The Bulletin: Meet The 'Watchmen'

Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV's "Grey's Anatomy") and Malin Akerman will star in Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" (Mar. 6, 2009), an adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' deconstructive apocalyptic epic, reports The Hollywood Reporter. David Hayter, Alex Tse and Zack Snyder wrote the script, in which former vigilantes for justice Rorschach, Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II investigate a series of murders, and a possible conspiracy, in an alternate New York City under a superheroism boycott. Haley ("Little Children") will star as Rorschach (a.k.a. Walter Kovacs), a defiant gumshoe, face hidden underneath an inkblot mask; Crudup ("Almost Famous") as Doctor Manhattan (a.k.a. Jon Osterman), a temperamental scientist with superhuman strength, telekinesis, the ability to control matter and teleport, and immortality; Wilson as Nite Owl II (a.k.a. Daniel Dreiberg), a genial, overweight voice of reason with a cape and cowl; Goode as Ozymandias (a.k.a. the vein Adrien Veidt), "The Smartest Man on the Planet" with an ingenious scheme to save civilization; Morgan as The Comedian (a.k.a. Edward Blake), a brutish nihilist and veteran slain in the night; and Akerman as the beautiful Silk Spectre II (a.k.a. Laurie Juspeczyk). Larry Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder will produce for Warner Bros. Production will start within the next few months in Vancouver. To revisit The Scout's "Watchmen" cast recommendations, read the March 30 issue. (The Scout's "Watchmen" Tally: 1 out of 6. Lousy.) For a visual guide to the cast of the "Watchmen," watch out for the August 3 issue of The Scout.

Nelson to Star in Next 'Hulk'
Tim Blake Nelson ("Minority Report," "O' Brother, Where Are Thou?") will star as scientist Samuel Sterns (a.k.a. The Leader), an employee at a chemical research plant dealt a massive dose of gamma radiation, in "The Incredible Hulk," (June 13, 2008), Louis Leterrier's sequel to Ang Lee's "The Hulk" (2003), reports The Hollywood Reporter. Edward Norton is cast as Dr. Bruce Banner, a.k.a. The Hulk; Tim Roth as KGB agent Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. the villainous Abomination; William Hurt as Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross; and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. Zak Penn ("X-Men: The Last Stand") wrote the script. Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd and Kevin Feige will produce, and Jim Van Wyck, David Maisei, Stan Lee and Arad will executive produce for Universal Pictures.

Hallström to Direct Remake of 'Zimmer'
Lasse Hallström ("The Hoax," "Chocolat") will direct an American update of Jérôme Salle's "Anthony Zimmer" (2005), reports Variety. Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park") wrote the script, in which an Interpol agent entangles an American tourist in a sting to expose an elusive criminal, the agent's old flame. Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and Jonathan Glickman will produce with Leslie Holleran. Production will start next year in Europe.

'Beowulf' Trailer Available
The trailer for Robert Zemeckis' "Beowulf" (Nov. 16), with Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie, is available in Quicktime at Apple.com.

Mark Your Calendar
Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (C) will be available for rental and purchase Dec. 4.