Two casting notices tonight:

• Spartacus: War of the Damned star Liam McIntyre will cross the bridge from Roman to Greek mythology to co-star in Hercules 3D, directed by Renny Harlin (12 Rounds).  Kellan Lutz (Twilight) stars as the titular demigod.
• Naomi Watts is in talks to star alongside Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O’Dowd in St. Vincent De Van Nuys, the feature directorial debut of Ted Melfi.

More on both projects after the break.

Heat Vision says McIntyre will play an army captain who fights alongside Hercules on the battlefield: "After an evil king deceives them, Hercules and the captain are sold into slavery and must fight side by side to earn their freedom."  Harlin is excited to have McIntyre on board:

"I am lucky to have him play military commander, Sotiris, Hercules' best friend.  Their relationship begins antagonistic and develops into a close bond, forged in battle."

Harlin co-wrote the script with Sean Hood and Steve Giulio.  The $70 million Nu Image/Millennium production is scheduled to shoot next month in Bulgaria.  Dwayne Johnson is shooting his own Hercules movie over in Budapest this summer for Paramount and MGM, so the race to cinematic Olympus is on!

In a report on St. Vincent De Van Nuys, Deadline says Watts would play "a Russian prostitute who develops a close relationship with the title character (Murray), a cantankerous guy who becomes a chief influence on an angelic 12-year old boy."  McCarthy plays the single mother who lets Murray take on the responsibility of parental guidance for the 12-year-old.  Melfi is a new voice, but his script made the 2011 Black List of Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays.  With this great cast and a solid premise, St. Vincent is officially a project to keep your eye on.