Joel Kinnaman in Talks to Join Tom Hardy in 'Child 44' (Exclusive)

Joel Kinnaman is in negotiations to join Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace in Child 44, a Soviet-era thriller being produced by Ridley Scott and Michael Schaefer via the Scott Free banner.

If a deal is finalized, the move would reteam Kinnaman with Daniel Espinosa, who directed him in the Swedish breakout Snabba Cash.

STORY: Tom Hardy's 'Child 44' Pushing Ahead With Summit, Worldview

Child 44 is set during the 1950s and follows a member of the Soviet military police (Hardy) who, while investigating a series of child murders, finds himself the target of his own government’s suspicions.

Kinnaman would play Hardy’s ambitious and murderous nemesis. Rapace is playing Hardy’s chameleon-like wife.

Richard Price wrote the script adapting the Tom Rob Smith novel.

Worldview Entertainment is closing in on a deal to co-finance and executive produce the film with Summit Entertainment, and a summer production start is being eyed. Elishia Holmes is exec producing.

Kinnaman continues to be very much in-demand as the dealmaking occurs a week after he signed on to star as Liam Neeson’s son in Warner Bros.’ crime thriller All Nighter, formerly titled Run All Night. He is also reprising his breakout role as a Seattle police detective for the third season of AMC’s thriller The Killing, which will shoot later this year.

Kinnaman is repped by UTA, Magnolia Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.