The Social Network actor Josh Pence has been officially cast in the upcoming Christopher Nolan film The Dark Knight Rises. There’s been a small trickle of actors and actresses signing on for the final Batman film, but this one is pretty substantial. As you may remember, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt was cast to play a role that as of yet has not been officially named. Joining Pence and Levitt are also critically-acclaimed actress Anne Hathaway and Inception breakout hit Tom Hardy. There’s a lot going into this project, and I think we are going to get Nolan’s biggest and best project yet. Topping The Dark Knight and Inception will be tough, but it might be possible for Nolan, especially considering who Josh Pence will be portraying in The Dark Knight Rises.

According to the report, Josh Pence will be playing Ra’s Al Ghul in the film. As you should recall, Ra’s Al Ghul was played by veteran actor Liam Neeson in Batman Begins, but at the end of the film died as the elevated train crashed in front of Wayne Tower. While some have speculated he in fact survived the crash, the Ra’s we are getting in the upcoming movie is a young Ra’s Al Ghul. Could this mean Nolan and company are going to include the Lazerus Pits that reduce people’s age? No, probably not. Some sources cited in the report say he’ll play Ra’s Al Ghul 30 years prior to the events of the series. This could indicate that actress Marion Cotillard, who has also joined the cast, will play Talia Al Ghul, his daughter. Between Ra’s, Catwoman and Bane, fans hopefully will get a coherent and action packed final installment of arguably the best superhero adaptation of all time.

Does anyone have other theories as to how young Ra’s might be worked into the story? Leave your thoughts below.

Source: THR

You may want to file this under unnecessary sequels but summer 2012 will see Clash of the Titans 2. While the first film was not warmly received by critics, it did make over $170 million domestically so that means one thing: sequel. Filling the director’s chair for the sequel will be Jonathan Liebesman, who currently has his latest film, Battle: Los Angeles, in theaters now. If you were wondering about what cast members will be returning for the sequel here is the run down:

Sam Worthington will return  as Perseus, along with Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades, and Danny Huston as Poseidon. Also joining the production will be Edgar Ramirez as god of war Ares, Rosamund Pike as warrior princess Andromeda, Toby Krebbel as Argenor, and Bill Nighy as Hephaestus.

While this may sound like a great cast the one thing they need to work on is the lackluster script that sunk the first (well, first for this franchise) Clash and hopefully a second shot at this will be for redemption. Curious what a second film will be about? Here is the plot synopsis:

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus—the demigod son of Zeus—is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld.

Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

What do you think about a sequel to Clash of the Titans? Should Hollywood ever have remade the original film from 1981 that starred Harry Hamlin? Let us know what you think down in the comment section.

We have been riding the Superman: Man of Steel rumor train for months now, but we can finally put to rest one long running casting bit. Today it was confirmed that Viggo Mortensen will not play General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Superman movie. We first reported that Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) was a possible candidate for the villainous role in Snyder’s reboot of the Superman franchise. Speaking with Latino Review, Snyder had this to say about the casting rumor:

“Yeah Viggo is not going to be in the movie let’s say that right now. I can clear that up.”

Snyder previously stated that his reboot will be his most realistic film to date. This weekend Snyder’s latest film Sucker Punch arrives in theaters and his previous work includes Watchmen and 300. Snyder said this about the realistic vision he has for his superhero reboot (via Screenrant):

“I think the visual style of ‘Superman,’ though I can’t say for certain as it’s early, but I kind of feel like — and I did say to the studio – that what’s cool for me and interesting, and odd, is that ‘Superman’ is probably going to be the most realistic movie I’ve ever made.”

Now that we know Viggo Mortensen will not be playing the role of General Zod we can ask this question – what villain can we expect to see? And who will play it?

Let the rumors begin flying again…

Anne Hathaway (Brokeback Mountain, Love & Other Drugs) has been officially cast in the role of Selina Kyle, known to many fans as Catwoman. The first thing fans online were calling out was that she didn’t seem to fit the role of the character, both sensual and dangerous. However, calmer heads prevailed and one doesn’t have to look far to see why she was cast. Not only does she have the beauty and femininity necessary to portray a love interest to Batman, but Anne also has the acting chops Nolan demands for his films. With Rachel killed off in the last film, it’ll be interesting to see how involved Bruce becomes in love, and grappling with the mutual attraction between himself and the criminal. I think we’ll see her caught between her criminal lifestyle and her attraction to the man trying to stop her. I don’t know a whole lot about Selina’s background in comics, but I trust Nolan’s talent at film making and crafting the best sendoff to arguably the best adapted franchise of all time in cinema. But Catwoman won’t be alone…

Bane, the hulking villain powered by a Venom that makes him super strong, will be taking on the Dark Knight as well, although hopefully he won’t be as much of a love interest to Bruce Wayne as Selina Kyle. The actor has been picked for a while, but now we can confirm it is Inception star Tom Hardy.  We’ve seen Bane be different things in the various iterations of the character, from a loyal brute sidekick to a gunrunner gang leader. I doubt we’ll see a Bruce Banner-esque monstrosity dual the Bat, but I think it’ll be great to see a villain that can actually go toe-to-toe physically with Batman. Hardy is an impressive young actor, versitile and fascinating on-screen. I hope we don’t lose any of that with him playing a brute villain. I think we’ll be seeing a unique take on him, maybe strengthened by Venom but not outragously. I also hope we can get a look behind the mask and see what makes him the way he is.

So, now that the big news has hit, how does everyone feel? Do you think they are good choices? Leave your thoughts below.

More Spider-Man reboot news to report today as Rescue Me star Denis Leary has signed on to Marc Webb’s superhero reboot. Starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, Sony’s 3D Spider-Man has been adding to its cast which reportedly includes Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, and Emma Stone. Heat Vision is reporting that Denis Leary will play Police Captain George Stacy, the father of Spider-Man’s love interest Gwen Stacy. In the comic books Capt Stacy frequently came into contact with Spider-Man so this reboot may be following the origins of the comic more than we had expected.

Director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) will begin shooting next month some time as Sony is aiming for a release date of summer 2012. If you aren’t familiar with actor Denis Leary he has been starring in one of televisions best shows on FX. Rescue Me features the comedic actor in a serious role as alcoholic firefighter Tommy Gavin. If you haven’t checked out this show you should do so as it is remarkable. Along with Rescue Me, Leary has lent his voice to Diego the sabertooth in the Ice Age movies.

Keep with us for more casting updates as we still have more roles to fill in this highly anticipated reboot.

Last week we reported that Christopher Nolan had titled his new Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. The sequel to 2008′s The Dark Knight, ‘Rises’ will begin shooting in early 2011 for a summer 2012 release. With this film gearing up for production we can expect casting rumors and other info being dished as this is a hot sequel to the third highest grossing film of all time. Today we have learned (via Comic Book Movie) that Charlize Theron and Vera Farmiga are two names being thrown around for two separate female roles in The Dark Knight Rises. So what roles are these two lovely ladies being considered for? Keep reading to find out.

Charlize Theron

The Academy Award winning actress is being considered as a love interest for Detective Gordon (Gary Oldham). Her character’s name is Detective Sarah Essen and unless you are a comic book junkie this name may not mean much to you. So who is Sarah Essen? Comic Book Movie gives us the dish below:

Sarah Essen first appears in Batman #405, part of the Batman: Year One storyline. She is a detective partnered with then-lieutenant James Gordon. She and the married Gordon start a brief affair. She is murdered by the Joker and is hinted as the real Mother of Barbara Gordon (batgirl).

Vera Farmiga

This Academy Award nominated actress was last seen alongside George Clooney in 2009′s Up in the Air. Farmiga has reportedly auditioned for the role of Julie Madison, a possible love interest for Bruce Wayne aka Batman. Who is Julie Madison? Check out the synopsis below:

Julie Madison was originally portrayed an oft-imperiled socialite who is engaged to Bruce Wayne. She was not aware of his activities as Batman when, in her first appearance, she was used as a pawn in the vampiric Monk’s battle with the Dark Knight. She has also been associated with the villain Clayface.

What do you think of these casting notes? I think Theron and Fermiga are two outstanding actresses and would be a perfect fit for Nolan and company. We hope to hear more casting news soon as all we know is that Inception star Tom Hardy will be joining the cast in a major unknown role, but we sure like reporting on all news Batman. And we assume you enjoy reading it, right?

The Dark Knight Rises will arrive in theaters on July 22nd 2012.

Hugo Weaving is one of my favorite actors. His roles in V for Vendetta, Lord of the Rings, and The Matrix Trilogy make him stand out in very distinct roles. He can most recently be seen in The Wolfman, and was probably the best part of that film. Now, according to Comingsoon.net, Weaving is in talks with Marvel and director Joe Johnston to portray Captain America’s arch nemesis, Red Skull. Although they are still working on casting an actor to play Cap, I think putting him in the mix will help start to solidify the project while we wait on casting news for Steve Rogers. Read more about Hugo Weaving below.

Weaving had a strong acting career in both film and television in Australia until he crossed over into his first Hollywood film in 1999′s The Matrix. Playing the villainous Agent Smith, Weaving’s unique voice and dastardly demeanor made him a fan favorite. In between The Matrix Trilogy the epic film adaptation of Lord of the Rings put Hugo in a more positive light, as the elf ruler Elrond. After wrapping up both trilogies, Weaving stepped behind the mask as the titular protagonist in the movie version of Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta, wielding knives and Guy Fawkes masks in fascist England. That voice was lent again to the Transformers movies, returning to his evil roots as the Decepticon Megatron. His most current role was Scotland Yard’s Francis Abberline in The Wolfman, directed by upcoming Captain America helmsman Joe Johnston.

I think he plays villains very well, but does his involvment in Captain America excite anyone else? Leave your comments below.

Numerous sites have been reporting as late as this morning that John Krasinski was about to be cast as Captain America in Marvel’s upcoming First Avenger film. Fans of the hero seemed split on the casting, as many have difficulty seeing him as an action hero after seeing him on The Office and more seriously in Away We Go. Now, according to Mike Fleming, almost all the actors going out for the role have been scrapped and are looking elsewhere. It appears that Marvel and director Joe Johnston have focused on three actors to play Steve Rogers. Who are the finalists? Check out the contenders after the jump.

Mike Vogel

Mike is the only actor from the original list we reported on earlier. He has appeared in Cloverfield and Poseidon, and seems to resemble the way people would picture Steve Rogers on film.

Garrett Hedlund

Hedlund has been seen in Death Sentence and Eragon, but will become known much more this December when his first big starring role in Tron Legacy hits theaters. If you have not had a chance to see him in the trailer, check it out here.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans already knows his way around a comic book page on film, already appearing in both Fantastic Four films as well as the upcoming adaptation of The Losers. I like Evans and he seems like he could handle the action the best, but he will still have to test well if he wants the part.

Of the three finalists, does anyone stand out as the best choice to you? Leave your comments below.

More casting news for Conan this week as Avatar’s Stephen Lang has been tapped to play the villain Khalar Singh in director Marcus Nispel’s remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick. Latino Review had the scoop that Lang would join the project along with Jason Momoa who has been cast as the title character. Lang was previously seen on the screen in the blockbuster hit Avatar as Col Miles Quartich, the villain who attempts to take down the Na’Vi people of Pandora. This time around he will play the villain in Conan. Keep reading for more on his character.

“I’ve accepted the role of Khalar Singh,” he said. “I have no idea how I’m going to do it. First I’m going to find out how I’m going to sound. I’m going to get back on a Mongolian pony and ride like the wind. I’m going to flash my scimitar. I’m going to cut the nuts off Conan and his father.”

Stay tuned for more news on Conan as it is announced.

Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan now has a love interest. This weekend the news broke that Gossip Girl star Blake Lively had been cast as Carol Ferris, the love interest to Ryan Reynolds’ superhero character Green Lantern. For months now we have been reporting about all the casting news that has been running rampant. Before Reynolds was cast in the title role, it was rumored Justin Timberlake and The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper were in the running for the role. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Lively had beaten out Kerri Russel and Jennifer Garner to land the role in the Martin Campbell-directed film. The 22 year old actress won the role even though the part called for an older actress to play Carol Ferris, but Lively impressed the studio with her audition. Continue reading for more on this news.

You may have not heard of Blake Lively before, but I guarantee this role is going to skyrocket her career. Lively has been the lead on the CW’s Gossip Girl since the show premiered in 2007. Other movies the gorgeous actress has been seen in include The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Accepted. I think having an actress who has less recognition is a smart move to play a role opposite the very well known Ryan Reynolds.

The character of Carol Ferris becomes the love interest of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. Ferris hires Jordan as a pilot at her father’s aerospace company before he possesses the ring which makes him the Green Lantern. In the comics Ferris becomes the villain Star Sapphire which complicates the romance between her and Jordan. It is unknown if any of that story line will be seen in this first film. I am very much looking forward to this superhero movie. I love director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Ryan Reynolds was a great choice for the lead role, and the addition of Blake Lively brings everything together to get this project rolling!

Green Lantern is set to begin filming in March for a June 17th 2011 release date.