When The Blacklist premiered in 2013, James Spader’s portrayal of Raymond “Red” Reddington instantly set the tone for what would become one of NBC’s most compelling dramas. A three-time Emmy winner for his work on The Practice and Boston Legal, Spader had already established himself as one of television’s great dramatic actors. He brought a singular charm to Red, equal parts brilliant, sociopathic, and enigmatic. But, it turns out that Spader wasn’t the first choice for the role. While Red was initially offered to several esteemed TV actors, one polished film star nearly took The Blacklist in an entirely different direction.
Pierce Brosnan Was Offered the Role of Red in ‘The Blacklist’
Casting is one of the most crucial decisions in developing a series, and The Blacklist is a perfect example of how a single actor can define a character, and in turn, shape the entire show. While it’s now hard to imagine anyone other than Spader in the role he made iconic, NBC and the show’s creatives initially considered several other high-profile names. Kiefer Sutherland and Bryan Cranston were reportedly in the mix, both coming off acclaimed runs on 24 and Breaking Bad. But one of the more surprising candidates was Pierce Brosnan, a polished, charismatic movie star with an unmistakable screen presence.
Brosnan had ended his run as James Bond less than a decade earlier with 2002’s Die Another Day. In the years that followed, he took on a mix of lighter and more independent film roles, including Mamma Mia!, but his iconic association with espionage, elegance, and debonair cool never quite faded. On paper, he seemed like a natural fit to play a former criminal mastermind turned FBI informant. Had he taken the role, Brosnan likely would have brought a more refined, composed energy to Red and could have steered the character and the series in a very different direction.
Ultimately, Brosnan passed on The Blacklist, possibly because the network’s 22-episode format was less appealing at a time when cable shows with shorter seasons were becoming the norm for high-profile actors. It wouldn’t be until 2017 that he took on his first series regular role in AMC’s The Son, followed more recently by MobLand, where he stars alongside Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren on Paramount+.
In a 2018 interview with Variety celebrating 100 episodes of the show, creator and executive producer Jon Bokenkamp emphasized how central casting was to The Blacklist’s success. Once Spader came aboard, he said, “adjustments were made to fit a voice that he had in mind,” underscoring how any actor would have reshaped the character. Brosnan’s version of Red, and The Blacklist as a whole, would have looked and felt like a very different show, from the delivery of the dialogue to even the way Red dressed.
James Spader Brought His Own Ideas to Red for ‘The Blacklist’
According to The Blacklist showrunner John Eisendrath, James Spader wasn’t cast until just days before the pilot was scheduled to shoot. In a 2013 interview with Collider, he explained that neither the creative team nor the network could have predicted just how good Spader would be in the role of Red. Even the now-iconic hat was Spader’s idea, one Eisendrath initially resisted, but it ultimately became a perfect extension of the character. From the start, Spader understood Red in a way no one else could.
While we’ll never know exactly what direction an actor like Pierce Brosnan would have taken the character, it’s safe to say his Red would have been a major departure. One of Red’s defining traits throughout the series was his sharp tongue and ability to say things no one else could get away with, and it’s clear that the writers likely evolved to match Spader’s sensibilities. With his dry wit, Spader could straddle drama and dark humor seamlessly. Brosnan certainly has a deft, self-aware comedic touch, but the tone of the show’s humor would have likely shifted. Spader’s eccentric delivery and offbeat timing brought a more unique levity to The Blacklist.
Ultimately, Eisendrath felt Spader was the perfect fit, even though he wasn’t the first choice. Not only did he bring Red to life as the writers envisioned, but he helped shape the character from the ground up. Even though he had already won multiple Emmys, Red may well be the part Spader’s best remembered for. From the theatrical line delivery to the philosophical musings and sudden bursts of violence, Spader made Red one of the most dynamic and fascinating dramatic characters on television.
