So, can Arnold Schwarzenegger put his philandering, baby-making ways behind him and make a big screen comeback? He’s certainly going to try. Next summer, he’ll star alongside a bunch of other aging ‘roid-heads in “The Expendables 2,” but his first post-gubernatorial leading man vehicle will come in the form of the B-movie thriller “The Last Stand.” And it’s already amassing some strong talent to back him.
Originally developed as a vehicle for Liam Neeson, the project has a script by first-time writer Andrew Knauer and veteran Jeffrey Nachmanoff, the story follows a disgraced LAPD cop in a new job in a small town who is trying to stop a drug cartel leader who has just busted out of prison and is trying to make it across the border. Arnie will play the sheriff, with Peter Stormare as one of the baddies who tries to sniff him out however, he may come up against Rodrigo Santoro who Latino Review report is in talks to play the role of Frank Martinez, a rookie cop on the force. Oddly enough, Santoro hasn’t really done a genre flick since “300” but this should give him plenty to chew on.
Before production begins next month, George Nolfi (“The Adjustment Bureau,” “The Bourne Ultimatum“) is giving the script a pass, and if you need a reason to be excited about this one? None other than Kim Ji-woon — the man behind “I Saw The Devil” and “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” — is making his Hollywood debut with the picture. There is still some major casting to come — including the villain role who travels a souped-up car that travels at 200 mph with a hostage and gang members in tow — so keep an eye out. This one will hit theaters on January 18, 2013.