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Hardy, Craig, McGregor & Bloom All Vying for 'The Sweeney'

by Ethan Anderton
July 9, 2010
Source: The Playlist

When actors get to a certain point of success in their career, there really isn't much to the audition process other than mentioning you're interested in the project and letting agents, directors, producers and casting directors handle the rest. So when I see a group of well known names all going for the same part, you know it's got to be one hell of a part, and thus my interest begins. Case in point, The Playlist has discovered (via The Daily Mail/OneIndia) that Tom Hardy, Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor and Orlando Bloom are all looking to snag one of the leads in The Sweeney, a big screen version of the 70's British crime drama.

The series followed two members of the "Flying Squad," a branch of the Metropolitan Police specializing in armed robbery and violent crime in London. Detective Inspector Jack Regan & Detective Sergeant George Carter are the roles in question for this remake. Apparently a different iteration of this with Ray Winstone and Michael Fassbender playing the detectives was thrown out earlier this year. Now Fox Searchlight is looking to start again and attach a big name to star opposite Winstone, who is apparently still involved.

The Daily Mail had only mentioned Daniel Craig making a play for one of the roles (it's unclear which actor would play which detective), but OneIndia threw McGregor, Hardy and Bloom into the mix. Since neither we, nor The Playlist, is aware of OneIndia's reliability, all of the names seem like they could be decent fits for the part. However, I have to admit that I'm not entirely sold on seeing Orlando Bloom in anything that doesn't have a period setting just yet (he wasn't all that great in Elizabethtown), so he would really have to impress the hell out of me if he gets the role. Craig truly seems like the best choice, and with James Bond not getting off the ground anytime soon, he could take on this role after finishing up Cowboys and Aliens.

Otherwise, Hardy isn't all the recognizable of a name yet (though he has some star-making roles coming up) and I'll watch Ewan McGregor is almost anything. Anyone like the sound of this adaptation so far?

Related categories: Casting, Movie News, Rumors

Jeeze

Gene Hunt would have been a better auditionee. He did a cop show called Life of Mars, as well as a spinoff show called Ashes to Ashes, which was a cross between The Sweeney and Back to the Future.
http://drunkorbored.tumblr.com Jim

Tom Hardy or Daniel Craig. But seriously folks, Tom Hardy.
Leah

Tom Hardy would be the best choice! I'm telling ya!!! He's GREAT!!!
Cody w

Yeah agreed Hardy is fantastic, cant wait to see his performance in Inception.
The Hornet King

People don't know about Tom Hardy yet. They will. He is gonna be huge.
Caitie

I don't understand why most people though Elizabethtown was mediocre, I thought it was simply awesome. And yes I do believe Orlando Bloom gave a great solid performance in that. I don't think he'll ever turn out to be an amazing actor, but he'll find his ''role" one day.
Jeeze

Phillip Glenister would be the most appropiate choice for The Sweeney. He played a similar cop called DCI Gene Hunt in a time travel cop show called Life on Mars and it's spin off Ashes to Ashes.
Dee_Hartl

Winstone would be cast as Regan... the older and more highly ranked of the two 'coppers'. The original Regan was played by the late, great John Thaw (he of Inspector Morse fame). The younger detective was played by Dennis Waterman. For me, Hardy would be the better choice alongside Winstone. Craig is too old already and McGregor and Bloom are far too soft. Check some of Hardy's roles, he's got the rough edge that's needed. Plus, once Inception hits everyone will know Hardy's name.
Dee Hartl

Oh, also... The Sweeney derives from the cockney slang 'Sweeney Todd,' which means 'Flying Squad.' 'Quick, drop the loot and run for it, lads! It's the Sweeney!' That kind of thing. Needless to say, Winstone would be perfectly cast.