There were some subscriber-only hints about this movie over at THR earlier this year, and now the cats out of the bag. Variety reports that Maggie Gyllenhaal and Paul Bettany are heading to Australia for director Shirley Barrett's South Solitary. The feature is one of many that is going to be funded by Film Finance Corp., as it gears up to join the Australian Film Commission and "make a super agency called Screen Australia."

According to IMDb, the film will focus "on a disgraced young woman and a soldier suffering from the ongoing effects of shell shock who discover a great need for companionship and hope in the face of hostile elements." I have a feeling you can tell who will play what role. There is no word on when this will be set, but it could be either present-day or the past, since one of the other films being funded focuses on Australian SAS soldiers in Vietnam (The Last Man).

Variety reports that Paul Bettany's Legion has just added a whole crowd of actors, including the star power of Dennis Quaid, Kate Walsh, and Tyrese Gibson. They will be headlining a cast that includes Jon Tenney, Charles S. Dutton, Lucas Black, Adrianne Palicki, Kevin Durand and Willa Holland. They've signed on just in time, as the movie is about to start shooting in New Mexico.

Legion is a thriller that stars Bettany as the archangel Michael, who is all that stands between mankind and an apocalypse after God has lost faith in humanity. But the Almighty apparently hasn't lost all hope -- a child is on the way who is the second coming of Christ, and a group of strangers who recognize the fact must band together to save it. It is director Scott Stewart's first feature film, from a script he co-wrote with Peter Schink.

I am quite intrigued by the movie, as I am a sucker for any kind of Biblical thriller. The problem is that they are almost always terrible. (Though I will always give props to The Prophecy for proving that the Devil does, in fact, wear a mullet.) The combination of Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid gives me some hope though, since they generally pick good scripts. We'll see if this is one of them.

We might have well-meaning prophets roaming the earth in the form of Jonny Lee Miller on television, but things are about to get meaner on the big screen as God gets ticked off with Earth. I imagine this will be nothing like Two of a Kind, where John Travolta and Olivia Newton John had to fall in love for God to not wipe out the human race. Instead, there's thrills, an archangel, and the arid desert.

Variety reports that Paul Bettany has signed on to star in an upcoming thriller called Legion. From a script by Scott Stewart and Peter Schink, which Stewart will direct, the film focuses on "what happens when God loses faith in humanity and sends his legion of angels to wipe out the human race for the second time. Mankind's only hope lies in a group of misfits holed up in a diner in the desert who are aided by the archangel Michael (Bettany)." Now, I get how humans can save the day against monsters and the like, but just how do you fight God? I can only imagine that these guys will have to prove their worth to save the day, because it's not like you can point a bazooka at the sky and put the big Dude in his place.

So, apparently Stewart's script involvement was a rewrite, and Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper says: "I was so impressed with his rewrite that I took the meeting with him, and his visual presentation closed the deal. I'm sure he had the same impact on Paul." Sounds...impactful. Production begins next month in New Mexico, so I imagine we'll hear about more cast soon, and then get to see this impact for ourselves soon enough.

After making a big impact on us all with his saucy Geoffrey Chaucer and then snaring Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind, it seemed like Paul Bettany's cinematic career was set on the road to superstardom. Instead, he's found himself a handful of roles that keep him around, but not on the tip of tongues -- like Lars Von Trier's Dogville, that Wimbledon movie, and The Da Vinci Code. Now he's got a bunch of films on the way and has just added another. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Bettany has signed on to the cast of The Secret Life of Bees.

That's the flick I told you about last month that has Dakota Fanning fleeing her abusive dad with Jennifer Hudson and moving in with some eccentric sisters who make honey (played by Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys). While all this is going on, she uncovers details about the mystery that is her deceased mom. Bettany will play T. Ray Owens -- unsurprisingly, the widower and abusive dad of Dakota's Lily. That's a pretty darn good choice -- he resembles the young star, and I'm sure he can pull of a creepy and conflicted man. Also added to the cast is Hilarie Burton (One Tree Hill), who will play Lily's deceased mom Deborah in some flashbacks. I'm not a follower of One Tree, so you fans out there will have to comment over her suitability in the role.

This could be a good little drama, and at the very least, should be a bit less fuss-causing than Dakota's Hounddog. Writer/director Gina Price-Bythewood will get production going later this week in North Carolina.

The producers of the upcoming horror-thriller Born -- the team includes Clive Barker and Guillermo del Toro, among others -- have reached out to Bloody-disgusting.com to clear up rumors that the cast that was locked back in June had dropped out of the project and torpedoed its prospects for getting made. Well, the rumors were partially right -- Jennifer Connelly has flown the coop, presumably because of a scheduling conflict with her next big payday, The Day the Earth Stood Still, opposite Keanu Reeves. Her husband, Paul Bettany, is still on board with the project, though, so take heart. The producers also told BD the film is currently prepping for a February start date, although there was no mention of what actress has stepped in to take Connelly's place. Seems like they'd already have that taken care of, if the film is indeed ready to roll.

Born is being directed by Daniel Simpson, whose only prior credits are two short films, and the story revolves around a couple who settle down in an English town to raise their family only to find their "perfect life" shaken up when the husband's claymation art starts to come to life and terrorize them in some way. The film was written by Simpson, along with Barker and Paul Kaye, and was originally supposed to go back in August. Very little info on the delay had leaked out until now. Connelly is currently in pre-production for Earth, stepping into the role of Helen that was previously played by Patricia Neal in the 1951 original. Stay tuned for further developments.

The upcoming futuristic thriller Franklyn will offer something for the fellas (the gorgeous Eva Green) and something for the ladies (the man-gorgeous Ryan Phillippe). The film will be set simultaneously in both contemporary London and a faith-dominated future metropolis without separation of church and state. According to Variety, the film will tell the story of "four lost souls divided by two parallel worlds on course for an explosive collision when a single bullet will decide all their fates." It's Sliding Doors meets The Matrix! Sounds mighty confusing, but I'm intrigued. The film will co-star Sam Riley, who plays Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis in Control (read James' positive review here).

First-time director Gerald McMorrow wrote the screenplay and will direct the film. According to IMDb, John Hurt is in the Franklyn cast as well, but since that's not part of the Variety announcement, take that with a grain of salt for now. The movie has undergone a lot of casting changes, it seems. Last we heard about the project, Ewan McGregor was attached to star, but it appears that is no longer the case. Paul Bettany was attached to the Riley role at one point. I don't know much about Riley, but I do know getting Phillippe for McGregor is something of a step down. Phillippe is improving, though, I must give him props for holding his own against an incredible Chris Cooper performance in the too little-seen Breach. Green is probably best known as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, but holds a special place in my pants heart for her almost entirely nude performance in The Dreamers. Dreamy.

Jean-Marc Vallee's The Young Victoria has been bringing together a solid cast, featuring names like Emily Blunt as Victoria and Rupert Friend as Albert, as well as Miranda Richardson and Jim Broadbent. Now the cast list is continuing to sweeten, and The Hollywood Reporter has posted that the added flavor is in the shape of Mr. Jennifer Connelly. Paul Bettany, who made a big splash in The Knight's Tale years ago, has joined the cast as Lord Melbourne, Queen Victoria's adviser, who taught her about government and politics. (If only all political advisers were that sweet.) That's not all -- Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong) is also joining the cast as Vic's uncle, King Leopold of Belgium.

The film, which was written by Gosford Park scribe Julian Fellowes, went into production in Britain on August 13. Obviously, looking at the name, the movie will focus on the beginning of Victoria's life -- being sheltered from child-like pursuits, taking the crown, learning politics and marrying the man who would one day become infamous for rather...ouch-worthy piercings. Luckily, this isn't a big special-effects production, so we'll get to see The Young Victoria some time in 2008.

Helen Mirren will be sticking to political material for her next film, which will be set in the Gaza Strip. Mirren will play a Jewish woman, one of the last few left in the Strip. Her journalist daughter is romantically involved with a Palestinian, and is shot and killed. I imagine the project will deal with the aftermath of that tragic event -- the film is said to be "much more a human interest story rather than a political one." When BBC correspondent Alan Johnston was kidnapped, the filmmakers realized working in Gaza was going to be far too risky, so filming will take place in Jordan. Mirren raised a few eyebrows when it was announced that she'd follow up her Academy Award-winning performance in The Queen with a role in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, so this one should get her some "street cred" back. You know Mirren's all about the street cred!

The as-yet-untitled film was written by Frank Deasy, who wrote the astoundingly bad adaptation of Prozac Nation with Christina Ricci. Deasy says the new film "is inspired by events in Gaza and not by any particular real incident." Deasy has worked with Mirren before; he wrote Prime Suspect: The Final Act, the TV film which starred Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison. The team on that one must have gotten along swimmingly, because that film's director -- Philip Martin -- will take on the Gaza Strip movie as well. Mirren also has a supporting role in an upcoming family/fantasy/adventure called Inkheart, with Brendan Fraser and Paul Bettany. And hey, if you guys want to see The Queen in something absolutely insane, let me recommend (?) Shadowboxer. It's not good necessarily, but if you've ever wondered what graphic, thrust-heavy sex between Oscar winners Mirren and Cuba Gooding, Jr might look like, it's probably gonna be your only opportunity.

Ever since I went to the Museum of Natural History's Darwin exhibit earlier this year, I've been hoping for a film about the pioneer of evolution theory. My main interest is actually in Darwin's marriage to his cousin, his ten children with her, and his subsequent ideas about the ill effects of in-breeding, but I'll be happy with the story of the voyages of the HMS Beagle, the ship that took Darwin on his scientific travels. And that is the story I'll be getting thanks to a planned adaptation of Peter Nichols' novel Evolution's Captain: The Dark Fate of the Man Who Sailed Charles Darwin Around the World.

Chase Palmer, who is on the rise as a hot new helmer of historical fictions, has been tapped to write the screenplay and to direct the film, which will be titled simply Evolution's Captain (this makes sense since different versions of the book have different subtitles). Though the book concentrates on the life of the Beagle's commander, Robert FitzRoy, the film will likely focus more on the captain's relationship with Charles Darwin. Fitzroy, who was nicknamed "Hot Coffee" due to his violent temper, famously disagreed with Darwin on the topic of man's origins, and their arguments should make for a nice parallel to the current creation vs. evolution debates. In addition to being topical, though, it should also be intriguing in a way similar to the better parts of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which feature Paul Bettany's character conducting some pre-Darwin studies of South American flora and fauna.

Production on this film will probably begin once Palmer's debut, Number 13, is finished. Since that film isn't scheduled to begin until February, though, it will probably be some time before we get to see any actors donning Darwin's distinguishably long facial hair.

More on Palmer's projects:

When You Think of Hitch, Think Fogler

Kingsley Counts to Number Thirteen

The versatile actor Andy Serkis is a busy. busy man these days. Fresh from his appearances in The Prestige, Stormbreaker and the upcoming Longford for director Tom Hooper, Serkis has now booked yet another new role -- the villain Capricorn in director Iain Softley's upcoming family fantasy pic for New Line Inkheart. The film is based on the first novel from fantasy author Cornelia Funke and tells the story of a father who, in order to entertain his daughter, brings characters from books to life. Writer David Lindsy-Abaire, who also scripted the recent Robots, is handling the adaptation duties.

Serkis is not the only one jumping aboard Inkheart though. Also joining him will be Helen Mirren, of John Boorman's Excalibur and the recent The Queen, Rafi Gavron of Anthony Minghella's upcoming Breaking and Entering and the lovely Sienna Guillory, fresh from her role as Arya in the fantasy pic Eragon -- for director (and ILM alum) Stefan Fangmeir.

These new actors make fine additions to Inkheart's growing cast which already includes star Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany and the terrific Jim Broadbent. With the addition of Serkis, Guillroy and an acting heavyweight like Helen Mirren to an already impressive roster of talent in front of and behind the camera who have experience with this kind of material, Inkheart may just find itself on my list of fantasy films to watch when it hits theaters. And who knows, if Inkheart turns out to actually be any good, maybe we can finally let Ian Softley off the hook for making us sit through Hackers.

Production on Inkheart is expected to begin next month in Italy. No word yet on a release date.

Paul Bettany was one of the clear-cut front runners for the Clown Prince of Crime in the Batman rumor mill until a Bat-insider showed up at the incredibly well-informed fan site Batman on Film to declare the studio's disinterest in the actor. BoF tends to be very well-informed, but just like any news site they can't always substantiate their "inside sources;" they just share with us what they hear. The "Paul Bettany as the Joker" rumor camp took yet another serious body blow recently, however, as Paul Bettany himself recently told PR Inside he was not in the running for the role, as far as he was aware. "It's a rumor entirely made up by journalists." Bettany also jokingly speculated the rumors could be a focused effort by the media to lower his price tag for the movie execs. Bettany hypothisized that if he admitted to the media he was interested in the role, then the studio could approach him and say something akin to "okay, great. You can have it it since you want it so much. Here's a fiver for your troubles."

Batman on Film is back with yet another twist in the "who will play the Joker in Chris Nolan's next Batman flick" drama. Today's news comes to us from "a LONGTIME source who has provided BOF with much dead on info regarding BATMAN in the past." The major news to come out of a rather lengthy tip is that Paul Bettany has never been seriously considered by the Powers That Be for the role of the Joker. Fans dig him, but the movie people do not. Additionally, the rumor that Jude Law will play Harvey Dent is also false -- because Law is apparently the current front runner for the Clown Price of Crime. He's on a "short and select" list, anyway; Lachy Hulme is a "dark horse" candidate on said list.  The tipster also tells us the part of the Joker in this flick will be small and secretive, and entirely unlike the Jack Nicholson style. Finally, Hugh Jackman threw his hat in the ring for both the Joker and Two-Face (he is more interested in the later, according to the BOF tipster) but will likely not be involved, due to his heavy association with Marvel films.

This ridiculous rumor mill will not stop spinning, and only seems to get more interesting every time news breaks. What do you think, readers? Law as the Joker, or Hulme? And if Law and Jackman are out for Harvey Dent, who should land the role? Stay tuned for further bulletins as events warrant ...

Monday's odds and ends:

• The Weinstein Company has acquired the rights to Miss Potter, the Renée Zellweger-starrer about Peter Rabbit creator Beatrix Potter. Due out some time next year, the movie "follows Potter's struggles to overcome a domineering, unsupportive mother and the chauvinism of Victorian England."

• In addition to people who think he's ripping off their work, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has also offended The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentationare. Yeah, sure Dan. You never write about an albino until you throw in one that's "hulking." They know how it is with you fully-pigmented people. According to Brown, however, Silas (the albino) is "a far more sympathetic character than anyone else in the novel." Having not read the book, I am unable to confirm or deny Brown's assertion but, since Silas is played by Paul Bettany in the movie, I can confidentially assert that at the very least, the albino is far better looking than any of the other characters.
  

• Susan Sarandon is in talks to star in a planned biopic about human-thorn-in-W's-side Cindy Sheehan. Sweet - I can't wait for wave two of the rabid articles about how out of touch Hollywood is with Mainstream America.

• New Line has bought the rights to a spec script entitled Disappearance of Trout and, even without knowing what it's about, it's hard to blame them. I mean, the whole field of movies with the names of fish in the title is WIDE open, and we all know how rare originality is in Hollywood these days. Disappointingly, the movie doesn't actually seem be about fish. Instead, it's a fantasy story about a young amusement park heir who disappears only to return 20 years later, "unaged, to help repair the lives of those once close to him and the heart of the town." Um, cool. Hell, I'd see that even if it didn't have "Trout" in the title.
  

The Uber fan news site Batman on Film has recently dropped a few more Bat-rumors related to casting in the upcoming sequel passed along to them from insider tipsters. Here come the updates, in bullet-point form for your easy reading pleasure.

• Michael Keaton is definately not the Joker, no matter what you've heard elsewhere.
• Arkham Asylum may have two prominent characters for us in the new film; Dr. Jeremiah Arkham is rumored to be a small part, and Doctor Harleen Quinzel may show up as an Arkham employee- although the persona of Harley Quinn is not expected to manifest.
• Emily Watson's name has surfaced for Harleen, and Brad Douriff has been mentioned for Dr. Arkham.
• The character of Cobblepot may likewise exist, with the Penguin persona possibly staying beneath the surface for the duration of the film as well.
• Bob Hoskins is still rumored to show up in the film, but no longer as Cobblepot/Penguin. Rumor now has it that he'll play mob boss Sal Maroni.
• Mr. Bettany is pulling very strong odds to show up as the Clown Prince of Crime.
• Jake Gyllenhaal is definately in the mix for Dent, although probably not as solidly as Mr. B is for Mr. J.
• The look of the Joker's smile may be a nod to 1928's Gwynplaine in The Man Who Laughs. Awesome.

“Yes, as through this world I've wandered I've seen lots of funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen ...”

-- Woody Guthrie, Pretty Boy Floyd

But fountain pens are passe; nowadays, it's all about cracking the VPN and breaking the WEP key. And Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) knows that, because that what he's paid to worry about. Jack has it all – great kids, great relationship with his wife, a gorgeous house full of high-tech toys and a job he's great at, directing computer security for a medium-sized bank group, stopping hackers and script kiddies and fraudulent transfers. But Jack has failed to think about the weakest link in the bank's security … himself. Led by the manicured, coolly methodical Bill Cox (Paul Bettany), a plan is set in motion to steal one hundred million dollars from Jack's bank. The plan has a good chance of succeeding -- especially since the crooks are using Jack as their inside man, and his wife (Virginia Madsen) and children held at gunpoint if he should get any clever ideas or develop a lamentable taste for heroics. …

This is the kind of role Ford can play in his sleep, and fortunately for Firewall, he doesn't. Director Richard Loncraine (Wimbledon, Richard the III) has turned Joe Forte's script into the film equivalent of a mid-range page turner – something you'd enjoy during a long plane flight (especially if you're in business class) but might not feel especially tempted to remove from the seat-back pocket after you've finished it and you're wrestling your carry-on from the overhead bin.