J.K. Simmons Joins Mark Wahlberg in Boston Bombing Film 'Patriots' Day'

Peter Berg is directing the CBS Films and Lionsgate project about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Oscar winner J.K. Simmons is joining Mark Wahlberg in the Boston Marathon bombing film Patriots' Day.

Peter Berg will direct the drama, which focuses on the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Wahlberg stars as a composite Boston Police Department officer who is central to the investigation and manhunt, while Simmons will play Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese of the Watertown Police Department, who distinguished himself in combat with Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Scott Stuber, Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky are producing the film.

“Beyond his considerable talents, J.K. Simmons is a person who respects the solemn trust that these real-life heroes are putting in our hands,” Berg said Thursday in a statement. “This is an actor who will represent the role in the best way possible."

CBS Films is handling production and marketing of the project, while Lionsgate is taking care of distribution. Filming is slated to begin next month in Boston.

Simmons won an Oscar last year for Whiplash, and has since been on a roll with new projects. He’ll be seen in The Meddler with Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne, which is due out in April, and will reunite with Whiplash writer-director Damien Chazelle for his next film, La La Land. The actor also has a slew of projects in post including The Accountant with Ben Affleck, Bastards with Owen Wilson and Ed Helms and The Snowman with Michael Fassbender.

Simmons is repped by Gersh.