After more than 18 months of speculation, it seems that the case is still open on the movie of supernatural-detective comicbook Dylan Dog. With Brandon Routh still clinging on to his lead role of Dylan (originally based by the Italian aritst on Rupert Everett), casting has now been announced for his sidekick Marcus (Fanboys' Sam Huntington) and serial medi-actor Taye Diggs has taken up the role of Dylan's vampire adversary.  

Despite spending most of his working life now playing doctors and nurses on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, Diggs is not a newcomer to horror after his role in House On Haunted Hill, and Empire-favourite thriller Equilibrium opposite Christian Bale.

With a full American cast, and details emerging that shooting is to begin in New Orleans, it is looking more obvious that the film will now be completely set Stateside, although the Italian graphic works were originally set in a gloomy London, and Dylan's assistant was originally called Groucho, after Groucho Marx (hence the name change to Marcus). Whether the hero's distinctive red shirt and blue jeans will survive the translation is yet to be seen, but we do know that Routh feels at home in a red and blue costume, so there shouldn't be too much trouble there.

Original director, Final Destination's David R. Ellis, has given the film up for dead, but TMNT writer Kevin Munroe has assumed the position, and with the new casting announcements and a slated release date of this year, production should well and truly be under way in the very near future.