You know what's also probably pretty dark and sad right now? Thomas Jane's mood. The actor who played the titular character in 2004's The Punisher was also hoping to land the lead role in the Warner Bros. adaptation of the Jonah Hex comic books. He even got all dressed up like his favorite disfigured antihero and sent pictures of the result to Warner Bros. Now comes news from Variety that it's Josh Brolin who'll be donning the Western-style threads and strapping on a Colt Peacemaker. Maybe Jane can find a way to recycle the get-up for his Halloween costume, so it won't be a total loss. Hex will be written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, of Crank fame.

In other casting news, Latino Review is reporting that Warner Bros. wants Ryan Gosling for the role of Hal Jordan, a.k.a. the Green Lantern. There have been several Lanterns since the comic's creation in 1940, but Jordan's is a test pilot with an alien ring that gives him powers. Rehearsals for the movie start in spring 2009, which gives Gosling some time to muscle himself into fine spandex form. I have to admit, though, that my favorite Green Lantern was something of a featherweight.