sp; >   ignA few days back an anonymous source sent an e-mail to me, AICN and Coming Soon saying they have big news in regards to "Superman" casting and would offer it to the first one who called. A few hours later when no-one had taken the bait, they sent along word that Beyonce Knowles has been cast as Lois Lane and Johnny Depp as Lex Luthor - personally I think its bull (if not whoever is making casting choices over there needs a reality check) but hey, its already out over the Net so may as well get the facts straight by indicating how it emerged.

(Update @ 11:55pm - Harry's got a second, regular and reliable contact who confirmed the scoop so sadly there's likely some truth to it after all. - )

In more reliable talk, IGN FilmForce has learned that the live-action feature film version of G.I. Joe is "definitely" set-up at Paramount Pictures with former Warner Brothers exec Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing and Michael Gordon (Frank Miller's "300") scripting.

They've been informed that it is a "done deal" and that there could be an announcement in the trades as soon as February. "G.I. Joe" will use the characters popularized by the 1980's animated TV series, comic books and toy line as the basis for the new film. That the big-screen Joe will be "set in the present with a high concept".

Thanks to 'Jules & Jim', 'Stax' & 'KarlChilders'.