9.25.07: The Eastwood Factor

Eastwood lends Human touch to Mandela drama, Biel’s a real Wonder Woman, Die Hard director gets four months in prison, and more

Eastwood back in the saddle with Freeman for Human Factor

Clint Eastwood will direct Morgan Freeman in The Human Factor, a film about South Africa’s selection to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup after years of apartheid. Freeman will play Nelson Mandela while Matt Damon could also star in the film as a player on the South African team the Springboks. More at Variety.

Biel does wonders for Justice League

Jessica Biel will star as Wonder Woman in the Warner Bros. motion capture superhero smashup Justice League of America, which includes the biggest stars of the D.C. Comics universe such as Superman, Batman, Aquaman and The Flash. Happy Feet helmer George Miller is helming. More at Variety.

Punisher pieces together Jigsaw

Though there were rumors the role might go to Paddy Considine, Dominic West has landed the role of the villain Jigsaw in The Punisher: War Zone for director Lexi Alexander. Doug Hutchison and Wayne Knight have also been added to the cast of the Marvel Comics sequel. More at The Hollywood Reporter.

Die Hard director McTiernan sentenced to four months in jail

John McTiernan, who directed films including Die Hard and Rollerball, received four months in jail for lying to federal agents about his connection to embattled Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano after paying the P.I. $50,000 to tap the phone of Rollerball producer Charles Roven. More at the Los Angeles Times.

Transformers 2 will soar to Independence Day weekend 2009

No word on who will be back, but Transformers 2 has planted a release date on June 29, 2009, which means that it will likely be filmed before the feared Hollywood writers and actors strike of 2008. More at Coming Soon.