Forest Whitaker joins star-studded cast of throwback thriller Out of the Furnace

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

And the FURNACE hits another notch on the thermostat…

It was only Monday of this week we heard Woody Harrelson had been cast as the heavy in OUT OF THE FURNACE, Scott Cooper’s throwback revenge thriller. Before that, word had come in that Sam Shepard would join Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Zoe Saldana in the gritty crime-thriller. Now? How about another Oscar winner!

Relativity has announced that the great Forest Whitaker has indeed signed on to play a role in OUT OF THE FURNACE, which began principal photography today in Pennsylvania. Whitaker is set to play Sheriff Wesley Barnes of Braddock, PA.

Here’s a newly parsed synopsis for the film:

Out of the Furnace tells the story about fate, circumstance and justice. Russell (Bale) and his younger brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) live in the economically depressed Rust Belt, and have always dreamed of escaping and finding better lives. But when a cruel twist of fate lands Russell in prison, his brother is lured into one of the most violent and ruthless crime rings in the Northeast – a mistake that will almost cost him everything. Once released, Russell must choose between his own freedom, or risk it all to seek justice for his brother.

Saldana plays Bale’s love interest Lena Warren and Shepard plays Red, Russell and Rodney Baze’s uncle. Harrelson plays the brutal crime boss Harlan DeGroat.

OUT OF THE FURNACE isn’t expected until maybe 2014.