As I said in my intro to RopeofSilicon 3.0 I am going to be cutting back on all the casting articles, but when four rather interesting updates are announced as they are today who would I be not to inform?

First off, Angelina Jolie is going to take on a rather interesting film for Paramount Pictures based on the life of intelligence operative Kathi Lynn Austin. Austin's life of arms trafficking and terrorism will serve as the inspiration for an action/thriller for Jolie. Variety reports that Austin, who has most recently worked on contract for the U.N. Security Council, has undertaken field missions in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and Central America. The drama will focus on a fictional arms dealer inspired by Victor Bout, the shadowy Russian who is considered one of the world's most prolific dealers in illegal munitions.

The real kicker to this story is that they are looking at it in terms of a franchise for Jolie. I am thinking it sounds something like a Bourne series just with a female protag, which sounds great to me. Goal is to get started on a script as soon as the strike ends. [Variety]

Next we learn that No Country for Old Men star Josh Brolin is in negotiations to join Sean Penn in Milk for director Gus Van Sant. The film is based on the life of gay-rights activist Harvey Milk. in San Francisco Milk became the first openly gay man elected to office, in 1977. The next year, he and Mayor George Moscone were shot to death by city supervisor Dan White.

Brolin would play Dan White, the San Francisco county supervisor who killed Milk (Penn) and Mayor George Moscone in 1978. [Variety]

Next up is Ed Norton, who is currently shooting The Incredible Hulk in which he stars as the big green monster and he is moving from the green of The Hulk to the green of the leaves, the Leaves of Grass that is, a comedic thriller in which he will play dual roles for director Tim Blake Nelson, who coincidentally also stars in Hulk.

In the pic Norton will play identical twins, one an Ivy League classics professorand the other a hedonistic pot-smoking career criminal.

Filming will begin following Norton's work on State of Play, which just sealed up a deal with Russell Crowe to take the place of Brad Pitt in the political thriller. [Variety]

Finally is a new bit of rumor out of the boys at SlashFilm who say they are 100% guaranteeing Ray Park (a.k.a. Darth Maul from Phantom Menace) has been cast as Snake Eyes in the upcoming G.I. Joe feature.

I only say it is rumor because I believe this is the first scoop to arrive out of SlashFilm that I can remember, but they aren't known for tossing around information recklessly so while I label it rumor I have a feeling they are spot on.

This makes Park the second member of the cast joining Sienna Miller. [SlashFilm]