Ray Winstone to replace De Niro in 'Darkness'?

Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) is in negotiations to take over Robert De Niro’s role in the drama Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson, after De Niro abruptly dropped out of the project last week. The veteran British actor would be stepping into the role of an operative sent to clean up the evidence following the murder of a young woman. Gibson stars in the Martin Campbell-directed film as the victim’s father, a homicide detective who uncovers his daughter’s secret life, a corporate cover-up, and government collusion. Production on Darkness has been ongoing since the middle of August. Campbell, who also directed the 1985 BBC miniseries on which the film is based, has been filming around De Niro’s character’s scenes since the actor exited the production due to what his spokesman called “creative differences.”