May 06, 2008

By By Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.

Rapper Common has been tapped to star in the upcoming fourth installment of the 'Terminator' series, "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins." The Chicago MC will play a freedom fighter named Barnes who is defending the human race against a machine that aims to destroy it.

Common will star alongside Christian Bale -- who will play the main character John Connor -- and Sam Worthington, among others. The Warner Bros. and Sony-distributed film is set to hit theaters May 2009.

As previously reported, Common will be releasing his forthcoming eighth album, "Invincible Summer," in mid-July. "I created this music for the summer time, it's about feeling good," Common told Billboard.biz about the electro-tinged and techno-driven album last month. "This is the type of music I felt was missing from my body of work."

Common will also appear in the June 27 film "Wanted," which co-stars James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.

Common's previous album, 2007's "Finding Forever," has sold 549,000 units to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

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