With an Oscar sitting at home (assuming he hasn’t lent it out to someone or left it in the back of a cab), Jared Leto has taken some time to figure out his next move after the awards-grabbing Dallas Buyers Club. If the producers of Brilliance have any say in the matter, he’ll be filling the lead role in the novel adaption.
Brilliance, you may recall, is the film that Will Smith was attached to lead until recently, when he dropped out to focus on other things. Adapted from Marcus Sakey’s novel by David Koepp, it’s set in a world where some people are born with extraordinary abilities. These X-Men “brilliants” largely choose to use their powers for good, but one bad seed is rallying others to his cause, looking to ignite a civil war. Enter federal agent Nick Cooper, another of the brilliants, who is tasked with taking down rogue members of his society. Noomi Rapace was attached back in May, but we don’t know if she’s still involved in the wake of Smith’s departure.
Leto’s casting is still very much in “if” territory right now – according to Deadline, he’s only just met with director Julius Onah to discuss the role. But if he signs on, his freshly awarded name will be a boost for Legendary Pictures and the film.