Armie Hammer's comeback is gaining momentum, as he secures the lead role in Uwe Boll's latest venture, "The Dark Knight." Set to don the mantle of the vigilante protagonist, Hammer embarks on a thrilling journey set to commence principal photography in Croatia on January 27th. The actor, whose career came to an abrupt halt in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations, has recently made a return to the silver screen with Travis Mills' upcoming western "Frontier Crucible," co-starring Thomas Jane and William H. Macy.
Despite a thorough investigation, Los Angeles prosecutors declined to press charges against Hammer in 2023. Prior to the controversies, Hammer had graced high-profile films such as Gore Verbinski's "The Lone Ranger," opposite Johnny Depp, Guy Ritchie's "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," alongside Henry Cavill, and Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me by Your Name," with Timothée Chalamet.
In a recent podcast interview, Hammer revealed that his acting career has gained such traction that he has started declining roles. "My dance card is filling up nicely," he quipped. "Turning down that first job after four years of this mess was the most exhilarating feeling I've ever had."
In "The Dark Knight," penned by Boll, Hammer portrays Sanders, a vigilante who takes justice into his own hands to hunt down criminals. As his campaign transforms him into a social media sensation and a public hero, the local police chief views him as a societal menace, determined to bring him down.
"The Dark Knight's" narrative couldn't be more timely, and I'm thrilled to breathe life into it with this stellar cast," enthused Boll, whose recent credits include the crime drama "First Shift" and the forthcoming migrant crisis thriller "Run." While the film's title may evoke images of a certain caped hero, executive producer Michael Roesch clarified, "Our movie bears no resemblance to Chris Nolan's work, so there's no risk of confusion."
"With Armie Hammer leading the cast, more talented actors soon to be announced, and a fantastic script, we're eager to build on the positive reception of 'First Shift' and 'Run,' promising another powerful film," added Roesch. Representatives for Hammer did not immediately respond to Variety's request for comment.
"First Shift," starring Gino Anthony Pesi and Kristen Renton, surprised everyone by debuting at No. 2 on Paramount+'s charts in December. Meanwhile, "Run," featuring triple Emmy and Tony winner Amanda Plummer, James Russo, Ulrich Thomsen, and Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi, is being handled internationally by UTA Independent Film Group and is in negotiations for a U.S. release.
"The Dark Knight" marks Boll's 37th film, adding to his impressive credits that include big-budget actioners like "In the Name of the King" with Jason Statham, cult classics like "Postal" and the "Rampage" trilogy, and socially conscious works such as "Attack on Darfur" and "Assault on Wall Street."
Produced by Boll and executive produced by Roesch, "The Dark Knight" once again sees Boll collaborating with his regular team, including director of photography Mathias Neumann, line producer Boris Velican, and editor Ethan Maniquis. Tunnel Post in Santa Monica will handle the film's post-production.
