Proving that career momentum is everything, Golden Globe nominee Edgar Ramirez (Carlos The Jackal) is apparently close to a deal that would see him climb aboard the upcoming big screen adaptation of the 2015 bestselling novel, The Girl On The Train, by Paula Hawkins. The female-led story will be directed by Tate Taylor (The Help), with an adapted screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson (Men, Women And Children). Ramirez, who stars as Bodhi in this year’s Point Break – the role made famous by Patrick Swayze – is circling the role of Dr. Kamal Abdric, which forms a significant part of a labyrinthine plot, steeped in mystery and intrigue.
The Girl On The Train is told in the first person, from the perspective of three different, but connected women. Rachel Watson (to be played by Sicario’s Emily Blunt) is an alcoholic divorced woman who commutes the same train route every morning. From the train each day she sees, and becomes fixated with, a young couple who seem rapturously happy. She watches them through the window and imagines their romantic life together, until one day, she hears that the woman – Megan (played by The Equalizer’s Haley Bennett) – has disappeared. As she begins to obsessively try to uncover what happened to her, worrying that she herself might be involved, she clashes with her ex-husband, who is now married to his former mistress, Anna (played by Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation’s Rebecca Ferguson).
The role of Dr. Kamal Abdric is a therapist suspected of involvement in the disappearance of Megan, with whom he was engaged in an affair. The roles of Anna’s husband (and Rachel’s ex-husband), Tom, and Megan’s husband, Scott, are yet to be confirmed as cast, although there are rumours of Chris Evans (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) and Jared Leto (The Dallas Buyer’s Club) circling those parts, respectively.
The Girl On The Train promises to be a film to watch out for, with three immensely talented actresses leading the cast, and an accomplished writer adapting the story. In addition, director Tate Taylor has a notable history of guiding award-winning performances, such as Octavia Spencer’s Oscar winning turn in The Help. Adding Edgar Ramirez to that mix only increases the anticipation, as we wait for the final casting choices to fall into place.