Kind of sort of "official" JLA news plus cast videos

I'm not sure what the hold up is in announcing the JUSTICE LEAGUE cast. There's been so many rumours and "cast lists" that pretty much everybody who's going to be in the film will have probably been identified by now. It's the old monkeys-at-a-typewriter-coming-up-with-Shakespeare theory. Eventually the monekys get it right. For now, I guess this LA Times article is the closest there is to something official.

Adam Brody has closed negotiations to play the Flash, the super-fast superhero in director George Miller's "Justice League of America," a source close to the deal said Tuesday. Warner Bros. Pictures, however, won't confirm the news, saying the film still hasn't been green-lighted. The studio is expected to hold off on an announcement until all the roles are cast and a splashy news conference can herald the return of the beloved series. "Justice League of America" is one of Warner Bros.' highest-priority films right now, with an anticipated 2009 release.

Brody has had a brush with superheroes before, getting the ultimate fanboy striptease in an episode of his TV show THE OC.

The paper also mentions Megan Gale's alleged casting as Wonder Woman.

Brody, best known as the heartthrob on "The O.C.," joins Australian supermodel Megan Gale, who was reportedly cast as Wonder Woman, apparently beating out Jessica Biel for the part.

Here's a video of Gale from a recent talk show appearance. She has the looks for the part but obviously she'd have to de-Aussiefy her accent a bit.

Can she act, though? Personally I don't think that really matters. If Tom Welling and Brandon Routh are proof of anything, it's that the majority of geeks are perfectly happy to accept not very good good actors in these iconic parts so long as they look vaguely like the character.

Whilst on the YouTube jaunt I found a video of Armie Hammer, the 21-year-old actor who'll probably be playing Batman. Hammertime had a part in a recent episode of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES where he flexed his acting chops playing "Hot Drug Dealer" opposite former Lois Lane Teri Hatcher.

Surprisingly after seeing that clip I don't hate the idea Hammertime as Batman as much as I originally did. He has the build and voice for it but he's still way too young. If the JUSTICE LEAGUE Bats was college age then great - but this is a grizzled, paranoid Dark Knight who sets up the Brother Eye spy satellite because he's terrified of what the other heroes can do.

If Hammer wants to go all method as Bruce Wayne then he shouldn't have a problem. Like Wayne he's old money; Hammer's great grandfather is famous industrialist Armand Hammer. By the way, writing this post has made me realise how great YouTube is. Can you imagine the fun people would have had making early judgement calls on the likes of Sean Connery and Christopher Reeve if the net was around when they scored their big roles?