The X Factor: Jennifer Lawrence - who has garnered significant Oscar buzz for her role in this summer’s Winter’s Bone - has been cast as Mystique in Fox’s X-Men: First Class. She joins a group of actors including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Alice Eve and Kevin Bacon. Mystique, played by Rebecca Romijn in the trilogy, is that blue sultry shapeshifter who can mimic other people. Guess that Esquire shoot paid off! [Heat Vision/HR]
A Dark Task: Seth Grahame-Smith, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is making the move to Hollywood. Grahame-Smith will write a new draft of the script for Dark Shadows, the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp adaptation of the 1960s daytime supernatural serial (John August already took a first pass at the script). Write a juicy part for Helena Bonham-Carter, Seth, and you should be all set. [Deadline]
Guided Return: Indie rock group Guided By Voices has finally released the full details of its reunion tour, which will include a previously announced October 3 Vegas show as part of Matador Records’ 21st birthday celebration. The tour will begin September 30 in Austin, Texas and finish November 7 at New York’s Terminal 5. The band will also stop to play Late Night With Jimmy Fallon along the way. [Billboard]
Over and Over: Fox 2000 has optioned the rights to Lauren Oliver’s teen novel Before I Fall, with Maria Maggenti signed on to adapt. The book brings a “Groundhog Day approach to high school,†as a female student “finds herself living what may be her last day on earth over and over, until she gets things right.†News of this role is totally going to set off the Disney Channel actress version of the fierce competition for the Dragon Tattoo part. [Deadline]
X Marks The Spot: Warner Bros. has picked up Colin Trevorrow’s script for World War X, which follows a man recruited by a team of government agents to stop a terrorist visiting from the future who “is using time travel to reshape history.†This sounds like a mashup of every 21st century action movie cliche - which means it will probably make zillions of dollars. [Variety]
Guided Return: Indie rock group Guided By Voices has finally released the full details of its reunion tour, which will include a previously announced October 3 Vegas show as part of Matador Records’ 21st birthday celebration. The tour will begin September 30 in Austin, Texas and finish November 7 at New York’s Terminal 5. The band will also stop to play Late Night With Jimmy Fallon along the way. [Billboard]