Hoskins, Descent gals join DOOMSDAY

I didn't think this project was going ahead so soon. It could even be out by the end of year. WOOHOO!

From Comingsoon.net:

Academy Award-nominated actor Bob Hoskins will join Rhona Mitra for writer/director Neil Marshall in Rogue Pictures' action-thriller Doomsday, which begins production February 9th in South Africa and the U.K. Rogue co-presidents Andrew Karpen and Andrew Rona made the announcement today.

Crystal Sky Pictures' Steven Paul and Benedict Carver are producing Doomsday for Rogue in association with Intrepid Pictures. Intrepid principals Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans are executive-producing Doomsday with Peter McAleese. Creative executive Alex Heineman is overseeing the project for Rogue, which holds worldwide distribution rights to Doomsday.

In Doomsday, a lethal virus spreads throughout a major country and kills hundreds of thousands. To contain the newly identified Reaper, the authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The literal walling-off works for three decades – until Reaper violently resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists, including Eden Sinclair (Mitra), is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare.

Hoskins will play Bill Nelson, a career policeman who nominates Eden for the mission and monitors its progress.

Also joining the production are Alexander Siddig ("24") and Adrian Lester ("Hustle"). Rounding out the cast are several alumni from Marshall's previous films, including Sean Pertwee, Darren Morfitt, Emma Cleasby, and Chris Robson, of Dog Soldiers; MyAnna Buring and Nora-Jane Noone of The Descent; and, from both pictures, Leslie Simpson and Craig Conway.

The writer/director is also marking his third consecutive movie with cinematographer Sam McCurdy and production designer Simon Bowles. Paul Hyett will be designing special makeup effects, as he did on The Descent.

Karpen and Rona commented, "'Doomsday' is going to be a true thrill ride for audiences, and we’re delighted to have this fine cast and crew aboard."

Doomsday marks Hoskins' second picture for Rogue, following his memorable villain role opposite Jet Li in Louis Leterrier's popular 2005 film Unleashed. The actor was most recently seen starring in Allen Coulter's Hollywoodland, for Rogue sibling company Focus Features.

In addition to Doomsday, Rogue and Crystal Sky Pictures are partnering on writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson's Castlevania, adapted from the top-selling video game and detailing Dracula's origins. Intrepid has an ongoing multi-year production and co-financing deal with Universal Pictures and Rogue Pictures.