Since getting replaced in Iron Man, actor Terrence Howard has yet to appear in a major Hollywood production, with a few forgotten festival films (The Ledge, Winnie) and some failed bigger projects (Red Tails, Fighting), but with minor roles in the upcoming On the Road and The Company You Keep, as well as next spring’s Dead Man Down, he’s now secured another promising gig.

According to Deadline, Howard has joined the drama Prisoners, teaming up with a big-name outfit featuring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo and Maria Bello. The Alcon Entertainment film will be helmed by acclaimed Canadian director Denis Villeneuve (Indendies, Polytechnique) and it marks the first big-budget, all-star cast for the Hollywood newcomer.

Prisoners is the second script to go into production for Contraband scribe Aaron Guzikowski. The screenplay, which has been in the works for over two years came out of a short story that Guzikowski wrote, one that he thought would make a great film. The story centers on a small-town carpenter named Keller Dover, played by Jackman. When his young daughter and her best friend are kidnapped he is compelled to take the law into his own hands. His cause leads him to run-ins with a crackerjack cop assigned to his case, Detective Loki played by Gyllenhaal. Bello will play Grace Dover, Keller’s wife, while Howard’s role has yet to be revealed.

Production on Prisoners is set to begin early next year and WB has a penciled-in release date of September 20th, 2013.

Are you looking forward to the drama?