Still Not Much Movement on 'Thomas Crown 2'

We've talked at length about the trouble for The Hobbit and the next James Bond movie as a result of MGM's mountain of debt. But there are other movies that can't move forward without some clarity there, either. Remakes of Poltergeist and RoboCop are stuck in neutral and Pierce Brosnan's sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair is stalled, as well.

The Thomas Crown Affair 2 is actually a sequel to a remake that is also a remake of another film. That might be the first time that's happened. The story this time is based around the 1964 heist movie Topkapi, but when in the world will it happen? Angelina Jolie was rumored for the Rene Russo role, but she'll probably be too expensive by the time this gets off the ground. However, director Paul Verhoeven has moved on, casting further doubt on whether or not the sequel will even happen. “No, I am not [directing the film] anymore," Verheoven told MTV. "Things happened there, the regime changed. The initial ideas that they had about Thomas Crown 2 were interesting, I thought. There was a script written by two young writers that used the fact that now we’re living 15, 20 years later.”

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Brosnan Wants Charlize for 'Thomas Crown' Sequel

Props to Cinema Blend, who tracked down this juicy little quote in a Malaysian English-language newspaper. It's from Pierce Brosnan, who, prior to Mamma Mia!, had been doing really interesting things since he left the Bond franchise. The Matador is great and I liked Seraphim Falls (admittedly, most people didn't love it). I never saw the limited release The Married Life, but some critics I respect seemed to enjoy it.

But for years now, Brosnan has been toying with the idea of a sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair. We know his idea for this sequel to a remake is actually another remake, of the heist flick Topkapi, which had nothing to do with the original Thomas Crown Affair. And we know Paul Verhoeven has been lined up to direct. About the only missing piece was Angelina Jolie, rumored to be the female lead in the sequel for many months. There were a couple of things keeping her out of the production, including both baby weight and lack of weight (if you believe the gossip), but she was always the top contender for the role. Until now.Brosnan is leaning another direction, and as the producer and star, he has that right. "Charlize Theron is someone who I've always admired. I think she's someone who has acquitted herself grandly," effuses Brosnan. "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."

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Pierce Brosnan's Latest 'Affair'

You know how actors will take a big movie so they can afford the meager payday of a really good role in an independent drama? I think Pierce Brosnan may have taken a big day to promote another big payday.

If you've seen the former Bond in Mamma Mia!, you know how terrible he is. It's the worst performance in his career over the past 15 years, probably. Horribly out of place, visibly uncomfortable, and unable to carry a tune, Brosnan just should have never been in the musical in the first place. But now it all starts to make sense. You see, Brosnan is using interviews for Mamma Mia! to his advantage. Having sat in on quite of few of these roundtable interviews in the past, I can say with a certain amount of credibility that no matter who the star is, they will be asked "So what are you working on next?" during their crowded press day. And I have a hunch Brosnan may have been banking on it. Why? Because he's telling USA Today, a paper with a pretty sizable circulation, that what he's working on next is a sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair. If you follow Brosnan at all, that's not big news in and of itself. Nor is the year-old casting rumor that Rene Russo would be replaced by Angelina Jolie (again, that's only a rumor). But I hadn't heard word one about The Thomas Crown Affair 2 in quite a while...until Brosnan started doing Mamma Mia! press. And let's be honest, you're not going to ask him too many questions about his singing other than maybe, "Why, God, why?"

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