A Pearl of a part It's a role that, deep breath, Lili Taylor, Renée Zellweger, Melissa Etheridge, Courtney Love, Brittany Murphy, Pink, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Scarlett Johansson have all variously been considered for and/or coveted. But it looks like the part of Janis Joplin will be played by Amy Adams in a film by Fernando Meireilles ("City of God," "The Constant Gardener").

The final reel Daniel Radcliffe will try to cast Harry aside as a young lawyer in "The Woman in Black." ... Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones are reportedly interested in playing the lead in Mike Nichols' adaptation of the book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century." Who to cast as her tempestuous mate? Clive Owen, Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe (best choice) are being considered. ... A script allegedly is in the works for a Justin Bieber biopic, a la "8 Mile" (!). ... Tina Fey and Meryl Streep will star in the Stanley Tucci-directed "Mommy & Me." ... Kenneth Branagh is in talks to play Laurence Olivier opposite Michelle Williams' Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn."