While he got lots of acclaim for The Hurt Locker, whether Anthony Mackie will really hit it big isn’t yet know, largely because while he’s got a lot lined up (Real Steel, Man On A Ledge, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), the only big movie he’s been in since Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-winning hit is The Adjustment Bureau. However he’s now got another biggie on his list, as Variety reports that Mackie has officially joined the cast of The Gangster Squad (previously known as Tales From The Gangster Squad) for director Ruben Fleischer and Warner Bros.
The actor will portray former LAPD lieutenant Rocky Washington, although it isn’t known how large the role is. The project is based on the true story of an elite LAPD unit trying to keep East Coast mafia clans from invading the City of Angels. Sean Penn is set to play LA gangster Mickey Cohen, while Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, and Michael Peña will play members of The Gangster Squad.
Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, 30 Minutes or Less) is directing from a much-lauded screenplay by former LAPD officer Will Beall, which was adapted from a seven-part series of LA Times articles written by Paul Lieberman. It isn’t known when production will start on The Gangster Squad, although it should be sometime this year, as it’s a priority project for Warner.
It was back in April that Mackie was first rumoured to be joining The Gangster Squad, and he was offered a part alongside Brad Pitt in World War Z at the same time. It isn’t known if Anthony Mackie turned down the World War Z part or not (even though that starts shooting shortly), although it is possible he could take on both roles.