Hugh Jackman Gets in the Robotic Ring with Real Steel

· Hugh Jackman is in talks to star in Real Steel, director Shawn Levy's tale of an ex-boxer who must reinvent himself when the boxing circuit is overrun with 2,000-pound robots. In doing so, he becomes a Robot Boxing promoter who restores a mechanized fighter from the junk heap. The underdog battles toward a championship while Jackman's character bonds with the 13-year-old son he never knew he had. Who knew that the sweet spot between Million Dollar Baby and Transformers could be so very, very sweet? [Variety]

Jamie Foxx and Josh Brolin jump aboard new projects, Comcast denies peacock ownership, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.

· Jamie Foxx has joined the cast of Due Date, Todd Phillips's Hangover follow-up about a father-to-be (Robert Downey Jr.) racing cross-country with a slacker acquaintance (Zach Galifianakis) in time for his child's birth. Foxx turns up as Downey's friend who, not coincidentally, once dated his wife (Michelle Monaghan) and still keeps in secret contact with her. Conflict ensues, Galifianakis fake-masturbates the baby... you know the rest. [THR]

· Josh Brolin will take over Sean Penn's role in the drama Cartel, playing a man attempting to protect his son from the violence of Mexico City's drug underworld. Be on your best behavior, Josh! Louisiana tasers are said to have nothing on their Mexican counterparts. [Variety]

· Representatives for Comcast denied yesterday's report that the cable giant had purchased NBC Universal, but offered no comment about the status of negotiations. Their Comcast Entertainment Group subsidiary, meanwhile -- which operates E!, G4 and other channels -- chipped in 39 layoffs to help underwrite a potential down payment. [THR, Variety]

· The Depression-era crime drama The Wettest County in the World has no financing, no studio, and no start date. Naturally, it's time to start casting rumors involving everyone from Shia LaBeouf to Scarlett Johansson. [THR]