Paul W.S. Anderson (Death Race) has received a far better cast than he deserves for his upcoming "contemporary-feeling" 3D adaptation of The Three MusketeersHeat Vision reports that the cast ranges from rising stars to critically-acclaimed dramatic actors.  Playing the lead role of aspiring Musketeer, D’Artagnan, is Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief).  Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans), and Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon) will play the three musketeers, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis respectively.

Hit the jump to find out how this film's villains are going to outshine its heroes.

Then you have the villains, which is a real casting coup for the production.  Christoph Waltz is Cardinal Richeliu and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Rochefort.  Anderson has also cast his wife Milla Jovovich to play Milady de Winter, Athos' former love who is being likened to a "17th century Bond girl" (shudder).  Oh, and Orlando Bloom has been offered the role of bad guy, the Duke of Buckingham.

Doug Liman (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) recently signed on to direct an adaptation of The Three Musketeers for Warner Bros.  Clearly, he has his work cut out for him when it comes to casting.  I'm rooting for Liman since he has some good films in his filmography (Go, Swingers) whereas Anderson's best film to date is Mortal Kombat.

For those unfamiliar with Alexandre Dumas' classic novel, it follows the adventures D'Artagnan as he attempts to become a musketeer.

Both films are planning to begin shooting this fall.  No word yet if Liman's film will also be in 3D.