-Mos Def and Hotel Rwanda's Sophie Okonedo (pictured) are in talks to costar in Stringbean and Marcus, a period indie drama about two former Black Panthers members in and out of love in 1978.

-It's been a good week for Stephen King. Variety reports today that John Cusack will star in 1408, based on the King short story about a debunker of paranormal phenomena who checks into a haunted hotel room. It'll be directed by Mikael Hafstrom (Derailed) and written by The People vs. Larry Flynt screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. The news comes a day after the announcement that Eli Roth (Hostel) is attached to direct the adaptation of King's new novel Cell.