Actor Demián Bichir (A Better Life) has joined the cast of Savages for director Oliver Stone.

The story, which is based on Don Winslow's novel, centers on two Laguna Beach weed growers forced to work for a Mexican drug cartel after their shared girlfriend is kidnapped. Demián Bichir will portray Alex, a low-life attorney for the head of the cartel, played by Salma Hayek. Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch play the pot growers, while Blake Lively plays the kidnapped girlfriend. Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Emile Hirsch round out the cast.

Oliver Stone is directing Savages from a screenplay by Shane Salerno and author Don Winslow. Production is scheduled to start July 6.

In related news, Don Winslow recently struck a deal to write a Savages novel prequel.