'The Killing' Co-Star Joel Kinnaman Joins Universal's 'Safe House' (Exclusive)

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Joel Kinnaman

The cast of AMC's The Killing is making a killing today.

Hot on the heels of Heat Vision's exclusive news that Killing star Mireille Enos is in talks to join Paramount's World War Z as Brad Pitt's wife, we can report that co-star Joel Kinnaman is joining the Universal thriller Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds.

Swedish actor Kinnaman is reteaming with director Daniel Espinosa, who helmed Kinnaman's breakout film Easy Money/Snabba Cash.

Safe House follows the only surviving agent of an attack on a CIA safe house (Reynolds) as he tries to transport a lethal prisoner (Washington) to a second destination before being taken out by violent forces that want them both dead.

In a key role, Kinnaman is playing a man who operates a safe house where Reynolds and Washington show up.

The script was written by David Guggenheim, an Us Weekly editor who worked nights on the story and whose spec landed him a new career as a hot Hollywood scribe. Terry George did a polish.

The film, currently shooting in South Africa, also co-stars Tim McGraw, Ruben Blades, Vera Farmiga and Brendan Gleeson.

Kinnaman starred in Easy Money, which scored him U.S. representation with UTA and Magnolia Entertainment. (The film is being developed as a remake by Warner Bros.) Kinnaman's first American role is as the shady detective Stephen Holder in AMC's Killing. The show, now in its fifth week, is a ratings hit and seems to be serving as a powerful career springboard for both Enos and Kinnaman.

Kinnaman's next feature is The Darkest Hour, which also stars Emile Hirsch, Rachel Taylor and Max Minghella. The Summit alien invasion movie is due to open Dec. 23.

Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com