Javier Bardem joins J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year and The Gunman with Sean Penn

Javier Bardem has signed on to two new projects according to Deadline and both films seem like they'll be a very good fit for the talented actor.

First up is THE GUNMAN (previously called PRONE GUNMAN) from director Pierre Morel (TAKEN, FROM PARIS WITH LOVE). The film is based off the Jean-Patrick Manchette novel and is about an international operative who goes on the run after his handlers stab him in the back. Sean Penn also stars in the film and while there aren't any details on Bardem's role in the film he'll probably play the villain since Deadline says he will "go mano a mano with" Penn. But if Sean Penn ends up being the villain instead of Javier Bardem I'd be very down with that as well.

There isn't a plot description for the second movie he's signed on to but we do know it is called A MOST VIOLENT YEAR and Bardem will play the hero in the movie. The film will be written and directed by J.C. Chandor, who has received a lot of attention lately for his upcoming survival film ALL IS LOST with Robert Redford (check out the trailer here). Production on A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is scheduled to start this fall so more news on the film could be released in the next few weeks.

More Javier Bardem is a good thing and although SKYFALL took up a lot of his time last year it looks like the actor is trying to make up for it now. Bardem can be seen next in Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy's THE COUNSELOR with Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz and John Leguizamo when it is released on November 15th, 2013.