Giovanni Ribisi joins 'Gangster Squad'

Warner Bros. is currently developing "The Gangster Squad," and Giovanni Ribisi is the latest to join the crime drama which Ruben Fleischer is directing. Also on board are Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena and Josh Brolin.

Will Beall wrote the script, which focuses on the LAPD's gang of mercenary cops who were after gangster Micky Cohen (Penn) in the 1940s. Deadline says Ribisi will play Conway Keeler, a cop who is also a master of electronics and wires.

Ben Affleck was originally attached to direct "Squad," but Fleischer took over. As for Ribisi, he starred in "Public Enemies" and "Avatar," and he will soon be seen in "The Rum Diary," "Contrband" and "M."

Michelle Rodriguez, two more heading into 'Battle'

Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena and Bridget Moynahan have signed on to star alongside Aaron Eckhart in Columbia's upcoming sci-fi action flick "Battle: Los Angeles."

Written by Chris Bertolini and directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Darkness Falls” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning"), the plot centers on a Marine platoon’s battle against alien invaders in Los Angeles.

The Hollywood Reporter says Rodriguez will play Crpl. Adriana Santos, while Moynahan portrays a veterinarian. Pena will play the father of a boy the soldiers find along the way.

Rodriguez recently appeared in "Fast & Furious." Pena last starred in "Observe & Report." Moynahan's credits include "Lord of War" and "The Recruit."

Michael Peña to board ‘The Green Hornet’?

The folks over at IESB.net had a brief chat with Michael Peña Tuesday at a press thing for “The Lucky Ones,” and apparently, the actor told them Seth Rogen offered him a role in “The Green Hornet.”

However, Peña did not say anything about which role he may end up playing. Stephen Chow is set to direct and star in the film along with Rogen, who is also writing the screenplay with Evan Goldberg.

Peña recently starred in “Lions for Lambs.” He will next be seen in “The Lucky Ones,” which opens in theaters this weekend. He will also appear alongside Rogen in Jody Hill’s comedy “Observe and Report.”