9.21.07: Pitt doesn’t pull his punches for Fighter

Pitt punches in for Fighter, Faris set to become a pornstar, Pegg and Frost play Paul, and more

Pitt takes up pugilism to step in for Fighter

Brad Pitt will star in Darren Aronofsky’s The Fighter, the true story of Boston boxing brothers who contend for the lightweight championship of the world, for Paramount. Mark Wahlberg is slated to play Pitt’s brother in the film. Matt Damon was originally attached to play the Pitt role, but bowed out due to a busy schedule, leaving Pitt to finally complete a film with Aronofsky, with whom he was set to make The Fountain before the initial production fell apart. More at Variety.

Justice League is coming together, but without Routh and Bale

Warner Bros. is moving full steam ahead with its adaptation of the all star superhero squad Justice League of America and confirmed that the motion capture extravaganza will be directed by Happy Feet helmer George Miller. However, not onboard for the adaptation are Christian Bale and Brandon Routh, who are currently Batman and Superman, respectively and whose characters appear as part of the Justice League. Instead, Warners wants to keep the franchises separate and will pursue unknowns for the superhero stars of the Justice League, including Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. More at The Hollywood Reporter.

Ribisi inhabits Cameron’s Avatar

Giovanni Ribisi has been added to the cast of James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar, which also stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Michelle Rodriguez in a veritable war of the worlds. More at The Hollywood Reporter.

Faris’ X-rated future plans

Anna Faris plans to step aside from comedy for a bit to star in Inferno, a biopic of the late pornstar Linda Lovelace, who in her later years became an anti-pornography advocate. Matthew Wilder, who directed the upcoming Bill Pullman drama Your Name Here, will helm the film. More at MTV.

Ryder and Rourke share secrets with The Informers

Winona Ryder and Mickey Rourke will star alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger and Brandon Routh among others in the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ The Informers, an indie drama comprised of seven interweaving stories about Los Angeles directed by Ned Kelly helmer Gregor Jordan. More at The Hollywood Reporter.

Pegg and Frost don’t feel wrong about Paul without Wright

Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are reuniting to work on a road movie comedy called Paul, but the film, shockingly, won’t be directed by frequent collaborator Edgar Wright. More at MTV Movies Blog.