Jason Clarke to Lead Kathryn Bigelow’s KILL BIN LADEN; Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Rooney Mara, and More Considered for Supporting Roles

As late as this past September, it looked like Joel Edgerton would star in Kathryn Bigelow‘s hunt for Osama Bin Laden film (tentatively titled Kill Bin Laden).  However, Deadline is now reporting Edgerton’s The Great Gatsby co-star Jason Clarke (The Chicago Code) is “the first actor set” for the movie, and makes no mention of his fellow Australian actor.  I’m not exactly sure what happened to Edgerton, but maybe the start date for Bin Laden getting pushed back caused a scheduling conflict (Edgerton began talks to star in the 300 sequel last week).  But I have no problem with Clarke, who will reportedly play “a terrorist hunter in service of the U.S. efforts to hunt Bin Laden.”

Deadline also reports that Bigelow is also looking at Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), Jennifer Ehle (Contagion), Guy Pearce (who starred in Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker), Idris Elba (Thor), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and Nina Arianda (Midnight In Paris) as possible co-stars.  That’s a whole lot of talent, and it’s not surprising that Bigelow can put together a high-caliber cast after the success of The Hurt Locker.  Production on Kill Bin Laden (written by Hurt Locker screenwriter Mark Boal) is set to begin early next year.