The cast of Walt Disney's "John Carter of Mars" is growing, and Samantha Morton, Dominic West and Polly Walker are the latest to join the big-screen adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' series of books.

Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe are already part of the crew. The film focuses on a Civil War veteran (Kitsch) who is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he encounters a bunch of four-armed, green creatures.

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Willem Dafoe is the latest to join Andrew Stanton's upcoming Walt Disney fantasy flick "John Carter of Mars," according to Variety.

Dafoe joins Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins, who are already on board. Based on the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the film version focuses on a Civil War veteran (Kitsch) who is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he encounters a bunch of four-armed, green creatures.

Dafoe, according to the trade, will play Tars Tarkas, a green Martian warrior who's got the ability to love and will form an alliance with Carter. Collins is the Princess of Mars.

Dafoe stars in Lars von Trier's "Antichrist." He's got several projects coming up soon, including "The Vampire's Assistant," "Daybreakers" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins have signed on to star in Andrew Stanton's upcoming live-action fantasy flick "John Carter of Mars," according to Variety.

Based on the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the film version focuses on a Civil War veteran (Kitsch) who is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he encounters a bunch of four-armed, green creatures.

The trade says Collins will play the Princess of Mars. Collins and Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights") previously co-starred in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

"Mars" will head into principal photography next year, with a release set for 2012. Stanton's credits include "Finding Nemo" and "WALL-E."

Here's your dose of film news for Feb. 4, 2009:

• Gary Marshall is set to direct New Line Cinema's comedy "Valentine's Day," about 10 Los Angeles people whose lives intersect on Feb. 14. Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein rewrote a draft by Katherine Fugate. Marshall also directed "Georgia Rule," "The Princess Diaries" and "Runaway Bride." (Variety)

• Al Pacino has signed on to play the lead role in "King Lear," which Michael Radford will direct. Radford, whose credits include "The Merchant of Venice," also wrote the screenplay. Variety says the film will head into production in Europe later this year.

• Ken Nolan will rewrite Paramount's untitled moon project starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Doug Liman and John Hamburg penned the original script. The Hollywood Reporter describes the project as an "action film about lunar colonization." Liman ("The Bourne Identity") is also on board to direct the flick.

• "WALL-E" director Andrew Stanton recently told MTV News he is not considering a sequel to the adventure about the cute, little robot. “I think that takes a lot of hubris to think that your idea is going to live on and on, and I always love the idea of something just being contained and done,” he said.