Sure Shots: Cowboys & Aliens; 300 Sequel; 3 Story; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Quickly...

*Adam Beach has joined the cast of Jon Favreau's upcoming sci-fi western, Cowboys & Aliens. He'll be taking on the role of Nat Colorado, a half-Apache who works for Woodrow Dolorhyde, played by Harrison Ford. Beach is probably best known for his starring role in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, or for his stint on Law & Order: SVU. He'll be joined by a star-studded cast including Daniel Craig, Ford, Sam Rockwell, Olivid Wilde, Paul Dano, and Keith Carradine.

*With 300 creator Frank Miller all but finished on the graphic novel sequel, titled Xerxes, he's starting to talk more about the details. Xerxes covers a much broader period of time than 300 did, expanding over ten years rather than a few days, and covers the time before the events of 300. Expect appearances by both Leonidas(played by Gerard Butler in the film) and Ephialtes, the Spartan traitor. The six-issue mini series isn't due out until 2011, so don't expect a film version until at least 2012. Zack Snyder has already expressed interest in helming the sequel....if it's any good.

*Dustin Lance Black, who shot to notoriety in 2008 with his screenplay for Milk, has signed on to write/direct an adaption of 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man. Based on the Dark Horse published graphic novel written by Matt Kindt, it tells the fictional tale of Craig Pressgang, a man born with gigantism who eventually grows to over three stories tall. The story is presented through the eyes of the three women closest to him: his wife, his mother, and his daughter.

*Steve Zaillian has reportedly completed scriptwork on the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Deadline reports that it was due by June 1st so that Brad Pitt could mull over playing the male lead, Mikael Blomkvist. Blomkvist teams up with hot uber hacker, Lisbeth Salander, to crack a missing person's case over 40 years old. I'm still holding out hope we get Carey Mulligan to take on the role of Lisbeth, although it might be tough watching her go through some of the brutal sex scenes.