Merie Weismiller Wallace, Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesRobert Downey Jr. is a dude getting ready to portray a dude that's animated by another dude.
The Oscar nominee is set to reteam with Tropic Thunder costar Ben Stiller and reigning comedy golden girl Tina Fey for DreamWorks Animation's latest big-screen offering, tentatively titled Master Mind.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the genre-turning flick will center on a mastermind villain who no longer has purpose in his life after he accidentally kills his superhero nemesis.
It's unclear yet which actor will voice which role, though thanks to Iron Man, Downey is now well versed in the fine art of superheroing.
Stiller, meanwhile, will pull double-duty on the film, as he will also serve as one of its producers. The family-friendly flick is scheduled for a Nov. 5, 2010 release.
In other notable casting news:
- Orlando Bloom, Vincent Cassel and Quantum of Solace's Olga Kurylenko have signed on to star in the sci-fi extravaganza The Cross, according to Variety. The film revolves around Bloom's character's attempt to cross a mysterious border, a feat never before achieved; Cassel will play the guard who does his best to prevent it. Production kicks off in July.
- Happy Go Lucky awards darling Sally Hawkins finds more potential podium bait with We Want Sex. Per Variety, the film revolves around a 1968 protest at Ford Dagenham car plant when 850 female workers walked out after claiming sexual discrimination on their job performance evaluations.
- Unlikely duo Chris O'Donell and LL Cool J are teaming up for CBS' NCIS spinoff (itself a JAG spinoff), with the untitled show's backdoor pilot airing this spring. O'Donnell will play the average joe undercover agent with a chameleon-like quality, while the rapper-actor will play a hard-on-the-outside, soft-in-the-middle former Navy SEAL.
- Vivica A. Fox is embracing the moment, signing on to host TV Land's upcoming reality show The Cougar. The eight-episode series will follow an older woman's search for love among 20 young bachelors. It debuts April 15.
- Carnie Wilson is the host with the most. The former Wilson Phillips songbird has been tapped to emcee the new Newlywed Game for a minimum 40-episode run. The show premieres on GSN April 6.