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.

As The Golden Compass hits theaters, the trailer for New Line's next big fantasy flick, Inkheart, has arrived online alongside a website. When Cinematical flew to London earlier this year to visit the set of Compass, Inkheart was the other movie we got to check out ... and we (meaning I) dug it. Based on the novel by Cornelia Funk (which, like Compass, is the first in a trilogy -- with Inkspell and the soon-to-be-released Inkdeath following behind), Inkheart follows the story of a man named Mo (Brendan Fraser doing his best Mummy lite) who has the ability to read stories aloud and bring fictional characters to life. When he brings three characters from the book Inkheart into the real world, Mo and his daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett) soon find they've bit off more than they can chew.

The greatest thing about Inkheart: The Movie? Andy Serkis plays the villain! Ah, but this time he's not covered in CGI (Gollum from Lord of the Rings) or ape hair (King Kong); yes, this time, Serkis gets to play a real-life guy (or, well, a character from a book who's brought to life). And based on the trailer, he looks great. Also starring in the film are Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany and Jim Broadbent. We'll have a full report from the set of Inkheart shortly before its March 19 release date. Until then, enjoy the trailer and let us know what you think.

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.

We've heard rumors for months with regards to the script for the much-hyped, live-action version of Justice League of America. While movie sites compete to be the first to obtain top secret JLA info, none other than Entertainment Weekly has stepped up claiming to have obtained an early version of the script. According to the magazine (and what follows might be deemed spoiler-ish, so beware) the following characters were included in the version they read: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter. Earlier reports had claimed Aquaman was left out, but here he's listed -- and personally, I dig the orange and green suit; hopefully he'll stick.

EW also says the script goes the "origins story" route, apparently showing how the Justice League was formed. Here's how EW describes the plot: It "revolves around villainous businessman Maxwell Lord and involves cyborgs called OMACs (One-Man Army Corps), who can take over humans and turn them into killing machines. There are epic battles between Superman and Batman, as well as Superman and Wonder Woman." Aww man, why would Supes do battle against Wonder Woman? As of right now, no one has been officially cast -- Jessica Biel was offered the role of Wonder Woman, but turned it down (perhaps because she wasn't guaranteed a starring role in a potential spin-off). Not long ago, Cinematical asked folks who they would cast in the Justice League of America film. Based on your answers, we've put together a gallery so you can see for yourself whether these are the people you want portraying some of our most beloved superheroes on screen. Check it out below.

[via IESB and IGN]

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.

Real life husband and wife Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany have signed on to star in the psychological thriller Born, which will be directed by Daniel Simpson and produced by Guillermo del Toro, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Clive Barker, in an exec producer role. I love it when a married couple decide to play opposite one another on the big screen, especially as lovers because it adds an extra layer of "real" to the whole thing. I just wish it wasn't Connelly; I've had a crush on her my entire life (probably the only reason I watched Career Opportunities more than ten times) and at one point was convinced she was waiting for me to get just a tad older before finally making her movie. Nevertheless, Bettany got there first. Damn him.

In the pic, both will play a married couple who are looking to settle down in a nice English town to raise a family. However, all hell breaks loose when Wallace and Gromit show up to wreak havoc. Okay, it's not exactly Wallace and Gromit, but Bettany's character is a claymation artist, and when his characters begin to act out a nightmare that actually comes to life, then that's when -- as they say -- the plot thickens. Simpson, who will make his directorial debut on Born after helming two shorts (one of which utilized claymation), wrote the script along with Barker and Paul Kaye. It will also mark the first project for the Los Angeles-based finance and production shingle ClearVision Media Production Group. Personally, I think it will be wild to watch live-action fused with creepy claymation -- I imagine not many feature films have explored that territory yet. Currently, there's no word on a production or release schedule; del Toro, Gordon and Levin are also hard at work on Hellboy II.

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.

Odds and ends from Thursday:

• Whether you want it or not, they're making a sequel to the fairly engaging Danny Boyle flick, 28 Days Later. Only 28 Weeks Later (Yes, that's the name of the sequel for those of you who have been living in a hole for the past year) will have a new director (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo), a new writer (Rowan Joffe) and, now, a new star. Jeremy Renner (Lords of Dogtown) has signed on to play Sgt. Doyle, one of the sequel's brand new heroes. Pic, which finds Boyle and 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland wearing producer hats, picks up six months after the original. While Special Forces come in to try and neutralize the area, the zombie virus once again rears its ugly head and, well, sh*t goes down ... as usual.
• Looks like Brendan Fraser now has a co-star for his new flick, Inkheart, as Paul Bettany has come onboard to play a fire-eating performer in this adaptation of the popular children's book (which is part of a trilogy written by German author Cornelia Funk). Story revolves around a father who has the ability to "bring characters from books alive by reading them aloud." Yikes, here's hoping he stays away from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
• In an attempt to cash in on the demand for movie downloading, AOL has struck a deal with 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. to begin offering selected titles from each studio online for downloading. Ranging from $9.99 to $19.99, folks will be able to own their film, as well as play it on a "limited number of Windows-based personal computers or portable devices that support Microsoft Corp's Windows Media Player technology." Yeah, put that in your Mac ad Justin Long!

Odds and ends from Tuesday:

• I'm not exactly sure why a couple would pretend to break up, but the premise is intriguing enough for me to want to know more. Italian director Gabriele Muccino, who will be making his English-language directorial debut with The Pursuit of Happyness (starring Will Smith) this fall has now signed on to helm A Little Game Without Consequence for Focus Features. Based on the French play, Consequence was already adapted as a French film in 2004. Recently, Muccino replaced Jonathan Mostow as director of another Will Smith pic called Tonight, He Comes. However, he soon left the project claiming the story just didn't jive with his style and sensibilities.
• IGN is confirming Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany have joined the growing cast of The Golden Compass, directed by Chris Weitz and based off Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Kidman will be thrown into the role of villain, playing the insidious Mrs. Coulter, while Bettany will be taking on Lord Asriel. As previously discussed, Compass will kick-start New Line's most ambitious and expensive adventure since Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not long ago, an unknown 12-year-old girl named Dakota Blue Richards landed the lead role in Compass, proving there is enough room in Hollywood for two little girls named Dakota.
• Talk about actors that fly way under the radar, Mos Def has signed on to star opposite Jack Black in Be Kind, Rewind. Written and directed by the always eccentric Michel Gondry, Rewind sounds right up my alley. What? Didn't anyone tell you eccentric was the new sexy? Pic stars Black as a guy who unintentionally destroys a bunch of tapes in his friend's video store after his brain becomes magnetized in a freak accident. In order to satisfy the store's one loyal customer, the two join together and attempt to remake some of the lost films including Back to the Future, The Lion King and Robocop. Also in negotiations to star are Kirsten Dunst and Danny Glover. Be Kind, Rewind begins shooting in early September.