Common, Thorton Join Butler In Campbell's Sub Thriller, HUNTER KILLER

Following Green Lantern and Casino Royale helmer Martin Campbell's attachment to the upcoming production of espionage submarine thriller, Hunter Killer as of late last year, Variety broke word that actor Gerard Butler will be joined by actors Common and Billy Bob Thorton. The film is based on the 2012 novel, "Firing Point", co-written by Don Keith and retired U.S. Navy Commander George Wallace as a follow up to their 2003 best seller, "Final Bearing", the latter book which centered on an espionage driven tale of the U.S.'s mission to put an end to a South American drug kingpin and his expansive cartel.

Common and Thorton will star in the respective roles of Rear Admiral John Fisk and Admiral Charles Donnegan, with Butler starring as Joe Glass, the untested captain of the USS Toledo who must foil a nefarious plot to start World War III by a rogue general holding the Russian president hostage in a sinked submarine a thousand feet below sea level under the polar ice cap. Origin Films's Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are producing with Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, with Relativity president Tucker Tooley serving as executive producer from a script by Peter Craig.

Common, off the heels of winning an Academy Award with singer John Legend for the hit song, "Glory" for the Selma soundtrack, currently stars in Jaume Collet-Serra's new Liam Neeson thriller, Run All Night, while Thorton will soon appear in Doug Ellin's June 5 feature theatrical extention of the hit show, Entourage. Butler can next be seen in Babak Najafi's October 2 sequel release, London Has Fallen.