William II William: William Hurt has joined Russell Crowe’s still-untitled Robin Hood movie as William Marshal, a.k.a. the Earl of Pembroke. The Earl is a real historical figure who, as a servant to the Plantagenet kings who was a dope jouster, became a powerful force in Europe. Hurt’s lengthy acting resume and sterling professional reputation surely didn’t hurt his casting, although it was most likely his notable experience at answering to the first name “William†that really landed him the gig. [HR]
Sheen Does Evil: Michael Sheen has joined the cast of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. He’ll play the leader of the Volturi, the coven of Italian vampires that threatens Bella, who’ll be busy getting into the whole underground werewolf scene. This will be the fourth time Sheen portrays former British Prime Minister Tony Blair onscreen. [Variety]
Pirates: Classic: Spike TV is going forward with Pirate Hunters: USN, a documentary series about the U.S. Navy’s anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Not only will the show traverse the same region in which Captain Richard Phillips was freed over the weekend — after snipers took out three of his pirate captors — but it will also feature the USS Boxer, which was involved in the recent operation. Understandably, this latest incident intensified Spike’s demand for the pilot — which, right after not dying, is probably the greatest part of this whole thing for Captain Phillips. [Variety]
Tse Time: Watchmen screenwriter Alex Tse has been hired to adapt Battling Boy, Paul Pope’s upcoming graphic novel , for Brad Pitt’s Plan B production company. Boy revolves around the son of a god who must come down off his comfy perch atop a mountain, at the request of his father, to fight an irksome plague of beasts that threatens the continent-sized city of Monstropolis. Congrats to Tse for skirting the bad blood associated with Watchmen’s lackluster box-office returns — although, if Boy ends up as an instant classic turned underperforming major motion picture, all bets are off. [HR]
Lake of Fire: Lake Bell has turned her cameo on HBO’s comedy pilot How to Make It in America into a full-fledged role. The show follows Ben and Cam, two industrious twentysomething New Yorkers trying to make their way toward the American dream — and, just maybe, Lake Bell’s pants? [HR]
Winstoned: Ray Winstone, David Thewlis, and Anna Friel have joined the cast of London Boulevard, the William Monahan–directed crime drama starring Colin Farrell as a newly paroled con and Keira Knightley as the reclusive actress he gets involved with. Thewlis will play Knightley’s agoraphobic manager, Friel will play Farrell’s sister, and Winstone will play — and this you will not believe — a former crime boss. [Variety]