Oliver Stone is putting together an appealing cast for his upcoming drama Savages, based on the novel by Don Winslow that follows two pot-dealing buddies who become involved with a Mexican drug cartel. When the cartel kidnaps their girlfriend, the two are forced to find a way to pay the ransom.
Last month, Taylor Kitsch (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) were cast respectively as Southern California pot growers Chon, an ex-Navy Seal, and Ben, an environmentally-conscious Berkeley grad. Benicio Del Toro was also cast last month as a drug enforcer named Lado, who works for a drug cartel matriarch, to be played by Salma Hayek.
The latest cast additions, according to Deadline, are Blake Lively (Green Lantern) as O, the kidnapped girlfriend, a role originally intended for Jennifer Lawrence until she won the lead role in The Hunger Games. Pulp Fiction and Be Cool co-stars John Travolta and Uma Thurman will reunite in the movie, with Travolta playing a burned out DEA agent named Dennis, and Thurman playing O's mom, Paqu. Then there's Emile Hirsch (Milk), whom Variety reports has also joined the cast in an unspecified role.
Production on Savages starts in July. Winslow adapted the screenplay with Shane Salerno (Shaft).
Posted 04.23.11 by Ryan