Pierce Brosnan set for filming in Istanbul for The Topkapi Affair

Pierce Brosnan is likely to appear in Istanbul soon to film the sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair, according to recent reports.

Entitled The Topkapi Affair, studio officials and film producers have agreed to shoot the principal scenes in Istanbul, possibly featuring the famous Topkapi Palace.

Despite the film's name, principal photography was previously mooted for Greece - until the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) corporation heard about the plan, according to the Today's Zaman newspaper.

A meeting between TRT and MGM Studios convinced the filmmakers to stage the production in Istanbul, following a showing of the 1964 film Topkapi, which starred Peter Usintov amid a picturesque Istanbul setting.

However, it is unclear at this stage if the Topkapi Palace itself will appear in the production, or if a set will be constructed instead.

A number of films have taken advantage of Istanbul's unique backdrop, not least the Bond films. Both From Russia with Love and The World Is Not Enough - the latter of which starred Pierce Brosnan - have featured Istanbul heavily in filming.

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