Casting About: Octavia Spencer Will Pretend to Find Russell Brand Funny

• Octavia Spencer is one of those actresses who's been in a lot of projects in small roles: "Seven Pounds," "Halloween II," "Drag Me to Hell," "Dinner for Schmucks," "Being John Malkovich." But now the chances are pretty good you'll remember her from "The Help," which she's great in. Now she's signed up for that untitled Diablo Cody movie with Russell Brand and Julianne Hough. Like with "The Help," we assume she will help cure racism with this film. [Showblitz/Variety]

• It may not end up being great, but director Roman Coppola's "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charlie Swan III" definitely sounds intriguing simply because it stars Charlie Sheen as a suave ladies' man who has to reevaluate his life. (This is known in the acting world as "stretching.") The project just got more intriguing now that "Parks and Recreation" star Aubrey Plaza has joined the cast. Sheen's probably going to hit on her, right? [Variety]

• "Pitch Perfect," a comedy about a cappella college competitions -- it's like "Glee" without the backing music! -- has just added Utkarsh Ambudkar and Brock Kelly to the cast. Ambudkar is part of a group called the Beatards. Their debut album's cover art is pretty hilarious. [Variety]