Some familiar faces will be joining the big-screen versions of "Will Eisner's The Spirit" and James Cameron's "Avatar."  Variety reports that Gabriel Macht will be starring as the title character in "Spirit," an adaptation of the classic comic series.  Frank Miller ("300") will write and direct the film, a fact which makes some fans' days and breaks others' hearts.  Macht is co-starring in next year's "Whiteout," an adaptation of the Greg Rucka graphic novel.  He also starred in short-lived NBC paranormal series The Others.

Lionsgate representative Mike Paseornek said, "We think Gabriel has a devilishly charming quality, and the dry wit that embodies the Spirit, and we wanted to do this with someone who can embody this character for the next few years, because we anticipate we'll be making more than one Spirit movie."

Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang have signed on to James Cameron's "Avatar," a 3-D motion-capture film unaffiliated with any other projects also named "Avatar."  The film stars Sam Worthington as a young Marine caught in the middle when Earth forces attempt to steal the natural resources from a primitive planet.  Lang plays the Marine colonel who leads the troop.  Rodriguez plays a former Marine pilot.  Rodriguez is best known to genre fans as Ana-Lucia on Lost.  "Avatar" is due out in May of 2009.