Alec Baldwin Set for First Post-’Rust’ Role Opposite Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton in Matt Ross’ ‘Kockroach’

Alec Baldwin is set to join Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, and Zazie Beetz in “Kockroach,” a New York crime movie from director Matt Ross (“Captain Fantastic”).

Apart from his acting gigs, Ross is best known for directing the 2016 Sundance standout “Captain Fantastic,” which was also selected for Cannes. While that film skewed toward an intimate, indie family drama, Ross is now returning to the director’s chair with a darker, more hard-edged project.

Adapted from William Lashner’s novel of the same title, “Kockroach” centers on an enigmatic outsider who infiltrates New York City’s criminal ecosystem and rises to the top as its most powerful crime boss.

This is set to be Baldwin’s first major acting role since “Rust,” and by now, I think we all know what happened on that movie and the years of legal troubles Baldwin has been through.

It was likely difficult for Baldwin to secure strong roles after “Rust,” where he accidentally discharged a firearm on set, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Since then, the only project he’s been linked to is a low-budget film titled “Hollywood Heist,” which also features Mickey Rourke, Nick Cannon, and Tara Reid.

Baldwin is a talented actor — no, seriously. Just watch him in “The Cooler.” He’s someone who went through a traumatic moment in his life, and his career has suffered because of it. Some of my favorite roles of his include memorable turns in “Miami Blues,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “The Hunt for Red October,” and “The Departed.”

Ross recently directed all four episodes of the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “Death by Lightning,” which dramatizes the stranger-than-fiction true story of 20th U.S. President James Garfield and Charles Guiteau, the man who went on to assassinate him.

Filming on “Kockroach” begins in April.