Ne-Yo among actors ready for 'Battle'

Six others also join cast of sci-fi feature

By Borys Kit

Sept 8, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, along with Ramon Rodriguez, Taylor Handley and Cory Hardrict, are suiting up for "Battle: Los Angeles," the sci-fi war flick that Jonathan Liebesman is directing for Columbia.

Jadin Gould, Bryce Cass and Joey King also have joined the cast, which includes Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan and Michael Pena.

Ne-Yo, who just booked the gig to write and sing the closing song for Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," will plays a corporal in the platoon.

Rodriguez, Handley and Hardrict are members of the platoon fighting the invading aliens. Cass, Gould and King are kids trapped in a community center.

The studio is taking advantage of Louisiana's incentives, with shooting beginning this week in Shreveport. Neal Moritz is producing.

"Battle" will be WME-repped Ne-Yo's highest-profile gig and one that takes him out of the music realm. His credits include "Stomp the Yard" and "Save the Last Dance 2."

Ramon Rodriguez, repped by UTA and the Collective, has appeared in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "The Taking of Pelham 123."

Handley, who returns for an arc on NBC's "Southland," is repped by Paradigm and manager Booh Schut. He also starred in Kevin Williamson's "Hidden Palms." Hardrict, repped by APA and the Burstein Co., appeared in "Gran Torino."

Cass, Gould and King are repped by Coast to Coast Talent. Cass is additionally repped by Emerald Talent Group, while Gould is also repped by Landis-Simon.

Ne-Yo among actors ready for 'Battle'

Six others also join cast of sci-fi feature

By Borys Kit

Sept 8, 2009, 11:00 PM ET