Congratulations, friends, we’ve made it all the way to Friday! What better way to celebrate than with a slew of news about the latest and greatest cinematic treats coming your way. From the latest on Universal’s movie monster universe to King Arthur finding his Guinevere to Godzilla 2 finding a writer, it’s all here in Movie Morsels.

Universal Monsters

Recently, we’ve reported that Universal is looking to reboot the entirety of its awesome Classic Monsters catalog, presumably with a mind towards creating a shared cinematic universe between them. Well, we don’t know much more about how they’ll connect, but reports are coming in that Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley has been tapped by Universal to write one of the Universal monster movies. Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek, Venom) and Chris Morgan (Fast & Furious) are currently penning a script for a reboot of The Mummy that Kurtzman will also direct. Here’s hoping that we’ll see Billy Bob Thornton as The Creature from the Black Lagoon at some point in early 2017. [Collider]

King Arthur

King Arthur has, at long last, found his Guinevere! Guy Ritchie, aka the last guy you expected to delve into Arthurian legend, has cast Pirates of the Caribbbean‘s  Astrid Bergès-Frisbey in the regal role previously circled by the likes of Felicity Jones and Elizabeth Olsen. Bergès-Frisbey joins the reunited Pacific Rim duo of Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba in the cast, officially making this the handsomest adaptation of Arthurian lore we’ve seen to date. Sorry, Monty Python, but it’s true. [ScreenRant]

Popeye

Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky is back with his first behind-the-scenes look at his feature film version of Popeye. Tartakovsky made his feature film debut by directing Sony’s Hotel Transylvania, and he’s directing the sequel too, which is dropping on September 25, 2015. No word yet on when we’ll see Popeye on the big screen, but I’m already eating me spinach in anticipation. [ComingSoon]

Godzilla

Godzilla may be the King of the Monsters, but for Legendary, Max Borenstein continues to be the King of the Monster screenwriters. The Godzilla scribe isn’t just penning the Tom Hiddleston-starring Skull Island for them, but he’ll also be writing Godzilla 2. The film is set to release on June 8, 2018, but like Violet Beauregarde, we want it NOW. [Deadline]

Ben-Hur

As if Koba weren’t enough of a jerk in this summer’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, actor Toby Kebbell is gearing up for yet another bad guy role in the MGM/Paramount reboot of Ben-Hur. Jack Huston has been cast in the title role, and Morgan Freeman has been cast as chariot trainer Ildarin, leaving the important role of Messala, Ben-Hur’s one-time friend turned bitter rival, to be cast. Well, reports indicate that Timur Bekmambetov has targeted Toby Kebbell to play the villainous role. [Empire]

Big Eyes

Christmas didn’t come early, but an early look at Tim Burton’s forthcoming Christmas Day-releasing drama Big Eyes is here, and that’s reason enough to celebrate. Starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, the film tells the true story of Margaret Keane and her husband Walter Keane, who was credited with changed the face of pop art in the 1950s and ’60s with portraits of waifish children with gigantic eyes. In truth, it was Margaret who painted the pictures, which I’m sure won’t lead to any marital strife at all. [Variety]

Deadpool

Mother of chimichangas, you guys! In case you missed one of yesterday’s biggest stories, we’re getting a Deadpool movie from director Tim Miller in 2016. Find out what this means for Assassin’s Creed and Fantastic Four too! [Nerdist]

London Has Fallen

You know what movie was clamoring for, nay, demanding a sequel? Olympus Has Fallen. The companion piece to White House Down starring Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, and Gerard Butler is set to begin filming on a sequel, London Has Fallen, in just six weeks. The only problem? The director, Frederik Bond, has left the project, leaving producers Mark Gill and Gerard Butler in the lurch to find a replacement in the next 72 hours. The best suggestion I’ve seen so far? The Raid‘s Gareth Evans. Tell me that wouldn’t be freakin’ awesome. [JoBlo]

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Image: Legendary Pictures