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It is easy to understand why some people don’t get too excited any more when they see Roland Emmerich’s name attached to a big-budget epic, as his last few haven’t gone over too well. This would include the very lackluster response that was earned by both The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 BC. Emmerich, who previously brought us fantastic films such as Independence Day and The Patriot, has fallen into a slump and is in need of something to get him back up and running as one of the premier directors in Hollywood. This “something” could come by way of his next film, the apocalyptic 2012, which has begun casting this week.

That casting would include two actors with long, impressive resumes, Chiwetel Ejiofor, most recently seen in David Mamet’s Redbelt, and John Cusak, most recently in the Stephen King adaptation 1408 and the critically acclaimed Grace is Gone. The story of 2012 will be focused on events that take place at the end of the Mayan calendar, in the year 2012. Apparently there is a global cataclysm, which brings about the end of the world as we know it. The film chronicles the heroic struggle of the survivors, but also is rumored to include a storyline about a parallel universe that also threatens all of mankind. It sounds pretty grim, to say the least.

My thought is that it already sounds better than 10,000 BC, which had some pretty wicked effects, but overall was a mess. It is high time that Roland Emmerich got back around to telling compelling stories amidst all the action and CG-enhanced excitement. 2012 could be his chance, but even that is still up in the air. At this point, they are off to a good start with the two actors pictured above.

2012 is set to begin shooting in July of this year for a July 10, 2009 release.

Sound Off: What are your thoughts on 2012 at this point?