Michelle Monaghan Joins Patriots Day Cast

Michele Monaghan Photo by Hilary Walsh

Michelle Monaghan has joined the cast of Patriots Day, the upcoming film about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

The Golden Globe-nominated actress will play a composite character named Carol Saunders, the wife of Boston Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders, another composite character who will be played by Mark Wahlberg.

Director Peter Berg praised Monaghan for her acting chops in a statement released on Tuesday.

“In the aftermath of the attack heroes appeared from every corner of Boston,” Berg said. “Michelle is a remarkable actress who knows the people of this city and understands their courage and strength.”

Monaghan isn’t the only star who has recently joined the project.

Officials announced last week that former The Sopranos actor Vincent Curatola has signed on to play Mayor Thomas Menino in Patriots Day. James Colby has also been cast as Police Commissioner William Evans, who was the superintendent in charge of the Bureau of Field Services for the Boston Police Department during the Marathon bombings.

The latest additions to the Patriots Day cast will join J.K. Simmons, who will play Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, as well as John Goodman, who’s set to play former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis.

Patriots Day, which is being co-financed by CBS Films and Lionsgate, will hit theaters in Boston on December 21.