Robert Downey Jr. is reportedly "in negotiations" to star in Cowboys and Aliens.  The story is based on a graphic comic book novel released two years ago, though the project has been in development for ten.  I can understand that, because drawing is hard.  That’s why I just make little lower-case M’s everywhere and tell people they’re seagulls.

The story centers on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers, including a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson (Downey), that is interrupted by a spaceship crashing into the prairie near Silver City, Ariz.

The story draws a parallel between the American imperialist drive to conquer the "savage" Indians with its advanced technology and the aliens’ assault on Earthlings, who must join together to survive the invaders’ attack. [THR]

Wow, man, like, deep.  The latest draft of the screenplay was written by Iron Man and Children of Men writers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus.  Look for Fergus’ memoir, Flying High with Hawk to hit stores later this year.