Claws in his contract
Hugh Jackman wants Wolverine to join "The Avengers." "There's a great dysfunction among that team, and I think Wolverine would fit right into that. He'd like that," he said. "There's no doubt he'd get in a fight with Hulk at some point. Those two bad, rage-filled characters are going to square off at some point. It would be quite fun. But I don't know how much fun to shoot it would be." After much talk of retiring the character, Jackman apparently is willing to don the epic facial hair in perpetuity.
Band of brothers
The Coen brothers reportedly will do a rewrite of the untitled Tom Hanks-Steven Spielberg Cold War thriller that's been gestating for several years. … Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, who directed "Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban," is "deep in talks" to direct the Potter spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." … Bill Murray will play a has-been music manager in "Rock the Kasbah," also starring Danny McBride, Kate Hudson and Zooey Deschanel.
Ratings wrap-up
Ratings for "The Maya Rudoph Show" were good enough to inspire further forays into the variety-show format, sources say. … One night later, the performance finale for "American Idol" earned the show's lowest ratings. … NBC finished first for the year in the coveted key demographics for the first time since 2004.
Maybe it needs Uggie?
Michel Hazanavicius' follow-up to "The Artist" was booed at Cannes, with critics calling the Chechen war drama "platitudinous," "labored," "self-important" and "disappointing," with one saying "it starts to feel like punishment."
CYNTHIA DICKISON
