• Scott Caan and Dylan McDermontt have signed on to star in Patrick Hoelck’s romance “Mercy.” Written by Caan, the film follows the story of a naïve novelist who writes about love but hardly believes in it until he’s in for it himself. (Variety)

• Screen Daily reports Anthony Hopkins, Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow are in negotiations to star in Joshua Michael Stern’s upcoming adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” Stern also directed the new Kevin Cosnter comedy “Swing Vote.”

• Cillian Murphy and Eddie Redmayne are set to star in Peter Mackie Burns’ thriller “White Male Heart. Burns won the Golden Bear at the 2005 Berlin Festival for his short film “Milk.” Murphy is best known for his roles in “Red Eye” and “28 Days Later.” (Variety)

• According to The Hollywood Reporter, Laurence Fishburne is teaming up with the Weinsteins to direct and star in a big-screen adaptation of Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist.” The film focuses on Santiago, a shepherd boy who meets an alchemist during his travels around the world.

• According to international box office numbers posted by Variety, “Iron Man” continued to rule at No. 1 with $25.6 million this past weekend. New entry “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” opened strong overseas with $20.7 million. “Iron Man” has reached an international total of $206 million after only three weeks in release.