Here's a one-two punch of stories courtesy of THR: First up, another actress has been added to Kenneth Branagh's Thor, just days prior to the start of filming. Adriana Barraza, whom you may remember from an Oscar-nominated turn in Babel as well as last year's Drag Me to Hell, has joined the extensive cast as "one of the humans."

In case you didn't know, Thor is being adapted from yet another Marvel comic book property and will tell the tale of the Norse god of thunder, who is cast out of Asgard (Norse equivalent of Mt. Olympus) for an arrogant blunder and discovers humility while living with mortals, whom he is forced to defend when dark forces from his old home come calling. The film stars Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, A Perfect Getaway) as the title character and Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, and many others in various supporting roles. Based on the humanity of her character and the kindly vibe she exudes, I'm thinking Barraza is a good bet for a mentor of some kind to the wayward protagonist.

Next, Javier Rodriguez has been enlisted to write the script for Gun with Occasional Music. Rodriguez will be adapting from the 1994 Jonathan Lethem novel for Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans producers Gabe and Alan Polsky. The book/film is described as a "sci-fi noir hybrid," which is intriguing enough in itself, but if you really want a reason to be excited for this one, hit the jump:

This may be the first time I've been 100% sold on a film based solely on the synopsis:

"Music" follows an archetypal private eye through Oakland and San Francisco as he delves into the murder of a prominent urologist in a futuristic world that includes supersmart children, erotic nerve-swapping and a menacing kangaroo that works for the mob.

"Murder of a prominent urologist", "a menacing kangaroo that works for the mob"...if you don't want to see this movie, you and I can't be friends. Prior to being optioned by the Polskys, Gun was in development hell for about a decade, so let's all hold hands and pray that these guys are up to the task of getting this thing made. Damn them if they dangle a menacing kangaroo that works for the mob in front of me and then don't deliver. Damn them, I say!