Michael B. Jordan To Direct And Star In New ‘Thomas Crown Affair’ Movie From Outlier Society And Amazon MGM Studios
EXCLUSIVE: After breaking box office records for a directing debut with Creed III, Michael B. Jordan looks to have lined up his next high-profile helming gig. Sources tell Deadline that Jordan has signed to direct Thomas Crown Affair for Amazon MGM Studios, which will release the film exclusively in theaters worldwide.
As previously reported, Jordan is also set to star in the film as well as produce via his Outlier Society banner alongside Elizabeth Raposo. Outlier Society has a first-look film deal and overall TV deal at Amazon MGM.
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This marks the third Thomas Crown Affair pic, with the most recent bowing in 1999, when Pierce Brosnan played the rich playboy who enjoys stealing art for a hobby but meets his match in an insurance investigator (Rene Russo), who quickly fall for each other. The original 1968 movie paired Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway and was directed by Norman Jewison.
While Thomas Crown doesn’t get in as many physical altercations as a James Bond or an Ethan Hunt, he does bring that charisma in a character the industry is always looking for and gives Jordan another layered character to dive into.
Jordan and Outlier have been developing the project for some time and, after recently wrapping production on Ryan Coogler’s upcoming event film at Warner Bros., Jordan was ready to dive back into directing following the success of Creed III.
With Jordan now on board to direct and star, the next priority is to find his co-star to steam up the screen with; given what the previous roles did for their respective female leads, the part is sure to draw the attention of many A-listers in town.
Drew Pearce wrote the script. A previous draft was written by Wes Tooke and Justin Britt-Gibson, which was based on the original film. Plot details are being kept under wraps.
Patrick McCormick and Marc Toberoff will also serve as producers on Thomas Crown Affair. Alan Trustman (writer of the original 1968 film) is an executive produce.
Jordan previously directed and starred for MGM in Creed III, which opened to a franchise-record $58.6 million, marking the highest debut ever for a sports movie. The film, which Jordan also produced via Outlier, went on to earn $276 million at the worldwide box office, proving Jordan and his company have the ability to deliver global hits.
The film also allowed him to show his range by delivering on those visceral boxing sequences for which the Rocky franchise is known while adding his own touch in set pieces using an anime style he has grown up loving. He also showcased his touch with scenes outside the ring with his actors where a punch is never thrown.
Jordan is repped by M88 and WME.
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