Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard Star in George Lucas' Latest War

Two more actors sign on to George Lucas' 20-years-in-the-making WWII epic, Red Tails, shooting in Europe shortly

It's not only war that's hell—war movies, too, can take their toll.

Luckily for George Lucas, his would-be WWII epic that's nearly two decades in the making is almost ready to go into production, with two more big-name castmembers signed on to take part.

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard have joined the cast of Lucas' long-in-development Red Tails, an action-adventure flick centering on the young fighters who overcame racial barriers to fight as the Tuskegee Airmen.

"I've been wanting to do Red Tails for 20 years, and we've finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots," Lucas said. "We're working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era."

The duo round out the previously cast Bryan Cranston, Ne-Yo, Method Man, 90210's Tristan Wilds, Nate Parker and Elijah Kelley, among others.

Lucas will not be helming the flick. Instead, that honor will fall to director Anthony Hemingway.

Shooting is expected to begin shortly throughout Europe.

In other notable casting news:

• Christina Ricci is set to star as Adam Sandler's next hand-picked—and, if cinematic history is any indication, relatively humorless—leading lady. Per Variety, Ricci will join the funnyman in the porn-themed comedy Born to Be a Star, centering on a small-town nerd who discovers his parents were '70s-era porn stars. Inspired, he embarks on a journey to become the biggest, er, make that the most famous porn star of modern times.

• Rob Schneider is flying high with You May Not Kiss the Bride. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the former SNL star will play a daredevil helicopter pilot in the romantic comedy about an American pet photographer who somehow crosses paths with Croatian mobsters during his honeymoon. Dave Annable, Mena Suvari, Katharine McPhee and Vinnie Jones also star. Wonder which one plays the mobster...

• Twelve is the lucky number for Joel Schumacher. The director has enlisted Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, 50 Cent, Ellen Barkin and Kiefer Sutherland to star in the adaptation of the Nick McDonell novel, according to Variety. The book follows a high school dropout turned drug dealer on the Upper East Side whose cousin is murdered and best friend arrested for the crime. In other words, a feel-good tale. Shooting starts April 20.