Mark Ruffalo & Kumail Nanjiani in talks to star in The True American

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

While preparing for his role on the TV series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE and a rumored performance as Don Hewitt in the David Gordon Green-directed NEWSFLASH, The Tracking Board is now reporting that Mark Ruffalo is in talks to join the cast of THE TRUE AMERICAN, a post-911 drama from Pablo Larraín. Also in talks to star is THE BIG SICK creative and PORTLANDIA actor Kumail Nanjiani.

Based on the 2014-published nonfiction book The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas, THE TRUE AMERICAN takes place in Texas, mere days after the historic and tragic 9/11 terrorist attack. The book tells the true story of Rais Bhuiyan (Nanjiani), a Muslim immigrant and Bangladesh Air Force veteran who survived a deadly hate crime only to advocate for mercy on behalf of his attacker, self-styled “Arab-slayer” Mark Stroman (Ruffalo), who had been slated for execution.

Back when the film first got up off the ground, director Kathryn Bigelow was meant to helm the drama, with Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed set to star. Now Bigelow will produce alongside Annapurna’s Megan Ellison and Matthew Budman, as part of a partnership with Larraín’s producing partner Juan de Dios Larraín.

Up next for Nanjiani is a return to the show SILICON VALLEY, where he will star as Dinesh for HBO's tech-driven comedy. Furthermore, Nanjiani has also recently wrapped his role as Jake for Miguel Arteta’s indie comedy DUCK BUTTER. In that film, two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.

Meanwhile, you can catch Mark Ruffalo as The Incredible Hulk in Marvel's AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, which is on-track to decimate box office records beginning on April 27th.