Pierce Brosnan returns to small screen in 'The Son'

HOLLYWOOD, June 8 (UPI) -- Pierce Brosnan is returning to the small screen for the first time since his star-making days as Remington Steele, to take on AMC's upcoming drama series, The Son.

It will be Brosnan's first regular television role since Remington Steele ended in 1987, Entertainment reported.

Brosnan is best known for his roles as James Bond in Golden Eye and Tomorrow Never Dies. He has set aside his history with sexy spy roles to play Eli McCullough, the 20th Century patriarch of a Texas family, a role originally intended for Sam Neill. Neill left the show for personal reasons.

Based on a 2013 novel by Phillipp Meyer, The Son follows three generations of the McCullough family, a ranching and oil dynasty. Eli McCullough was kidnapped by the Comanche Native American Tribe as a child and applies that Comanche world view to business in the oil fields and on the ranch, Deadline.com reported.

In the novel and the movie, McCullough was born the day Texas became an independent Republic, which earned him the nickname "First Son of Texas." He is uncertain of his future legacy.

The Irish-American Brosnan recently completed filming The Foreigner, a Martin Campbell production starring Jackie Chan. He also takes on the starring role in the upcoming thriller I.T. produced by his own production company, Irish DreamTime, with Voltage Pictures and Friendly Films.

For The Son, Kevin Murphy will serve as executive producer and show runner for the series, which has a 10-episode straight-to-series order. Tom Harper (War & Peace) will direct the opening episode, which is scheduled to begin production this month in Austin for a 2017 premiere.

AMC Studios and Sonar Entertainment will produce the series, co-starring Henry Garrett, Zahn McClarnon, Paola Nunez and Sydney Lucas. Michael Connolly also executive produces.