Radar Pictures has hired Mark Palansky (PENELOPE) to direct its sci-fi film A BETTER WORLD, reports Variety.

Vin Diesel has signed on to star and produce an untitled thriller written by UNKNOWN writers Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell, reports Variety.

Disney and Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil are working together on two new films, reports Deadline.com.

Warner Bros. has bought SUPERNATURAL creator Eric Kripke's spec script HAUNTED, reports Variety.

Alloy Ent. has hired Joe Ballarini (MAINTENANCE) to adapt Paul Watson's THE ROBOT, reports Variety.

Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to Image Comics' UNDYING LOVE, reports Heat Vision.

Dimension Films have picked up the rights to Kyle Kurpinski and Terry D. Johnson's HOW TO DEFEAT YOUR OWN CLONE: AND OTHER TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE BIOTECH REVOLUTION, reports ComingSoon.net.

Kenneth Branagh will not return as director for THOR 2, reports Deadline.com.

Karen Croner (ONE TRUE THING) has been hired to adapt the Korean comedy HELLO GHOST for director Chris Columbus, reports Deadline.com.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has hired Michael Markowitz (HORRIBLE BOSSES) to pen KING OF THE ELVES, reports Variety.

The next Disneyland attraction to get a film might be the Matterhorn. Heat Vision reports that Jason Dean Hall (GRAND THEFT AUTO) has been hired to pen a script that weaves the ride's bobsled theme into the plot, reports Heat Vision.

Darren Lemke (JACK THE GIANT KILLER) will adapt the animated feature BEASTS OF BURDEN, based on Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson's Dark Horse comic, reports Heat Vision.

Warner Bros. and Ron Howard are developing a live-action version of MAD Magazine's SPY VS. SPY, reports Deadline.com.

Fox has hired Max Landis, son of John Landis, who wrote for the MASTERS OF HORROR and FEAR ITSELF series, to pen a new version of FRANKENSTEIN, reports Variety.

Relativity Media has hired Alex Tse (WATCHMEN) to write the reboot of THE CROW, reports ComingSoon.net.

John Heffernan (SNAKES ON A PLANE) has sold an untitled sci-fi script to Paramount, reports Variety.

Jason Keller (Relativity's untitled Snow White project) has been tapped to adapt Justin Cronin's novel THE PASSAGE, writes Heat Vision.

David Dobkin, the director of WEDDING CRASHERS and the upcoming THE CHANGE-UP, has sold his spec script ARTHUR & LANCELOT to Warner Bros. for $2 million, reports Deadline.com.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 178 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.

Peter O’Brien, the writer of the HALO: REACH videogame, has been tapped by Warner Bros. to rewrite the script for thriller LINE OF SIGHT, writes The Hollywood Reporter.