Vincent Cassel has been cast as the lead role in Ariel Kleiman’s debut feature “Partisan.”
The thesp will replace Oscar Issac, who was previously attached to the pic.
Protagonist Pictures has boarded the project for international sales on the film, which was penned by Kleiman and Sarah Cyngler.
“Partisan,” which begins lensing in Australia in October, sees Cassel play a charismatic and troubled man named Gregori, who raises his children to attack the world that wronged him.
The story is told through the eyes of 11 year-old Alexander, who starts to question Gregori’s deadly and vengeful teachings.
Cassel’s international credits include “Mesrine,” for which he won the Cesar for best actor, “Irreversible,” “Read My Lips,” as well as “Black Swan,” “Eastern Promises,” “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13.”
He will next be seen in upcoming pic “Beauty and the Beast.”
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“Partisan” is produced by Warp Films Australia’s Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw. The duo produced “Snowtown,” which won multiple awards in Oz and Jury Special Mention at Cannes 2011, and “Shopping,” which preemed at Sundance earlier this year and won the Grand Prix in its section at the Berlin Film Festival.
“Partisan” is financed by Screen Australia, Animal Kingdom, Film Victoria and DDP Studios with support from Fulcrum Media Finance.
Animal Kingdom’s David Kaplan and Frederick W. Green exec produce.
Madman Entertainment will distribute the pic in Australia and New Zealand and UTA is co-repping North American rights with Protagonist.
Cassel is repped by CAA and Agence Adequat.
