“Bloodline” actor eyed to join Felicity Jones in “Star Wars: Rogue One”

PanARMENIAN.Net - On the heels of his first leading role in “Mississippi Grind,” Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn is being sought to star in Gareth Edwards’ “Star Wars: Rogue One”, TheWrap said citing multiple agency sources.

Disney and Lucasfilm are mounting the “Star Wars” spinoff, which is set to star Felicity Jones. There’s no offer yet, but Mendelsohn has met on the project, and insiders tell TheWrap he’ll play a character who is older than Jones.

Chris Weitz is writing the script based on a story by ILM’s Oscar-winning VFX supervisor John Knoll, though plot details are being hidden in [insert clever “Star Wars” reference that only diehard fans will understand here].

Knoll will executive produce along with Jason McGatlin and Simon Emanuel, the latter of whom worked with Mendelsohn on “The Dark Knight Rises,” and you know what that probably means.

Disney declined to comment, while a representative for Mendelsohn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To will produce “Rogue One,” while John Swartz will co-produce. Production will start this summer in London, with Disney releasing the film on Dec. 16, 2016.

Mendelsohn broke out in David Michod’s “Animal Kingdom” before playing a junkie alongside Scoot McNairy in Andrew Dominik’s “Killing Them Softly.” He also helped Ryan Gosling rob banks in “The Place Beyond the Pines” and played Jack O’Connell’s imprisoned father in “Starred Up.”

Mendelssohn recently starred in two Sundance movies, “Mississippi Grind” and “Slow West,” and will soon be seen in Gosling’s directorial debut “Lost River.” He currently stars as Kyle Chandler’s brother on Netflix’s original drama “Bloodline.” He’s represented by CAA and United Management.

Deadline first reported Mendelsohn’s rumored casting.

Mendelsohn sat down with TheWrap at Sundance to discuss working with Ryan Reynolds on “Mississippi Grind,” so watch the video below to see just how charming he can be when he’s not playing violent lowlifes and degenerates.