New Orleans is filling up with cast members for Black Water Transit and the latest one to be added is Aisha Tyler. The list already includes Laurence Fishburne, Stephen Dorff and American Dreams star Brittany Snow, and no longer includes Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, who were attached and then dropped out. There's a limited amount of information available on the plot but the story is known to take place in post-Katrina New Orleans and revolves around a man -- maybe Fishburne? -- who is on a crusade to release his drug-addicted son from jail. IMDB describes the film as being about the convergence of law enforcement, criminals and lawyers over an illegal shipment of weapons into America as one man tries to find a safe harbor for his family's illegal firearms.

So in other words, it's about the relationships between cops and criminals. Black Water Transit is written and directed by Tony Kaye who gave us American History X -- thank you for that, Mr. Kaye. As for Aisha Tyler, I have to confess that I'm amazed by her work. I always found her to be terribly annoying as the Talk Soup host, but she's gone about building up an impressive resume since then. Also, we know that she will be playing a police detective, à la her roles in CSI and 24.

So you're probably wondering -- what in the world did Tony Kaye do this time? Although the man seemed to be taking it all down a few levels in a recent interview, controversy once again swirls around one of his films. This time it's Black Water Transit -- Kaye's first feature narrative since American History X -- and a film that has had one helluva rotating cast. And although it heads into production this week, Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson (the two leads attached for some time) are no longer involved. Instead, Variety tells us that Laurence Fishburne and Brittany Snow have hopped onboard the crime drama, which was written by Matthew Chapman, and revolves around a shipping company owner who attempts to get his junkie son freed from prison.

Now, this is an odd little story, because based on the way Variety makes it sound Willis has been off this project for awhile. In fact, when all that talk about Vin Diesel bailing on Transit surfaced, Willis was already gone. Furthermore, they make it seem as if Diesel and Jackson were brought on as possible replacements for Willis, and not additional co-stars -- even though Sam Jackson is listed as a totally different character from Willis on IMDb (who, by the way, still have Willis and Jackson down as cast members). Meanwhile, all I want to know is whether Kaye dropped a piano on someone's head? But regardless of the entire musical chairs conspiracy, all three of those guys are now off the project, and Kaye will have to find a way to get through it all without losing Fishburne, as well as his sanity. It's a shame this guy can't keep it together because I really enjoyed American History X, and would've loved to see more work from him in the narrative department. Kaye's abortion documentary, Lake of Fire, is currently making the festival rounds. And based on his track record, Black Water Transit will be released sometime within the next 10 years.

After what could be called a self-imposed studio feature film hiatus, controversial director Tony Kaye seems poised to finally return to more mainstream filmmaking. According to Production Weekly, Kaye is currently negotiating to take over directing duties on the Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson starrer Black Water Transit. The film, adapted from the Carsten Stroud novel by Live Free or Die Hard scribe Doug Richardson, was to be directed by Samuel Bayer but "creative differences" caused Bayer to leave the project and the offer went out to Kaye.

This film marks the first re-teaming of Willis and Jackson since the third Die Hard film and tells the story of successful businessman Jack Vermilion (Jackson) who is trying to help his son after he is arrested on drug trafficking and armed robbery charges. In his desperation, Vermilion makes a deal with the feds to trade them something in exchange for leniency for his son. He hatches a desperate plan to ensnare Earl Pike, a hard-nosed soldier with CIA ties (Willis) and get him to commit a crime and be arrested by the feds . Unfortunately, his plan backfires leaving several people dead, Vermilion wanted for murder and Pike out for revenge.

The film sounds interesting and its good to see Kaye getting another chance at a studio film. Kaye, whatever his perceived difficulties, is probably no more difficult than any other creatively driven director or actor in Hollywood. His problems during and after American History X and with Ed Norton more than likely sprung from a desire to make the best film possible and not from being "difficult" just for the heck of it. It wouldn't be the first time directors and stars clashed over "creative differences." Shooting is expected to start in April on location in New Orleans.

No, they haven't changed the title of the next Die Hard flick or added a fifth installment to the franchise, however Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson have signed on to star in Black Water Transit, which marks the first time these two have appeared on screen together since 2000's Unbreakable (Heh, based on this post's title, I bet you thought I'd slip up there). While we've already heard rumors about Willis' involvement in Transit, his name never showed up on IMDB and some folks were confused as to whether or not he was actually in this thing. Well, you can sleep safe tonight because he is ... we think. And hope.

The pic itself has already suffered through a few setbacks, the first coming after Vin Diesel abruptly bailed out of his role shortly before filming was to begin this past summer. Thus, the date was pushed back and instead of starting in Chicago, production will begin February 12 in New Orleans. We're not sure whether the extra time allowed filmmakers to now throw in a little hurricane Katrina subplot, but seeing as they've shifted cities, it certainly looks and feels that way. Pic will revolve around a group of criminals, cops and lawyers whose lives intertwine in dangerous ways over a shipment of illegal firearms and a double homicide. Also signed on to star are Kevin Bacon, James Franco and Sophie Okonedo.

Maybe I don't see the appeal (because I'm just a jealous man), but what in the world does everyone love about Vin Diesel? In the past few months, the guy has attached himself to at least five (wait a few minutes -- I'm sure another one will pop up) different films, though one of them (Babylon A.D.) is still a rumor. Now, word is out that Vin has signed on to star in Black Water Transit, making him the world's most unofficial expert on multi-tasking.

Pic, which already sports a pretty decent cast, looks to be a gritty crime drama that centers around a shipment of illegal firearms and a double homicide. Though he's not mentioned in the Hollywood Reporter article, Bruce Willis is supposedly attached to the film, as well as Kevin Bacon, James Franco and Sophie Okonedo. Pic will also mark the debut feature for music video directer Samuel Bayer who, in the past, has worked with groups like Green Day, The Offspring, Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage. Shooting begins this summer.