Variety is reporting that Oscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti (Sideways) has signed with the Sci-Fi Channel to voice the title role in an animated adaptation of Mike Mignola's 2003 Eisner Award-winning comic, Amazing Screw-On Head.  The rest of the vocal cast includes David Hyde Pierce (Emperor Zombie), Molly Shannon (Patience the Vampire) and Patton Oswalt (Mr. Groin).  The Sci-Fi Channel optioned Mignola's comic (published by Dark Horse) last year (see 'Mignola's Amazing Screw-On Head to TV').  The Civil War-era spy saga features loads of intrigue and no small measure of absurdity -- the Sci-Fi Channels Programming VP described it as 'The Wild, Wild West on acid.'

The Sci-Fi Channel is also expected to decide soon whether to pick up the option on an hour-long Painkiller Jane pilot, which is based on the Marvel comic.