Thomas Haden Church is now confirmed for and James Purefoy and Mark Strong have officially joined Walt Disney's upcoming "John Carter of Mars," the big-screen adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' series of books.

The film focuses on a Civil War veteran (Taylor Kitsch) who is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he encounters a whole bunch of mysterious creatures. Andrew Stanton is directing the adventure.

The solid cast also includes Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Dominic West and Polly Walker. Heat Vision says Church plays Tal Hajus, a vicious Thark warrior planning to become a ruler.

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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."

• Gabriele Muccino, director of "The Pursuit of Happyness," is developing "What I Know About Love," a drama that will explore the struggles of divorve and single parenthood. The project is described as a modern "Kramer vs. Kramer," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

• Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg have signed on to star in Lars von Trier's upcoming drama "Antichrist," about a couple who experience strange events after retreating to a cabin in order to recover from their child's death (Variety).

• Universal has acquired the rights to adapt "The Wheel of Time," a best-selling novel series by Robert Jordan. Among several characters in the fantasy saga is Ransd al'Thor, a hero born to take down the ruthless Shai'tan (Variety).

• Gavin O'Connor's crime drama "Pride and Glory" finally gets a new release date, according to Variety. Warner Bros. has officially scheduled the film for Oct. 24, 2008. Colin Ferrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight and Lake Bell star.