Tom Hardy to star in The Outsider (SKY NEWS)

Hardy is set to star as an American soldier in 'The Outsider', which will mark the English-language debut of Japanese director Takashi Miike.

The 35-year-old actor - who received the BAFTA Rising Star Award for his role in 'Inception' in 2010 - is rumoured to play an American soldier in the upcoming film, set in post-World War II Japan and following an American expatriate who becomes a Yakuza enforcer (gangster), according to Deadline.com

The epic film - which was originally being developed by Warner Bros. - will mark the English-language debut of Japanese director Takashi Miike and will be based on an original idea by John Linson.

The Andrew Baldwin script was passed over to Silver Pictures last November and is being independently funded. Filming is expected to kick off early next year in Japan.

Meanwhile, Tom is also wanted for a Sir Elton John biopic entitled 'Rocketman'.

read more: http://www.skynews.com.au/showbiz/article.aspx?id=878386

Tom Hardy To Star In Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell comments published: 2012-11-14 14:19:37 Author: Eric Eisenberg (CINEMA BLEND)

Silver Pictures has been busy lately filling its slate with niche action dramas starring relative titans of the genre. Their latest deal involves The Outsider, a post-WWII thriller that was set up at Warner Bros. until the studio let its option expire. Now Silver is eyeing it as a possible vehicle for Tom Hardy.

Variety breaks the story, saying the lead role in The Outsider would be an American expatriate who stays in Japan in the years following the war, only to become a Yakuza enforcer. There’s a girl – there’s always a girl. And when our hero falls in love with her, it’s viewed as a betrayal against his criminal family.

The trade says that Hardy once was very interested in the part, but his schedule’s about as full as possible with shoots for George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road and the recent signing to Splinter Cell, based on the video games series inspired by Tom Clancy’s novels. Scheduling isn’t only a problem for Hardy. Safe House director Daniel Espinosa also was approached for Outsider when it was at Warner, and reportedly might still be interested in his calendar clears.

READ MORE: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/tom-hardy-star-tom-clancy-splinter-cell-34116.html