James Gandolfini Filmed Secret Role For Zero Dark Thirty

The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama capture pic, Zero Dark Thirty, kept James Gandolfini’s key role as CIA head Leon Panetta under wraps during production.

The film shoot was shrouded by secrecy with little known about it except the call sheet, with an enviable cast assembled including Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Nash Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Harold Perrineau and Frank Grillo.

Now, thanks to Entertainment Weekly, the cast are joined by Sopranos’ stalwart, James Gandolfini as evidenced by the release of this first photo of him in character. As Panetta was head of the project which saw the capture of the terrorist, it was inevitable he’d make an appearance in Zero Dark Thirty.

Panetta, who is now the Secretary for Defense, was responsible for jotting the memo documenting President Obama’s forward movement with the raid. Screenwriter Mark Boal previously announced that the President would not make an appearance as a character in the film.

A teaser trailer for Zero Dark Thirty appeared back in August with a new one expected to land soon.

Zero Dark Thirty will be released on December 19^th, 2012.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

What do you think to this recently released bit of casting and this first photo of James Gandolfini? Please have your say in the comments below.