WINNIPEG - From Jesse James to James Bond -- after a Brad Pitt stop in '05, Pierce Brosnan could make the scene in Winnipeg early in 2006.

Brosnan, 52, will play a kidnapper who sets out to destroy a couple's seemingly perfect existence in psychological thriller Butterfly on a Wheel. Maria Bello (The Cooler, A History of Violence) has reportedly signed on to star.

Vancouver-based Infinity Media producer William Vince (Capote) is reportedly connected to the movie. During the local red-carpet preview of Capote Dec. 12, Vince said he and Kyle Irving, of Winnipeg's Eagle Vision (Tipi Tales) expected to announce a new project early in 2006. Butterfly on a Wheel is rumoured to be first on the list.

Infinity Media is also linked to thriller The Poker Club, which may go into production here as early as January. Penned by actor Jonathan Schaech (Houdini, How to Kill Your Neighbour's Dog), that movie is about four poker buddies who kill one intruder and may have to deal with more. No casting announcements have been made.

The Irish-born Brosnan excels at playing elegant rogues. He rose to stardom as TV's Remington Steele in the '80s and appeared as James Bond in a handful of movies including 2002's Die Another Day.

But Brosnan is attracting critical praise for playing against suave type as a burned-out hitman in his latest film, the dark comedy The Matador. Brosnan's Irish DreamTime company is behind that movie and Butterfly on a Wheel.


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