In a surprising turn of events, Taylor Russell has officially departed from her role in Amazon MGM Studios’ highly anticipated reimagining of “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Russell was initially set to star alongside Michael B. Jordan, who is also directing the film. Production is currently underway in London, but Russell’s exit is reportedly due to creative differences with the studio.
As production progresses, the studio is actively seeking to recast Taylor Russell’s role. The film is slated for a theatrical release on March 5, 2027, and the studio aims to maintain its timeline despite this recent casting change. The film features a stellar cast that includes Kenneth Branagh, Lily Gladstone, Danai Gurira, Pilou Asbæk, and Aiysha Hart.
The screenplay for “The Thomas Crown Affair” has been crafted by Drew Pearce, with plot details remaining tightly under wraps. This new adaptation follows a previous draft written by Wes Tooke and Justin Britt-Gibson, which was based on the original 1968 film that starred Steve McQueen. Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo are producing the film through their production company, Outlier Society, alongside Charles Roven from Atlas Entertainment. Additional producers include Patrick McCormick and Marc Toberoff from Toberoff Productions, while Alan Trustman, the writer of the original film, serves as an executive producer.
Taylor Russell has garnered significant acclaim for her performances, particularly in Trey Edward Shults’ A24 feature “Waves,” where she won the breakthrough actor award at the Gotham Awards. Her role in Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All” further solidified her status as an emerging talent, earning her the emerging actress prize at the Venice Film Festival, along with nominations from both the Gothams and Independent Spirit Awards.
Looking ahead, Russell is set to appear in the Korean thriller “Hope,” directed by Na Hong-jin, alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Hoyeon. She is also starring in an upcoming film by Frank Ocean opposite David Jonnson, and is in discussions for a remake of “Single White Female” with Jenna Ortega for Sony.
Russell recently made her theatrical debut in a critically acclaimed revival of Lucy Prebble’s play “The Effect,” directed by Jamie Lloyd, which enjoyed runs in both London and New York. Additionally, she has stepped behind the camera, co-directing the short documentary “The Heart Still Hums,” which won the award for best documentary short at the Palm Springs International ShortFest. Taylor Russell is represented by UTA, Narrative, and James Feldman.
Deadline was the first to break the news of Russell’s exit, leaving fans eager to see how this casting change will impact the production of “The Thomas Crown Affair.”
