Casting News -- May 6, 2009

Ryan Reynolds will star as Marvel superhero Deadpool in an upcoming X-Men spin-off movie devoted to the character, who Reynolds played in a supporting role (above) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson, a mercenary who is dying of cancer and submits himself to the "Weapon X" genetic alteration experiment. He emerges as an indestructible, semi-sane anti-hero. Variety adds that "Reynolds seemed destined to play the character."

Rachel Weisz will star in The Whistleblower, a film about a female cop from Nebraska who serves as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and exposes a U.N. cover-up of a sex trafficking scandal. The indie drama is based on a true story.

Will Ferrell is in talks to star in Neighborhood Watch, a comedy about a man who moves from the city to suburbia, joins the neighborhood watch, and uncovers a large conspiracy. David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) is in negotiations to direct the film.

Peter Dinklage has been cast in the HBO fantasy pilot Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling "Songs of Fire and Ice" novels. The show is about "an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom." Dinklage will play Tyrion, the Queen's brother, who is treated as an outsider because of his size. Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) will direct the pilot.

Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) has joined the cast of Leap Year, a romantic comedy starring Amy Adams, Bill Nighy, Matthew Goode, and Adam Scott. Olson will play Adam's married older sister.

-- Daniel Lehman