Four guards are hired to protect a high-profile attorney, who’s trying a case against the mafia. A remake of the 1993 Italian film, “La Scorta”.

Javier Bardem Also in Talks for Cartel

On the heels of yesterday’s news of Sean Penn joining the drama Cartel comes a scoop from the folks over at Latino Review that another Oscar winner may also be joining the cast.

According to the site, Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) is in talks to play Rafael Castillo, a wealthy but righteous DA who wants to put the cartels away. Castillo shunned his rich family for the law. Asger Leth is attached to direct.

Penn will play Ed Marker, who journeys to protect his son after his wife is brutally murdered in the gritty world of Mexican cartels. It will be the dramatic feature directing debut for Leth. The filmmaker previously won a DGA Award for directing the 2006 documentary Ghosts of Cite Soleil.

The drama was originally setup at Imagine as a remake of 1993 Italian film La scorta, which followed four cops’ struggle to guard a special prosecutor trying to bring mob bosses to justice. It has since evolved into an action vehicle for Penn.

A summer start date is being eyed.