He'll always be best known for representing a Mac in Apple commercials, but Justin Long continues to branch out with his acting career. After a decade of playing fairly light roles in comedies and horror films, not to mention a prominent breakout part in "Live Free or Die Hard," he will be getting his first serious, dramatic supporting role in Robert Redford's Lincoln assassination movie, "The Conspirator," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Long joins James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn for the historical drama about Mary Surratt (Wright Penn), the sole woman allegedly involved in the plot to kill the president. McAvoy plays a disfigured Civil War hero who comes to her defense, while Long will play his best friend and fellow soldier who also assists as McAvoy's conscience. Read more...

Steven Spielberg has long planned an Abraham Lincoln-centric biopic, but it looks like actor-director Robert Redford is going to beat the "Indiana Jones" filmmaker to the punch. However, where Spielberg's vision purported to tell of Lincoln's life, Redford is instead focusing squarely on the slavery abolishing president's death.

Variety reports that Robert Redford will direct actors James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn in "The Conspirator," the American Film Company-produced period piece that focuses on the aftermath of President Lincoln's assassination. Read more...

-- Along with Summit Entertainment's announcement that "Eclipse," the third movie in the "Twilight" series, has started shooting comes confirmation that Jodelle Ferland will play Bree and Julia Jones will play Leah. (Hollywood Crush)

-- Rosario Dawson has joined the cast of Tony Scott's "Unstoppable," joining Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. The story of an out-of-control train loaded with toxic chemicals is currently set for a Fall 2010 release. Also, Heather Graham will star in Harold Becker's "Vengeance: A Love Story." (Production Weekly Twitter feed, via ComingSoon) Read more...

Rumor alert! You've been warned; continue reading at your own risk. The rumblings around the Internets indicate that fans who have been patiently waiting for word from Guillermo del Toro on "The Hobbit" will get their wish next week at San Diego Comic-Con. We already learned from the director during a recent interview that he is "very close" to announcing his pint-sized lead. Next week would certainly fall into the bounds of "very close."

The Los Angeles Times' Hero Complex blog mentions that David Tennant, James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe are all rumored to be up for the role. To me, Radcliffe seems like a longshot at best. While I'm sure the legions of "Harry Potter" fans out there would like to see The Boy Who Lived wear the One Ring, my guess is that the still-young actor may want to break away from the fantasy mold once J.K. Rowling's series is complete. Then again, there are those many millions of basically assured "Hobbit" dollars to consider.... Read more...

- As good as a second breakfast! “Hobbit” scripting has begun. (OneRing)

- Rev your engines. Again. Vin Diesel directing a 20-minute prequel to "4 Fast, 4 Furious," or whatever they are calling this fourth lap around the same track. (ComingSoon)

- Has the key grip been hired for this yet? We seriously don’t have enough casting news for “Inglorious Bastards,” which just added Michael Fassbender. (Variety)

- James McAvoy and Emily Blunt to lend voices to animated “Gnomeo and Juliet.” Anybody says anything bad about Emily Blunt, I will cut you. (THR)

- First look at Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart in “Night at the Museum 2.” (Bad and Ugly)

Last December, I wrote a casting call article, asking blog readers who they would most like to see step into the hairy feet of Bilbo Baggins in an eventual “Hobbit” film. (Which, at the time, was far from a foregone conclusion.)

“James McAvoy,” user dafydd wrote. “You know it makes sense.”

It does. Or, rather, it did, until McAvoy himself shot down growing rumors that he’d play the heroic Ring Bearer in Guillermo Del Toro’s two new films.

“I’m a huge fan of the Tolkien saga, everything to do with Middle-earth,” he reiterated this weekend to MTV News. “But no there’s no truth in the fact that they’ve approached me yet.”

But that won’t stop McAvoy from playing along with our readers. So who would he cast in the role made famous by Ian Holm? Read more...

- James McAvoy says they'll be no second breakfasts in his future, denies he's cast as "The Hobbit." (Collider)

- New trailers for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Punisher: War Zone" pop up online. (Yahoo, /film & IGN)

- Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler comedy about stand-up comics gets a name, "Funny People," Jonah Hill. (Variety)

- Daniel Craig shaken and stirred in new poster for "Defiance." (Coming Soon)

- Russell Brand signs a book deal. (NY Observer)