Paul Haggis' upcoming drama "The Next Three Days" has added another solid actor to its cast: Liam Neeson, who recently starred in "Taken" and "Five Minutes of Heaven" and has "Clash of the Titans" coming soon.

Russell Crowe will play a teacher who attempts to help his wife (Elizabeth Banks) after she's arrested and convicted of a murder she claims she never commit. Variety says Neeson plays an expert on prison escapes.
 
Haggis wrote the script based on Fred Cavayé's 2008 French film "Pour Elle." "Days" is shooting now and co-stars Brian Dennehy, Lennie James, Olivia Wilde, Aisha Hinds, Daniel Stern and RZA.

Click to read more ...

Elizabeth Banks is set to join Russell Crowe in Paul Haggis' upcoming drama "The Next Three Days," based on Fred Cavayé's 2008 French film "Pour Elle."

Crowe will play a teacher who attempts to help his wife after she's arrested an convicted of a murder she claims she never commit. The Hollywood Reporter says Banks will play the female lead.

Click to read more ...

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has signed on to star in Paul Haggis' upcoming drama "The Next Three Days," based on Fred Cavayé's 2008 French film "Pour Elle."

Variety reports Crowe will play a teacher who attempts to help his wife after she's arrested an convicted of a murder she claims she never commit.

Haggis also wrote the screenplay for the flick, which will start shooting this fall. The Oscar-winning filmmaker of "Crash" recently directed "In the Valley of Elah."

As for Crowe, he's currently shooting "Robin Hood" for Ridley Scott. He was most recently seen as a journalist in the excellent thriller "State of Play."

Here is your dose of film news for July 17, 2009:

• Production Weekly reports "Resident Evil: Afterlife" is set to start shooting Sept. 28 at Toronto's Cinespace Film Studios for eight weeks. A couple of weeks ago, we learned the fourth installment in the series is currently scheduled to open Sept. 17, 2010. Milla Jovovich will return to star, and Paul W.S. Anderson wrote the script. But who will direct? (via ComingSoon)

• Russell Crowe is apparently in negotiations to reprise his role as Capt. Jack Aubrey in a new "Master and Commander" movie. Crowe first starred as the character in Peter Weir's excellent 2003 flick "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." The actor told the AP the script is based mostly on the eleventh novel of Patrick O'Brian's series, "The Reverse of the Medal."

• Jeff Wadlow, whose credits include "Cry Wolf" and "Never Back Down," is set to direct Summit's "Arena" from a script by Toby Wagstaff and Darren Howell. The story follows a group of soldiers who must battle powerful warriors from different eras. Sounds a bit awkward to me, but okay, we'll see what happens inside the "Arena" once more information will be released. (THR)

Click to read more ...

Actor Danny Huston has officially joined Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott's upcoming adventure epic "Robin Hood," which is currently shooting.

The Hollywood Reporter says Huston will play King Richard, also known as Richard the Lionheart. Crowe plays the title character. Cate Blanchett, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Vanessa Redgrave and Alan Doyle co-star in the flick.

Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris and Brian Helgeland wrote the script for "Hood," which is set for release May 14, 2010. Set photos have already appeared online.

Huston is someone who can easily play both a likable and nasty character, and I'm really looking forward to seeing him in this. His recent credits include "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" and "30 Days of Night."