BEIJING, Oct. 11-- Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski and Neal McDonough have signed on to star opposite Al Pacino in the crime drama"88 Minutes," which began principal photography last Saturday in Vancouver, Canada.

Witt will play a teaching assistant and the romantic interest to Pacino's character, a college professor who moonlights as an FBI forensic psychologist. Sobieski will play one of Pacino's students, and McDonough will play a death row inmate whom Pacino's character suspects is orchestrating his murder, which he has been told will occur in"88 minutes."

Filmmaker Jon Avnet("Fried Green Tomatoes") is directing.

Witt most recently appeared onscreen in"The Upside of Anger," while Sobieski recently wrapped Neil LaBute's"The Wicker Man." McDonough is filming Clint Eastwood's"Flags of Our Fathers."

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)