Will Arnett Steps Into Tony Gilroy’s BEHEMOTH! After David Harbour’s Exit

Searchlight Pictures wasted no time adjusting course after David Harbour exited the upcoming drama Behemoth!. Following his departure for personal reasons, the studio quickly locked in Will Arnett to step into the role, joining Pedro Pascal in the film directed by Tony Gilroy.

Arnett has officially boarded the project, which already boasts an impressive ensemble that includes Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Matthew Lillard, Margarita Levieva, and Alexa Swinton.

Production kicked off in late October, and insiders say the transition should be smooth. Harbour’s scenes were limited due to his heavy press schedule for Stranger Things, so reshoots are minimal and aren’t expected to impact the planned wrap date in the coming weeks.

Details about Behemoth! remain tightly guarded. Searchlight hasn’t released an official logline, though it’s been confirmed that the story centers on a cellist. Gilroy wrote the script himself and is producing alongside Sanne Wohlenberg and John Gilroy, who also collaborated with him on Andor.

For Arnett, this casting continues a noticeable shift into more dramatic territory. He recently earned the strongest reviews of his career for his lead performance in the Searchlight release Is This Thing On?, which premiered over the holidays.

The Bradley Cooper–directed dramedy showcased a very different side of the actor, and the response clearly caught the industry’s attention. Sources say that once Harbour stepped away, Arnett quickly rose to the top of the list as a natural fit for Behemoth!.

Source: Deadline