Michael B. Jordan’s upcoming reimagining of The Thomas Crown Affair has found its leading lady.
Taylor Russell (Bones and All) has been cast as the co-star in the new take on the stylish heist thriller, set to be directed by Jordan himself. This will mark Jordan’s second feature as director; he made his directorial debut with Creed III, which he also starred in.
The casting decision follows an extensive audition process, with Russell ultimately securing the role after a London screen test alongside Jordan earlier this year. According to Deadline, the outlet that broke the news, the casting process was highly competitive, given the film’s legacy of elevating its female lead. Both Faye Dunaway in the 1968 original and Rene Russo in the 1999 remake became synonymous with their performances opposite Steve McQueen and Pierce Brosnan, respectively.
OTHER POSTS:
With production set to begin this summer in London, Jordan’s version will mark the third big-screen adaptation of The Thomas Crown Affair. While specific plot details of Jordan’s version remain under wraps, the story traditionally follows a wealthy playboy who orchestrates elaborate heists, only to find himself entangled with a determined investigator. Russell’s role, much like her predecessors, is expected to be pivotal to the film’s mix of intrigue and romance.
Russell, whose breakout role came in the Netflix sci-fi series Lost in Space, has continued to build an impressive filmography, earning acclaim for performances in Waves and Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All. Her credits include Escape Room and Before I Fall.
The new Thomas Crown Affair is being developed under Amazon MGM Studios, with Jordan producing via his Outlier Society banner alongside Elizabeth Raposo. The script comes from Iron Man 3 writer Drew Pearce, working off an earlier draft by Wes Tooke and Justin Britt-Gibson. Patrick McCormick and Marc Toberoff are producing, with Alan Trustman, the writer of the 1968 film, on board as an executive producer.
