You should know the story by now: Andrew Stanton — Pixar master who gave us Finding Nemo and others — is working on his first adventure in the land of live-action movies with a new take on the classic John Carter of Mars mythology. So far, X-Men Origins: Wolverine co-stars Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins have been cast in the movie, as well as none other than Willem Dafoe.

With those three actors representing the main characters, it was naturally time to begin putting together a solid supporting cast. It’s been announced that the movie has obtained three new very talented actors to ensure this solid supporting cast: Samantha Morton, Dominic West, and Polly Walker.

The addition of Samantha Morton (Minority Report) means that the cast now has a pair of two-time Oscar nominees: Morton (In America, Sweet and Lowdown), and Dafoe (Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire). Dominic West is best known for his appearances in movies like 300 and Punisher: War Zone, as well as popular TV show The Wire. Polly Walker is known for her strong female presence on the HBO show Rome, and is also a member of the cast of the upcoming Battlestar Galactica prequel series, Caprica.

Morton will play the daughter of Dafoe’s character, Sola. West will be playing Sab Than, a Zodangan prince who believes he will be the next to rule all of Mars. Walker will play Sarkoja, a “merciless, tyrannical Thark,” whatever that may be. Two of these sound like potential villains.

John Carter of Mars will follow a Civil War veteran (Kitsch) who is unexpectedly transported to the planet Mars where he finds himself in the middle of two civilizations who are at war with each other, and eventually helping one side to fight. He’ll be joined by the princess of the Helium Kingdom, Dejah Thoris (Collins), and Tars Tarkas (Dafoe), an outcast who contains the ability to love, even though he is of a species of very savage and dangerous beings.

The movie is based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs almost a century ago, and is looking to begin production soon.

[Source: THR]