Last year, David Guggenheim’s buzzy script Safe House put casting agents in a frenzy after Universal Pictures scooped up the high concept project and fast-tracked its production. Practically every young actor in the business read for the lead role, but Green Lantern star Ryan Reynolds ended up getting the job. He’ll play a CIA agent charged with the task of helping a career criminal evade vicious killers who wish to silence him. They flee an Agency-run safe house for another facility as they run the gauntlet throughout the film.
With Denzel Washington playing the criminal, Safe House is sure to be a battle of on-screen wit between he and Reynolds, but today a strong supporting cast has come on board to widen the pool of talent. Universal has announced that Brendan Gleeson, Robert Patrick, Sam Shepard and Liam Cunningham will all take on undisclosed roles, possibly as some of the killers or some higher-level CIA personnel. They joins previously announced co-stars Tim McGraw and Ruben Blades. We can only speculate about their characters at this point, but one thing is for sure: the script, which is the first from former journalist-turned-screenwriter Guggenheim, must be hella good to have attracted a roster like this. I’m just hoping it’s not a rehash of 16 Blocks, a highly underrated film with a similar premise.
Daniel Espinosa is directing while Scott Stuber is producing. Production is set to underway any day now for a February 10, 2012 release.
Source: Universal Pictures
