Rising star Tom Bateman is taking on the role of a villainous gangster in the Liam Neeson starrer Hard Powder.
Emmy Rossum and William Forsythe also are attached to the StudioCanal revenge thriller, which will be directed by Hans Petter Moland. It’s an adaptation of his Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance, from a screenplay by Frank Baldwin.
The story is set in a glitzy Rocky Mountain ski town where an upright snowplow driver’s (Neeson) life is turned upside down after his son is murdered by a local drug kingpin. He then seeks to dismantle the cartel, but his vengeful crusade sparks a turf war between a Native American mafia boss and the gangster Viking (Bateman). Bateman’s character is described as “a fastidious gangster who wears Tom Ford suits, is a vegan, drives a Tesla and murders people.” It all leads up to a bloody and deadly showdown.
“Tom has a unique combination of range from comedic to dramatic, and he will be great starring as Liam Neeson’s nemesis,” says Michael Shamberg, who is producing that action-thriller. The project is aiming for a March 20 start date in Canada.
Bateman, who previously starred on the British series Jekyll & Hyde, is primed to have a strong year after booking several high-profile projects. He stars in Snatched, Fox’s Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedy that hits theaters in May, and plays Bouc in Kenneth Branagh’s star-studded adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, which also stars Daisy Ridley, Penelope Cruz and Josh Gad. It hits theaters in November.
He’s repped by CAA, United Agents in the U.K. and attorney Patti Felker.
