Digital Spy is reporting that Ving Rhames has joined the cast of Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3-D. It is not yet clear what his role will be, but he will be joining Richard Dreyfuss, who was recently announced as having a small part that pays homage to his iconic turn in that other aquatic-themed horror, Jaws.Also announced for the picture, currently in pre-production, is Oscar-nominated actress and girlfriend of Marty McFly, Elisabeth Shue. This is Aja's third consecutive horror remake, following last year's Mirrors and the 2006 redux of The Hills Have Eyes. The 1978 original was directed by the legendary Joe Dante.
Rames is no stranger to horror, in recent years taking part in the remakes of both Dawn of the Dead (yay!) and Day of the Dead (boo!). And who could forget his early turn in Wes Craven's 1991 fave The People Under the Stairs (pictured), made three years before Pulp Fiction turned him into a household name?
Piranha 3-D commences filming next month in Arizona, and is scheduled for a March 19, 2010 release.
* * * * * * * * * *
Also wanted to give a heads-up to my readers that I was recently asked to take part in a horror blogger roundtable over at the excellent news site HorrorBlips.com. The article is now up, and features myself and esteemed colleagues like Bryan White of Cinema Suicide, Stacie Ponder of Final Girl and Mitch of Horror Society giving our opinions on what the summer season holds in store for all us fans of theatrical grotesquerie. Read it now.