Michael Fassbender Up for "X-Men" & "Spider-Man 4"

German-born, Irish-raised Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds," "Hunger") is currently being linked to not one but two Marvel comic book film adaptations currently heading towards production.

According to Showbiz 411: "X-Men: First Class" director Matthew Vaughn is pursuing Fassbender to play the younger version of Ian McKellen’s Magneto in Fox's prequel project which already stars James McAvoy as the younger Professor Charles X. Xavier. That film is slated to kick off filming soon in the UK for release next summer.

At the same time, Fassbender is being pursued to play the villain in “Spider-Man 4" at Sony Pictures. As that film isn't scheduled to hit until mid-2012, its production won't kick off until sometime next year.

Fassbender is expected to choose one over the other--the question is which one and how it will fit into his schedule. On top of that, the new “Spider-Man” villain has yet to be revealed, and director Marc Webb has still yet to choose his new Peter Parker. Fassbender was great in “Inglourious Basterds” last summer, and whichever role he chooses, he is likely to be excellent in it.

The actor is currently shooting David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" and will next star in David Jacobson's "A Single Shot."

Fassbender, Macy, Church Fire A "Shot" (400!)

Michael Fassbender, William H. Macy and Thomas Haden Church have joined the cast of the film adaptation "A Single Shot" for HanWay Films and Unanimous Pictures reports The Playlist.

According to the Playlist: Michael Fassbender, William H. Macy and Thomas Haden Church will star in David Jacobson's adaptation of Matthew F. Jones thriller "A Single Shot."

Matthew F. Jones adapted the screenplay from his own novel about a poacher (Fassbender) who accidentally kills a young runaway girl while hunting. Trying to hide the evidence, he finds a large sum of money and soon has ruthless killers on his tail while his mental state begins to quickly deteriorate.

This is another interesting role for Fassbender, who has risen to leading man status after his turn in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds” last summer. He was fantastic in that film and it will be nice to see him take on a role like this.

David Jacobson will direct and shooting kicks off this summer once Fassbender has wrapped David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" which stars Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassell.

Chris Coen and Christine Sola are producing.

Christoph Waltz in Talks to Star in "Water for Elephants"

Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee Christoph Waltz is making a deal to star with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in "Water for Elephants."

According to Deadline.com: Francis Lawrence is directing the Richard LaGravanese-scripted adaptation of the Sara Gruen novel for Fox 2000. The role at first appeared to belong to Sean Penn who's been on a self-imposed big screen sabbatical, but the deal went south.

Instead, Waltz will play the lead in the Depression-era romantic triangle involving a veterinary medicine student (Pattinson) who joins a second-rate traveling circus and falls for the star performer (Witherspoon). Waltz will play her husband, a dangerous paranoid schizophrenic animal trainer who is as mean to his wife as he is to the circus creatures.

Waltz was a journeyman German TV actor when Quentin Tarantino cast him to play Col. Hans Landa, the charmingly manipulative Nazi officer. The role got him a Hollywood agent at ICM, and the chance to make Hollywood films. Pending a deal, this would be Waltz’s second studio role. He also will star as the villain opposite Seth Rogen in "The Green Hornet" for Columbia Pictures.

Waltz was phenomenal in “Inglourious Basterds” and it would be ridiculous if he doesn’t take home the award on Oscar night. I’m extremely glad that he has a couple projects lined up because he proved with “Basterds” that he belongs on the big screen.

Shooting is scheduled for later this year, before Pattinson starts "Breaking Dawn" and Lawrence gets going on "Sgt. Rock."