Once a Thief is a remake of a 1991 film of the same name. Both films were directed by John Woo. The film was also made into a 1997 television series also of the same name. The remake aired on the Fox Network and was hoped to be the beginning of a weekly series, but Fox passed on it, and the series aired instead on the CTV Television Network in Canada. Plot The film is about two orphans - Mac Ramsey and Li Ann Tsei who have spent their life living with the Tang family - a ruthless Chinese organized crime syndicate. Mac and Li Ann were taken in by the Tang Godfather and have formed a close friendship with his son Michael. When they grow up, Li Ann is betrothed to Michael, but falls in love with Mac so the two scheme to steal money from the Tang family and run off to start a new life. During the heist, Mac is arrested and Li Ann flees to Canada. 18 months later, Mac is released into the charge of a menacing woman known only as the Director who takes him to Canada to work for her crime-fighting team. He soon realizes he will be working with Li Ann and her former cop boyfriend Victor. Cast Sandrine Holt as Li Ann Tsei Ivan Sergei as Mac Ramsey Nicholas Lea as Victor Mansfield Robert Ito as The Godfather Michael Wong as Michael Tang Alan Scarfe as Robertson Graves Jennifer Dale as The Director Nathaniel DeVeaux as Dobrinsky Greg Chan as Dance MC Young Ryu as Li Ann's Dance Partner Matthew Walker as Interpol Judge Paul Wu as Judge's Aide Phillip Tsui as Fong Derek Lowe as Mill Security Guard TV series The spin-off series ran for one season. See also Once a Thief (1991 film) Once a Thief (TV series) External links 1996 television films 1996 films Canadian drama television films Canadian action films 1990s crime action films Canadian crime drama films 1996 crime drama films Films directed by John Woo Films about orphans Films adapted into television shows Remakes of Hong Kong films Crime television films Action television films 1990s English-language films 1990s Canadian films