Former True Detective star Michelle Monaghan has become a last-minute addition to the cast of Boston bombing drama Patriots’ Day, joining the real-life pic as Carol Saunders, wife to Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg).
Penned by the Oscar nominated Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies), Patriots’ Day is to be directed by Lone Survivor filmmaker Peter Berg – he’ll be reuniting with Wahlberg for Deepwater Horizon, too. Leading the charge against the suspected terrorists, Wahlberg’s Saunders is described as a “composite Boston Police Department officer who leads the manhunt for the chief suspects.”
Flanked by John Goodman’s Ed Davis and Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (portrayed here by J.K. Simmons), Saunders proved to be a key player during the formative hours of the investigation that swept through the city back in 2013. As for the addition of Monaghan, Berg welcomed The Path star with open arms, stating that “in the aftermath of the attack, heroes appeared from every corner of Boston. Michelle is a remarkable actress who knows the people of this city and understands their courage and strength.”
Setting up shop at CBS Films and Lionsgate, Scott Stuber, Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky are among the many producers involved in Patriots’ Day as it gears up for an Oscars-friendly release on December 21. Before that, look for Monaghan to star opposite Jamie Foxx in upcoming crime thriller Sleepless Night.