Cinefantastique Online

Eva Mendes, who co-starred in the supernatural comic book hit GHOST RIDER, has signed on to appear in Frank Miller’s THE SPIRIT. The cast already includes Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson. Graphic novelist Miller, whose work inspired the blockbuster hit 300, will write and direct the film; he previously co-directed SIN CITY with Robert Rodriguez. The story follows a young cop who fakes his own death so that he can become an anonymous vigilante (a la Batman). Financed by Lionsgate and Odd Lott, the film is scheduled to begin shooting in October at New Mexico’s Albuquerque Studios.

Miller’s previous movie credits include the screenplay for ROBOCOP 2, and his seminal graphic novels THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and BATMAN YEAR ONE inspired both Tim Burton’s 1989 BATMAN and 2005’s BATMAN BEGINS.