AfterRay Stevensonpassed away in Italy early into the production of the Paramount and Republic Pictures filmCassino in Ischia, a new actor for his role has been found. In late May, filming had been halted when Stevenson fell ill on the set, dying soon after at a local hospital. It wasn’t clear at the time how much of the film Stevenson had shot before his passing, but now it’s been revealed that his role has been recast, and presumably his scenes will be reshot with the new actor. PerDeadline,Dominic Purcell(Prison Break,Legends of Tomorrow) has boarded the cast to take over Steven’s role with production now getting back underway in Italy.Per the report, Purcell is playing the lead role of Nic Cassino, a “former action star who is knocked off his perch by the next generation of action heroes. In an attempt to revive his career, he travels to Italy to make the first ever ‘Neo-Realist’ action film with a down on his luck Italian director. When unresolved family struggles resurface, he is forced to reconcile all he left behind on his road to fame.“Cassino in Ischiais being directed by Frank Ciota, whose brother, Joseph Ciota, wrote the script. The feature film is produced by Barbara DeFina and DeFina Film Productions alongside Isola Verde Films. The executive producers include Frank Ciota, Joe Ciota, and Cristaina Giubbetti for Cattleya. Purcell had starring roles in the TV showsPrison BreakandDC’s Legends of Tomorrow. More recently, he appeared with Bruce Willis inAssassin, one of the latter’s very last films. He also appeared in the Netflix movieBlood Red Skyalong with the thrillerConfidential Informantwith Kate Bosworth and Mel Gibson. He has previously appeared in other films likeMission: Impossible 2,Blade: Trinity,Assault on Wall Street,In the Name of the King 3: The Last MIssion, andAbandoned.Related:Best Ray Stevenson Performances, Ranked
Ray Stevenson Passed Away Unexpectedly in May
Stevenson’s passing was announced just weeks after it was reported thathe’d be starring inCassino in Ischia. The actor had also been set to replace Kevin Spacey in the upcoming historical film1242: Gateway fo the West. He will posthumously appear in the upocming Disney+ seriesStar Wars: Ahsokaas he’d completed his work on that show prior to his passing. He was just 58 years old and still working frequently when his death was announced, making the news all the more shocking to his fans as well as his famous friends.
“So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo inRome, has passed away,” the actor’sRomeco-star James Purefoy wrote on Twitter when Stevenson’s death was announced to the public. “A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim. My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss.”
