Guy Pearce in talks to replace Michael Sheen in Vin Diesel’s Bloodshot

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Vin Diesel took to Instagram yesterday in order to announce that production on BLOODSHOT had officially begun, but it seems that the studio is already needing to replace one of their stars. Michael Sheen (PASSENGERS) was slated to play a main role in the upcoming adaptation of the Valiant comic, but Variety has now reported that the actor was forced to leave due to scheduling issues.

Guy Pearce (MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS) is now in talks with Sony to replace Michael Sheen in the role of Dr. Emil Harting, "the genius responsible for the nanotechnology that exists inside the human body to not only repair it, but push it further than normal human limitations." The film will find Vin Diesel starring as Ray Garrison, a mortally wounded soldier who is resurrected with cutting-edge nanotechnology and tasked with rounding up super-powered outcasts known as harbingers. With his memory wiped, Garrison struggles to recall his former life as well as come to terms with the type of living weapon he's become before setting out on a path of bloody vengeance. Should Guy Pearce officially sign on, he would join Eiza Gonzalez (BABY DRIVER), Sam Heughan (Outlander), Talulah Riley (Westworld), Alex Hernandez (Hemlock Grove), Toby Kebbell (KONG: SKULL ISLAND), and Lamorne Morris (New Girl).

Dave Wilson, a longtime collaborator of Tim Miller (DEADPOOL) as well as the creative director at Blur Studios, is set to make his feature directorial debut on BLOODSHOT which has been scripted by Eric Heisserer (ARRIVAL). It's been said that the plan is for the project to be similar in tone to films like ROBOCOP, THE TERMINATOR, and TOTAL RECALL, while also following in the footsteps of R-rated comic-book films like LOGAN and DEADPOOL.