Will Smith steals role as charming thief

The Hollywood actor will play the lead in a feature film adaptation of a four-decade-old US TV series, It Takes a Thief.

Hollywood actor Will Smith has stolen a role as a charming thief in a new movie about a man blackmailed into committing crime for his country, the industry press said Wednesday.

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Smith, 37, who won an Academy Award nomination for his leading role in 2001's boxing drama Ali, will take the lead role in a feature film adaptation of a four-decade-old US television series, It Takes a Thief, Daily Variety said.

The movie, based on the series that ran from 1968 to 1970 and starred actor Robert Wagner, will tell the story of a rogue who was blackmailed by his country into working for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Universal Studios has been mulling over the movie for nearly 10 years, after originally marking it as a starring vehicle for Michael Douglas.

Smith has also starred in such hits as the Men in Black films, Independence Day and last year's comedy Hitch.