Pierce Brosnan, Billy Bob Thornton, Maria Bello & Giovanni Ribisi Join Walter Hill's 'St. Vincent'

Long in the works, and previously set up late last year with Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker in the leads, Walter Hill’s “St. Vincent” has found new life, and a new cast.

Pierce Brosnan, Billy Bob Thornton, Maria Bello and Giovanni Ribisi have joined the film that “follows a hitman (Brosnan) who goes undercover as a priest to get close to his target, a gangland traitor (Thornton). The hitman soon discovers that playing the good guy is more dangerous than being a mob killer.” Last month Rourke said the film was “not happening” which many presumed to mean the project was dead, but it simply looks like its moving on without him.

We like the concept, and dare we say, we’re more interested in it now with Rourke and Whitaker not in the cast. Brosnan as a calculating hitman and Thorton as a gangland snitch sounds promising and lord knows, both actors have been in more than a few projects beneath their talents lately. As for Hill, he’s noted for directing “The Warriors” and “48 Hrs.” but he hasn’t helmed anything worth talking about in ages. Here’s hoping this project finds everyone at the top of their game.