First Look at Woody Harrelson in Oren Moverman’s RAMPART

From Entertainment Weekly comes the first image of Woody Harrelson in his reunion project with writer/director Oren Moverman (The Messenger). Rampart, due to hit theaters in 2011, will feature Harrelson as an LAPD officer embroiled in a division-wide corruption scandal. The film, based on real events, also features Ben Foster (The Messenger), and veteran actors Steve Buscemi, Sigourney Weaver and Robin Wright.

As Rampart is reuniting the co-writer/director of The Messenger with three of the film’s principle actors, and with James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) co-writing the screenplay, this film should do wonders with its on-screen chemistry and compelling source material.  For all things Woody Harrelson and other projects related to Rampart, hit the jump:

Woody Harrelson has been riding the hot ticket in Hollywood since the reinvigorating success of Zombieland and The Messenger, which garnered him a “Best Supporting Actor” nomination. So Rampart is clearly a film to keep an eye on as production continues.  But to satisfy your jonesing for more Woody, check out our coverage on the hyper-visual and wildly unique Bunraku.

Since Harrelson’s repertoire is so varied, I’m not sure what kind of portrayal we’re going to get out of him in Rampart. Previous adaptations (Colors, Training Day) of the real-life source material have delved into the gray areas of law enforcement, with characters walking both sides of the thin blue line. Dealing with corruption, cover-ups, theft of drugs by the officers involved and beating of gang members during interviews doesn’t leave much room for humor. But it does make for one helluva compelling drama.

One of my all-time favorite TV series was The Shield, originally named Rampart for the pilot (changed so it didn’t imply the LAPD Rampart Division was still corrupt). If Moverman’s Rampart is even half as engrossing and morally ambiguous as that series was, then he’s got a winner on his hands.