This long-gestating crime thriller has just gone through another makeover. Jason Clarke had previously been attached to “Candy Store,” replacing Chris Hemsworth, and now it appears Clarke is out too, and Matthias Schoenaerts is in. French actor Omar Sy is still in, as is Robert De Niro, and the Stephen Gaghan-directed film has added Keira Knightley as the female lead as well.
The production, along with unveiling the final cast, has also revealed the official synopsis:
DAVIS (Robert DeNiro) is a veteran NYPD detective whose partner is kidnapped during a bust at a Brooklyn brothel run by CHIDDYBANG (Omar Sy). Meanwhile, BLACK ZEGNA, a former KGB officer turned ruthless gangster, hires CHERRY (Keira Knightley), one of the girls at the brothel, to seduce and incapacitate a major hedge fund manager. By chance, Cherry runs into SWANN, a former CIA operative who suffers from seizures related to his previous work as a spy. Swann bravely fights off the henchmen pursuing her and discovers that she is being used as a pawn in a plot to steal billions in gold. Through his efforts to protect Cherry, Swann inadvertently puts himself in Zegna’s crosshairs. After partnering up with Davis, Swann must overcome his personal demons to thwart the heist, meanwhile saving the woman he has fallen in love with from the wrath of her merciless employer.
Schoenaerts is likely taking over the role of Swann from Clarke and Hemsworth. He, who broke out opposite Marion Cotillard in “Rust and Bone,” recently wrapped “Far From the Madding Crowd” with Carey Mulligan and “Suite Francaise” with Michelle Williams. He’s attached to action-thriller “Galveston” from “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto.
Knightley was last seen in “Jack Ryan,” which didn’t exactly relaunch the franchise potential of the classic Tom Clancy character, played this time by Chris Pine. She’ll next be seen in Sundance hit “Laggies” with Chloe Moretz as well as TIFF hit “Can a Song Save Your Life?” with Mark Ruffalo. She’s also attached to produce as well as star in an adaptation of 1920s set romantic drama “The Other Typist.”
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