It’s been a busy weekend for casting news, so in this, Sunday’s Deal Central, we present a roundup of news and notes from around the web:Spider-Man Fore: The new-ish film site HitFix scores a big scoop with word that Logan Lerman (left), he of "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" semi-fame, is the front-runner to play Peter Parker in Sony’s Spider-Man franchise reboot. HitFix says a person close to the production indicates that Lerman is "almost 100% locked" but not yet in contract talks. Marc Webb will direct the do-over, which will take Parker back to high school and make Spider-Man a more teen-friendly franchise. It’s slated for release next July 3. UPDATE: Deadline’s Mike Fleming reports that Sony insiders are saying unequivocally that Lerman is NOT going to be the new Spidey … then goes on to qualify that by saying the Hitfix reporter’s been right before. There’s a great power/great responsibility joke in here somewhere.
Starz Stays in the Swords & Sandals Biz: New York Mag’s Vulture blog has learned that Starz is developing a six-episode miniseries prequel to "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" to keep the franchise cooking while star Andy Whitfield gets treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The prequel would keep the sets working while retaining the series’ fans — or so goes the thinking.
The Long and Winding Road: A "Mulholland Dr." sequel? The PopcornBiz blog posits just such a thing after an NBC Miami interview with Laura Harring, who starred in the first film. "I’m very sure it’s coming, it’s being born," she told the affiliate. "I cannot really tell you how I know."
Spike Jonze Keeps it Short: /Film reports that Spike Jonze is working on another short film, this one in collaboration with the band Arcade Fire, whose music was featured prominently in the "Where the Wild Things Are" trailer. The site says Jonze has been casting actors in their late teens for the story about friends growing apart.
Check back with Deal Central later for more on the casting world.
