<P> Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators of the television series Smallville, were hired to write the screenplay in August 2009 . Marti Noxon, writer and producer for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, also contributed to the screenplay . D.J. Caruso was brought on to direct in early 2010, after Bay opted to focus on directing the third film of the Transformers series . Caruso had been selected by Spielberg to direct Disturbia and Eagle Eye for DreamWorks, and had success with both films . Caruso had less than a year to prepare, shoot and edit the film, due to a worldwide release date set for Presidents Day weekend . </P> <P> Chris Bender, J.C. Spink, and David Valdes executive produced the film . Steven Spielberg contributed to the film's characters, but did not take a credit on the film . It was the first DreamWorks film to be released by Disney's Touchstone Pictures label, as part of the 30 - picture distribution deal between DreamWorks and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . The film was also the first release for DreamWorks after the studio's financial restructuring in 2008 . </P> <P> In March 2010, Alex Pettyfer was in talks to play the title character in the film, Number Four . It was later confirmed that the 21 - year - old British actor would play the lead . Sharlto Copley was going to star as Henri, Number Four's guardian and mentor, but had to drop out due to press obligations with his film The A-Team . Copley was replaced by Timothy Olyphant . Kevin Durand plays the villain of the film, Commander, the Mogadorian who leads the hunt for the Loriens on Earth . </P> <P> DreamWorks went through multiple rounds of tests to find the right actress for the female romantic lead . Dianna Agron, a star in the Fox television series Glee, won the role . She plays Sarah Hart, a girl who used to date a high school football player, but falls for Number Four and keeps his secret . Jake Abel plays the football player, Mark James, an antagonist in the film . Teresa Palmer plays the other Loric, Number Six, and 16 - year - old Australian actor Callan McAuliffe plays Sam Goode, Number Four's best friend . </P>

Who plays the bad guy in i am number 4