Will Jeff Nathanson be able to work some magic on Larry Sloman’s Harry Houdini biography “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero?” According to the Hollywood Reporter, Summit Entertainment has recruited Nathanson to pen the script based on the book, which claims the magician was also a British spy. The biography also focuses on Houdini’s supposed effort to expose con artists pretending to be spiritualists leading to the theory that his death was a form of payback.

Having arrangements fall through with Bill Murray was probably disappointing for Columbia Pictures, but when you have Jack Nicholson in negotiations to take his role, who cares? According to Variety, Nicholson may join the cast of James L. Brooks’ untitled romantic comedy, which already stars Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon’s character is at the center of a love triangle and must decide between Rudd’s white-color executive and Wilson’s professional baseball pitcher. If all goes to plan, we’ll see the reteaming of a very successful Hollywood duo. Brooks and Nicholson worked together on the 1983 film “Terms of Endearment” as well as 1997’s “As Good as It Gets,” both of which got Nicholson an Oscar.

It’s like “He’s Just Not That Into You” for kids. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Karlin and Stu Zicherman have agreed to adapt “How to Talk to Girls” for Fox. The book was written by fourth-grader Alex Greven. Greven sold his piece at his school’s book fair until HarperCollins published it back in November.

The Licensing International Expo is underway in Las Vegas and Ain’t It Cool News has photographs of some highly anticipated movie posters. There’s the quartet of “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America” and “The Avengers” as well as the 20-foot tall poster for “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.” They also posted shots of Johnny Depp’s “Rango,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and Steve Carell’s “Despicable Me.”

Taraji P. Henson will replace Jada Pinkett Smith. Well, only for “The Untitled Karate Kid Remake.” At the MTV Movie Awards, Henson announced that she’ll be playing Jaden Smith’s mother in the new film. She told MTV, “I’m off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film.” Her character in the movie, which is rumored to be called “Kung Fu Kid,” is reportedly named Sherry and is forced to relocate with her son to China in order to keep her job.

Celebrities may hate the paparazzi, but do movie stars really think the public can wait until a film is released to see them in action? Lainey Gossip posted some pictures of Josh Brolin as Jonah Hex, the titular character of the popular DC Western comic. We have TMZ to thank for this image of a ridiculously buff Elizabeth Shue on the set of ”Piranha 3D”. I spoke with Shue less than a month ago on the red carpet for “Don McKay” and she looked nothing like she does in this photo. Are we sure that isn’t one of those muscleman costumes little boys wear for Halloween?

The new “Scream” is starting to come together. According to EW.com, writer-director Kevin Williamson has offered Courtney Cox and David Arquette deals to return to the series. There’s no word whether or not they’ve accepted these deals.

Now that I’ve finished reading Philip K. Dick’s “Flow My Tears, The Police Man Said,” I can understand why studios are keeping an eye on his work. His stories are absurdly convoluted yet draw you in and leave you in awe. Novels of Dick’s that have been turned into films include “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” (“Blade Runner”) and “A Scanner Darkly.” Not only are his books being picked up left and right but one is going to get the reboot treatment. “Total Recall,” which is based on Dick’s story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” is being redeveloped by Neal H. Mortiz and his team at Original Films. Dick’s story is about a man who is tormented by a recurring nightmare in which he travels to Mars and literally buys a dream vacation. This man thinks he is a secret agent and fights to overthrow the tyrannical ruler of a Martian colony. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is calling the project a ‘contemporized adoption.’

Amanda Bynes is doing double duty for Screen Gems. Variety says Bynes has signed on to co-star in “Easy A” and star in a subsequent film as well. “Easy A” will be directed by Will Gluck and star Emma Stone as a victim of the rumor mill. She’s devastated after someone claims she’s lost her virginity but takes advantage of classmates’ naivety and spreads some nasty gossip for payback. Bynes will play the puritanical popular girl at school.

Catherine Hardwicke will work with Emile Hirsch. The “Twilight” director is going from vampires to princes to bring William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” to the big screen yet again. According to Variety, Hirsch is the one who came up with the idea for the modern retelling set in contemporary America. Back in 1948, a movie version of “Hamlet” nabbed the Oscar for Best Picture. Thanks to the success of “Milk,” Hirsch already has an Academy Award nominated film under his belt; could a starring role in this film gain him more recognition?