EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Schwarzenegger has joined the S. Craig Zahler movie, The Bookie & The Bruiser, where he will star in a dual role opposite Vince Vaughn and Theo James.

The Bookie & The Bruiser is set in 1959 New York City and features a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner (James) and an oversized Italian American tough named Boscolo (Vaughn). Having served in World War II, the two return as changed men, no longer fitting into their old lives. Unwilling to take orders or play by the rules of polite society, the two partner up as a bookmaker and his enforcer and run an illicit gambling operation that proves highly profitable — but dangerous. Their operation thrives until they’re caught in a violent power struggle between the Mafia and an Irish gang, forcing them into a violent fight for survival.

Schwarzenegger will play twin brothers Augie and Bernard. Augie is a desperate, down-on-his-luck gambler whose reckless attempt to escape a crushing debt puts Rivner and Boscolo in the crosshairs of New York’s rival criminal factions, while Bernard is his respectable, family-man twin, whose life is violently upended by his brother’s deception and the dangerous men it brings to his door.

Zahler wrote the pic and directs (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99). Oscar winning producer Anthony Katagas (12 Years a Slave, Ad Astra) will produce for Keep Your Head Productions alongside Dave Caplan (Longlegs, The Monkey), Dan Bekerman and Vaughn. C2 Motion Picture Group is fully financing the project. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Select arranged the financing and are representing the North American distribution rights. Anton is representing international sales at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. 

Schwarzenegger most recently starred as Saxon, the eldest Ratliff sibling, in the third season of Mike White’s Emmy-winning series The White Lotus on HBO. He recently wrapped Florian Zeller’s psychological thriller Bunker starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. It was also just announced that Schwarzenegger will star opposite Phoebe Dynevor in 20th Century Studios’ adaptation of Emily Henry bestseller Beach Read. Other credits include a starring role as Tim Tebow in Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, HBO Max’s Emmy-nominated limited series The Staircase, Prime Video’s The Terminal List, and The Boys spinoff Gen V. Schwarzenegger also starred in the Netflix film Moxie, directed by Amy Poehler. 

Schwarzenegger is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360 and attorney Patrick Knapp.