Matthew Marsden Aboard Transformers 2

News

He’s a fast-rising British actor most recently seen in action-heavy flicks like “Rambo” and “Resident Evil: Extinction.” Now, 34-year-old Matthew Marsden may have finally landed the high-profile film that could transform him into a star.

MTV News has learned that Matthew Marsden is the newest addition to Michael Bay’s Transformers 2. He joins a high-powered cast returning for the sequel to last year’s blockbuster, including Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese. Marsden joins the super-franchise’s sequel with fellow newcomer Rainn Wilson, whose casting was revealed last week by MTV.

Marsden has been cast in the role of “Graham,” a character who is part of the British Special Forces. Although the film’s plot is being kept under the tightest veils of secrecy, it is known that the flick will depict an even more worldly battle than the first Transformers film, and will shoot all over the globe. In the sequel, Graham teams with Duhamel and Tyrese’s military characters, joining their efforts as they do battle with the evil Decepticons.

The casting of Graham, and the presence of the British Special Forces, would seem to indicate that Bay might do some filming in the U.K. Cameras are scheduled to begin rolling on the fast-forming flick in a matter of weeks.

An avid biker and swimmer, the burly Marsden seems well-prepared to do battle alongside Duhamel’s Captain Lennox and Tyrese’s Sergeant Epps. Since moving to Hollywood, Marsden has also appeared in the action-heavy films Black Hawk Down and DOA: Dead or Alive. He made his film debut in the underrated 1993 Harvey Keitel flick The Young Americans.

MTV News has also learned that director Michael Bay was so impressed while meeting with Marsden that he has considerably beefed up the role of Graham from the original script, to accommodate the actor. Once again executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Transformers 2 will be released on June 26, 2009.

Credit: MTV