Superhero News Round-Up

Over the last week or so a number of the major superhero franchises have made some moves, rumors and all around noise in Hollywood. There has been an official casting, a hiring, also intent to hire along with a few rumors on just who a certain "The Dark Knight Rises" star may be playing and what superhero is up next for the big screen. Take a look at the full breakdown below...

I'll start with the stuff that is verified. Darren Aronofsky and 20th Century Fox and signed a deal for him to direct the next Wolverine film titled, "The Wolverine." Not only did Fox sign Aronofsky for 'The Wolverine' but they inked a two-year first-look deal with the filmmaker and his production company Protozoa Pictures. Aronofsky is slated to begin directing the sequel next April off Academy Award winning writer Christopher McQuarrie's screenplay. The film is reported to take place in Japan.

Next up Warner Brothers has revealed that they along with newly hired director Zack Snyder will begin looking for their "Man of Steel." The studio and director are looking for actors ages "28 to 32" (which knocks me just out of the running) but according to Deadline includes Armie Hammer recently seen in The Social Network as the Winklevoss twins, Joe Manganiello who starred on this last season of HBO's True Blood as a beefy new werewolf and Ian Somerhalder who is on the CW's The Vampire Diaries television series. None of these names jump out as a clear Superman to me, while all three of them do have the physicality and looks to pull it off. The biggest question is talent. Hammer was really good in The Social Network and would be my first choice of these 3 names if pinned down. Let's just hope the hunt for a new Superman isn't done just yet.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Dennis Leary has joined the cast of the upcoming Spider-Man reboot at Sony/Columbia being directed by Marc Webb. Leary will be playing the father of Gwen Stacy who was previously announced to be played by Emma Stone. Stacy's father is police captain that in the comics died in the middle of a battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus, though were not likely to see Dr. Oct revived. One big question I have with this re-boot, when are we gonna get a title?

Leading more into more rumor territory is a reports that newly cast Tom Hardy will play Hugo Strange in "The Dark Knight Rises." Since Hardy was announced to be in the third film directed by Christopher Nolan rumors have spread here and there about whom he could play, but a source tells Batman-News Hugo Strange to be the perfect fit into Nolan's world and Tom Hardy. I like the idea of Hugo Strange being the villain. I'd really hope that Nolan does stay outside of the ultra popular characters in Batman's catalog of villains. The frnachise has its viewers and Nolan has earned the right to tinker around with some of the lesser known villains. For those of you who are not big Batman fans Hugo Strange is a ingenious psychologist who knows Batman's true identity and is infatuated with him. Strange dresses up like Batman and begins a maniacal plan to overtake him. Also on the "The Dark Knight Rises" front Michael Cain said that the script is do come January and that they would be filming from April through November of 2011.

Lastly and probably the furthest from credible, Smallville actor Alan Ritchson who plays Aquaman on the series believes that the "Aquaman" movie will be soon to be hitting the big screen. He told Comic Book Resources, "Some people in L.A. are starting to get the ball rolling on that. I don’t know what my involvement would ever be in that, but, yeah, I think it would be cool to see that happen." Those some people he are reffering to are Appian Way and DC. Appian Way is Leonardo DiCaprio's production company who has been out to writers trying to get the film on target for a 2013 release. No directors have been mentioned because this is still very much in early stages of development.