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Imagine a really cool, stylish movie about a charming thief who steals expensive art and the smart detective trying to catch him. That’s the basic idea of The Thomas Crown Affair.
This isn’t the first time Hollywood has told this story. It’s actually the third version:
Important Point
Michael B. Jordan wants everyone to know: this isn’t a remake or a reboot. He calls it a "re-imagination."
Think of it like this: if a remake is tracing over an old drawing, a re-imagination is taking the same basic idea and drawing a completely new picture with your own style.
Jordan has wanted to make this movie for a really long time. He says:
"That’s a baby of mine that I’ve been wanting to make for a really long time, so I’m excited about it."
He’s not just acting in it either — this is only his second time directing a movie (his "sophomore outing"), and he’s also producing it. That’s a lot of hats to wear!
| Actor | Role | What You Might Know Them From |
|---|---|---|
| Michael B. Jordan | Thomas Crown (the art thief) | Creed, Black Panther, Fruitvale Station |
| Adria Arjona | Insurance investigator | Andor, Hit Man, Father of the Bride |
| Kenneth Branagh | The target/villain | Murder on the Orient Express, Tenet, Harry Potter |
| Lily Gladstone | Supporting role | Killers of the Flower Moon (Oscar nominee) |
| Danai Gurira | Supporting role | Black Panther, The Walking Dead |
| Pilou Asbæk | Supporting role | Game of Thrones, Ghost in the Shell |
| Aiysha Hart | Supporting role | Colette, The Athena |
Jordan wanted someone who could keep up with his character — someone who shows both strength and vulnerability. He says Adria Arjona "understands his game but falls in love with him."
The 1968 version won an Oscar for Best Original Score for the famous song "Windmills of Your Mind."
This time, Jon Batiste is composing the music. If you don’t know him, here’s his trophy case:
That’s some serious musical firepower!
The studio is keeping most details under wraps (that means secret), but here’s what we’ve learned:
From footage shown at CinemaCon (a big movie theater convention), we know the movie travels to:
One catchphrase from the movie: "Revenge is a work of art."
March 5, 2027
That’s a while away, but big movies like this need lots of time for:
| Version | Thief | Investigator | Vibes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Steve McQueen (rich playboy) | Faye Dunaway | Sultry chess game, very 60s cool |
| 1999 | Pierce Brosnan | Rene Russo | Sleek, romantic, cat-and-mouse |
| 2027 | Michael B. Jordan | Adria Arjona | Personal revenge mission, global locations, modern action |
Jordan’s version seems to be more personal and action-packed while keeping the romance and mind games that make this story fun.
Nope! Michael B. Jordan specifically says it’s a "re-imagination" — not a remake, not a reboot. He’s taking the core idea (charming thief vs. smart investigator) and creating something new with his own style, modern action, and a personal revenge storyline.
This is only his second time directing (his "sophomore outing"). His first was Creed III (2023), which he also starred in. So he’s still relatively new to directing but clearly passionate about this project.
She’s a rising star you’ve probably seen in Disney+’s Andor, the action-comedy Hit Man (with Glen Powell), or Father of the Bride. Jordan picked her because she can portray both strength and vulnerability — someone who can match wits with Crown but also fall for him.
The original 1968 movie won an Oscar for its score ("Windmills of Your Mind"). Batiste is one of the most decorated musicians alive — Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and 8 Grammys. He also composed for Pixar’s Soul. The music will likely be a major highlight.
March 5, 2027 — in theaters. That’s about two years away, so you’ve got time to watch the first two versions if you want to compare!
Excited for this one? The first trailer just dropped — go check it out and see Michael B. Jordan sailing through European castles in a perfectly tailored suit!