Jessica Biel has already ingratiated herself to the geek audience with roles in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Blade: Trinity," "The A-Team" and this August's "Total Recall," and now she may score the ultimate prize: A supporting part in the "X-Men" universe.
As first reported by Twitch Film -- and later confirmed by Deadline.com -- Biel is in negotiations to join Hugh Jackman in "The Wolverine" as Viper.
UPDATE: Oops! According to Collider, Biel won't star in "The Wolverine" after talks between the actress and Twentieth Century Fox broke down. The studio is looking for another actress to play Viper. The original story continues below.
Interestingly, Viper was also known as Madame Hydra because of her close ties with H.Y.D.R.A., the villainous group of Marvel baddies that Captain America fought in "Captain America: First Avenger." However how much connection she has to H.Y.D.R.A., S.H.I.E.L.D. and good ol' Cap in "The Wolverine" is as yet unclear -- despite both being Marvel properties, "Captain America" was distributed by Paramount and Disney; "The Wolverine" is property of Twentieth Century Fox.
Meanwhile, in the X-Men stories, Viper blackmails Wolverine into marrying her during a particularly nefarious plot. How that figures into the plot of "The Wolverine" also remains to be seen. (For more on Viper, head over to her extensive Marvel bio.)
One thing is for sure: Biel will participate in the Sony panel for "Total Recall" at Comic-Con on Friday. She's also playing Vera Miles in "Hitchcock," a new film about the making of "Psycho." Anthony Hopkins stars as the famed director in the drama.
For more on Biel and Viper, head over to Twitch.
[via Twitch]
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