Whitaker, Stanton join 'Last Stand'

Forest Whitaker, Luis Guzman, Johnny Knoxville and Harry Dean Stanton are rounding out the cast of Lionsgate's "The Last Stand," which moved into production Monday with Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to acting for the first time since leaving the California governorship. Lionsgate, which has domestic and international distribution rights, said the film has pre-sold well in several overseas territories. Jaimie Alexander is in the female lead opposite Schwarzenegger. South Korean helmer Kim Jee-Woon directs the pic, which finds Schwarzenegger playing the sheriff of a sleepy little town who runs up against an escaped drug cartel leader heading for the Mexican border. Peter Stormare, Rodrigo Santoro, Eduardo Noriega and Zach Gilford co-star in the film, which is being produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Andrew Knauer wrote the original spec script that was subsequently rewritten by Jeffrey Nachmanoff and more recently, George Nolfi. Schwarzenegger, Knoxville and Jee-Woon are represented by CAA. Santoro and Stormare are represented by ICM, with Guzman represented by the Gersh Agency, and Whitaker and Gilford represented by WME. Stanton is represented by Bresler-Kelly and Associates. Deals were negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate by Robert Melnik, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com