We’ve got some new casting news covering a few different film genres:

  • Stanley Tucci, Anne Heche, and Cedric the Entertainer have joined Jason Statham’s upcoming action flick Heat, about a gambling addict and ex-mercenary named Nick (played by Statham) working for hire in Las Vegas. 
  • Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch) has reportedly landed the role of the leading lady in Afonso Poyart’s upcoming film Solace, which will also star Colin Farrell and Anthony Hopkins.
  • Veep star Timothy Simons has joined Ivan Reitman’s NFL comedy Draft Day, where he will play Marx, a Cleveland Browns scout with a big personality.

Hit the jump for more information on each casting bit, folks.

In Statham’s action remake Heat, Deadline reports that Tucci, Heche, and Cedric the Entertainer join a stacked cast that includes Hope Davis, Milo Ventimiglia, Sophia Vergara, Michael Angarano, and Dominik Garcia-Lorido.  Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman (The Princess Bride), author of the source novel, will write the screenplay while Simon West (The Expendables 2) will direct.  Statham does very well in physical, stunt-oriented action roles, and that’s exactly what this remake appears to be.

Moving from action to crime thriller, Cornish has officially earned the status of a lead actress based on her role in Solace, which will combine her with the exceptionally talented Hopkins and her Seven Psychopaths co-star Farrell.  According to Variety, Solace is about an FBI agent who partners with a doctor who has psychic abilities hunt down a serial killer.  It is unknown which role Cornish will play.  Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson and Thomas Augsberger will produce with Sean Bailey, Ted Griffin, James Vanderbilt and Peter Morgan.

Following his success in Veep, Simons looks to pick up another comedic role in Draft Day, according to Deadline.  Simons joins a cast that includes Kevin Costner, Dennis Leary, and Jennifer Garner.  Draft Day focuses on the frantic efforts of the Cleveland Browns manager (Costner) to acquire the #1 draft pick.  With Simons on board as a rival scout, the film is bound to create some laughs.  The actor will return to HBO’s Veep this spring and will help film indie writer-director Tom Sierchio’s upcoming film titled The Girl Who Invented Kissing.