The latest geek movie roundup kickstarts the spring thaw...

The cinematic outing for Batgirl has landed screenwriter Christina Hodson according to TheWrap. Hodson, who worked on the script for Transformers spinoff Bumblebee (see “'Bumblebee' Writer Tackling Harley Spinoff”), steps in after the departure of Joss Whedon (see “Joss Whedon Exits 'Batgirl'”). A new director has not yet been named.

Sue Kroll, who stepped down from a 24-year stretch at Warner Bros. amidst an executive shake-up in January, has launched her own production company, Kroll & Co. Entertainment. Her first projects as producer will be The Six Billion Dollar Man (see “Disney Calls Dibs on Dates for MCU, 'Six Billion Dollar Man' And 'The Crow' Set Dates, Kristen Wiig In Talks For 'Wonder Woman 2'”) and an adaptation of Mark Millar’s Nemesis, which is being developed by Ridley Scott and Jules Daly (via The Hollywood Reporter). This marks significant forward motion for Nemesis, which had the late director Tony Scott attached to direct at one point (see “Fox Acquires Millar & McNiven's 'Nemesis'”) and has been stalled for the last few years.

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) has signed an overall deal with Fox Searchlight, according to THR. Under the deal, del Toro will write, produce, and direct live-action features, and the studio will create a new label for horror, sci-fi, and fantasy projects.

Colin Treverrow will return to Jurassic World to direct the third film in the rebooted franchise, as confirmed by Stephen Spielberg to Entertainment Weekly. Treverrow co-wrote and directed the 2015 film that relaunched a thousand dinosaurs (see “'Jurassic World' Thunders to Worldwide Record Debut”) and co-wrote the followup, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which is directed by J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls, The Orphanage) and bows on June 22 (see “First ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Trailer”). Universal previously announced that Treverrow would co-write the Jurassic World 3 script with Emily Carmichael (see “Brian K. Vaughan to Pen Silver Surfer Film, Minn-Erva Cast, Writer for 'Danger Girl,' More 'Jurassic World'”). Treverrow was attached to direct Star Wars: Episode IX, but he parted ways with the studio late last year (see "'Star Wars' Parts Ways With Another Director").

Margo Martindale (Sneaky Pete, The Americans), Bill Camp (Red Sparrow, The Leftovers), and Brian d’Arcy James (13 Reasons Why) have been added to the cast of New Line’s adaptation of Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle’s The Kitchen, reports THR. Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss lead the cast of the film, which adapts the Vertigo series about the wives of mobsters who take over business after their husbands are arrested (see “'Daphne and Velma,' Steampunk 'Oz,' 'Danger Girl,' 'Detective Pikachu,' 'The Kitchen,' 'Super Mario'” and “'X-Men: Dark Phoenix' Reshoots, 'Captain Marvel,' 'Deadpool 2' Poster, 'Rom, 'Indiana Jones 5'”). In the film, Martindale will run the Irish mob, Camp with be the boss of a Brooklyn Italian crime family, and James will play McCarthy’s husband.

Narcos and Game of Thrones star Pedro Pascal has been added to the cast of Wonder Woman 2 (via THR). No details on his role were revealed. He joins star Gal Gadot and Kristen Wiig, who is playing Cheetah in the 1980s-set film (see “Disney Calls Dibs on Dates for MCU, 'Six Billion Dollar Man' and 'The Crow' Set Dates, Kristen Wiig in Talks for 'Wonder Woman 2'”). Patty Jenkins is returning to direct the film, which will be in theaters on November 1, 2019 (see “Best in Shows--Q4 2019”).