Edgar Ramirez Replacing Gerard Butler in 'Point Break' Reboot

Perhaps the biggest Latino acting heavyweight you've not yet heard of, Ramirez (winner of the award for most promising actor at France's 2011 Cesar Awards for his star turn in the miniseries Carlos) will appear in director Kathryn Bigelow's upcoming Bin Laden thriller, "Zero Dark Thirty."

He'll play Bodhi, the character made famous by Patrick Swayze in the original film.

Edgar Ramirez is in negotiations to replace Gerard Butler in Alcon Entertainment’s Point Break reboot.

Ramirez will play Bodhi, the character made famous by Patrick Swayze in the original film, after Butler recently dropped out. Ericson Core (Invincible) is directing from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer (Salt, Law Abiding Citizen).

Ramirez recently wrapped filming on Hands of Stone, the Roberto Duran biopic in which he plays the title character, starring opposite Robert DeNiro. The actor is best known for his Emmy-nominated lead role in Olivier Assayas' Carlos. as well as a splashy supporting role in Zero Dark Thirty.

"We consider Edgar one of the finest actors in the world today, and we are thrilled he will be creating a fresh new take on the iconic character of Bodhi," Alcon principals Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said.

Alcon secured rights to Point Break from RGM Media, John McMurrick and Chris Taylor. Kosove and Johnson will produce along with John Baldecchi, Taylor and Wimmer. RGM Media principal Devesh Chetty and investor Marloss Entertainment chairman McMurrick will serve as executive producers.

The re-creation is set in the world of international heists and extreme sports, and like the original, involves an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a criminal ring.

At the most recent American Film Market, Point Break quickly sold out all worldwide rights. The film will be released domestically via Warner Bro.s through Alcon’s long-term distribution pact.

Principal photography is set to begin in the summer.

Ramirez next stars in Screen Gems' Deliver Us From Evil opposite Eric Bana and as Simon Bolivar in the epic The Liberator (he also is exec producing).

He is repped by CAA and Impression Entertainment.

E-mail: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com

Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27