With lensing set to begin shortly, the cast of the relatively low budget thriller “Contraband” is taking its final form.
Diego Luna and Lukas Haas have joined the film, though their roles have yet to be identified. The project is a remake of Iceland’s 2009 Oscar entry “Reykjavik-Rotterdam” and it follows a security guard and former smuggler (Mark Wahlberg) who, facing financial troubles, is roped back into his old life. Ben Foster is on board as Wahlberg’s brother-in-law with Kate Beckinsale and Giovanni Ribisi rounding out the cast. Diego Luna’s last Hollywood appearance was in “Milk,” but he’s next starring opposite Will Ferrell and Gael Garcia Bernal in the very tightly under wraps Spanish language comedy “Casa De Mi Padre.” As for Haas, he had a small role in “Inception” and will next be seen in “Red Riding Hood.”
“Contraband” has a $30 million budget and will be directed by Baltasar Kormakur who starred in the Icelandic original. Aaron Guzikowski, who penned the very hot Black List script “Prisoners,” wrote the screenplay. Filming will start soon in New Orleans with a scheduled release date set for March 16, 2012 release.
