After the somewhat bizarre casting of up-and-comer Liam Hemsworth in The Expendables 2, a sequel to a film that was seemingly created just to give aging action stars something to do, it should come as little surprise that Thor’s little brother is slowly being styled into more of an action man. But it’s still a bit of an eye-opener that the actor is now set to star alongside no less than The Rock himself. Sorry, “Dwayne Johnson.” Deadline Toledo reports that Hemsworth is about to close a deal, with Johnson currently negotiating for his role, in indie Empire State. Written by Adam Mazer (Breach, You Don’t Know Jack), the film was once titled The Sentry Keep, and is “based on the true story of a 1982 NYC armored car company robbery thought at the time to be the largest cash heist in U.S. history.” And while that sounds interesting enough, and while the casting of a pretty boy like Hemsworth and a bonafide action star like Johnson only further that interest, what’s most compelling about this story is who is directing it.

First Tracy Morgan saddles up with Bruce Willis and director Kevin Smith to make one of 2010′s early contenders for biggest disappointment of the year in Cop Out. Now he’s being cast in an ensemble cop drama alonside Juliette Binoche? From director Dito Montiel, of Fighting and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints fame? This is all very confusing.

Ironically, Dito Montiel’s ‘Fighting’ would be a much better movie without all the fighting.

Channing Tatum and Dito Montiel talk about ‘Fighting,’ their second collaboration after ‘A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,’ and the big things in store for Tatum in 2009.