The teaser for Amazon/MGM’s slick, star-driven reinvention of “The Thomas Crown Affair” is now online.
Starring Michael B. Jordan, who also directs, alongside Adria Arjona, Lily Gladstone, and Kenneth Branagh, the film marks Jordan’s second outing behind the camera. Jordan has admitted that he grew up constantly watching John McTiernan’s 1999 remake rather than the 1968 original, which he only caught up with recently.
There’s a playfulness to both the original and McTiernan’s 1999 remake that seems to be lacking here. This version looks a little too serious for its own good. There’s no breezy charm—just an oddly Nolan-esque aesthetic. It’s clear Jordan has reimagined “The Thomas Crown Affair” as a darker, more action-oriented thriller.
Jordan stars as the titular Crown, a wealthy, thrill-seeking art thief who orchestrates elaborate heists more for the adrenaline rush than the payout. The chemistry between Arjona and Jordan will likely make or break the film.
Most enticing is the involvement of Bradford Young as cinematographer. Young had a remarkably promising start to his career, shooting films such as “Arrival,” “A Most Violent Year,” and “Selma.” Deemed by many to be one of cinema’s next great cinematographers, he then seemed to disappear from feature filmmaking. Perhaps he was soured by the experience of working on his last film, 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
“The Thomas Crown Affair” is Jordan’s sophomore directorial effort, following his debut behind the camera with “Creed III.” Amazon/MGM is planning an exclusive theatrical release in March 2027—no streaming shortcut here. The screenplay is by Drew Pearce (“Hotel Artemis”), though an earlier draft, based more closely on the original film, was written by Wes Tooke and Justin Britt-Gibson.
This will be the third “Thomas Crown” film. The most recent version, and the one that appears to have inspired Jordan, was released in 1999. Directed by John McTiernan, it starred Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. The original 1968 film, directed by Norman Jewison, featured Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in a sleek, stylish game of cat and mouse.
Note: there was some behind-the-scenes drama involving Arjona’s casting, as she replaced Taylor Russell just weeks into production. Russell exited the film, with the official explanation citing “creative differences.” Reports later claimed that she and Jordan had grown close before filming, but that their relationship cooled before the European leg of production, allegedly creating tension on set. None of those claims have been confirmed by the parties involved. It’ll be interesting to see if more details emerge as the film’s release approaches.
Bassim Tariq was the first one in the chair. The "Mogul Mowgli" director spent two years building out the Mahershala Ali vehicle before exiting in 2022, and he's now letting the air out on this one.