Warner Bros. has snagged the rights to bring the Shannara series by Terry Brooks to the silver screen, according to the Hollywood Reporter.  The first book in the series, The Sword of Shannara, made headlines as the first fantasy book to hit and top the New York Times Bestsellers List.  Fans may or may not be pleased to know that the second book in the long-running series, The Elfstones of Shannara, is being considered for the first film.  No writers have been tapped.  Dan Farah will executive produce the project.  We'll bring you more news as it comes in.

Other noises about Hollywood have pegged Brian Helgeland as the new writer on the Russell Crowe vehicle "Nottingham," in which Crowe will play the much-maligned Sherriff of same as a heroic law officer solving a series of murders linked to nefarious outlaw Robin Hood.  Ridley Scott and Brian Grazer are directing and producing respectively.  Since the script reportedly sold the idea to Crowe, and the script is now undergoing rewrites, expect this one to stay in a holding pattern for a while.

Finally, according to Variety, Scott Porter will be joining the cast of "Speed Racer" as Speed's big brother Rex.  (Those of you familiar with the story can work the rest out on your own.)  He is best known for his role as Jason Street in Friday Night Lights.