Benedict Cumberbatch has replaced Guy Pearce in the upcoming Whitey Bulger biopic.
The 'Star Trek Into Darkness' actor has been signed up to replace the 'Prometheus' star in the untitled project starring Johnny Depp as convicted murderer and organised crime figure Bulger, who is currently serving two life sentences in an Arizona prison.
Cross Creek Pictures president Brian Oliver told Variety that Pearce had to drop out of the biopic, which had been titled 'Black Mass' and began shooting in Boston yesterday (21.05.14), because of scheduling issues, saying: "We were not able to make it work with Guy."
Cumberbatch will now portray Whitey Bulger's law-abiding brother and Massachusetts State Senator Bill Bulger, while Joel Edgerton will play disgraced FBI agent John Connolly, who aided Whitey Bulger and was sentenced to 40 years in prison despite maintaining his innocence.
Jesse Plemons, known for playing Todd in 'Breaking Bad', will take on the role of Bulger's long-time partner in crime Kevin Weeks, while Sienna Miller will play his lover Catherine Greig.
Dakota Johnson has been cast as Bulger's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his only child.
The film's script, penned by Mark Mallouk, is based on the book 'Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob', which was written by the Boston Globe newspaper reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.

Joey McIntyre is thankful to One Direction for making boy bands cool again.
The New Kids On The Block singer has confessed he and his bandmates - Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight - are so grateful to the 'Midnight Memories' hitmakers that they've even started covering their tracks during their concerts.
Joey told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's fun to see One Direction's success, they have made people much more open to all types of music.
"It means people are more tolerant of our music too. We tip our hats to them in our new show with a cover or two."
The 'Hangin' Tough' hitmaker has also revealed that he's a fan of Miley Cyrus' risqué performances and thinks it's amazing she's still managing to shock people in the same way Madonna did during the height of their fame.
He said: "We did a few pelvic thrusts back then, but nothing like Miley. In this day and age to still be able to go too far is an achievement.
"I don't now what going too far even is any more. So kudos to her that she's pushing an envelope I didn't know was there.
"She gets complaints but it sounds to me like what they used to say about Madonna."

Ferne McCann made Charlie Sims have a STI test.
'The Only Way Is Essex' stars have had an on/off relationship on screen but after it was revealed he had slept with over 20 women when they split, she decided to be cautious and ensure he hadn't caught any sexually transmitted infections.
Asked whether she made him get tested, she replied: "Yes! Oh God, definitely!"
After the pair rekindled their romance, Ferne had a fling with Frank Major and admitted there was some "overlap" between her two relationships.
She now regrets her actions and insists it made her realise how much she cares about Charlie.
She explained to Now magazine: "Of all the things I've done in my life, I wish I could erase that. I really regret it. It was a huge mistake but one I had to make to realise how much I loved Charlie."
Although she knows it's not always easy, Ferne and Charlie plan to move forward without dwelling on the past.
She added: "I'm not going to say it's all hunky dory because there are hurdles, but we're leaving the past in the past."

Michelle Keegan has cried over leaving 'Coronation Street'.
The actress made the difficult decision to bow out of the ITV soap after six years playing brassy barmaid Tina McIntyre this year, and has secretly been sobbing to her mother about a future without the show.
She said: "I've been living my dream for six-and-a-half years. I've cried and got emotional a few times, with my mum on my own. It's the end of an era. I'll never be able to come back."
The brunette stunner will be watching her last ever scenes from the comfort of her dad's house
Michelle said: "That's where I watched the episode when I was first on, so I'm going to watch the last episode with him. It'll be quite emotional."
The 26-year-old actress' final moments on the soap see Tina meet a grisly end after falling from a balcony during a scuffle with her mystery killer.
Michelle claims the look of sheer terror on her face is completely genuine because she was so afraid of heights.
She explained: "I had a stunt double who fell from the top, then they made me fall on to a crash mat. It was the same level, but there were no barriers and I've never been so scared in all my life because I hate heights. It sounds so easy, but when you're standing on the edge all you instincts say, 'Don't do it!'
"I cried my eyes out - I was such a baby! I got myself into such a panic that my eyes were streaming. The look of terror on my face in that scene is genuine!"
And Michelle revealed her on-screen injuries are so horrific the rest of the 'Corrie' cast struggled to look her in the eye on set.
She told new! magazine: "It's horrible. I've got photos of what I look like in those scenes and my dad found it difficult to look at them. Tina is in a coma and there's pressure on her brain so they have to cut away a bit of skull and she's got a swollen eye.
"It's not nice. I had to walk to the canteen like that at lunchtime. You should have seen people's faces!"

Hugh Jackman forgot to warn his daughter about his nude scene in his latest movie.
The 45-year-old actor claims he put a lot of work into making sure his body was at it's best for his nude scene in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', but confessed he didn't get to enjoy watching it back because he'd forgotten to tell his daughter Ava, 8, and son Oscar, 14, to cover their eyes.
He said: "It is actually really cool to watch it [the film] with them until you get to the moment where you're naked onscreen and you forgot to warn you almost 9-year-old daughter.
"And she says, 'Dad, why aren't you wearing underwear?'"
'The Wolverine' star - who is married to actress Deborra-Lee Furness - admits his strict diet on the day of filming the revealing shots may not have been the best idea, as he was so thirsty he passed out.
He told the New York Daily News newspaper: "You have no idea what goes into the lead up to a scene like that. It was a year ago.
"I know that exactly because it was May 21.
"I stopped drinking water for 24 hours, I pumped up on set for about an hour before shooting. And fell asleep by 2 o'clock!"
Hugh stars alongside James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence in the superhero sequel.

Iggy Azalea had to clean poo off of a doormat while working as a cleaner.
The 23-year-old star has confessed she was working as a maid in her hometown of Mullumbimby in New South Wales, Australia until one day, when she was forced to clean faeces off of a client's doorstep, she decided to move to Miami to pursue her dream of becoming a successful rapper.
She said: "I had already been dropped out [of school] for about a year and I was working cleaning houses full-time.
"You'd be surprised. I found a poo once on a doormat, which is not where poos belong.
"It was one of those spiky doormats that gets the dirt off the bottom of your shoes. And it was just like, definitely human."
The 'Fancy' hitmaker - who is dating Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Nick Young - admits she chose to move to Miami because she was excited about getting away from the countryside and partying in the city.
Speaking on the 'Chelsea Lately' show, she said: "I felt like Florida was for me. I had heard about the craziness and I felt like that was the state I should go to. I felt like Florida was it."
Despite dropping out of school at a young age, Iggy admits she still thinks about her education and hopes to receive an honorary degree in the future.
She said: "I could get an honorary degree too, you guys, you don't have to have any education for that either. I could still get a degree."

Channing Tatum felt like a "fat kid in at a buffet" when he was offered four "great" movies.
The 34-year-old actor has been working hard for the past 18 months while he was busy filming 'White House Down', 'Foxcatcher', 'Jupiter Ascending' and '22 Jump Street' and although he knew it was going to be hard he was determined to take on all the projects.
Talking to US GQ magazine, he explained: "I feel like I was definitely the fat kid at the buffet. There were four really great projects, and I was 'I wanna do them all.' They're like, 'You know doing four movies back-to-back is going to kill you?' and I'm, 'Yeah, but that's something I can take. That's just going to be tiring, and tired doesn't kill you.' "
He emphasised: "Zero breaks."
While he was in England shooting 'Jupiter Ascending' Tatum's wife, Jenna Dewan, gave birth to their first child, nine-month-old Everly, and although he admits they didn't think it "through" they are delighted with the way things have turned out.
He added: "Then we had sort of a crazy, harebrained idea to try to have a kid, and it happened the first time, basically. And I don't think we thought it all the way through, we were happy as hell about it."

Nicki Minaj's new album was inspired by people who have let her down in her career.
The rapper and singer, who has released her new single 'Pills N Potions' from her third studio album 'The Pink Print', looked back on experiences where people have taken her for granted when writing the album.
She said: "I was just reflecting on people in my life who [have] come and gone, just thinking, what the hell does it all mean?"
"God bless 'em, I'm talking about lots of people, not anybody in particular, but I have come across a lot of people that I've given amazing opportunities to [who have let me down]."
The 31-year-old star, who is reportedly being sued for $30million by her former wig designer Terrence Davidson, who is accusing her of selling wigs based on his designs without permission, insists she's always nice to people and is often shocked when they turn against her.
She said: "I always give people enough rope to hang themselves with. In general, I just live my life and try and be super fair to everyone, so when you cross me, it's like, 'Really? Okay'."
Meanwhile, the brunette beauty has ditched her outrageous outfits and crazy wigs in favour of a more natural look and claims she always planned to go back to her old appearance.
She explained: "The album was more personal, so I think the look being stripped down goes really well with the third album. I always thought in my head, 'For my third album I wanna go back to my real hair'."
Talking to presenters on 'The Breakfast Club' on radio station Power 105, she added: "You can tell on 'Pills N Potions' that I'm just creating moments, it's important to me to keep it truthful and honest.
"Sometimes you're gonna feel like it's hardcore and sometimes it's going to feel like it's not but as long as it's good music, then that's all that matters to me at this point."

Angelina Jolie is "getting ready" to undergo a hysterectomy.
The 38-year-old actress - whose mother Marcheline Bertrand died of breast and ovarian cancer in 2007 - underwent a double mastectomy last year after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene, giving her a high chance of contracting both the types of cancer which her mother suffered from, and is now preparing to have another operation.
She said: "My mother had breast and ovarian cancer so I have that lingering... I'm getting ready for that one [a hysterectomy] at some point."
Angelina - who raises children Maddox, 12, Pax, 10, Zahara, nine, Shiloh, seven, and five-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with fiancé Brad Pitt - is proud her decision to reveal she had had the double mastectomy has made more women come forward and get tested for cancer genes, and he enjoys hearing other people's stories.
She told Stylist magazine: "I've gotten so many beautiful letters from women who've gone in for the test.
"The most moving are the women who have found out they got checked just in time. But they are home now with their kids and they're fine.
"I feel so happy to be a part of that.
"At least there are things we can do to try and prevent eventually getting cancer. And anything we can do to prevent it, we have to."

Stephen Mangan says being Postman Pat is cooler than being James Bond.
The 41-year-old actor - who has sons Harry, six, and Frank, three, with wife Louise Delamere - voices the children's favourite in a new animated movie and he feels the part is more prestigious than that of the famous spy, because so few actors have played the loveable postman.
He said: "You grow up thinking you might be James Bond one day and you turn out to be Postman Pat. There has only been three Postman Pats - two guys on the telly did it and me - so there are fewer Postman Pats than James Bonds out there."
Stephen decided to voice the iconic character because it's a show that his sons can enjoy.
He explained to BANG Showbiz: "It never occurs to you that you might be asked to be Postman Pat, but as soon as I was asked I said yes. Partly because it is something like the children can watch - I've got a three and a six year old, and most of the stuff I do is pretty adult - pretty filthy, actually - so they won't watch that until they are 30, let alone 18 or 21.
"So it is really nice to do something that I can take them along to. It is a bit confusing when they ask, 'What do you do for living daddy, what's your job?' "
'Postman Pat' is released on May 23.

Kim Kardashian is terrified rain will ruin her wedding.
The 33-year-old star, who is set to marry rapper Kanye West on Saturday (24.05.14), reportedly isn't enjoying the run up to their big day as she is so worried about the weather in stormy Paris.
A source told UsMagazine.com that the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star was noticeably upset when she enjoyed dinner with her family at the Hotel Costes on Wednesday (21.05.14) before visiting the Eiffel Tower and a nearby carousel during a downpour, where she declared: "I hope the rain doesn't ruin my wedding."
The onlooker added: "She made it clear that this bad weather is really getting to her. She's clearly spending millions getting married in Europe, and if it all turns into a wash-out she will be really unhappy."
Another insider said she told family over dinner: "This weather has to get better. Spring in Paris is meant to be about sunshine, but all we're getting is rain."
The reality TV star, who has an 11-month-old daughter, North West, with Kanye, is set to enjoy a bachelorette party with friends and family in the French capital on Thursday night (22.05.14).
The couple will enjoy a special rehearsal brunch, organised by Valentino and Vogue's Andre Leon Talley, on Friday (23.05.14) before taking their guests for a private "guided tour" of the Palace of Versailles.
On Saturday morning, they're expected to fly all of their guests via private jets to Florence, Italy to watch them exchange vows at Fort Belvedere.
A spokesperson for the mayor of Florence revealed the couple have rented the fort for $420,000.

Ciara's fiancé thinks she'll be a "great mom."
The 'Goodies' singer gave birth to her first child, Future Zahir Wilburn, with partner, Future Sr., on Tuesday morning (20.05.14) and he says the star is "feeling great."
He said: "She'll be a great mom. She's working at it every day and over time, I think she'll be the best."
The rapper and producer says their son looks like "a mixture of both" of them.
Asked about the baby, he added: "I want him to be better than me. I would encourage him in anything he wants to do. I want to be behind him, of course."
Future Sr., 30, was forced to leave Ciara's side shortly after she gave birth in Los Angeles as he was contracted to perform in New York City on Tuesday night, but told Us Weekly magazine: "She's with our son right now. I just texted her when I got off the airplane, and I'm going to get on the phone with her to see how everything is going."
Future Sr. - real name Nayvadius D. Wilburn - plans to be very involved in raising his new son.
He said: "You have to say you did it. I'll make sure I change a few diapers - a hands-on Dad!"
The 'Body Party' hitmaker previously revealed her pregnancy had been very smooth.
She said: "I didn't even know what to expect [with the pregnancy], but it's been a very easy process. And it's been so much fun. Honestly, it's been the coolest experience in my life.
"Being able to know that I can do that is such a blessing. I'm literally obsessed with kids, so I'm excited about being able to have my own to obsess over."