The Gangster Squad is nearing time to start shooting, and Ruber Fleischer seems determined that it should have the best cast possible, with Deadline reporting that Nick Nolte has been hired to star alongside Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, Holt McCallany and Emma Stone.
Nick Nolte will play newly appointed Chief of Police Bill Parker in this real-life drama about how LA’s gangster division was formed in the 1930. A Purple Heart recipient for his valor at Normandy, it was Bill Parker who formed The Gangster Squad. His main target is West Coast gangster Mickey Cohen, played by Sean Penn, with Ryan Gosling as the cop who’s going to try and take him down.
Although gangster movies can be very variable and Ruben Fleischer’s background in comedy means he’s a bit of an unknown quantity for period action, the cast is incredibly impressive, and you’ve got the assume they wouldn’t have all signed up if they didn’t suspect this could be something very special.