Thomas Crown returns for a third time.
The third take on the story of art thief Thomas Crown is the latest directorial effort from Academy Award winner Michael B. Jordan, who puts a new spin on the titular billionaire’s heists.
Jordan pulled triple duty on the project, directing, producing, and starring in the crime thriller that gives a fresh look at the character introduced in the original 1968 film, directed by Norman Jewison and written by Alan R. Trustman. The teaser shows Jordan as Crown pulling off a number of dangerous stunts against a backdrop of slick cities, breathtaking landscapes, and museums with top-of-the-line security measures that can’t stand up against the wiles of his debonair thievery.
Jordan faces off against a former FBI agent (Adria Arjona) in a seductive game of cat-and-mouse in each heist. The cast also includes Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh as the villain and main target of Crown’s mission, Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, Danai Gurria, and Pilou Asbæk.
Much like his previous character Killmonger, this version of Crown is a modern anti-colonial figure who pulls off precision heists to recover valuable artifacts that were stolen, misappropriated, or wrongfully sold over generations.
“I didn’t want a reboot. I wanted a reimagination. The first two films were about rich white guys stealing for fun. That doesn’t land today,” Jordan told Variety in November. “Ours is more personal. The stakes are higher. Still got the fashion, romance.”
The original Thomas Crown Affair starred Steve McQueen as a gentleman thief who orchestrates the robbery of a Boston bank. Directed by In the Heat of the Night filmmaker Norman Jewison, the film also starred Faye Dunaway as the investigator who falls in love with Thomas as she looks into the case.
Die Hard director John McTiernan remade the film in 1999, starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. The film moved the action from Boston to New York and made the title character a wealthy art thief instead of a bank robber.
Back in April, Jordan took the stage during Amazon MGM’s presentation in Las Vegas to share some of the first bits of footage for his new directorial project, explaining that he saw the 1999 Thomas Crown when he was 12 years old,
“I’ve been daydreaming about making this movie for years,” Jordan said during the presentation. He explained that he later saw the 1968 version of the film, which made him appreciate the central character’s personal mission. “He didn’t just steal, he was making a statement,” he said of the titular thief.
“I knew I wanted to bring that all together — the style, the sophistication, the rebellion — but also give him a real mission,” he added of his approach to the film.
The Fruitvale Station star went on to say that he needed to find an actress who could “match [Thomas’] intelligence, his intensity, his charm,” before introducing Arjona to the stage.
“I’m the luckiest actress to be a part of this movie,” the Andor star said at the time. “I truly am.”
The Thomas Crown Affair will release March 5th, 2027.
