'Lights Out' Star Holt McCallany Will Protect Sean Penn In 'Gangster Squad'

by Kevin Jagernauth
July 14, 2011 6:03 AM
2 Comments

Even though the acclaimed FX boxing drama "Lights Out" has been canceled after one season, it looks like Holt McCallany is springing from the series into movies in a major way. He's already landed a role in the upcoming Sylvester Stallone/Walter Hill pic and now he's boarding one of the biggest studio dramas in the works right now.

Sean Penn's Mickey Cohen will now have a bodyguard and enforcer in McCallany, who joins a roster of fantastic actors. Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Anthony Mackie, Bryan Cranston, Michael Peña and Giovanni Ribisi all star in the high profile true crime film about a specialized L.A.P.D. unit set up in the ‘40s to fight the growing influence of the East Coast Mafia, namely that from infamous gangster Mickey Cohen, a mogul who started as muscle for Al Capone in Chicago. The film is based on a series of articles in the L.A. Times by Paul Lieberman and was picked up soon after its publication in 2008 by Warner Bros. who, in turn, hired former L.A. cop-turned-novelist Will Beall to adapt with his script landing on the Black List.

Production on the film is slated to begin in late summer, with "Zombieland" and "30 Minutes or Less" director Ruben Fleischer at the helm. No release date, but look for it next Oscar season. [Deadline]

More: Films, Actors, Gangster Squad, Holt McCallany

2 Comments

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Zack | July 14, 2011 6:12 AMReply

Is he playing Johnny Stompanato? I dunno if I could buy him as Italian but I'm definitely glad he's finding work post-"Lights Out".
Edward Davis | July 14, 2011 6:11 AMReply

They called him ROBERT PAULSON!