the industry

Paula Returns!

Search Party: Unintelligible former American Idol star Paula Abdul is in discussions to join a resurrected version of Star Search, at ABC, in a dual capacity that would involve both judging and hosting. Why not just have her set up the lights and operate cameras, too, because she’s obviously a person capable of handling lots of additional responsibility. [Ausiello Files/EW]

Maguire Pawned: Tobey Maguire is attached to play chess prodigy Bobby Fischer in the biopic Pawn Sacrifice, which David Fincher signed on to direct yesterday. The role will be similar to Peter Parker, except Fischer’s superpowers included the ability to shoot anti-Semitism from his wrists. [Deadline]

Three for Cabret: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Kick-Ass’s Chloe Moretz, and The Boy in the Striped PajamasAsa Butterfield have all joined the cast of Martin Scorsese’s upcoming kid-centric fantasy movie, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, based on Brian Selznick’s kids’ graphic novel about an orphaned boy who lives in the walls of a Paris train station. Butterfield will play the title role, Moretz is the female lead, Baron Cohen the station inspector, and Kingsley will be the guy who makes small moviegoers shit in their pants. [Deadline, Deadline]

Him Too: Everybody is vying to play Captain America! The Hollywood Reporter says Channing Tatum has been approached by an interested Marvel for the role of the superhero, which is already being fought over by Wilson Blethel, Mike Vogel, Chris Evans, and Garrett Hedlund. Also, Keira Knightley has been approached to play the female lead, “but the studio is looking at other actresses too,” probably including all of them. [Heat Vision/HR]

Witches on Notice: Summit Entertainment has used some of its vampire money to buy the movie rights to The Last Witch Hunter, a pitch from Cory Goodman that has Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov attached. Sucks for witches. [Deadline]

Paula Returns!