Ugh, they should have cast the green dude ^^ as Lady Macbeth.

Yesterday we discussed the now sure-thing casting decision of Michael Fassbender in a new screen adaptation of Macbeth. The idea of Fassy-as-Macbeth was applauded by many of us as a smart casting choice, but in the initial reporting, they were still searching for a suitable Lady Macbeth. I suggested Jessica Chastain because I would love the ginger-on-ginger action and because I think Jessica would be able to nail the hell out of “Out, out damn spot” scene. Other casting ideas from the comments section: Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Emily Blunt. The vibe I kept getting for everyone is that they should not cast an American, but if they did cast an American, it should be someone like Chastain. Guess what? They cast an American. And it’s not Chastain. It’s NATALIE PORTMAN.

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman will play Lady Macbeth opposite Michael Fassbender in the upcoming version of Macbeth, announced by ScreenDaily yesterday. It is due to shoot later in 2013. Screen understands that Portman has long wanted to take on the role, previously considering stage versions, and that the actress was keen to renew her collaboration with Fassbender after the two recently wrapped production on Terrence Malick’s latest film about the Texas music scene.

Snowtown’s Justin Kurzel will direct the update of Shakespeare’s classic thriller produced by The King’s Speech and Shame producers See-Saw. Writers are Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff. The script has been one of the most in-demand ahead of the Cannes Film Festival with a number of sales outfits keen to work on the film.

Development and production backing on the UK-Australian co-production comes from Film4. The production sees Fassbender reunited with Shame producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Film4, with whom the actor worked on Hunger, Shame and the upcoming Frank.

The new take on Shakespeare’s classic – about a ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord who siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and three witches – is set in the 11th century and in the original language. The script is understood to be a visceral approach to the story including significant battle scenes.

Portman will next be seen in superhero sequel Thor: The Dark World and she is currently shooting Jane Got a Gun, which previously had Fassbender on board. The actress is represented by Brillstein Entertainment and CAA.

[From Screen Daily]

Ugh, why are Portman and Fassbender on each other’s jocks these days? Surely they don’t have that much chemistry. I rarely think Natalie has chemistry with any of her leading men though, unless you’re talking about Jean Reno and maybe (!) Clive Owen in Closer, although the Clive Owen thing is all HIM and not her. Clive Owen could have sexual chemistry with a lamp post. And that lamp post would get pregnant too. Anyway, casting Natalie Portman as Lady Macbeth totally kills my lady boner. It’s dull, uninspired and it will ruin the project. But! The last time Fassy and Portman were cast opposite each other, Fassbender ended up pulling out of the film like the day before the production began (that was Jane Got a Gun). So maybe this isn’t as for-sure as it sounds. Hopefully.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

You’ll have to excuse the Michael Fassbender p0rn. I haven’t written about him in a while, so I enjoyed looking for some really good photos of him. The photos of Fassy with the ginger beard (taken last year) are on purpose. I want him to look super-gingery and like an 11th-century warrior king (come to me and pillage, my Fassy). It seems that Fassy might have a new project on the horizon – yet another screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Now, Fassy has a natural Irish accent, he can do a decent German accent, English accent and American accent. But can he do a Scottish accent?

Everyone from Sam Worthington (really) to Orson Welles has taken on “Macbeth,” and the Shakespeare play that dare not say its name has been adapted countless time for the stage, television and multiplex. Well, when it comes to the cinema, (quality) movie versions have been a bit fewer and farther between, so the news that Michael Fassbender might take the lead in “the Scottish play” certainly has our attention.

The actor is attached to a new version of Shakespeare’s work that will be directed by the fast rising “Snowtown” director, Justin Kurzel. Penned by Todd Louiso (the director behind “Love Liza” and “Hello I Must Be Going”) and Jacob Koskoff (who co-penned “The Marc Pease Experience” with Louiso), the story will be the same, set in the 11th century, and will be presented in the original dialogue. However, this version will be more “visceral” and contain “significant battle scenes.” And production is coming together pretty fast.

Plans are underway for the film to shoot later this year, and will seemingly be bumping plans for Kurzel’s adaptation of John Le Carre’s “Our Kind Of Traitor,” which had Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen lining up. A bit of bummer, but still, Fassy + Macbeth is a combo we won’t argue with. And speaking of the actor, who is currently lensing “X-Men: Days Of Future Past,” this is a nice meaty project to dive into after the VFX extravaganza. As for Lady Macbeth? Talks are apparently underway with an unnamed “Hollywood leading actress.” Suggestions?

[From Indie Wire]

Macbeth is a violent, murderous psycho. He’s crazed with power, he’s destructive, and he’s probably a sociopath. It’s a meaty role for any actor, and that’s why so many actors attempt it. I prefer Macbeth to Hamlet personally, but my favorite (and the play which I wish would be adapted more often) is Othello. Fassbender would make an AMAZING Iago to, say, Idris Elba’s Othello. That’s my dreamcasting for the day! Oh, but who should play Lady Macbeth to Fassy’s Macbeth? I would love to see him with another ginger. Someone tough. Ooooh, you know who would be really good? I hate to say it, but Jessica Chastain would be amaze-balls. DONE.

Photos courtesy of NYT, WENN, Esquire.

Here are some photos from last night’s NYC screening/premiere of Danny Boyle’s Trance. Alas, James McAvoy did not make it to the premiere – I believe he’s doing a play in London. But Rosario Dawson was there, in this pretty pink Bottega Veneta pre-Fall 2013 dress (which I honestly thought was Victoria Beckham at first, because of the zipper). I really like the dress – the pink suits her, and she’s got the attitude to pull it off without the color looking too cloying or cutesy.

But really, I guess we have to discuss this in further detail: is that the face of a lady who is getting some Fassdong on the regular? LaineyGossip claims, “Rosario Dawson and Michael Fassbender were spotted together in his neighbourhood in London a couple of times this weekend.” It seems like they were both in London this weekend and… I don’t know, the idea of them together doesn’t surprise me at all. But you know what bugs me? I’m peeved by the backlash against Michael Fassbender for dating a lot of women of color. The man seems to have a physical type – overwhelmingly, he dates women of color with full lips and great bodies, and I think the reason the idea of “Rosario + Fassy” isn’t surprising is because she looks a lot like his physical type.

Which brings me to my complaint – why do people think it’s “racist” for a man (or a woman) to have a physical type? I’m a half-Indian woman and my physical type is tall, lanky white guys with dark hair and light eyes (and an accent). They are my dong kryptonite. Does that make me racist, that I’m a woman of color who is more attracted to white guys with those physical characteristics rather than other dudes? That bugged me with that Viola Davis post in February – Viola said her physical type was big black men. And? That’s her type. Why does that bug some people?

Anyway, I just wanted to vent about that. It was bothering me. There aren’t that many white actors who show such a preference for women of color, and I like that Fassbender is one of them. Let him be.

Speaking of my dong kryptonite, here’s a tall, lanky white guy with light eyes, dark hair and an accent. Oh, Vincent Cassel. My lover.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

These photos are going to give me a rage stroke. UGH.

GET OFF MY BOYFRIEND, BLONDIE. Stop it. Stop touching him. Stop smiling at him!!! STOP STOP STOP.

As you can see, these are some new photos of Michael Fassbender out last night in London. I believe he’s finished up filming Frank (that dumb-looking film where he spends the whole movie wearing a giant plastic head), so he’s probably waiting for the X-Men sequel to start production, and as such, he’s gone out trolling for strange. He’s a single guy these days, far as I know. Nicole Beharie confirmed their split on Twitter in January.

So, Fassy went out to the Groucho Club and the paparazzi got photos of him exiting the club and flirting with this blonde. According to The Mail, “he chatted with the leggy blonde on the grubby pavement outside the club….But after being spotted by movie fans Fassbender turned away from his flirting partner and appeared to walk off. The charming actor’s love interest looked slightly put off by his actions, although it is not known if they exchanged numbers.” But if you look at the photos, it really seems like they were walking off together, holding hands or walking arm-in-arm. SLUT!!! I’m talking about him. How could he do this to me?

So, obviously I’m kind of surprised that Fassy can plump for blondes. That was one of my main reasons for not really believing that Fassy and Cameron Diaz were a thing, but maybe this is his new type? He goes for (hard-looking) blondes these days. Not women of color. Sucks.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I have to apologize for not seeing this yesterday. I mean, I caught sight of the headline – something about Josh Brolin going out drinking with friends – but I didn’t give a crap enough to read the story because I just figured, “What else is new? Brolin is always out partying.” As it turns out though, Broling was partying with my beloved Michael Fassbender! Did you know they were tight? I knew. Because I’m Fass-obsessed. They worked together on Jonah Hex, but I got an inkling into their closer relationship when Josh conducted Fassbender’s Interview Magazine interview last year. They talked a lot about how they met (in Toronto in 2008, just after Fassy became a huge deal because of Hunger) and it was clear that they’re pretty tight. So tight that they go out drinking together, just two single guys out on the prowl…

Josh Brolin – who recently split from Diane Lane after eight years of marriage – stepped out on Friday night with friends Bradley Cooper, Benicio Del Toro and Michael Fassbender.

They stopped by Skybar at the Mondrian Los Angeles, where Fassbender ordered a round of beverages for the group, an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

Laughing as the night went on, the crew of actors stayed well past closing, the source adds.

“They were in good spirits having fun!” the source says. “It looked like a very relaxed night out.”

[From People]

Fassy, Brolin and Del Toro? You know what? I would watch that movie. I know everyone thinks Brolin is a total d-bag (and you may be right), but I think he’s a really talented actor. Same with Del Toro and of course Fassy. Wouldn’t you watch that movie? As for what ELSE they might have done that night… God knows. I think in that group, Brolin would be the bold guy who would come right up to the girl to get her digits. Del Toro would hang back and play a staring game with the one girl he wanted. And Fassbender… would he be a wingman? Or would he be bold too? Is he the guy who goes after what he wants? Hm… I need to think about this.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Interview Magazine.

Right after Halle Berry won her Best Actress Oscar in 2002, you know what she did? First, she completed filming Die Another Day (Pierce Brosnan’s last James Bond film) and then she fulfilled her contractual obligation to costar in the sequel to the wildly successful X-Men movie, X2. I remember thinking back then – “Is this a smart career move or a really dumb one right after she wins an Oscar?” Looking back on it… those are probably two of Halle’s most beloved roles, as Jinx and Storm.

Where am I going with this? Ah, yes – Jennifer Lawrence. Jennifer just won the Best Actress Oscar, and what are her next career moves? Why, she’s wrapping up production on Catching Fire, a giant, popcorn-movie franchise that rests on her shoulders, and then she’s going to return as a young Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Is it wise for her to follow-up her Oscar win with two sequels? A question for another day. But according to Star, Jennifer is fine with coming back to do Days of Future Past (probably because of L’Fassdong), but she just wants her role to be bigger. Meatier. Maybe with some scenes of Magneto getting down and dirty with Mystique?

The stars of the new X-Men sequel, Days of Future Past, may be ready to suit up for filming, but Star has learned that the A-list cast is anything but united. Jennifer Lawrence is furious with director Bryan Singer for slashing her screen time in favor of Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin – and she’s not alone in her ire.

“Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy are also victims of Bryan’s editing pen, and they’re just an annoyed as Jen is,” tattles the on-set source. “All three stars are earing $3 million for their roles. So they’ve decided to team up and make a plea to Bryan.”

But Jen’s managers are worried about her breaking rank this early in her career.

“Bryan Singer is not the sort of person you want to piss off,” warns the insider. “She should just shut up and get on with things.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition]

While I have trust in Bryan Singer, it does sound like he’s jamming a lot of stuff into this movie. Fassbender, McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Peter Dinklage, plus scores of the “original” cast members are rumored to return, like Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman and on and on. Incidentally, there are no rumors involving the return of Zoe Kravitz or January Jones, both of whom gave horrible performances in First Class. For me, X-Men: First Class worked so well because we really got to know Eric and Xavier as young men/mutants, seeing how their personalities developed. So… I do hope we get more of that, because God knows I’ll only be going to this one because of FassVoy.

Here’s an alternate theory though – maybe all of these spectacular actors come together because these X-Men movies are kind of fun and they like Bryan Singer and none of them feel like the franchise is resting on their shoulders alone? Maybe it’s just a fun way to spend a few months, you know? Getting paid to hang out with Fassy, McAvoy, J-Law, McKellen, Jackman and Dinklage… that would be a hoot.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

If there’s one thing I know about Michael Fassbender, it’s that 6-foot-tall blondes will do anything to throw themselves into the path of L’Fassdong. It happened with Charlize Theron, and maybe it happened with Jennifer Lawrence too (although I doubt it). And now it apparently happened with Cameron Diaz, at least according to Us Weekly’s sources. Cameron and Fassbender worked together on Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, which also stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt. Cameron and Fassy were in London last week doing some reshoots (the production took a hiatus when Ridley’s brother passed away), and Us Weekly’s sources claim Fassy & Camy were looking very flirty and friendly.

Kissing costars? Multiple witnesses tell Us Weekly’s Hot Stuff that Cameron Diaz, 40, and her Counselor leading man, Michael Fassbender, dined together on February 7 at London’s Soho Hotel – and then made their way upstairs to a suite!

“They acted very flirty throughout dinner,” says a witness of the two, who were in the UK for reshoots on their crime drama. Later, at 12:30 am, another guest saw the pair step into a hotel room: “It looked like they were going to hook up!”

[From Us Weekly, print edition]

CB sent me this story expecting me to be all “OMG HOT DEATH!!” But I feel kind of meh about it. Like, the Charlize thing really bothered me because she was being really, really obvious about it and I felt like Fassbender was trying to be like, “You’re my friend but I’m not into you, sweetheart.” But this? This just feels like a casual hookup thing, and let’s be real: don’t you think Cameron Diaz does this a lot? No slut-shaming!! I just think Cameron offers her biscuit to anyone who will take it. And as long as she was offering, Michael took her up on the offer.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.

You can criticize Natalie Portman for a lot of things, but she has excellent taste in costars. Natalie has had a long-gestating project languishing for the better part of six or seven months. The project is a western called Jane Got a Gun, and Natalie is not only the star, she’s the producer. One of Natalie’s first costars to sign on was none other than Michael Fassbender, because of course. I heard a few weeks ago that Joel Edgerton has also signed on to the film, and he’s incredibly hot too. And just last week a new addition made the casting rolls: hottie Rodrigo Santoro. The problem? Apparently Natalie used to date Rodrigo (which I have no memory of) and she was the one to recommend him for the job. And Natalie’s husband Benjamin Millepied is NOT happy.

Natalie Portman may be thrilled about her new costar in the upcoming film Jane Got a Gun, but her husband isn’t! Natalie’s handsome leading man, Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro, 37, is an ex (he dated the star in 2009). When Benjamin found out that it was his wife who suggested Rodrigo for the role (she’s also a producer on the film), he was “livid,” says an insider close to the couple.

“Natalie and Rodrigo are going to be in close quarters and spending a lot of time together.”

[From In Touch Weekly, print edition]

Oh, I just found the old story – CB did it back in 2009. Natalie was in between steady boyfriends after her split from Devendra Banhart and she was rumored to be swinging between Rodrigo and Ryan Gosling!! Damn. I forgot Natalie had such a torrid dating past. If I had to choose between Fassbender, Edgerton and Santoro… um… ooooh… wait, what? I mean, I would definitely pick Fassy first and always, but Joel and Rodrigo are both incredible choices too. What was the point of this story? Oh, right. Benjamin. He should be worried!!

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

I don’t remember Valentine’s Day being this dong-drought-y last year. I’ve been itching for an excuse to write about any of my Forever Dongs today, and this is probably the most perfect excuse I’m ever going to get. You know how the sequel to X-Men: First Class is moving full speed ahead, and Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart have all signed on for X-Men: Days of Future Past? Well, it’s ON in case you didn’t know, and I think filming will begin in a month or two. Casting news has been dripping out steadily over the past month, and then yesterday this happened:

[Via Bryan Singer’s Twitter]

There’s still no official word on which character Dinklage will be playing, but there are some theories. EW thinks the best bet is Puck, “ a strapping adventurer who found his physical stature shrunk by mystical forces — making him smaller, but no less of a forceful fighter.” There’s also some theory that he could be playing “MODOK” who is some kind of villain. What does it matter? The Dinklage simply makes everything more awesome, and this was already going to be an awesome movie so SQUEEEE!!!!

So far the cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past includes: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. Shall we have some photos? Let’s have some photos!!!

Photos courtesy of WENN.com/FayesVision and WENN.

I’m reasonably confident that this Radar story is full of crap. I’m reasonably confident that Michael Fassbender pretty much only likes women of color. I’m pretty sure that Jennifer Lawrence sees Michael Fassbender as a weird, older Irish brother-type, and that he sees her a former (and future) costar and friend of his ex-girlfriend (Zoe Kravitz). I’m pretty sure that Radar is just trying to start something because there were photos of Michael and Jennifer talking to each other at the Weinstein Company’s BAFTA after-party, and people are trying to make a casual conversation into The Romance of L’Fassdong. We don’t have those pics, but you can see them here.

Jennifer Lawrence is a wanted woman right now – just ask Michael Fassbender! The 35-year-old actor, who earned plaudits for his depiction of a sex addict in the critically-acclaimed Shame, managed to charm Jennifer, 22, at The Weinstein Party after the BAFTA Awards in London on Sunday, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

And, Jennifer was so smitten by the charming star that the pair is planning a date night soon!

“Michael and Jennifer were locked in conversation for a long time, he was charming the pants off her,” an eyewitness at the party reveals. “And even when she was talking to other people at the after party, Jennifer couldn’t keep her eyes off Michael!

“They initially met on the set of X-Men: First Class a few years back and got on like a house on fire. And they’ll be reunited again for the film’s sequel when that starts filming in the next few months. So, they will be seeing a lot of each other – and it’s clear to see there’s a strong physical attraction between them.

“When Jennifer wraps up The Hunger Games: Catching Fire she said to Michael she would love to do dinner with him. She might want to be wary of [her ex-boyfriend] Nicholas’ feelings though – as he’s also going to appear in the X-Men sequel!” the eyewitness says.

Fassbender is back on the market following his recent split from Shame co-star Nicole Beharie in January. Roughly around the same time, Jennifer broke off her two-year relationship with Warm Bodies star Hoult, 23.

[From Radar]

Michael keeps an apartment in the shady part of London and when I read his GQ interview last year, I found out that the apartment is basically his bangporium and ping-pong hangout. So, will Jennifer get an invitation to Michael’s Dong Hut? I just… I can’t… I won’t. It feels like the Charlize Theron thing all over again, where some lovely woman is friendly with Fassy and the tabloids are all “OOoooh, they should DATE!” and no one ever mentions that Fassy has a type and it’s not six-foot-tall blondes. Except in Charlize’s case, I think she was truly all over that and in Jennifer’s case, I think she knows that she might not be able to handle it. The Dongporium is a powerful thing.

Photos courtesy of WENN, GQ.