Tessa Thompson has signed on to portray Doris Payne, a woman who gained notoriety for her luxury jewelry heists from stores around the world.
Thompson, whose credits include ?Thor: Ragnarok,? ?Creed,? and ?Westworld,? will also produce the currently untitled film with Codeblack Films? Jeff Clanagan. Codeblack is launching the project after having obtained Payne?s life rights.
The film is conceived as a high-concept action-drama in the vein of ?Catch Me if You Can? and ?The Thomas Crown Affair.? Codeblack Films? Candice Wilson will oversee the project.
In her six-decade long career, Payne, who is now 87, would enter jewelry stores posing as a well-to-do woman looking for a diamond ring and ask to see an assortment of items. Using her charm, she would eventually cause the clerk to forget how many pieces were outside the cases and leave with one or two pieces.