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.

If you're not at all familiar with Tony Kaye, then I suggest reading this new Telegraph interview with the infamous artist/filmmaker/lunatic. In it, they explore Kaye's entire career -- from growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home aspiring to be a painter to suing New Line for $275 million after they wouldn't allow him to credit himself as Humpty Dumpty on the final version of American History X, the man has pulled more elaborate stunts than ... screw it; no one has pulled more maniacal stunts than this man. Some might consider the man a genius (he's won a whopping 23 design and art direction awards throughout his career), but his wild temper and nonsensical actions once brought him to a point where no one in their right mind wanted to work with him.

For example, when New Line wanted to make changes to Kaye's first cut of American History X, the director proclaimed, "I'm fully aware that I'm a first-time director, but I need the same autonomy and respect that Stanley Kubrick gets." And that was him being nice. From there, he spent $100,000 of his own money taking out advertisements in the trades denouncing Edward Norton and the producer, he would show up to studio meetings with a Priest, a Rabbi and a Tibetan monk, and was so upset about the eventual 18 minutes of footage that was added in, he hasn't watched the finished film in 10 years. But that's just the short version; how in the world they found a way to get a great film out of this experience is beyond me, but reading about it is almost as much fun as watching it. The best part is that Kaye is finishing up a documentary about the whole experience called Humpty Dumpty, and guess who's distributing it? Yup, New Line.

But after spending 10 years in Hollywood prison, Kaye is currently prepping his first narrative feature since AHX, Black Water Transit. This time he's older, wiser -- and hopefully he's learned his lesson. Humpty Dumpty is set to get a small theatrical release, and then New Line will put it on the 10th anniversary DVD re-release of American History X next year -- a DVD I will purchase, even though I already own an older copy. Kaye's abortion documentary, Lake of Fire, finally premiered last year at Toronto after the director had been working on it for years. ThinkFilm will distribute later this year. What's your favorite Tony Kaye story?

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.

Odds and ends from Thursday:

• Ah, there's nothing like playing a dead guy in a film. David Duchovny has signed on to play Halle Berry's deceased husband in Things We Lost in the Fire. Also starring in the film will be Benicio Del Toro as Duchovny's troubled best friend who Berry invites to come live with her family after hubby's death. Now, this is where someone like me would expect Del Toro to get all sick and twisted on the Berry household, however, based on the description it appears he helps the family move on and eventually turn their lives around. Duchovny's character will only appear in flashbacks. God, I hate flashbacks -- but that's an entirely different post.
• Talk about talent that runs in the family, Joe Hill (son of horror guru Steven King) has sold the rights to his upcoming novel, Heart-Shaped Box, to Warner Brothers who, in turn, brought on Tom Pabst to adapt it for the big screen. Akiva Goldsman will be producing this supernatural thriller about a rock star who collects occult artifacts. After bidding online for a ghost (not sure how one does that, but okay), said ghost leads him to the deep South where he must confront his past in order to escape the evil forces haunting his every move.
• Well well well -- it appears we finally figured out why Vin Diesel abruptly jumped ship and bailed on the film Black Water Transit. It appears the actor was spotted in the Dominican Republic where, apparently, he was wrapping up filming on his dream project, Hannibal. Wait, last we heard, Hannibal was potentially moving forward with production locations being scouted, but nothing was official ... yet. So, in three months, you mean to tell me this puppy is fully cast and just about done shooting? Can't be. Not possible. Perhaps, they're almost done filming one of many locations, but there's no way the film could get this far without anyone knowing about it. Heck, IMDB doesn't even have the thing in pre-production yet -- what gives?

Odds and ends from I can't believe it's not Friday yet (a/k/a Thursday)

• After watching him sign on for role after role, I was waiting for the day when all of this pimping would catch up to Vin Diesel. Well folks, it appears that day has come. It's now being reported Diesel has dropped out of the film Black Water Transit, forcing filmmakers to hurriedly replace the actor with filming set to begin at the end of July. No word yet on why he skipped out on the pic (perhaps he hates black water and/or the transit system), but if a replacement isn't found soon, look for this one to get pushed back. Also starring in the film are Kevin Bacon, James Franco and Sophie Okonedo.
• While I'm not so sure what's funny about being a grieving widower, apparently NALA films felt there was something comedic behind the idea for Only Ever You. Griffin Dunne has been attached to direct the romantic comedy which will follow a guy who's having a hard time getting over the death of his wife. The description becomes a bit confusing after that, but I'm guessing he eventually moves on from the sadness and finds a new lease on life. Once again, what's funny about that?
• Looks like the Sundance Channel wants to get in on this whole internet thing. It appears the cable channel has struck a deal with two media companies to begin streaming some of its films online. We're not sure what, when and how this will all go down but they did note that all revenues will be shared with the filmmakers. Ain't that special. I'd be curious to see if they somehow work the Sundance Film Festival into this streaming as a way for folks stuck at home to catch a glimpse of the action playing in Park City. For those of us too poor to fly out to Utah, something like that would be very enticing.

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.