"Ruthless crime-lord" and "Terrence Howard" paired together may take some time to sink in for some 🙂

Yes, Mr Howard has joined the case of the action-thriller Dead Man Down, which already boasts Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace in its starring cast.

Howard's character is named Alphonse Hoyt, and is described as "a charming but brutal crimelord who is accustomed to being feared but is thrown off guard when a mysterious tormenter (Farrell) starts sabotaging his business from within and picks off his men one by one as revenge for the death of his family."

Niels Arden Oplev (who helmed the original Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is directing the film, which will go intor production later this month in Philadelphia.

Howard is currently filming another thirller – House Of Bodies with Queen Latifah.