Gambling drama swaps out lead.
Late last year it was revealed that Jake Gyllenhaal was being sought to star in ‘Half Nelson’ and ‘Sugar’ filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s indie drama, ‘Mississippi Grind.’ Now Deadline is hearing that Gyllenhaal is no longer linked to the project, with Ryan Reynolds stepping in to fill the role.
Scripted by Boden and Fleck, the movie follows a down-on-his-luck gambler (played by Ben Mendelsohn) who teams with a younger gambling addict (Reynolds), hoping to change his luck. The two set off on a road trip through the South hoping fortune will smile upon them.
Electric City partners Jamie Patricof and Lynette Howell are producing with John Lesher of Le Grisbi Productions. Filming is expected to kick off early next year.