B.J. Novak on the set of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

Continuing his series of photos tweeted daily from the set of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," director Marc Webb revealed that "The Office" star and writer B.J. Novak has joined the cast of the Sony Pictures sequel in an unspecified role. Webb wrote, "A supposed rumor about a Dunder-Mifflin takeover of Oscorp?" The film, which stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti, Chris Cooper and Dane DeHaan, opens May2, 2014.

MAN OF STEEL

According to Ain't It Cool News, persistent rumors that Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor will play a role in Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" appear to be true. According to the website, the "ambitious, ego-driven and cold version" of the classic villain will be played by Mackenzie Grey, who portrayed a Luthor clone on The CW's "Smallville" (a highly unusual choice for such a high-profile role). The film, which stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon, opens June 14.

THE STRAIN

Among the flurry of announcements made Thursday by FX -- a new network called FXX, the "Fargo" miniseries, renewals of "Justified," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and others -- was the announcement that the cable network is moving forward with its adaptation of "The Strain," the vampire novels written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (the trilogy has also spawned a Dark Horse comics series). The pilot, written by del Toro and Hogan, is set to begin production in August. Carlton Cuse ("Lost," "Bates Motel") is executive producing.

KICK-ASS 2

Following character posters for Chloe Grace Moretz as Hit-Girl and Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes, Universal Pictures has has decided it's time for Christopher Mintz-Plasse's The Motherfucker to have his close-up. Based on Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s miniseries and the "Hit-Girl" spinoff, the Jeff Wadlow-directed sequel also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Yancy Butler, John Leguizamo, Donald Faison, Lindy Booth, Andy Nyman, Morris Chestnut and Robert Emms. It opens Aug. 16.

THE SIMPSONS

As Robot 6 noted Thursday, Stan Lee will return to Springfield, playing himself in an episode of "The Simpsons." It marks the 90-year-old creator's second appearance on the long-running Fox series; he in the 13th-season episode "I Am Furious (Yellow)."

Sophie Lowe

ONCE: WONDERLAND

ABC's planned "Once Upon a Time" spinoff now has a title and some of its stars. Deadline reports "Once: Wonderland" has cast English-Sophie Lowe as Alice, Peter Gadiot as her mysterious love interest Cyrus, and Michael Socha as the Knave of Hearts. Although the initial idea was for the spinoff to focus on the Mad Hatter, played on "Once Upon a Time" by Sebastian Stan of "Captain America" franchise fame, it will now be set in a pre-curse Wonderland and told from the perspective of Alice. A four-scene presentation, rather than a full pilot, will be shot early next month after "Once Upon a Time" wraps production.

ONCE UPON A TIME

As Comic Book Resources reported late Thursday, Marvel will publish a graphic novel tie-in to ABC's "Once Upon a Time" that looks at a time in Fairy Tale Land when the Evil Queen enslaved the Huntsman and orders him to kill Snow White. Arriving in September, "Once Upon a Time: Shadow of the Queen" will be be penned by series co-producer Daniel Thomsen and "Star Wars: Legacy" writer Corinna Bechko, with each of the five chapters drawn by a different artist: Nimit Malavia, Vasilis Lolos, Mike Del Mundo, Stephanie Hans and Mike Henderson.

THE WOLVERINELastly, Hugh Jackman tells MTV News that Jean Grey has a "presence" in the film, among other details of the movie:

Directed by James Mangold, Fox's "The Wolverine" opens July 26.