Two long-standing comics properties are on the drawing board for big-screen adaptations: The Avengers and the Justice League of America, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Zak Penn, the same hand behind upcoming Marvel flick "The Incredible Hulk," is going to write the screenplay adaptation of The Avengers.  The comic brought together some of the top-tier heroes from the Marvel pantheon, including Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, She-Hulk, the Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Black Panther, Wasp, and Dr. Strange, among many others.  Several of these are already seeing the light of day ("Hulk") or are in development right now ("Iron Man," "Ant-Man" and "Thor").  Marvel says it is planning on taking these movies to market before doing an Avengers film, in order to establish the characters to audiences before the team-up.

On the other side of town, Warner Bros. has already given an okay to a draft script penned by Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney bringing the Justice League of America to the silver screen.  The JLA's roster has changed over the years, but has included Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Black Canary and Aquaman, not to mention whoever the current Green Lantern is at any particular time.  Since big-screen offerings aer already in the works for many of these characters, Warners might take a page from the Marvel book and cast the same actors for the roles in order to build a sense of continuity.  (Or they could cast the Smallville folks.  Whatever.)