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Gemma Arterton signs on for “Hansel & Gretel,” Costar Jeremy Renner to Cameo in Thor

Variety has announced that Gemma Arterton has been tapped to star in the title role of Paramount Studios’ Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. With roles in last year’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Clash of the Titans, it seems like the actress has found her niche in the fantasy genre. Arterton will co-star with The Hurt Locker’s Oscar nominated Jeremy Renner, who in a different piece of news had already snagged the Hawkeye role for the upcoming The Avengers adaptation, is unconfirmed but possibly will cameo as Hawkeye in a fellow Avengers’ own movie Thor. This comes after insiders shot down chatter of Samuel L. Jackson’s cameo as Nick Fury for Thor.

Back to Hansel & Gretel, in the same Variety report, the story is said to be “set 15 years after the siblings killed the witch who kidnapped them. Hansel and Gretel have now evolved into bounty hunters who pursue witches.” Will Ferrell is listed as one of the producers under the production company behind the film Gary Sanchez Prods while D.W. Harper is on as writer and Dead Snow’s Tommy Wirkola is director. Production begins in Berlin on March 7 of this year.