Here's today's latest casting news:

  • Michelle Monaghan is the latest addition to Chris Columbus' Pixels as the female lead.  Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Kevin James, and Josh Gad also star.
  • Gwendoline Christie will replace Lily Rabe in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.
  • Amy Ryan and Jillian Bell have signed on for Rob Letterman's Goosebumps adaptation, starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, and Odeya Rush.

Hit the jump for more on each picture.

michelle-monaghan-pixels

First up from Heat Vision is word that Monaghan will play the female lead in Pixels, an adventure film that explores "what happens when aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them. They begin a war on the human race, using the games as models for their various assaults. The U.S. president (James) turns to his childhood best friend to lead a team of old-school arcaders to save the planet."  Sandler plays the former game champion turned sad-sack home theater installation expert; Dinklage has finalized his deal to play Sandler's former video game-playing nemesis.  Gad stars as a socially awkward conspiracy theorist/genius, and Monaghan plays a military weapons developer and, of course, love interest for Sandler's character.  Columbus and the studio are currently in talks with the companies behind iconic 1980s gaming properties to secure the rights for the picture.  Pixels is expected to start shooting in Toronto this June, with a summer 2015 release date planned.

Deadline brings word that Christie will replace Rabe as Commander Lyme in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.  Rabe had to bow out of the franchise finale after a scheduling conflict.  Lyme is a past victor of an unspecified year of the Hunger Games, and is a leader of the rebellion.

Finally, The Wrap reports that Ryan and Bell are the latest additions to Goosebumps.  The adaptation centers on "a teen named Zach Cooper (Minnette), whose family moves to a new home where his new neighbor is a mysterious author (Black). When a demonic ventriloquist's dummy unleashes the author's creepy creations, it's up to his niece Hannah (Rush) and Zach to battle the evil forces and save their town."  Ryan stars as Zach's doubting mother, with Bell playing his ditzy aunt.