Twentieth Century FoxX marks the spot for a Wolverine sequel.
Just two days after Hugh Jackman's domination of the box office—Box Office Mojo estimates the film's worldwide gross at $158.2 million and counting—comes the rather unsurprising word that a follow-up to the origin story is already in the works.
According to Variety, the sequel, which will mark Jackman's fifth time donning the killer claws, will focus on the X-Men comic's samurai storyline, the Japanese locale setup for which is teased after the blockbuster film's end credits.
Meanwhile, the action star Oscar host is showing no signs of slowing—or being typecast—with no fewer than four other projects in the works, one of which will be a 2010 return to Broadway as the titular Houdini.
Rounding out today's star-studded castings: Ben Stiller, Christina Aguilera, Wilmer Valderrama, Peter Dinklage, Ken Watanabe and the newest Mad Man.
As for Jackman's big screen ambitions, he's looking to reteam with his Oscars duet partner Anne Hathaway in the big screen adaptation of the musical Carousel. Per the trade, he's also on board to star in the race car-centric Drive and as an heiress-protecting NYC detective in Personal Security.
In other notable casting news:
• Ben Stiller is resurrecting Used Guys, the years-old futuristic romantic comedy he was originally intended to star in alongside Jim Carrey. Per Variety, Stiller is bringing the film, set in a world in which women clone and trade men, back to the big screen, looking to star and produce the reborn flick. Reese Witherspoon has been approached to take on the female lead as the owner of Stiller's suddenly obsolete clone model.
• Christina Aguilera is bringing her big voice to the big screen, signing on to make her film debut in Burlesque, a contemporary musical. E! News confirms that Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town girl who finds love and success in a Los Angeles nightclub in the film, produced by Screen Gems, the same studio that helped shepherd Beyoncé's Obsessed to a No. 1 debut.
• Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy are starting up Inception. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the duo join Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy and Marion Cotillard in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi action flick about a blackmailed CEO. The film is aiming for a summer 2010 release.
• Wilmer Valderrama and Jason Ritter are making their way to The Dry Land, an indie drama following a young soldier returning to a now unsatisfying small-town life. Per the Hollywood Reporter, America Ferrera and Melissa Leo costar.
• Jared Harris is on the Fringe no more. The thesp is making the jump over to Mad Men, per the Hollywood Reporter, signing on to star as Sterling Cooper's new financial officer Lane Pryce for the cable drama's third season. The show will return to AMC in August.
• Peter Dinklage is heading Down Under, joining Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski, Noise's Brendan Cowell and Aussie supermodel Megan Gale in the romantic comedy I Love You Too. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the film centers on a commitment-phobe and New Ager, both of whom embark on a quest to win over their dream woman. Shooting kicked off in Melbourne this week.
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