This, here, is probably the sort of news Kristen Stewart wants going around at the moment. So, before we start dabbling in the dirty world of gossip and on-set dalliances, let’s talk about a motion picture. ShowBlitz reports that Alex Pettyfer will be playing a love interest to the actress in Nick Cassavetes‘ (I’ve come to hate these two sequential words) gritty actioner, Cali.

Michael Diliberti (30 Minutes or Less) is behind the screenplay, which revolves around two lovers, Mya (Stewart) and Chris (Pettyfer), who disappear after making some money off a fake snuff film starring the former. However, this period of seclusion and inactivity is interrupted when her young sister needs to be rescued from some bad characters, “angry former business partners, homicidal porn stars, stoner vet techs, [and] an unstoppable killing machine in a cowboy hat” among them. The action kicks into gear, and said action is incredibly gritty.

How much? Producer Craig J. Flores promised that Stewart‘s performance would “push the envelope on the public’s view of [her] wide-ranging abilities.” I’d like to take his word for it. Pettyfer is something of an interesting pick for the project, being a young talent whose work went from “universally derided” to “split down the middle” with Magic Mike; I thought he was kind of great, to be honest — and why wouldn’t I be? — so the guy’s got my vote. Nevertheless, Cali has to prove itself as something more than a silly crime movie.

Is Pettyfer an interesting counterpoint to Stewart? What could Cali bring to the action-crime genre?