Production on the newly retitled film, ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,’ begins next month and a few more additions to the cast have just been announced. In a press release, Sony has announced that Lena Headey (‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Dredd’), Jared Harris (‘Mad Men,’ ‘Fringe’) and Godfrey Gao (‘All About Women’) have joined the film.

‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ is based on the first book of the young adult fantasy book series written by Cassandra Clare and set in present day New York City. It centers on Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers she’s a descendant of a line of Shadow hunters, a secret group of half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect the world from demons. When her mother disappears, Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters to find her. They introduce Clary to Downworld, the dangerous alternate of New York filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures.

Headey is set to play Jocelyn Fray, the mother of the heroine Clary Fray played by Lily Collins (‘Mirror, Mirror,’ ‘Abduction’) who is also a Shadow hunter. As her disappearance is a key point in the story, she may not have a lot of screen time involved.

Harris will be playing the role of Hodge Starkweather who is a tutor to the young demon hunters. He must decide between preserving his freedom and betraying his charges. According to the author’s blog, “Hodge is also a really complicated character. He’s not entirely bad, not entirely good. He’s a brilliant man led down a bad path a long time ago and he can’t turn back, but he does love those kids he tutored … I think (Harris will) really nail Hodge’s moral dilemma.”

Gao is taking on the role of Magnus Bane, a flamboyant hipster who is the illustrious High Warlock of Brooklyn.  Clare says of Gao’s casting, “Godfrey is, in addition to being all gorgeous and stuff, super-talented (his audition was awesome), loves the books, and is, like Magnus, ridiculously tall.”

The newly signed actors will be joining Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower (‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 & 2,’ ‘Camelot’) who is playing Jace Wayland, Robert Sheehan (‘Misfits’) as Simon, Kevin Durand (‘Real Steel,’ ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’) as Pangborn, Jemima West (‘The Borgias’) as Isabelle Lightwood and wrestler Robert Maillet (‘Pacific Rim,’ ‘Immortals’) as Blackwell. Still yet to be cast is the villainous role of Valentine.

Filming is set to begin next month with a release date for the film on August 23, 2013.

Source: Deadline