True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard cast for 'Straw Dogs' Remake

It has been confirmed by Variety that True Blood leading man Alexander Skarsgard has been cast in an upcoming remake of the 1971 thriller Straw Dogs, a film about a Los Angeles screenwriter who relocates with this wife to her hometown in Mississippi. Once there, the marriage dissolves when old conflicts re-emerge with the residents of the town, resulting in a final violent confrontation. Kate Bosworth has also been cast as the wife in the film, a role previously held by actress Susan George, with Skarsgard coming into the picture as her old high-school boyfriend, an ex-football hero who sees the return of his former girlfriend as a way to reclaim fading glory. James Marsden ("Cyclops" from X-Men) will also step into the starring role of David Sumner, the husband and screenwriter, a role previously filled by Dustin Hoffman.

Directed by Rod Lurie, the remake sounds like a very pale version of the original 70's classic, but perhaps Lurie will surprise us all? And now that he's secured Alexander Skarsgard, he will no doubt have a instant built-in viewership for his film as the True Blood fans flock to see their beloved Eric Northman on the big screen. Details are still vague on the production schedule or development of this film. Straw Dogs was originally slated for an August 2010 release date, but has recently been moved to a TBA status.