Enrolling In Boo U.: Seth Rogen will voice the lead character in the DreamWorks Animation ghost flick Boo U, which tells the story of a ghost who must return to school to learn how to become a better ghoul. Rogen is building up quite the voice work resume, having already “played†a blob in Monsters vs. Aliens and a mantis in Kung Fu Panda. Perhaps this is Rogen’s way of challenging himself, as he can’t rely on his favorite tool as an actor when playing an animated character. [Heat Vision/HR]
Elba In: Idris Elba (The Wire, Obsessed) has signed on to play Dr. Alex Cross in Cross, an updated version of the James Patterson bestselling murder mystery series. The story will have Elba tracking a serial rapist who may have murdered his pregnant wife many years prior. Elba will take over the role from Morgan Freeman, who played the detective in Kiss the Girls and Along Came A Spider. Elba seems like a smart choice to us. [Deadline]
Judged: Karl Urban has signed on to play the title character in Judge Dredd, based on the British comic book character. The story is set in the future where “police act as judge, jury and executioner.†Urban will play Joe Dredd, the most elite of the police corps ranks, “almost always seen wearing a helmet-mask.†The film is a remake of the 1995 Sylvester Stallone vehicle, which shouldn’t be surprising considering Urban and Stallone could not look more similar! [Heat Vision/HR]
No. 19: Eric Clapton will release Clapton, his 19th solo studio alum and first in five years, on September 28. The disc will include 14 songs and feature guest appearances by Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint and Derek Trucks. Clapton explained that the project developed quite organically: “It’s an eclectic collection of songs that weren’t really on the map - and I like it so much because if it’s a surprise to the fans, that’s only because it’s a surprise to me, as well.†[Billboard]
Woll Is Useful: Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood’s Jessica) is joining the ensemble drama Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You, the tale of an loner (Toby Regbo) who “must contend with his dysfunctional family the summer before he heads to college.†The pedigreed cast includes Ellen Burstyn, Marcia Gay Harden, Lucy Liu and Stephen Lang. Woll will play Regbo’s sister, a woman dating a married professor and also writing her memoirs. For Woll’s sake, let’s hope she gets more screen time in this than True Blood’s been granting her this season. [HR]
Ones: Saw director Darren Lynn Bousman and producer Wayne Rice are developing a thriller titled 11 11 11 that will, yep, arrive in theaters on November 11, 2011. The “11:11 movement,†which apparently is a thing, is based on the “emergence†of that number in people’s lives alerting them to the presence of angels or spirit guardians trying to communicate with them. While Bousman has a background in horror films, this is something of a departure for Rice. Among his previous credits: Valentine’s Day and Dude, Where’s My Car?. [Heat Vision/HR]
Double Dip: Screenwriter Jeremy Garelick will take a stab at directing, closing deals to helm An Ex To Grind, starring Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro, as well as the comedy Hassle Man. Garelick co-wrote The Break-Up and did uncredited rewriting work on The Hangover. [Deadline]
Heating Up: Joey Lawrence, Wesley Snipes and Michael Dudikoff will star in the indie action film Havana Heat, centering on a Homeland Security agent at Guantanamo Bay murdered while working undercover in Havana. Dean Hamilton (Blonde and Blonder) is directing. [Variety]