Jonah Hill may have roots in off-color comedy, but in recent years he’s begun padding his resumé with weightier roles. Along with Academy Award-nominated performances in Moneyball and War Dogs was praised as a standout performance for the film.

Hill has since signed on to reunite with Wolf of Wall Street cohort Leonardo DiCaprio for Clint Eastwood was interested in taking the reins.

Now, Sully, hit theaters with critical praise in September. The Ballad of Richard Jewell is currently in development at 20th Century Fox, so it’s possible he simply didn’t want to jump ship from his work with Warner Bros.

OJ Made in America

Hill is attached to play the film’s titular role, a security guard who initially uncovered and reported the Olympic bomb, but quickly descended from hero to suspect after being publicly demonized. DiCaprio is slated to portray Jewell’s friend, a lawyer who ultimately helped clear Jewell’s name despite having a background in real estate. Jewell himself died in 2007 at the age of 44 due to health issues.

The Ballad of Richard Jewell is a big get for Edelman, considering his experience thus far has been centered on sports. Still, the ties between Jewell’s story and O.J. Simpon’s trial -- the murder case at the heart of Made In America -- are hard to ignore. Both scenarios played out very publicly and were fueled by media speculation. Despite being a Hollywood newcomer, Edelman has proved his prowess at adapting true crime to screen. A successful feature debut could mark a career breakthrough. His presence adds a refreshing mix to the otherwise star-powered roster.

A release date for The Ballad of Richard Jewell has not yet been announced.

Source: THR