The latest news on a live-action “Justice League of America” movie still appears to be no forward movement. IGN.com has posted an exclusive video interview with rapper turned actor Common.

Common had reportedly been contracted to portray John Stewart, aka Green Lantern, in the “JLA” film.

According to Common, there’s been absolutely no recent movement on the film but he remains “hopeful” that the film will one day be made and that he’d get the opportunity to play Green Lantern. Watch the IGN video interview with Common right here:

So I found this image circulating around the various Superman related sites out there and it looks pretty real to me. However, I seriously doubt that they got Brandon Routh and Christian Bale signed and shooting scenes already for the Justice League Movie. So I will put it up to a vote (primarily because I can’t decide for myself) if this photo is legit or merely a bad April Fools joke. You be the judge….

Recently the guys at Warner Brothers announced that the Justice League Of America movie is once again back on track for a 2009 release!

The highly anticipated movie will feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter. The film has been on hold since the writers’ strike began in January, but with all that cleared up, the film’s writers, Kieran and Michele Mulroney, are back at work on the script, with a final draft due to be handed in to Miller (who’s currently prepping in Australia) in a couple of weeks.

Adam Brody (The Flash), Armie Hammer (Batman), Common (Green Lantern) and Megan Gale (Wonder Woman) are all back in the frame to star, with rumours currently swirling that D.J. Cotrona will portray Superman.

Warner Bros. is moving aggressively ahead with the bigscreen adaptation of DC Comics’ "Justice League of America," with George Miller aboard to direct.
Project, which is in the initial phases of casting, is a pre-strike priority for the studio, which needs a superhero tentpole for 2009.

Still, making all the pieces fit has been complicated by overlapping superhero projects in the pipeline, since "Justice League" features a pantheon of superheroes including Superman and Batman.

Batman and Superman are active properties for the studio, though the next installment in the "Superman" franchise has taken a backseat to "Justice League" in part because Warners is so keen on the "Justice League" script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney.

Beyond the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel, "Justice League" will likely feature Wonder Woman, the Flash and Aquaman. The Green Lantern is also featured in the comicbook.

Several sources close to the project said that Christian Bale, star of the revived "Batman" film franchise, and Brandon Routh, star of Bryan Singer’s "Superman Returns," would probably not appear in the movie.

Helmer Christopher Nolan, current steward of the "Batman" franchise for the studio, would prefer that Warners delay "Justice League" until after he finishes "Batman" projects in development; Bale has also let his uneasiness about "Justice League" be known.

To work around these issues, the studio explored making "Justice League" as an animated film or with motion capture, but all indications are that the pic will be an f/x-driven live-actioner.

Project is so complicated — and casting-dependent — that even those deeply involved are holding their breath until production begins.

"They’re working very hard to get it to happen," said one party close to the project. "But there are so many characters, it’s complicated."

It was for this very reason that many believed Warners would move ahead first with a follow-up to Singer’s "Superman Returns." Singer, however, is busy with Tom Cruise starrer "Valkyrie."

Miller has a warm relationship with Warners. He last helmed "Happy Feet," which generated $379 million in worldwide box office for the studio.

This project could give the studio a launching pad for future Wonder Woman and the Flash pics. The studio has been developing bigscreen adaptations of both DC properties.