Bryan Cranston is a very popular man at the moment, with Hollywood falling over itself to give him roles (yep, the dad from Malcolm In The Middle really is hot property). The result is that while he was announced a few weeks ago for The Gangster Squad, he’s had to pass on the movie due to his hectic schedule.
They haven’t wasted any time replacing him though, as Variety reports that Robert Patrick will take his place. He’ll play Max Kennard, an ambitious but laconic LAPD officer who originally hails from Texas.
Ruben Fleischer (30 Minutes or Less, Zombieland) is directing from a screenplay by Will Beall, which is based on a seven-part article series in The Los Angeles Times. The real-life story centres on a high-profile unit of the LAPD in the 1940s, whose mission is to rid the streets of East Coast organised crime. The main action will be between Ryan Gosling’s cop and Sean Penn’s gangster kingpin, with Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena and Anthony Mackie. Giovanni Ribisi and Holt McCallany also onboard, and Emma Stone in talks for the female lead.