Rachel Weisz to Walk Like an Egyptian

Professor Weisz: Now we know why Rachel Weisz passed on a third Mummy outing: She was waiting for a classier Egyptian gig to come along. The Oscar winner signs on to Alejandro Amenabar’s $72 million-budgeted untitled epic about a slave (The Nativity Story’s Oscar Isaac) who falls in love with an atheistic Alexandrian professor (Weisz) in early Egypt. [HR]

All Rashida, All The time: The Office’s own Karen Filippelli, or Rashida Jones, is rising fast with prominent roles opposite Paul Rudd in I Love You, Man and Renée Zellweger in Chilled in Miami. She’s also bagged a lead in Unhitched, the upcoming Farrelly Brothers sitcom for Fox, so if for some reason you don’t like her, avoid popular culture. [Variety]

Looks Like Rain for Ninja: South Korean pop star Rain will take a leading role in the next Wachowski Brothers–produced film, Ninja Assassin, which will be directed by V for Vendetta’s James McTeague. Industry observers note that cultivating the Korean audience is a canny move for the Wachowskis; it’s as good a place to start as any once Speed Racer alienates all the rest of their remaining fans. [Variety]

Play Loses Awesome Actor, Gains Awesome Actor: The Playwrights Horizons production of Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone loses Bill Camp to a schedule adjustment in Michael Mann’s gangster epic Public Enemies but shores up the hole quickly and well with Drama Desk winner T. Ryder Smith, who, having held the stage by himself just fine in Underneath the Lintel and Thom Pain: Based on Nothing, should be able to hold his own opposite Mary-Louise Parker. Currently in previews, the play retains its opening date of March 4. [Playbill]

Schwentke Enters Into Conspiracy: Robert Schwentke will direct Conspiracy of Fools for Warner Bros., based on Kurt Eichenwald’s chronicle of the Enron scandal. Leonardo DiCaprio produces and may star as a tax attorney who uncovers the company’s fraudulent accounting. ’Cause if there’s anything DiCaprio’s fan base wants to see, it’s the Titanic star poring over spreadsheets, looking for inconsistencies. [Variety]

Bettany Battles a Legion: Paul Bettany’s turn as a crazed albino monk in The Da Vinci Code should be a great warm-up for his new role as the Archangel Michael, who is mankind’s last hope in Screen Gems’ Legion when a disappointed God sends an army of angels to wipe out the human race. [Variety]