Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston hit the gas pedal in Drive

After spending the past year or so as the current indie “It Darling,” Carey Mulligan is taking a leap into the world of studio action-thrillers with a starring role in the upcoming Universal film DRIVE. Mulligan and “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston have signed on to co-star with Ryan Gosling in the story of a Hollywood stuntman who works as a getaway driver on the side. After a bank heist goes wrong, he hits the road with an ex-con’s girlfriend (Mulligan) by his side.

Also making the leap to studio filmmaking is Nicolas Winding Refn who made a splash last year with the gritty BRONSON. Normally I’d think a movie like DRIVE, with its fairly standard plot (I’m having flashbacks to that Charlie Sheen/Kristy Swanson movie THE CHASE) would be something I’d only half pay attention to but having Refn direct a cast that includes Oscar-nominees Gosling and Mulligan plus Emmy-winner Cranston makes me want to see this immediately.

Mulligan can be seen next in WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS and NEVER LET ME GO while Gosling recently wrapped CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE with Steve Carell. Filming on DRIVE is expected to begin later this month in LA.