Howard Clan Unites For Hollywood Conquest

· Bryce Dallas Howard co-wrote a screenplay called The Originals, which her father Ron Howard may have in mind as his next project. It's pegged as a "quarter-life crisis," following a group of 20-something former schoolmates who reunite after their influential teacher slips into a mysterious coma. The trades also note that co-writer Dane Charbeneau became engaged to Ron's other daughter while writing; surely Clint Howard's casting as the comatose mentor is inevitable, soon inciting an ugly nepotism-turf skirmish with the Wayanses. [THR]

After the jump: New A-Team casting rumors, David Letterman re-ups, My Name is Earl lives?

· The long-gestating A-Team movie may actually have confirmed cast members by the time you read this. Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are in talks to follow up their respective hits Taken and The Hangover as Hannibal and Faceman, one-half of the 1980s' famed TV mercenary squad coming to the big screen next year. Still to be cast: Howlin' Mad Murdoch (just give it to Zach Galifianakis already) and B.A. Baracus, for whom Movieline will have its own casting session later today. Stay tuned. [Variety]

· Perhaps smelling blood in the fraught late-night waters over at NBC, David Letterman has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him at CBS through at least the 2011-12 season. And expect that to extend by a year when the temptation to utterly own another presidential-election cycle becomes too sweet to withstand. Just saying. [THR]

· Here's one way James Franco can earn an A in his directing seminar at NYU Film School: Commit to starring in the department head's new movie, In Praise of Shadows. [Variety]

· My Name is Earl producers are in the very early stages of negotiating a 13-episode order at TBS. Among the sticking points are whether or not the basic-cable model can afford for a single-camera series, if the stars will accede to a pay cut, and if the show has an audience outside Greg Garcia's extended family. Developing... [THR]

· And this is just sad: After 90 years in business as one of the most ubiquitous post-production houses in Hollywood, Pacific Title is rolling its own end credits this month. [Variety]