Pierce Brosnan’s heist romance The Thomas Crown Affair opened to positive reviews and a worldwide gross of over $120 million at the global box office. A remake of the Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway starrer of the same name, the 1999 film was produced by Brosnan himself. It also starred Rene Russo and Breaking Bad actor Mark Margolis, who recently passed away.
After receiving positive reviews and a successful box office run, the makers of the film were planning on a sequel. While Angelina Jolie was attached to the project for a brief period, producer and lead actor Pierce Brosnan had someone else in mind.
The Thomas Crown Sequel That Was Never Made
Directed by John McTiernan, The Thomas Crown Affair follows a cat-and-mouse-chase between the titular Thomas Crown, a billionaire who is the mastermind behind a heist at a gallery, and insurance investigator Catherine Banning. During the investigation, the two fall in love.
The film was adapted from a 1968 film of the same name which starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, the latter also makes a cameo appearance in the remake. Pierce Brosnan stars as Crown while Rene Russo stars as Banning. The film opened to positive reviews from critics, who praised the style and charm of the film. It also earned a whopping $124 million over a $48 million budget.
Much after the success of the film and after Brosnan finished his tenure as James Bond, the producer, and actor announced a sequel to the film. Dutch director Paul Verhoeven was attached to the sequel and Brosnan had said that production would start by the end of 2008. The film would also be a remake, adapting the 1964 heist film Topkapi. While Russo would not return, Lara Croft actress Angelina Jolie was attached to the project. However, Brosnan mentioned that he preferred Charlize Theron.
Pierce Brosnan’s Reluctance To Work With Angelina Jolie
Pierce Brosnan was the producer of The Thomas Crown Affair. Even during the casting of the original, while looking for an actress for the role of Catherine Banning, Brosnan specified that he would prefer an older actress for the role. In a conversation with casting director Pat McCorkle, he said,
“Don’t get the hottest 25- and 26-year-old. I want someone a little more mature, so we have a mature relationship.”
Similarly, Brosnan had a hand in the casting of the leading lady opposite him. Studios preferred Angelina Jolie for the sequel, as she had come off the success of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. However, Brosnan wanted to act opposite Charlize Theron.
Theron had already established herself as a serious dramatic actor with her role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, for which she won an Oscar for Best Actor. She had also tasted blockbuster success with films like The Italian Job. Pierce Brosnan mentioned in an interview with People magazine that he preferred to work with Theron as he admired her greatly. He said,
“Nothing against Angelina Jolie. I think she’s a magnificent actress. But Charlize has a poise about her and has an inner strength and femininity which I really like to watch.”
While the sequel to the film never got made and there is little news regarding the future of the project, Pierce Brosnan and Charlize Theron still haven’t had the chance to work together.
Source: Irish Central
