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James Gunn is building himself a strong little cadre of performers for his upcoming twist on the superhero genre, Super.  We knew that Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, and Kevin Bacon were on board, but today we've learned that Gunn has some more great actors up his sleeve.  The cast now includes Nathan Fillion, Linda Cardellini, and Michael Rooker.  A new James Gunn movie was already cause for celebration, but with this cast Super has now become the title-duper.  Here's the official synopsis:

Wilson plays Frank, a seemingly average Joe who is madly in love with his troubled wife Sarah (Tyler). But when Sarah leaves Frank for Jacques (Bacon), a smooth-talking drug dealer, Frank transforms into pseudo superhero The Crimson Bolt, stakes out Jacques sleazy hideaway, and wages a one-man war on crime. What he lacks in superpowers, he makes up for with a trusty pipe wrench. Every superhero needs a sidekick and so enters Libby (Page), a cute sociopathic teen working at the local comic book store, who morphs into 'Boltie' and teams with Frank to take Jacques down.

Fillion will play, "a pop-icon who inspires Frank to don his tights," Cardellini as "the woman who ultimately delivers love to Frank and [Mikaela] Hoover, and Rooker is "Abe, Jacques's henchman."  Hit the jump for the full press release.  Filming is currently underway in Louisiana.

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Here is the full press release:

GUNN SHOOTS FOR THE STARS WITH 'SUPER' CAST

Nathan Fillion, Linda Cardellini and others join Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon in James Gunn's SUPER

New York, NY (January 11, 2010) - Writer/Director James Gunn has enlisted the talents of the alumni from his past productions Slither, Scooby Doo, and his multiple web series, for his latest film Super, a comedic twist on the superhero genre, which is currently shooting in Louisiana.  These additions include: Nathan Fillion (Castle, Waitress), Linda Cardellini (Brokeback Mountain, ER), Gregg Henry (The Black Dahlia, United 93), Michael Rooker (Jumper), Sean Gunn (Pearl Harbor), Stephen Blackeheart, Mikaela Hoover, Lloyd Kaufman, and Valentine Miele.  Gunn has also cast Andre Royo (The Wire) and Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Show) in the film, both of whom are new to Gunn's clan.

This impressive class of thespians join an already all-star cast featuring executive producer Rainn Wilson (The Office), Juno star Ellen Page (Whip It and Christopher Nolan's upcoming Inception), Liv Tyler (The Strangers, Lord Of The Rings), and Kevin Bacon (Mystic River, Taking Chance).

Ted Hope is producing through his Gotham-based production company This is that, along with Miranda Bailey of LA-Based Ambush Entertainment, which is also financing the film.  HanWay Films is handling international sales.

Wilson plays Frank, a seemingly average Joe who is madly in love with his troubled wife Sarah (Tyler). But when Sarah leaves Frank for Jacques (Bacon), a smooth-talking drug dealer, Frank transforms into pseudo superhero The Crimson Bolt, stakes out Jacques sleazy hideaway, and wages a one-man war on crime. What he lacks in superpowers, he makes up for with a trusty pipe wrench. Every superhero needs a sidekick and so enters Libby (Page), a cute sociopathic teen working at the local comic book store, who morphs into 'Boltie' and teams with Frank to take Jacques down.

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These cast additions hail from a diverse array of past collaborations:

  • Three from the new cast are Slither stars: Henry plays Detective John Felkner, a local cop who goes hot on the chase of The Crimson Bolt; Fillion plays a pop-icon who inspires Frank to don his tights; and Rooker is appearing as Abe, Jacques's henchman.
  • Four actors are from Gunn-penned cult favorite Tromeo and Juliet: Sean Gunn and Blackeheart (Criminals, 2012: Supernova), who play members of Bacon's gang and Kaufman (of Troma fame) and Miele (Rockabilly Vampire and Gunn's web-hit Humanzee!).
  • Scooby Doo (penned by Gunn) star Cardellini is appearing as the woman who ultimately delivers love to Frank and Hoover (Sorority Forever and Gunn's web-hits PG Porn and Humanzee!) is appearing as a young woman who helps to inspire Wilson's character.

"From Nathan to Rooker to Gregg to my brother Sean, some of my closest relationships have been fortified during films I've done in the past. These are people I like and admire but with whom I also share common creative goals. It helps imbue Super with an uncommon life, warmth, and energy. Super is an act of love for all of us, and it's wonderful having the people I love the most helping me make it," said James Gunn.

"This is such an ambitious production; every day promises to be difficult, but James has such loyal collaborators, we might just achieve the impossible.  They already know he is one of the most prepared and decisive directors on this planet - and now he's proven it to me, too," said producer Hope.