Joel Edgerton (Midnight Special) is in early talks to join the cast of Francis Lawrence’s Red Sparrow, according to Deadline. Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: Apocalypse) is already set to star in the adaptation of CIA veteran Jason Matthews’ bestselling novel of the same name.
20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the novel two years ago in a bidding war. Producers are Peter Chernin of Chernin Entertainment with Jenno Topping, and Film Rites’ Steven Zaillian and Garrett Basch. The two Lawrences previously teamed on three films in the Hunger Games franchise. The screenplay is penned by Justin Haythe (The Lone Ranger) who rewrote a script by Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle).
The story centers on Russian intelligence officer Dominika Egorova (Lawrence) who is ordered against her will to become a “sparrow” (trained seductress). Her target is a young CIA agent, Nathaniel Nash, who handles Russian moles. The two intelligence officers enter into a sexually charged and dangerous romance that threatens not only their own safety, but the lives of others as well. Egorova’s ill treatment by her Russian masters turns her against them as she chooses the life of a double agent ferreting out traitors for the CIA and returning to Moscow to penetrate Russian intelligence from within.
Edgerton had a breakout role in 2011’s Warrior and went on to star in 2012’s Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Thirty and in 2013’s The Great Gatsby. He played Gordo in last year’s sleeper hit The Gift. On November 4th, audiences will see him starring in the critically acclaimed interracial marriage drama Loving which has been generating Oscar buzz for the in-demand actor since its Cannes premiere.
Red Sparrow is scheduled to bow on November 10, 2017.
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