Cassel Replaces Hoffman In "Child 44"

Vincent Cassel will replace Philip Seymour Hoffman in the cast of the film adaptation of author Tom Rob Smith's novel "Child 44" says Deadline.

The first book in a trilogy is set in the Joseph Stalin-era Soviet Union and follows disgraced lawman Leo Demidov who is assigned to investigate a series of gruesome child murders.

Tom Hardy will play the Soviet officer while Noomi Rapace will play his wife, who pretends to be a doting partner but is concealing many thoughts and feelings. "RoboCop" remake star Joel Kinnaman will play the killer responsible for these brutal deaths. Gary Oldman is set to play a member of the secret police who also happens to be a suspect in the case. Paddy Considine's role is unknown, Fares Fares ("Zero Dark Thirty") will play one of the trusted associates of Hardy's character. Jason Clarke would play Brodsky, a man accused of being a traitor by Hardy's character.

The story is based on the real life tale of Ukrainian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo aka the Rostov Ripper who was executed in 1994 for 52 murders.

Daniel Espinosa will call action on the pic.

Kinnaman and Espinosa have worked together on the international hit Easy Money (a.k.a. Snabba Cash) and the action-thriller Safe House

Richard Price adapted the script.

Ridley Scott was once attached to direct and remains producer with Michael Costigan

Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone Sarah Johnson Redlich and Douglas Urbanski are executive producers

Hardy and Rapace worked on Michael R. Roskam's film adaptation of author Dennis Lehane's short story "Animal Rescue" first,

Filming is now underway on Child 44, which is due to be released in 2014.