Robert Pattinson to Hunt Down Saddam Hussein in Mission: Blacklist

Actor set to star in the psychological thriller based on military interrogator Eric Maddox and his team's real-life search for the Iraqi dictator

By Josh Grossberg May 03, 2012 2:57 PMTags
Robert PattinsonPascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Forget Team Edward. Team Eric is where it's at for Robert Pattinson.

The Twilight hunk has signed on to star in Mission: Blacklist, a psychological thriller based on military interrogator Eric Maddox and his team's real-life search for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that ended in the erstwhile Ace of Spades' capture.

Pattinson's rep confirms to E! News that he will take on the role of Maddox in the film, which is based on the latter's novel, Mission: Black List #1. Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire is set to direct.

The flick is being shepherded by Embankment Films, which aims to sell it at the Cannes Film Festival later this month. As it happens, the 25-year-old thesp is expected to grace the Croisette for the world premiere of his latest vehicle, David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, so no doubt his presence will aid in that effort.

Variety reports that Pattinson is also attached to Rover, a drama from Animal Kingdom helmer David Michod in which he'll play a member of a band of thieves who are pursued by a man (Guy Pearce) through the Australian outback after they steal his car.

Pattinson meanwhile wraps up his stint as vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight franchise when The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2 hits theaters Nov. 16.