Last month, we reported that Fox Searchlight wanted Tom Hardy to play the male lead in the adaptation Animal Rescue. Today, we have word that the actor is in final talks to star, with the studio offering the female lead to Noomi Rapace. It isn't known if The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star plans on accepting the offer or not.

Dennis Lehane wrote the adapted screenplay, based on his own short story. The plot centers on a bartender who rescues a pit bull from a garbage can, and gets caught up in a vast criminal conspiracy at the mafia-controlled bar he works at. No details were given for the female lead character. Although the short story is set in Boston, like most of Dennis Lehane's stories, the adaptation will take place in New York City.

Michael R. Roskam (Bullhead) is directing, with Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Mike Larocca producing. Fox Searchlight is eyeing a March start date for the adaptation.