The latest reports have Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises) on board to join Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace in Daniel Espinosa’s Child 44.  Richard Price penned the adaptation of the Tom Rob Smith novel that centers on a 1950s Soviet military policeman (Hardy) who finds himself the target of his own government’s suspicions while investigating a series of child murders.  The picture also stars Joel Kinnaman and has Ridley Scott and Michael Schaefer attached to produce.  Hit the jump for more.

Though his AMC series The Killing was just resurrected for a third season, star Joel Kinnaman isn’t leaving features behind anytime soon.  The actor most recently wrapped the starring role in the RoboCop reboot, and now Heat Vision reports that Kinnaman is in negotiations to join Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace in the thriller Child 44.  The film is based on the book of the same name by Tom Rob Smith and takes place in the 1950s, where it centers on a security officer in the Soviet Union who finds himself demoted and exiled while investigating a string of murders.

Kinnaman is in talks to play Hardy’s “ambitious and murderous nemesis.”  Should the deal go through, Kinnaman would be reuniting with his Snabba Cash director Daniel Espinosa on the project.  Espinosa is coming off the success of last year’s Safe House, and Child 44 boasts Ridley Scott and Michael Costigan as producers.  Filming is hoping to get underway this summer.  Hit the jump for casting news concerning Rose Byrne joining Tina Fey/Jason Bateman and Seth Rogen/Zac Efron in a couple of upcoming projects.

Back in December, we learned that Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace were looking to team up for the Dennis Lehane adaptation Animal Rescue.  Well now it appears that the duo may be planning back-to-back projects, as Heat Vision reports that Hardy and Rapace are in talks to star in Child 44.  The film is based on the book of the same name by Tom Rob Smith and takes place in the 1950s where it centers on a security officer in the Soviet Union who finds himself demoted and exiled while investigating a string of murders.

Safe House helmer Daniel Espinosa is set to direct the thriller, with Hardy looking to play the Soviet officer and Rapace eyeing the role of his mysterious wife.  Ridley Scott and Michael Costigan are onboard to produce, and filming is hoping to get underway in May in Budapest, after Hardy and Rapace complete Animal Rescue which shoots in March.  Hit the jump to read a synopsis for Smith’s novel.

Director Daniel Espinosa (Safe House) is reported circling the director’s chair for Child 44, an adaptation of the Tom Rob Smith novel.  The first book in a trilogy (followed by The Secret Speech and Agent 6) was adapted by the Oscar-nominated Richard Price (The Color of Money).  Child 44 centers on Leo Demidov, a security officer in Stalin’s Soviet Union who finds himself demoted and exiled while investigating a string of murders.  It’s a taut, gripping tale with an unexpected climax that should be perfectly suited for the big screen.  Hit the jump for more on Child 44.