Comedian Denis Leary has joined the cast of The Thomas Crown Affair, a remake of the 1968 classic starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.

Leary will play a police investigator who falls for an insurance investigator (Russo). His interest in her only adds to his dislike and distrust of businessman Thomas Crown, a suspect in a multimillion-dollar heist.

Leary got his start in stand-up comedy and is best-known for his chain-smoking and endless rants on the constraints of society.

Leary's film debut came in 1991's Strictly Business. He is also known for his roles in Operation Dumbo Drop, Demolition Man, Two If By Sea and the Academy Award nominated Wag the Dog. He most recently played Gil Mars in Small Soldiers.

The Thomas Crown Affair is an Irish Dreamtime Inc. production. The film is expected to debut in theatres in 1999.

Denis Leary will police Crown Affair remake

Reuters/Variety News Service

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) — Actor-comedian Denis Leary (The Ref) has joined Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo in United Artists' remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, set to be directed by John McTiernan.

In the update of the 1968 picture starring Steve McQueen, Brosnan plays a millionaire playboy who, seeking new challenges, steals an invaluable painting by Monet, then strikes up a romance with a female investigator (Russo) who is on his trail.

Leary will star as a New York cop who also is pursuing the mogul thief and falls in love with the investigator.

Brosnan, best known as the big screen's latest James Bond, is producing with Beau St. Clair through their MGM-based production banner, Irish DreamTime.

Leary's recent credits include roles in Small Soldiers, the indie feature Suicide Kings and Barry Levinson's political comedy Wag the Dog.

His other credits include voice-work in the animated feature This Bug's Life and Ted Demme's upcoming Monument Ave., which Leary also co-produced.

Russo currently is appearing in the action-thriller Lethal Weapon 4 with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Her previous feature credits include Ransom, Tin Cup, and Get Shorty.

Thomas Crown is slated to begin production in September, on location in New York.

Model joins cast of Thomas Crown Affair

New York Post

Move over, Cameron Diaz, Kim Basinger, Geena and Davis and all those other models who made it big in movies. Esther Canadas, who does those DKNY ads with her boyfriend, Mark Vanderloo, just landed a part in the Pierce Brosnan-Rene Russo remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, the 1968 thriller in which Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway play a game of chess that reaches mate before they get to check.

Filming started here yesterday (Oct. 5) with angry smoker Denis Leary and Rene Russo, who used to be a model herself.

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sting is recording a new version of the Oscar-winning song "The Windmills of Your Mind," the theme of The Thomas Crown Affair, for Pierce Brosnan's remake of the movie.

"Sting is an amazing artist and a great friend. His daring musical career and personal fearlessness in life echo some of the themes of this film," Brosnan said Wednesday in a statement.

Brosnan plays a billionaire who steals a Monet painting, then falls in love with the investigator, played by Rene Russo, who is trying to solve the crime. It's a remake of the Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway movie, which got the best song Oscar in 1968 for composer Michel Legrand and lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman.