NEW YORK -- Stephen Rea and Ron Perlman have joined Thomas Jane and John Malkovich in the sci-fi action thriller "The Mutant Chronicles".

German actor Benno Furmann ("Joyeux Noel") also has joined the cast of the Edward R. Pressman production, set to begin shooting in the summer with director Simon Hunter.

Rea plays the former commander of Lieutenant Mitch Hunter (Jane), a 23rd century Marine who tries to save Earth by leading a band of soldiers against evil NecroMutants. Perlman portrays the leader of a religious sect who thinks he can destroy the mutants and save the planet, recruiting Hunter to join him.

Furmann portrays Hunter's former nemesis who joins him to fight for the greater good, and Malkovich appears as the head of a council of corporations that rule the Earth.

Producers Pressman Film Corp. and Paradox Entertainment said that the project, adapted into a screenplay from a popular role-playing game by Philip Eisner and Ross Jameson, also will be adapted into comic books from Dark Horse Comics. The companies also have inked deals for new games, one involving role-playing with C.O.G. Games and another using miniatures with Fantasy Flight Games.

Rea, repped by ICM, earned an Oscar nomination for "The Crying Game," and Perlman, repped by APA, is best known for his leading role in the late-'80s CBS drama "Beauty and the Beast" and the feature "Hellboy."