Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, Ben Barnes, John Hannah, J.K. Simmons Join Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, And Dennis Quaid In Thriller THE WORDS

Montreal, QB (June 2011). Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, Ben Barnes, John Hannah, J.K. Simmons, and Nora Arnezeder join Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, and Dennis Quaid to round out the cast of the dramatic thriller THE WORDS. The film marks TRON LEGACY writers Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal’s directorial debut. Klugman and Sternthal also wrote the script, which went through the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab and appeared on the Black List (the annual list of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays). THE WORDS starts shooting this month in Montreal.

THE WORDS follows a writer (Cooper) who, at the peak of his literary success, discovers the price he must pay for stealing another man’s work.

Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures is producing along with Animus Films’ Jim Young, and Serena Films’ Tatiana Kelly. Untitled Entertainment’s Laura Rister is executive producing the film with Cassian Elwes under their joint venture Waterfall Media. Rister and Elwes are shepherding the project. Cinematographer Antonio Calvache (IN THE BEDROOM, LITTLE CHILDREN) is the Director of Photography.

Parlay Films’ Lisa Wilson is handling international sales. US rights placement is represented by Waterfall Media/Untitled.

Saldana starred in major blockbusters STAR TREK and AVATAR and will next be seen in the upcoming action film COLOMBIANA produced by Luc Besson.

Wilde recently starred as Jeff Bridges’ trusted friend and protector Quorra in the 3D futuristic blockbuster, TRON: LEGACY. This year she will be seen in a wide array of projects including the Universal fantasy-action film COWBOYS & ALIENS starring alongside Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford; the physical comedy THE CHANGE UP, to be released in August, starring opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman; Andrew Niccol’s futuristic thriller IN TIME; and The Weinstein Company’s quirky political satire BUTTER also starring Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman and Ty Burrell.

Barnes stars in the upcoming KILLING BONO. His additional credits include THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, LOCKED IN, DORIAN GRAY, and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN.

Simmons credits include TRUE GRIT, JUNO, SPIDERMAN 1, 2, and 3, and the upcoming CONTRABAND and GEEZERS!.

Hannah’s many credits include the MUMMY franchise, THE LAST LEGION, I’M WITH LUCY, and I ACCUSE.

French actress Arnezeder’s credits include SAFE HOUSE, CE QUE LE JOUR DOIT À LA NUIT, SLEIGHT OF HAND and LOUIS LA CHANCE.

Benaroya Pictures just wrapped production on THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD, the prohibition-era crime drama directed by John Hillcoat and starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Mia Wasikowska. The company financed and produced the financial thriller MARGIN CALL which recently premiered at the 2011 Sundance, Berlinale, and New Directors/New Films film festivals and will be released later this year by Roadside Attractions. Benaroya is currently in post-production on CATCH. 44 starring an all-star cast including Bruce Willis, Forest Whitaker, Nikki Reed, Deborah Ann Woll, Malin Ackerman and directed by Aaron Harvey. The thriller surrounds three young women in dead end jobs who come across someone who offers them a better life but one that involves crime.