking and stirring up his role in the world of espionage.

“And I think Steven’s definitely enjoying playing with that.”

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan poses in the hatch of a Russian T55 Main Battle Tank holding a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, in a publicity still for the James Bond film ‘GoldenEye’, 1995; Pierce Brosnan in Black Bag

Credit:Keith Hamshere/Getty; Focus Features

“I really wanted him to do it,” the director says.

He’s not being told where to go and what to do.

He’s the boss telling other people where to go and what to do.

Michael Fassbender stars as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG

Michael Fassbender in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

And he seemed to enjoy it."

“I needed somebody that you would believe could rattle Michael Fassbender,” he explains.

“One of the things I said to Pierce before we started is, ‘You never sit down.

Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse, Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls and Pierce Brosnan as Arthur Steiglitz in director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG

Michael Fassbender, Tom Burke, and Pierce Brosnan in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

You make other people sit down.

You are always standing, and you are always moving.

They felt like they were back in school.”

Regé-Jean Page as Col. James Stokes, Naomie Harris as Dr. Zoe Vaughn and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG, a Focus Features release.

Rege-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, and Michael Fassbender in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

But he’s just a really, really nice man.

And obviously bringing that legendary status to the film."

“Because we’ve researched for these films in the past.

Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean in Black Bag

Cate Blanchett in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

We researched with some real secret service agents for this film.

It’s very much about getting people to trust you as much as anything else.”

“It’s not about blowing things up and doing things yourself,” Page continues.

Rege-Jean Page as Col. James Stokes and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG

Rege-Jean Page and Michael Fassbender in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

It’s very much about that power of manipulation in this film."

[They’re] the brains behind the operations, if you like.

This was very intentional, stemming from David Koepp’s script and Soderbergh’s direction.

Naomie Harris as Dr. Zoe Vaughn and Cate Blanchett as Kathryn St. Jean in director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG

Naomie Harris and Cate Blanchett in ‘Black Bag’.Claudette Barius/Focus Features

In his research, Soderbergh was struck by how much psychology and interpersonal relationships dominate spycraft more than technology.

“It’s the human intel part of it that is very significant,” he notes.

you could’t pretend to be somebody that you’re not anymore.

That just doesn’t work."

So I love that idea that technology has brought spycraft back to an older version of itself."

“Spy literature has always been about loneliness,” Page says.

I don’t think that’s changed very much. "

“Pierce wanted his suits,” says Soderbergh.

“He’s like, ‘I want all these suits.’

So that’s always a good sign.”

Black Baghits theaters on March 14.