Joel Edgerton
Joel Edgerton

   Reports since May have had Edgerton (“Warrior”) attached to star the project, but insiders said at the time that he was merely the unofficial top choice, as the script was unfinished. By the time a script was done and casting began in October, it appeared that Edgerton’s schedule would clash with shooting; 
  • he’d been mulling an offer to star in the “300” prequel. 
    • But Edgerton passed on the Warner Bros. project, freeing him up to join the bin Laden pic cast that already includes Jason Clarke.
  • Story revolves around the Navy SEAL team that tracked and eventually killed bin Laden. 
    • Boal and Bigelow, who collaborated on Oscar best picture winner “The Hurt Locker,” will produce along with Ellison, Greg Shapiro and Ted Schipper.
  • A number of roles are still open, including a female reporter embedded with the SEAL 6 team.
    • Rooney Mara had been eyed, but her “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” promotion schedule prevented it.

Edgerton’s has become a very popular option among Hollywood execs for high-profile pics in the last year. Prior to Lionsgate’s “Warrior,” he was being looked at for starring roles in Universal’s “The Bourne Legacy” and “Snow White and the Huntsman” before joining Warner Bros.’ “The Great Gatsby.”