A last minute casting change has happened on Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Actress Julia Ormond will no longer be playing Superman’s birth mother, Lara. The role will now be played by Ayelet Zurer.

You’re probably saying, “Who?” but you may have seen her before. She played opposite Eric Bana in Munich and Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons. ”I was unable to find out why director Zack Snyder made the last-minute change, but I’ve confirmed that Zurer will start filming this week,” wrote Deadline in their report. Ormond was never officially cast but she was the only person named to be in talks for the role before now.

Production is already underway on Man of Steel and Zurer will be starring alongside Russel Crow as Suprman’s biological father, Jor-El

Evangeline Lilly, best known for her role as Kate on ABC’s Lost, hasn’t done a whole lot since the hit series went off the air. Her followup is set to hit theaters next month but she’s already stepping out onto shaky ground with her next job – the newly created elf Tauriel in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. The actress herself is quite concerned how she’ll be perceived by fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic.

“I am very concerned to this day that people will watch the film and I’ll be the black mark on the film. I know how adamant the purists are and I’m one of them,” the actress told SFX. Lily will play a character named Tauriel in the films, an elf that Tolkien did not create.

“When the original came out in theatres, I swore up and down that I would not see them because I thought it was sacrilege that anyone would adapt Tolkien’s work. I didn’t think anyone would justify films by making them as good as they should be. Then my entire family when I was visiting went to see the movie and so I relented and went. We were all fans of the books and we were all blown away! It was a little piece of magic what Peter Jackson accomplished because it was truly a homage to the books rather than an offense,” she said.

Lilly told the magazine she’s been a fan of the literary tale since she was thirteen. “That said, upon reading The Hobbit again, as an adult, I can see why additional characters were needed to round out the story as an adaptation – especially female characters,” she said, “The Hobbit didn’t include female characters at all and was a very linear story, a book for children, really. What Peter, Fran (Walsh) and Philippa (Boyens) have done is all in perfect keeping with Tolkien’s world, while adding a third dimension to an otherwise very two-dimensional story.”

The actress is currently in New Zealand filming and will be for at least a year. “For a lot of actors, being that tied down would be problematic for their careers because they wouldn’t have the freedom to take any other part in the meantime. For me it’s perfect because I want to have time to spend with my family and relax and focus on my writing. This role gives me a framework within which to do that because I’m not working all the time but I’m working enough.”

With most roles there is a certain amount of training that goes on and for Lily, The Hobbit quite unlike her past experiences. “With every film, you have to educate yourself on the material and it’s often things you don’t know a lot about. Right now I’m studying Elvish and having conversations with people about learning how to be an archer, a swordsperson and how to fight like an elf instead of a gritty convict.”

The actress can next be seen starring opposite Hugh Jackman in Real Steel. The first half of Jackson’s Hobbit films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, hits theaters in 2012.

The animated adaptation of Eric Powell’s The Goon may not be anywhere near theaters yet but the creator tweeted yet another video of what it will look like when it eventually gets there. The video warns, “This is early rough test animation for the David Fincher / Blur Studios / Dark Horse Entertainment produced film THE GOON. Based on the Dark Horse Comic’s series by Eric Powell. THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE FINAL PRODUCT.” The action finally starts 30-seconds in.

Clancy Brown, who voiced Lex Luthor in several DC animated properties and Paul Giamatti voice The Goon and Franky respectively and are planned to take on the full-length roles whenever the film actually happens. As the videos preamble states, this is test footage and while it looks great, isn’t nearly as polished as Blur’s proof of concept trailer. The film, originally announced in 2008, is apparently still looking for funding. With stuff like this floating around I’m surprised it’s taking so long. Director Fincher has said it’s difficult because it’s “adult animation.” Powell lamented that he wished he sold as many comics as this video got views and also said, “Even though there’s probably no way in hell to raise 50 million, I might start a Goon film Kickstarter just for shits & giggles.”

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel lately thanks to some on-set shots of Superman himself, Henry Cavill, but what of his nemesis General Zod? Well the actor playing him, Michael Shannon, has a few words on what we can expect from one of our favorite villains, including a possible hint at the plot of the film.

Recently, a questionable shot made it’s way around the web showing what looked like Shannon in a motion capture suit on set. He confirmed to MovieFone that that was indeed him in the suit, “It’s one of the most humiliating garments that exists in the known universe, yes.” Shannon also mentioned he felt like a court jester in the getup. “It’s funny because when I met with Zack [Snyder] we were talking about it before it started and he mentioned that there was going to be a lot of CGI, or whatever. I said, ‘Just don’t make me wear one of those silly suits,’ he told the site, “Then I showed up and he’s like, ‘Dude, I swear to God, it’s going to be so bad ass when we’re done. Trust me, it’s going to be wicked.’”

The Boardwalk Empire actor told IndieWire Man of Steel is going to have a different look to it visually than the Richard Donner films and that, in turn, affects his approach to the classic role Terrance Stamp made famous in Superman II. “I found his performance so powerful that I would be overwhelmed by it if I tried to incorporate it into what I’m doing. There’s no reason to try and replicate it cos it’s perfect the way it is. I’m just trying to go down a different road with it, the script’s a little bit different than the original script.”

On a press junket for his latest film, Take Shelter, he also spoke to MTV about the comparisons or lack thereof in the role. ”I’m not going to impersonate Terence Stamp. I’m not going to have a British accent or anything. All I can say is it’s very well written and there’s a lot of great opportunities to reinvent it for myself. The challenge is for me to do that. There’s nothing holding me back. I think they’re counting on me to give my interpretation. I’ll do the best I can.”

Shannon of course couldn’t give any details as to the plot of Man of Steel but did perhaps hint at what we’ll be seeing of the good General. ”Being a general, to me, that’s a fascinating, iconoclastic character. I can’t imagine being a sergeant, let alone a general,” he said, “He’s in charge of the entire military of Krypton. That’s going to take every little shred of imagination that I have. It’s a good challenge because it’s a big distance to have to go.”

A CGI costume, different visually from the past Superman films and a mention of actually leading a Kryptonian army. Hmm, could we be getting a film that takes place partially in space, pre-Krypton demise?

Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive, actor Laurence Fishburne has been cast as Perry White in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Needless to say, this is going to be a hot button topic. “White has traditionally been a hard-charging, old fashioned newspaperman, who relies on his ace reporters, Clark and Lois, to get the big scoop,” said EW. The news comes less than a day after Marvel announced their new, non-traditional casting for Ultimate Spider-Man in the comics (Read that spoiler here).

EW writes, “The casting resolves the question of what Laurence would be up to following his departure this May from CBS’ long-running CSI after just over two seasons.” White has previously been played by Jackie Cooper, Frank Langella and Lane Smith just to name a few. Fishburne joins actors Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe and Julia Ormond already cast in the new Superman film, Man of Steel, which starts shooting in the fall and is scheduled for a June 14, 2013 release.

So Superman fans, how does this casting sit with you? Can you see Perry White as anything but a graying, white man? I’m kind of liking this idea.

Announced last week at San Diego Comic-Con, Castle star Stana Katic will voice Batman’s long-time love interest in the Batman: Arkham City video game.

According to USA Today, the game has gained the classic Batman villain for its roster. Paul Crocker of Rocksteady Studios said, “We can’t really say why she is in the game because it would spoil an awesome part of it.”

“She’s a good girl who has naughty habits. We’re not sure if their tryst is over yet,” said Stana Katic, “She’s an ambiguous interesting character with a Persian/Greek accent.” The actress told the crowd at the Arkham City panel at SDCC,  ”Talia is such a complex character and it was great to voice her in Batman: Arkham City. I was amazed at all the detail put into the project and it’s great to see how excited the fans are about the game.”

No specific details were given as to Talia’s specific role in the game but Katic said, “She’s just kick-ass, man.” Jim Lee also announced at San Diego Comic-Con that the Arkham City comic mini-series written by Paul Dini will be released as a graphic novel on October 18, the same day the video game is released.

Even though Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit has been filming for some time now, two new roles have just been cast.

Earlier today, Deadline reported Immortals star Luke Evans would take on the important role of Bard the Bowman in the two-part film. “It seemed evident that the Welsh actor was going to win one of these roles that involve a competition between multiple young thesps,” writes Deadline, “He was a finalist to play the lead in Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy that went to Jeremy Renner [Newsarama note: odd coincidence of bowman here], and was a finalist for the role of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, which went to Joel Edgerton.” Are you happy he landed this role instead?

Evans’ character Bard has a, shall I say, rocky relationship with the next character cast?

And just minutes ago, Deadline broke another bit of Hobbit casting news. This time for one of the most iconic roles, that of the great dragon Smaug. Fans have been wondering for some time who would land the coveted role, voiced by Richard Boone in the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated film.

The voice-acting and motion-capture role for The Hobbit has gone to none other than Benedict Cumberbatch. The actor has recently shot into wider popularity thanks to the BBC hit Sherlock, by Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. “[Cumberbatch] is already on the picture, providing the voice of the character Necromancer,” says Deadline.

Are you as excited by this casting news as I am? I have to say, I’m particularly fond of Cumberbatch. If you haven’t seen Sherlock yet, I highly recommend it.

Mums the word. That’s been the motto for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises so far. Since filming began we’ve have very tiny bits of information leak out but it seems something big has finally made its way to the internet.

The information isn’t a specific location or plot point per se but opens the flood gates for speculation. For those who think they can avoid it until the film’s release on July 20, 2012, I’ll put the exact information under the cut. SPOILERS FOLLOW. (more…)

It’s just been anounced that Orlando Bloom will join the cast of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, taking on the role he stepped into for the Lord of the Rings trilogy – Legolas. There’s just one problem with that. Legolas wasn’t in The Hobbit.

“Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more,” wrote Jackson via Facebook. ”I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.”

For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, this may come as a bit of a shock. Legolas’ father Thranduil, the Elvenking, appears in The Hobbit but not Legolas himself. But Bloom isn’t the only actor whose character doesn’t appear in the books that’s making an appearance in the movie. Elijah Wood is also reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, although it’s his cousin Bilbo who is the protagonist of this tale.

And, Legolas isn’t the only elf sneaking in The Hobbit film either, Cate Blachett’s Galadriel will also appear. Even though Legolas doesn’t appear in the book, some expect he’ll make his appearance in the Battle of the Five Armies fighting alongside his father.

What are your thoughts Hobbit fans? Is this blasphemy or is it ok that Jackson is helping to bring  in a larger audience by recasting these actors?

Diane Lane was recently a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the actress got to talking about her role as Martha Kent in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

On Wednesday’s show she said of the role, “I’m not allowed to talk about it. It’s top secret.”

“I’m gonna be in one of those huge movies! I can’t wait to see it already,” she said, “I’m kind of amazed.”

She also spoke more about the intense secrecy when it comes to a huge film like Man of Steel, especially the script.

“Of course, there is a lot of secrecy in today’s world with the Internet and everything, and rumors get started, so I had to read the script under lock and key in a room. You go to the offices, and it’s a locked door and the curtains are drawn and, you know, that was the time I had.”

But the actress also spoke with E!Online recently saying she was allowed just three hours with the script and gave a hint as to the plot.

“I’m really not allowed to talk much about it, I think, but it does cover the entire range of years, from infancy on.”

Lane has worked with Superman before…sort of. She starred alongside Ben Affleck who played original Superman, George Reeves, in Hollywoodland.

“When I worked on Hollywoodland, I got to experience sort of the behind the scenes of what it was like for the people who were making the television series that I grew up watching, so it’s all very inbred in my mind,” she told E. ”But this is going to be a whole reinvention. A visitation and a reinvention.”

Lane will be co-starring along with Kevin Costner playing her husband Jonathan and Henry Cavill playing her adoptive son, Clark.

It was recently announced that director DJ Caruso would be taking on the task of translating Garth Ennis’ Preacher comic series to the big screen. Now the I Am Number Four director talks a little about what he has in mind.

Speaking to the French website, CloneWeb, Caruso mentioned how controversial the story is as well as who he’d like to cast in the main roles.

“It is a crazy trip and I think what’s amazing and what makes Sony so brave is they can see there’s a real universality in the story when you have good versus evil. And I think when you have these crazy characters that are not necessarily politically correct, there’s something genuinely attractive to those characters and those elements,” said Caruso, “but at the end of the day, it really is a story about good versus evil and the decisions that you make and whether the demons are gonna win or the Genesis, or the good inside of Jesse is gonna be there.” He said that even though he thinks the story can be commercial, it will shock a lot of people at times.

Preacher follows Jesse Custer, a minister who has a crisis of faith when his entire congregation is killed when he’s possessed by a supernatural being called Genesis. He sets out on a journey to find God and have a few words with him along with his ex-girlfriend and a vampire.

Caruso said he read Preacher when it was first released but Sam Mendes was originally set to direct it. “Then when Sam went off to do James Bond, the opportunity came up again so I inquired,” he said. “But you know, I think the possibilities are great and I’m a huge fan of the comic. It is a lot of story to put into one movie and so that’s really the challenge.” Caruso also mentioned John August (Charlie’s Angels, Corpse Bride) is doing a great job with the script.

As far as casting, Caruso said he’s got a couple of ideas but isn’t quite there yet. However, he’s looking to Star Trek star, Chris Pine, for the lead role of Jesse. “I want to get the script in really good shape then start to put it together but I will say that for any movie I’ve ever done I’ve never gotten more phone calls or texts or things from actors,” he said. “An actor that I love very much and I’ve had a conversation with is Chris Pine, for Jesse. Shia LaBeouf loves Arseface. He wants to play Arseface, so we’re kinda working that out too.” LaBeouf previously worked with the director on Disturbia and Eagle Eye.

“And this guy right here [speaking to Alex Pettyfer, his I Am Number Four star], he’s thinking, he’s really thinking that the Saint of Killers is a good role even though he hasn’t read it yet. But he will.”

Caruso admitted he’s not a huge comic book fan but likes a lot of DC’s Vertigo line. The director was also attached at one time to adapt Brian K. Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man.

While many fans are worried how creator David E. Kelley’s new television series about the Amazonian Princess will turn out, it seems no one was more worried than Kelley himself.

Kelley spoke with Vulture about his lengthy career, both the ups and downs, but managed to get in a little information about the inception of his Wonder Woman project for NBC. He said in the beginning he said no to working on the show for obvious reasons. “It’s not really what I do; it’s not a genre that’s in my wheelhouse,” he said, “But then I started thinking about, What if there were such a person in today’s world and what must it be like to be her? And I was imagining the sense of social isolation that she must feel, that she indeed would probably be a rather complicated beast.”

“When I started thinking about all the complications and potential layers to this superhero, I just got more and more intrigued. It was also something I was a little bit afraid of. That’s good, too,” said Kelley, suggesting that writers need to get out of their comfort zones once in a while.

And with that, he jumped head first out of his comfort zone. “I did not truthfully commit to doing it until I wrote the script. I was going to try writing it, and if I failed on my own terms, I would say no. If I thought, Yeah, this is something I believe in, then I’d turn it in. And it was something I ultimately did get behind. It was hard, but I had a good time writing it. And Warner Bros. and DC both responded very positively.”

As to the casting of Adrianne Palicki in the title role, Kelley said although it was a challenge, the process didn’t take very long. “After writing this script, I remember looking at several people and going, ‘Yeah, now good luck trying to find her.’ She’s got to be strong, smart, emotionally accessible — and oh yeah, an Amazon! Good luck,” he said.

With all that in mind, Kelley was prepared to go with an actress who didn’t quite look the role if it meant she encapsulated everything else. “I remember speaking to DC, and saying, ‘We may have to compromise on the physicality. We need to go with the best actress. And if the best actress is five-foot-five, we have to be open to that, because there’s too many layers for this character to also demand that she be nearly six feet tall.’ And then lo and behold, in comes this girl named Adrianne Palicki.”

“I had seen her on Friday Night Lights and I always liked her work, but I didn’t get a sense of her stature. I guess she was sitting down in a lot of the scenes,” said Kelley, “So she stood up, and we met — eyeball to eyeball — she smiled … and I knew during the course of the conversation that this was Wonder Woman. I just knew it. I had an instinctive feeling that this was her. So then she read. And she was. And she is.”

It’s official. Kevin Costner is playing Superman’s dad in the Zack Snyder directed film.

It had been rumored for some time that the Man of Steel crew were hoping to secure Costner for the role but they’ve finally done it. The Hollywood Reporter says the actor closed the deal with Warner Bros. and Legendary pictures to play Superman’s adoptive father Jonathan Kent.

Costner joins Henry Cavill playing Clark Kent/Superman and Diane Lane, who was recently announced as playing his on-screen wife, Martha. “Whether Costner will have an on-screen death is being kept very tightly under the cape by Warner Bros. and producers Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder,” says THR.

What’s your opinion on the casting? I think Costner and Lane will make a great married couple. My hope is the don’t follow tradition and kill Pa off so soon.

ABC’s new drama pilot sounds kinda familiar if you ask me.

The pilot, called Once Upon a Time, has just snagged Ginnifer Goodwin from Showtime’s Big Love to play the lead role…Snow White.  From Deadline:

[Once Upon a Time] centers on a woman with a troubled past who is drawn into a small town in Maine where the magic and mystery of Fairy Tales just may be real. Goodwin will play Snow White/Sister Mary Margaret, a beautiful woman with dark hair and very pale skin who has been placed under a wicked spell by the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla), and is brought back from a living death by Prince Charming.

It’s not exactly the same as Fables of course, but awfully fishy when you consider ABC optioned the highly-successful Vertigo comic series for a pilot just a few years ago. Back then, Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner were writing the script that would follow the fairy tale characters in their exiled home in modern day New York and feature Bigby and Snow White. Fables creator Bill Willingham did in fact read the script for the pilot but nothing more came of it from the network.

Once Upon a Time comes to us from Lost executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. And it’s a well known fact most of those Lost guys are big comic fans. In fact, Kitsis and Horowitz produced and wrote for the short-lived Birds of Prey television series. Time will tell if the duo were simply inspired by the comic or are borrowing directly from it.

Well, if there was any doubt after the tiny flash of the Red Skull in the Captain America: The First Avenger teaser, this should erase it for everyone. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have the first full shot of Hugo Weaving as the maniacal Nazi villain from the film (Yes, folks, while he’s wearing a Hydra belt/armband, he is also a Nazi, will be seen with Nazis, and called Nazis, as confirmed to Newsarama by official tie-in comic book writer Fred Van Lente), and it is just spectacularly creepy. Hopefully we’ll get something in motion soon in the form of another trailer. The above link also has an interview with Director Joe Johnston, but who needs words with a picture like that?

Last week the world finally found out who’d be taking over the live-action Wonder Woman mantle from the amazing Lynda Carter. Tough boots to fill for sure but NBC’s new Wonder Woman is Adrianne Palicki. This week, Carter speaks out about the important casting.

Carter spoke with the Baltimore Sun, not only about Palicki but about her own tenure as the famous Amazon. “I think it is an amazing role to play. I know she is going to be really nervous about it, just because you would be.” When asked if she’d give the young actress any advice she replied, “Gosh, I would never offer her any advice. Nor would she probably want any. If she wants to talk to me, that would be a whole different thing. But I would never offer, ‘Now let me tell you how to do this.’”

A lot of Wonder Woman fans are wary of what Kelley’s take on the character might turn out to be. Carter isn’t. “I have a lot of confidence in [writer] David Kelley and what he’s going to come up with. David Kelley’s so talented, and that’s really where it needs to be, is in the writing,” she said. “I spoke with David yesterday, and he’s really, really excited about it.”

“I think the story needs to be retold. It needs to have a fresh look at it. It affected a lot of people. I think it’s time, I think it’s important to have it out there again, she said. “Carter took up the role of Princess Diana in 1975 and swung her lasso for three seasons but is still surprised when she’s recognized, especially by young people. “I’m always floored, absolutely floored. But it’s been going on a long time. I think it’s just a reflection of how people felt about the character, much more than how they felt about me in particular. The character’s so beloved, for a lot of reasons.

A lot of fans, including myself, are hoping Carter will be cast as Diana’s mother Hippolyta in the NBC series. What about the possibility of a cameo or any other role in the new show? “That is something that I … even if I were, I couldn’t tell you.” But as far as her hopes for Palicki go, ”She’s an actress and she’s a good actress and she’s beautiful, and I hope she kicks butt.”

Henry Cavill speaks out for the first time since being cast in one of the most iconic roles in the world in this week’s Entertainment Weekly.

EW not only has the scoop, they got Cavill on the cover in a Superman t-shirt.

The feature includes details about the British actors audition process, which included shooting a screen test wearing a replica of Christopher Reeve’s  Superman costume. “If you can put on that suit and pull it off,” said director Zack Snyder, “that’s an awesome achievement.”

Cavill was apparently worried about getting into the suit seeing as how he had just recently shed a good amount of muscle tone for a film he shot with Bruce Willis called The Cold Light Of Day. EW reports Cavill remembering  an assistant helping him get into the iconic costume and thinking,  “Oh, god. They’re going to look at me and go ‘He’s not Superman. Not a chance.’ The actor inside me was going: You’re not ready! You’re not ready!”

As we all know now, his worries were unwarranted. “He walked out, and no one laughed,” said Snyder. “Other actors put that suit on, and it’s a joke, even if they’re great actors. Henry put it on, and he exuded this kind of crazy-calm confidence that just made me go ‘Wow.’ Okay: This was Superman.’”

There’ll be lots more Super-details from Cavill, plus an article on the massive amount of superhero films landing in the next two years, when the issue hits stands tomorrow.

It’s official. We have our live-action Wonder Woman. Friday Night Lights star Adrianne Palicki has been chosen to embody Princess Diana in David E. Kelley’s Wonder Woman pilot on NBC.

Twenty-seven year old Palicki, who also starred in Supernatural and the film Legion, stands a lofty 5’11″ tall. The news came just late this evening courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter.

Oddly enough, Palicki had a brush with DC Comics before. She was in an episode of Smallville but was also cast as Siren in the Aquaman television pilot that was never picked up.

In high school, the actress played basketball and ran track so it’s likely she’ll be able to keep up with the physicality of the role. Palicki can be seen next in the remake of Red Dawn with Thor star Chris Hemsworth.

Updated: And here’s an image of Palicki with dark hair from the swiftly cancelled “Lone Star”.

Well, what do you think Newsarama readers?

A month ago, Marion Cotillard announced her pregnancy, so in many fans eyes, that took her off the short list of potential femme fatales when it was announced back in November that The Dark Knight Rises (aka Batman 3) would have two female main characters. Well according to French news site, Le Figaro, that doesn’t seem to be stopping her at all.

In case you don’t speak French, I had Google Chrome help me out with that: “Marion Cotillard in “Batman 3″. The actress, who is expecting a child in the spring with Guillaume Canet, will be scarce this year. She’ll do a single film and her choice fell on Batman 3.”

Now, it’s already speculated that she’ll portray Talia al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul’s (Liam Neeson from Batman Begins) daughter, but nothing is confirmed so far, especially even if she has a role. Personally, Talia makes the most sense here as Nolan’s trilogy comes full circle. Sure, Catwoman/Selina Kyle, played by Anne Hathaway, is more of a lover, but Talia has always come across as a genuine threat. Could a cameo by Liam Neeson be in the works, too? What do you think, readers?

The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters July 20th, 2012.

The pilot script to the highly anticipated adaptation of Joe Hill’s Locke & Key for Fox has been seen by journalistic eyes and the verdict is…great!

This according to iFanboy who received a copy of the horror pilot. “It’s truly an echo of Joe Hill’s comic scripts for the original IDW mini (Welcome to Lovecraft), but it also features some cool additions. The pilot seems to benefit from the fact that Hill has a three-act structure in place for the comic (right now, readers are plowing through Act Two) and knows how the major conflicts will be resolved,” writes Paul Montgomery. Viewed above, an estate on Hartwood Acres in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will serve as “Keyhouse” for the series.

So far, five roles have been cast. Lord of the Rings star Miranda Otto will be playing the matriarch of the Locke family, Sin City’s Nick Stahl will play her brother-in-law Duncan Locke, The Tudor’s Sarah Bolger is playing Kinsey and the two newest additions have an actor named Harrison Thomas playing “a recurring role as a troubled teen possessed by an evil spirit” according to Deadline so I’m assuming Sam Lesser, and finally Skylar Gaertner will be playing the youngest of the Locke clan, Bode.

Apparently the pilot will feature the tragic act that precipitates Hill’s entire story, adapted for television by Josh Friedman, as flashbacks throughout the episode. Montgomery says the Locke children read exactly like they do in the book with young Bode charming the audience immediately.

“Bode discovers the [Ghost] key in the first act and figures it all out for himself. All show, very little tell. And it works because we see it all through the eyes of a little kid who takes everything at face value,” reports Montgomery. “The other Lockes will confront all this weirdness later, but as an introduction for viewers, it’s perfect.”

Surprisingly, Montgomery’s review states the big confrontation that occurs at the end of the “Welcome to Lovecraft” arc takes place in the pilot. We’ll also see the infamous well and introduction of the evil Dodge.

Unlike David E. Kelley’s Wonder Woman, this is one comic book adaptation that appears primed to make a big splash with a wide audience. Are you excited to see Locke & Key come to life on the small screen?