Chris Hemsworth Steps in to Replace Channing Tatum in Crime Movie "Kockroach"

Chris Hemsworth is joining Taron Egerton and Zazie Beetz in "Kockroach," the New York crime feature heralding from producer Andrew Lazar (American Sniper).

Hemsworth takes over in the movie from fellow A-lister Channing Tatum who had to step away due to scheduling conflicts.

Principal photography is being lined up for April on the movie, which Lazar has described as in the vein of "Goodfellas" and "Scarface".

The synopsis reads: “Kockroach is the story of a mysterious stranger who takes on New York’s criminal underworld, transforming himself into a larger-than-life crime boss in a city where power is everything.”

The film is an adaptation of the novel by William Lashner, who wrote it under the pen name Tyler Knox.

It is being directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) from a screenplay by Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here) with revisions by Ross. Christina Weiss Lurie (Persuasion) will produce with Lazar.

Black Bear will continue selling international rights at the upcoming EFM. CAA Media Finance and Range Select co-rep domestic.

Heads of department include Colin Gibson, the production designer who won an Oscar for his work on "Mad Max: Fury Road"; Emmy-winning cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, whose credits include "The Order," "The King," "Macbeth," and the first seasons of "Top of the Lake" and "True Detective"; and VFX Supervisor Jonathan Dearing, known for his work on "M3gan," "The Invisible Man," and "Upgrade".

Upcoming for Hemsworth are Amazon MGM’s crime-thriller "Crime 101," the Russo bros’ "Avengers: Doomsday," and Amazon action pic "Subversion".