Bradley Cooper is getting serious following “The Hangover Part II,” closing a deal to topline multi-generational crime drama “The Place Beyond the Pines” opposite Ryan Gosling.
Variety first reported last month that Cooper — whose newfound stardom drove Relativity’s “Limitless” to $143 million worldwide gross — had been offered a role as a rookie police officer in “Pines,” which Sidney Kimmel Entertainment will finance and produce.
Pic’s been in development since last year, with “Blue Valentine” writer-director Derek Cianfrance helming from a script he co-wrote with Ben Coccio (“Zero Day”).
Sierra/Affinity is handle foreign sales on “Pines.”
Gosling will play a pro motorcycle rider who turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son when he crosses paths with a cop. Principal photography’s expected to start July 25 in Schenectady, N.Y.
Sidney Kimmel, Lynette Howell, Alex Orlovsky and Jamie Patricof will produce. Howell, Orlovsky and Patricof also produced “Blue Valentine,” which starred Gosling. Cooper’s set to star in the indie drama “The Words,” which marks the directorial debut of “Tron Legacy” scribes Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal.
Cooper’s repped by CAA.
