The 'Captain America: The First Avenger' actor has been locked to portray Robert Pronge, a mentor of a notorious mob hitman Richard Kuklinski who is the lead character in the forthcoming thriller.
- November 22, 2011
AceShowbiz -
After playing a superhero in "Captain America: The First Avenger", Chris Evans might show his darker side in his next film. The 30-year-old actor has been tapped to star in an upcoming crime thriller called "The Iceman", replacing James Franco who exited the project due to contractual disagreements.
Deadline reported that the Johnny Storm of "Fantastic Four" has sealed a deal to take over Franco's role of Robert Pronge, who is the mentor of Michael Shannon's lead character Richard Kuklinski. Kuklinski himself is described as a family man by day and a notorious contract killer by night.
Evans is set to join Ray Liotta who tackles the role of mob boss Roy Demeo, Maggie Gyllenhaal who plays Kuklinski's wife Deborah, and Elias Koteas who stars as an undercover FBI agent. Meanwhile, David Schwimmer was previously reported to be in talks to portray Josh Rosenthal, a killer who works for Demeo.
Based on a novel by Anthony Bruno titled "The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer", "The Iceman" centers on Kuklinski, an infamous mob hitman who is responsible for more than 100 brutal murders. Scheduled to start shooting in January 2012 in Louisiana, the thriller is directed, co-produced and co-written by Ariel Vromen.
As for Chris Evans, the Boston-born actor will next be seen reprising his role as Captain America in the Joss Whedon-directed superhero movie "The Avengers". The much awaited film will open wide in the U.S. on May 4, 2012.
