Daily news dose: 'Tron' sequel has a lead actor; Mangold to helm 'Juliet'?

Here's your dose of quick news bits for Jan. 7, 2009...

• Garrett Hedlund has signed on to star in the lead role of Disney's upcoming sequel to the 1982 classic "Tron." Hedlund made his feature debut in "Troy." He also appeared in "Friday Night Lights," "Four Brothers" and "Eragon." In "Tron," he plays a man pulled into a computer world to retrace the steps of the character from the first film. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Universal has acquired the rights to Anne Fortier's novel "Juliet," a story about a women who finds out she may be descended from the people who inspired the story of "Romeo and Juliet." No writer is on board at this stage, but James Mangold is attached to helm the adaptation. Mangold also directed "Walk the Line." (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, whose credits include 2006's "Bella," is set to co-write and direct "Cantinflas," a biopic about the comedian/actor who became very popular in the Mexican film industry during the '40s and '50s. Cantinflas also starred as Passepartout in 1956's "Around the World in Eighty Days." (Variety)

• Regent Releasing has acquired the distribution rights to Lynn Roth's drama "The Little Traitor," about a British officer who seizes a 11-year-old militant Palestinian. Plans are to release the pic some time in the fall. "Traitor" also won the Audience Award at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. (Variety)