Bencio Del Toro and Steven Soderbergh's two Che Guevara projects are moving forward at a rapid pace, but they're doing so without the services of Benjamin Bratt.

"It didn't work out; I'm not doing them, unfortunately," the "Law and Order" actor revealed when asked for details about "The Argentine" and "Guerilla," two films which were to shine a penetrating light on one of the most famous revolutionaries of the 20th century...or, as he's known to disaffected college students everywhere, "that bearded guy on the T-shirt." Read more...

After months of speculation from both film sites and Benicio Del Toro, we're happy to finally confirm that legendary thesp Anthony Hopkins is indeed joining Universal's new take on a classic monster.

"I'm going to do 'The Wolf Man' with Benicio Del Toro," Hopkins stated matter-of-factly during an interview for his new experimental art film, "Slipstream."

Hopkins will play Sir John Talbot, father to Del Toro's Lawrence Talbot, the character who becomes afflicted with the werewolf curse. The pic -- scheduled for an early '09 release -- is helmed by music video director Mark Romanek, who has worked with such acts as Weezer, Michael Jackson, Madonna and R.E.M.

Are you a disaffected college student? A semi-educated poser? Chances are you've heard of Che Guevara, but that you know him more for being the ubiquitous t-shirt guy than for anything he actually believed or did.

That's about to change, insisted Benicio Del Toro. The 40-year-old thesp is set to star in not one, but two films centering on the legendary Marxist revolutionary with director Steven Soderbergh.

"Not many people know much about him, especially here - they know about him but they don't know a lot about him," the Oscar winner told MTV News, no doubt referencing Che's iconic image. "[But] being Latin American, the history is important to me. It's about going and doing justice to [that] history." Both movies, "Guerrilla" and "The Argentine," will be shot in Spanish. It's an authentic touch, Del Toro said, that's indicative of their quest for accuracy. Read more...

Has there been a better casting idea than Benicio Del Toro as the Wolf Man in recent memory? After seeing him up close and personal yesterday, I can't think of one. Currently the Oscar winner is sporting a scruffy look but that's for his next role as Che Guevara in two films for Steven Soderbergh. Still, it's not hard to imagine how great a brooding Lawrence Talbot he will make soon enough.

Del Toro seems psyched for the project to be directed by Mark Romanek. "We're trying to go back to the original. There's something very nostalgic about it for me. I loved all those monsters when I was a kid," he said.

Asked if, as rumored, Anthony Hopkins is on board as well Del Toro said, "I think so," before adding that the final deals haven't been closed nor has a starting date been determined. Excitedly Del Toro said, "I have never done a horror film." He quickly added with a laugh, "maybe a lot of my films already are horror films."

Two big comics-to-film announcements highlight today's links, as Marvel's first "X-Men" spin-off snags a chief and a Freak gets another job.

- Seth Rogen attached to write and possibly star in long-awaited "Green Hornet" pick. Say what? (Variety)

- "Wolverine" finally gets a director. South Africa's Gavin Hood tapped to helm the November '08 pic. (Variety)

- Biopic of every hipster's favorite Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, moves forward with Benicio del Toro tapped to play the lead. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Fox pays big bucks for Ridley Scott to produce "The Passage," a postapocalyptic vampire story set in the future. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" gets a quirky poster. Go figure. (CHUD)

- "Entourage" aside, the real Pablo Escobar story is still in Hollywood's sights. (Premiere)

- "30 Days of Night" star Melissa George signs up for "Captive" duty in upcoming thriller. (Moviehole)