Hollywood Ink: Single, Irrelevant White Male Seeks Muse

· Their words, not mine: Al Pacino has optioned Philip Roth's recent novel The Humbling for a film adaptation, also roping in Barry Levinson to possibly direct the story of "an aging and irrelevant stage actor who finds hope of renewal through a younger woman." In one of those moments of miraculous Hollywood serendipity, Anna Kendrick's excited agent and a wholly disgusted Manohla Dargis spat their morning coffee onto their desks after hearing the news. [NYT]

In the Heights and Creature from the Black Lagoon get their directors, Paramount milks its library, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.

· Universal locked in This is It director Kenny Ortega to helm its adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical In the Heights, which is expected to feature show creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda reprising his role as a Dominican bodega owner in... well, the Heights. Washington, to be specific. Amazing what ably editing a dead legend's home movies can do for a guy, no? [Variety]

· Universal also is considering hiring Carl Erik Rinsch as director for a planned remake of its 1954 classic Creature From the Black Lagoon; the studio previously worked with Rinsch on the forthcoming Keanu Reeves samurai film (!) 47 Ronin. [BFDealMemo]

· You can't blame Paramount for mining its library for new revenue sources, but selling clips of films online when they're either on YouTube or rippable from DVD for free? I think that's called making an offer you can refuse. [NYT]

· Speaking of Paramount, Thor screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz will once again pair up for the vampire thriller Damn Nation. [THR]