With yesterday's Wachkowski Bros / Superman rumor came the inevitable speculation as to who would be the man to fill out Superman's underoos. Would Brandon Routh return? Does a reboot mean he's out, and someone like Jon Hamm might be in? It might just be my imagination, but it seems like there's a reluctance to see Routh get the boot. Fandom has been mixed on his performance in Superman Returns but hell, fandom is mixed on Returns in general. As much as we might want a fresh start, it seems a bit unfair and strange to recast Superman already.

But what is the time frame on recasting? From the general hysteria that surrounded the Angelina Jolie-less Tomb Raider reboot, I'd say the general public feels like the actor or actress in question ought to be dead and buried. (I'm not talking about the Cinematical readers, who handled it in an objective manner. I'm thinking of regular news outlets who breathlessly announced "Jolie booted from Tomb Raider?!" As if she was weeping copiously over losing her twin semi-automatics, and not racking up Changeling nominations.)

Yet only a mild disappointment has followed rumors that Edward Norton might be replaced as The Incredible Hulk -- though we were all pretty shocked that they were remaking/recasting the character so soon after Eric Bana went green. Maybe a general numbness has set in when it comes to Bruce Banner, though, because fandom seems to simmer with a threat of violence should Christopher Nolan recast the Joker.

What would the reaction be if they recast Wolverine? Tony Stark? Would it be safe to recast the Fantastic Four?

It's a question worth putting out there. Which characters (and it doesn't have to be comic book related -- any franchise will do for the discussion. Throw in Axel Foley or Jack Sparrow if you want.) can safely be recast? Is there a time limit? Does it depend purely on the performance? Is any character truly untouchable?

• Thanks to the Valkyrie junkets, Bryan Singer is having to talk about the Superman reboot. UGO pinned him down, and the answers were noncommittal to say the least. At this point, he is not "officially involved" but is not divorced from Superman. "You know, I have relationships with Warner Brothers and with the character and, and, and, and it's just the way things work out. " Doesn't sound hopeful, does it?

• If Punisher: War Zone does well, you'll see a return of Ray Stevenson in the title role -- and Stevenson, who was unfamiliar with Frank Castle and comics in general, already has his favorite stories picked out. "I'm signed up. We'll have to see if this works, but we'd all love to see the franchise continue, and there's certainly stories to tell. There's a storyline about white slavers and prostitution that I loved. There was also a series where he gets out of the States and goes to Afghanistan. The Man of Stone sequence in connection with the SAS guy. There's a great character who's a law enforcement agent, the wife of a double agent. She's a fantastic character --very in your face -- and I'd love to do something with her. We'll see what happens with this one." [Mania.com]

• Speaking of sequels, both Frank Miller and Mickey Rourke are, like most of the world, ready for Sin City 2. Miller told IGN.uk that the script is finished, that it's a matter of working out production details -- but they could start shooting as early as April. Rourke merely told MTV that he was ready. Way back in July, Robert Rodriguez smiled coyly and said he was "reassessing," being focused on a fall project that never was revealed. Anyone else think Sin City is as finished as our Thanksgiving turkey? Then again, with Miller having director cred now, he might just take it over altogether.

It's official. Justice League is dead in the water. The last man standing, director George Miller, has dropped out and the film goes back Warner Bros archives -- something I imagine to be similar to the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reportedly, Miller told an Australian television audience that Warner Bros wants "bigger stars" in the Justice League movie, and that he believes it will be recast. That's not at all surprising, considering the way the world is wetting their pants over Warner/DC's super competitors, The Avengers, which is probably going to be nothing but A-List. What studio wouldn't look at the line-up for Justice League Mortal, where no one compares to Robert Downey Jr., and say "Thanks, but no thanks."

Honestly, I don't know if there can ever be a Justice League movie. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will) but what JLA fans want is exactly what Marvel is doing with The Avengers -- a bunch of solo character movies, establish the universe and the continuity, and then launch a superhero team extravaganza. They want good actors of the appropriate age, not a bunch of young and pretty things. They want it to be a solid effort, not something hastily thrown together for a late summer cash grab -- which is all Justice League Mortal seemed to be. (No offense to all involved, but hey, we're on the outside looking in here.)