Paulson has Spirit

Frank Miller has added a bunch of new actors to his upcoming feature directorial debut THE SPIRIT including some classic TV actors. Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi join the already cast Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes. Paulson, the best thing about the failed NBC series “Studio 60” (though is that really even a compliment?), will star as the Spirit’s true love Ellen Dolan. Lauria, best known as Kevin Arnold’s dad on “The Wonder Years” will play the police commissioner and Louis Lombardi (the late, great Edgar from “24”) will star as Phobos, a henchman of the Octopus (Jackson). Katic will play a cop while Simmons will play a younger version of our hero. Filming is set to begin this October in New Mexico, shot entirely at Albuquerque Studios. I wonder how much of THE SPIRIT will be shot like previous Miller adaptations SIN CITY and 300 and how much will be traditional filmmaking. Lionsgate will release SPIRIT here in the US and a summer 2009 release is planned.