Peter Sarsgaard and Sienna Miller have been cast for the film adaptation of Mysteries of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today.

Sarsgaard, most recently seen in Jarhead, will star as a character that combines two supporting characters in the novel, Arthur and Cleveland. Miller, who stared in Casanova, will play Jane, Cleveland’s girlfriend.

“The only thing that’s holding us back now is figuring out whether we’re shooting in Pittsburgh,” said Michael London, a producer on the project.

Actually, as the Post-Gazette reports, there is a chance the movie may film somewhere other than Pittsburgh due to cost. Please check out their article for all the reasons.

As for the changes from book to film, Chabon told the paper he was fine with them.

“You’re not just making a transcript of the novel with pictures, you’re trying to reinvent the story so it works as a movie,” Chabon said. “I think it’s going to be great.”

Dark Horse Comics has posted online the solicitation for The Escapists #1, the spin-off of the canceled Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist. Here’s what you will (hopefully) get to enjoy July 12:

The Escapists #1

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Philip Bond, Eduardo Barreto
Cover Artist: Frank Miller
Genre: Action/Adventure, Crime

From Pulitzer-winning author Michael Chabon!

Wizard Top Ten and multiple Eisner Award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways) teams with critically acclaimed artists Philip Bond (Vimanarama, Vertigo Pop, Tank Girl) and Eduardo Barreto (Batman, The Long Haul) to deliver this knockout first issue!

Discovering his late father’s decades-spanning vault of Escapist memorabilia at the age of six, Max became a fan of the Master of Elusion almost overnight. After exhausting the extensive stash of Golden and Silver Age comics, he needed more-and started writing his own Escapist stories. Now nineteen, he’s determined to make the character a sensation once again, but where is he going to find an artist-in Cleveland? Meet Maxwell Roth and Case Weaver, latter-day versions of Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay, in part one of The Escapists!

With cover art by multi-platinum superstar Frank Miller kicking off a round robin of stellar cover artists including James Jean and John Cassaday, this launch of the first Escapist miniseries can’t be missed!

• Special Introductory price: $1.00!

• “[Vaughan] turned in a script that caused grown men, or at least one grown man, to weep for joy. It is a script that well meets, and perhaps even exceeds, the expectations raised by the shadow of the parent novel…”

– Michael Chabon

Publication Date: Jul 12, 2006
Format: Full color, 32 pages
Price: $1.00

A book signing in Florida by Michael Chabon scheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the NCAA championship game between the University of Florida and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Chabon’s appearance at the University of Florida’s Hillel Jewish Center was canceled after a conflict arose related to the game, The Gainesville Sun reports. The University of Florida’s Gators face-off against UCLA’s Bruins in tonight’s game.

Oddly, the paper reports Chabon was supposed to be signing his new novel, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. That book doesn’t hit the stands until January 2007.

The Center for Jewish Studies, the event’s sponsor, has no plans to reschedule Chabon.

Original reports had Chabon canceling the appearance personally just to see the game. However, Chabon says that’s just not true.

“That’s crazy,” he told GalleyCat. “I don’t give a shit about basketball!”

He adds: “I have missed WORLD SERIES games because I had a speaking gig, and I love baseball inordinately.”

Chabon’s agent has offered to reschedule, but the school has yet to respond.

Correction: This story originally stated Chabon canceled the event himself, based on what the newspaper article reported. This has since been corrected.

The film adaptation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay recently moved into pre-production, Michael Chabon said Wednesday.

In a posting on his Web site, Chabon said Paramount Picture’s adaptation, produced by Scott Rudin and directed by Stephen Daldry, has begun design work.

“Though the production has by no means been greenlighted, prospects for this long-running, oft-moribund project are suddenly looking better than they ever have before,” Chabon said.

Production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein and costume designer Ann Roth have begun work, Chabon said. The film’s comic book elements, “of which there are many,” is being overseen by Paul Pope.

Casting has also begun, Chabon said, though not roles have been cast yet.

In other news, Chabon confirmed that Dark Horse Comic’s The Escapists, the six-issue limited series spinning-off from the now-canceled Michae Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, will debut this summer.

Writing for Disney’s Snow and the Seven is “ongoing,” Chabon said. And Chabon said The Yiddish Policemen’s Union will hit book stores in January.

“Really. No, really.”