John Goodman Joins the Cast of ‘The Gambler’

Not long after wrapping up busy 2013, John Goodman has signed on to join the cast of Paramount’s remake of The Gambler. Goodman will play a Jewish loan shark who is owed money by Wahlberg’s character, a gambling addicted English professor (played by James Caan in the 1974 version).

Goodman and Wahlberg will lead a talented cast that also includes Brie Larson (Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now), Jessica Lange (The Vow, TV’s American Horror Story) and Michael K. Williams (The Road, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire). Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist) will direct the remake, and while the 1974 film was based on screenwriter James Toback’s real life experience, William Monahan (The Departed, London Boulevard) will pen the new version of the script. The film will be produced by Irwin Winkler, who was also a producer on the original forty years ago.

2013 proved to be a successful year for Goodman, as he turned in a memorable performance in the awards hopeful Inside Lewyn Davis, as well as the delightful Monsters University and The Hangover Part III. While The Gambler‘s 2015 release seems distant at the moment, Goodman fans can see him in theaters next month when George Clooney’s The Monuments Men hits theaters.