According to Variety, Golden Globe Award-winning actor Oscar Isaac has been tapped for the lead role in veteran filmmaker Paul Schrader’s forthcoming revenge thriller movie titled The Card Counter. Isaac is set to portray the role of a gambler and former serviceman named William Tell, who tries to help and reform a young man from seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past.
Isaac gained worldwide recognition for his role as Poe Dameron in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars sequel trilogy. He is set to reprise the character in the upcoming third and final installment Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker which will premiere this December 20. He will also next be seen in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune remake starring alongside Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Josh Brolin.
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In The Card Counter film, Tell’s spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk.
Gaining backing from mysterious gambling financier La Linda, Tell takes Cirk with him on the road, going from casino to casino until the unlikely trio set their sights on winning the World Series of poker in Las Vegas. However, things get difficult when Tell realizes that trying to keep Cirk on the right path proves to be an impossible task as he gets dragged back into the darkness of his past.
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The film will be written and directed by Schrader, who is best known for writing the screenplays to Martin Scorsese’s iconic films such Taxi Driver, Bringing Out the Dead, The Last Temptation of Christ and Raging Bull. Schrader’s most recent project was the 2017 drama film First Reformed starring Ethan Hawke which had giving him his first Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.
The Card Counter will be produced by Braxton Pope and Lauren Mann with William Olsson and David Wulf serving as executive producers. Hanway Film will be handling its international sales. This project will be Pope and Schrader’s second collaboration, who have previously worked together on The Canyons film.
Principal photography is expected to begin early next year.
