‘Play Dirty’: LaKeith Stanfield Joins Mark Wahlberg In Shane Black’s New Thriller

Shane Black is hoping to launch a new franchise with his upcoming film, “Play Dirty.” And though Mark Wahlberg has already been announced to lead the cast (and potentially future films), it appears the filmmaker has finally found the co-star to stand opposite his lead and help carry the upcoming film.

According to THR, LaKeith Stanfield has been cast opposite Mark Wahlberg in Shane Black’s upcoming film, “Play Dirty.” The film is based on Donald E. Westlake’s Parker novels and finds Wahlberg playing the lead, a professional thief who finds himself betrayed and on the hunt for revenge. Stanfield is attached to play Grofield, a con-artist who teams up with Wahlberg’s character. 

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Stanfield is probably best known for his work on the acclaimed series “Atlanta.” In film, he’s shown up with great roles in “Sorry to Bother You,” “Knives Out,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination. His newest film is the forthcoming “The Book of Clarence.”

As one of the most accomplished action film writers of the ‘80s and ‘90s, it made sense that Shane Black would eventually transition into filmmaking. And his debut, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” cemented his status as a filmmaker with a unique voice. Unfortunately, his next three films were a bit of a roller coaster ride. “Iron Man 3,” though a hit at the box office, wasn’t immediately a fan favorite. “The Nice Guys,” however, was a great rebound. But then “The Predator” seemed to derail Black’s regained momentum in 2018. So, it’s nice to see the filmmaker return to something a bit more in his comfort zone like “Play Dirty.”

It’s unclear when we might see “Play Dirty” arrive in theaters.