To paraphrase Mrs Merton (heavily) we wonder what drew James Cameron to the tough, beautiful  and smart Michelle Rodriguez?

James Cameron has just picked Rodriguez and Stephen Lang to join the cast of his epic, 3D digi-sci fi flick Avatar. Lang – who auditioned for Cameron on Aliens, but didn’t end up with a part - plays a Marine Corps colonel who ends up travelling to the distant planet Pandora (bet that name means it’s a bundle of fun) to command his troops.  Rodriguez, meanwhile, is an ex-Marine pilot and someone the director has had his eye on…. “Michelle Rodriguez is someone I've wanted to work with since I saw 'Girlfight' seven years ago,” he enthused to Variety. We’re not sure if she should be thrilled or terrified.

The pair are joining a cast that already includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder and Wes Studi. And given that it’s a complicated hybrid of live action and bleeding edge virtual production with CG characters, we know they’re in for a challenge.

With $190 million to spend, Cameron is already shooting in LA before moving to New Zealand to work with Weta. The film will dazzle us all in 2009. Probably.

source:(Variety)