Hollywood Ink: Salma Hayek, Maggie Grace Going Faster?

· The Dwayne Johnson action thriller Faster is close to locking down its leading ladies, with Maggie Grace having signed on in an undisclosed role and Salma Hayek reportedly close behind. Billy Bob Thornton had previously joined the cast as a veteran cop who follows Johnson's ex-con on his quest to avenge his brother's killing; shooting begins next month in L.A., so watch for falling Rocks. (Sorry, it's Friday.) [Variety]

Your favorite Sonic Youth album becomes a movie (kind of), Thor recruits yet another Oscar alum, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.

· Be honest: When you listen to Sonic Youth's classic 1988 double-album Daydream Nation, isn't Kat Dennings playing a disaffected high schooler who has an affair with a teacher (Josh Lucas) before moving on to a relationship with a drug addict pretty much the first thing that pops into your head? Oh. Well, anyway, that's the basic plot of the developing indie that took the album's name; Dennings inked her deal this week. [Variety]

· Thor isn't done casting yet, nor is it done casting well: Oscar-nominated Babel actress Adriana Barraza has joined an ensemble that already includes Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, all to be directed by Kenneth Branagh. Barraza will play just another human dealing with the Earth-bound God of Thunder; shooting begins next week. [THR]

· In your young-adult-horror-opus-adaptation news of the day, R.L. Stine's The Sitter -- about a young nanny watching a 4-year-old who's quite possibly haunted -- has been optioned for the screen by Furst Films. [Variety]

· Finally, this just sounds unspeakably cool: Unbeknownst to pretty much anybody today but a few erstwhile colleagues, late director Sydney Pollack led a three-man crew that filmed Aretha Franklin's 1972 recording sessions for her gospel masterpiece Amazing Grace. One of those colleagues unearthed the 20 hours of footage and is now editing the footage into a concert film. Just read the story, it's excellent. [Variety]