Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and the Emmy Award-nominated Will Arnett (Arrested Development) have joined the cast of Legendary Pictures adaptation of DC Comics’ Jonah Hex.  They will join an ensemble that already includes Josh Brolin, John Malkovich and Megan Fox.  Jimmy Hayward is directing the western, which begins shooting in Louisiana in April.

Michael Shannon, who more than held his own with acting heavyweights Kate Winslet and Leonaro DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road, will play Doc Cross Williams, the ringmaster of a bizarre circus gladiatorial show.  Shannon’s character could appear in sequels.  The overall quality of the cast in Jonah Hex testifies to the ability of comic book-based movies to attract top talent, which has certainly been a major factor in the success of films such as Iron Man and The Dark Knight.