Forest Whitaker Getting In On the American Gangster Business

Whitaker Is Untouchable: Forest Whitaker teams with Showtime to produce a new series, Mr. Untouchable, about real-life crime lord Leroy “Nicky� Barnes. Whitaker will produce alongside Marc Levin, who directed Barnes docu released this month. Harlem-based drug lords have never been hotter! [Variety] [Check out New York’s interview with Mr. Untouchable himself, Nicky Barnes, alongside American Gangster’s Frank Lucas, in this week’s issue.]

CASTING OUTRAGE!: In a move that can only be described as scandalous, NBC casts Justin Bruening (All My Children) in the role rightfully belonging to David Hasselhoff as the lead of its forthcoming new Knight Rider series. Sure, Bruening’s supposedly the “son� of Hasselhoff’s Michael Knight from the original, but we’re not fooled — only the Hoff drives KITT! [HR]

Fincher Catches Killer: David Fincher will direct an adaptation of the graphic novel The Killer for Paramount, about an assassin with a conscience who is pursued by a supercop. A generic title to match a generic plot! Very coordinated. [Variety]

Jackson Opens District 9: Peter Jackson protégé Neill Blomkamp will direct sci-fi epic District 9, with Jackson producing under his WingNut Films production banner. No comment yet on the plot, but Andy Serkis is expected to play all the characters, including the women and children. [Variety]

For Want of a Finger…: Led Zeppelin’s planned London concert on November 26 is postponed to December 10 after guitarist Jimmy Page broke his finger. Wuss! Put some ice on it and pick up that ax, maggot! There are hugely expensive tickets to be scalped! [Billboard]

Portman Continues Not to Coast on Being Really Hot: Natalie Portman closes a two-year deal with Participant Prods. for her new production shingle Handsomecharlie Films, with a mandate to produce socially relevant films, starting with Portman’s directing debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness. In related news, every other twentysomething movie star went out to a club. [Variety]