New Direction: Glee’s Matthew Morrison , who plays glee-club leader Will Schuester, will be spending his summer break from the hit show recording his first solo CD. Morrison, who has an extensive background on Broadway, will spend part of June recording the album in London. “I’m writing all the music for it. It’s me and a big orchestra behind me,†he said, describing his sound as “dance heavy†and a “cross between Michael Buble and Justin Timberlake.†Whatever you do Matthew, please, no rapping. [HR]
Bloody Good: Julia Stiles has joined the cast of Showtime’s Dexter for its upcoming fifth season. She is set to appear in ten of the season’s twelve episodes, playing a “mysterious young woman who forms a unique relationship with Dexter in the wake of the death of his wife.†Let’s hope she’s as intriguing as season two’s Lila … just without the completely psychotic element. Dex has been through enough. [HR]
Captain’s Maker: Stanley Tucci has been cast as Abraham Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger, joining Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, and Hayley Atwell. In the comics, Erskine is a German scientist who is instrumental in “creating†Captain America, which means we’re probably in for more of a Lovely Bones Tucci than a Julie & Julia Tucci. [Variety]
Kick Ass: FX is joining forces with Matthew McConaughey on a single-camera comedy tentatively titled Kick Ass Militia, based on source material from McConaughey’s pal JR Reed. The story follows two brothers — “one a survivalist and one a free-loving cult leader†— who are always at odds on their Malibu compound. McConaughey is executive producing and it’s unclear whether he’ll appear on the series — though if he does, just a hunch, we’re thinking he’d be the “free-loving†one. [Deadline]
Not So Beautiful: Beastly — the romantic fantasy film based on Beauty and the Beast, starring Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, and Neil Patrick Harris — has been bumped from its scheduled July 30 release until March 18, 2011. Indie CBS Films made the decision after the “similarly themed†Zac Efron flick Charlie St. Cloud moved to the same July 30 date. Hmmm, things are probably pretty quiet in the Zanessa household tonight. [HR]
Lidell Live!: Jamie Lidell is embarking on a tour this summer of the U.S., Canada, and Europe behind his latest LP, Compass. Lidell also has a new video out for the single “I Wanna Be Your Telephone,†which tragically bears no relation to the Gaga song. [Pitchfork]
Panda Breaks Loose: Animal Collective member Panda Bear will be releasing a full-length album, Tomboy, the culmination of a series of singles he will release for different labels. Additionally, Panda will play a few U.S. and European shows scattered in August and September … including a New York show on Governors Island in September — hooray! [Pitchfork]