I’m beginning to suspect that the Warner Bros. public relations department is running an algorithm that automatically releases casting information strategically timed just before interest generated by the previous announcement wanes. It seems as if there is casting news being released every week about Wonder Woman, The Dark Knight Rises, Superman, and even Green Lantern.

This past week the P.R.Bot 5000 let the world know that Josh Pence is joining the cast of TDKR, as a young Ra’s Al Ghul in a flashback sequence. You may recognize Pence as one of the Winklevoss twins opposite Armie Hammer in The Social Network. Although, if you do recognize him from there, you’re either a wizard, insane, or you actually worked on the film, because he was just the body of one of the twins, with Hammer’s face digitally superimposed on it where necessary.

This announcement lends some credence to the rumor that Al Ghul’s daughter, Talia, will be in the film, with Christopher Nolan vet Marion Cotillard likely to take on the role. Talia is very important to the current Batman comics continuity, so I think all the speculation is a pretty safe bet. The problem is, with Talia, Bane, Catwoman, her protégé Holly Robinson, and an unnamed, but most likely villainous, Joseph Gordon-Levitt character all running around, the roster is starting to sound a little crowded and superhero-sequel-ly. But, as I mentioned last week, in Nolan we trust.

Hey, remember that rumor that said Michael Clarke Duncan is voicing Kilowog in Green Lantern? Well, that rumor was dead wrong. It’s now official that Michael Clarke Duncan is negotiating to voice Kilowog in Green Lantern. Take that, semantics. The more recent rumor, invented by me just now, that Clarke Duncan will be recording his role in the limo en route to the premiere in a few weeks, remains unconfirmed as of the end of this sentence.

But the biggest recent news is the surprise casting of Michael Shannon as General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Superman: Man of Steel. So disappointing. Up until now, you had me, Snyder. Anyone’s who’s watched Boardwalk Empire will tell you the guy can barely play act out a game of charades, much less portray one of the coolest supervillains to ever escape from the Phantom Zone. To think Shannon could possibly fill the shoes of Terence Stamp, who originated … nay, embodied the role in Superman II, is nothing short of idiocy. He’s not British! He’s got no facial hair of any kind! He doesn’t have a sweet puffy black jumpsuit and … okay, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. Love Shannon, love the choice. Perfect.

I’m happy enough at this news that I can overlook the “been there, done that” feel of having Zod be Superman’s bad guy again. Hopefully we’ll get a spanking new, 21st century spin on the character, as having the quirky Shannon in the role seems to indicate. Maybe we’ll get Metallo, Brainiac, Bizarro, Doomsday, or Mxyzptlk for the sequel (if the WB is even allowed to make one once the legal battles with the families of Superman’s creators are settled).

In a final bit of superhero movie news, Joss Whedon’s Avengers has not been canceled yet.

Related posts on 30ninjas.com:

• It’s All Geek To Me — Casting Lane and Deschain!
• It’s All Geek To Me — Fighting for Truth, Justice, and . . . Crippling Self-Doubt?
• It’s All Geek To Me — The Dark Knight Rises and Returns
• We Have a Strong Feeling This Is The Actual Sinestro
• It’s All Geek To Me — Whither Goest DC?
• It’s All Geek To Me — Rumors, Denials, and Men of Steel and Bronze