Sam Worthington snags lead for indie action-thriller For The Dogs with director Phillip Noyce

January 31st 2013, 9:50am

Sam Worthington hasn’t really done anything that has made me take notice. He was serviceable in AVATAR and TERMINATOR SALVATION but he doesn’t really stand out in either film, or CLASH OF THE TITANS and its sequel. I don’t completely buy him as an action guy and I think he should try to follow Channing Tatum‘s current route. Do a bit of comedy, let people see that you’re more than a pretty face or have a ripped body. I know that’s easier said than done if an actor has been typecast or not in the position to be that picky on what films they want to do, but if you want to succeed longterm in Hollywood, you have to branch out a bit.

At least he’s not sitting around twiddling his thumbs and waiting for AVATAR 2 to start filming. Variety is reporting that Sam Worthington has signed on for the movie FOR THE DOGS. The film is going to be directed by Phillip Noyce (SALT, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER) based on the book of the same name by Kevin Wignall. The story “centers on a solitary assassin who agrees to help a bright college girl exact revenge on those who mercilessly murdered her parents and younger brother.” So it’s sort of like LEON if he had met her when she was in college? Worthington is also producing it through his Full Clip Prods. banner.

Sometimes a movie a can overcome a well-worn plot device (REVENGE!) in the manner in which the film is executed. HANNA probably would have probably been pretty generic if it wasn’t filmed in a stylized manner. SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE wouldn’t have been as amazing without it’s moral complexities. So while the plot description may seem a little “been there, seen that” lets hope we get something more than another run of the mill tale of revenge. Although sometimes you just want to see Kevin Bacon loose his shit on some thugs.

It’s still early in the process so stay tuned for more news as it comes in. More than likely the next bit of casting news will be who’s playing the part of the college girl.