De Niro exits 'Edge of Darkness'

Actor leaves Martin Campbell-directed drama

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Robert De Niro has abruptly ankled "Edge of Darkness," the Martin Campbell-directed drama that Graham King's GK Films began shooting in Massachusetts on Aug. 18.

De Niro just arrived on the set this week.

"Sometimes things don't work out; it's called creative differences," explained a spokesman for the actor.

De Niro had signed to play an operative sent to clean up the evidence in the murder of a young woman. Mel Gibson stars as the victim's father, a homicide detective for the Boston Police Dept. who uncovers her secret life, a corporate cover-up and government collusion.

Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts and Bojana Novakovic also star.

The filmmakers plan to shoot around De Niro's character's scenes until they cast an actor to replace him.

Pic is based on a 1985 BBC miniseries that Campbell directed. William Monahan wrote the script. King, who financed the picture and received a SAG waiver to shoot it, is producing with Michael Wearing and the BBC.

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