The daily gossip: Armie Hammer says he doesn't want to play Batman, and more

1. Armie Hammer doesn't want to play Batman

The news that Batman would be squaring off against Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel has led to feverish speculation about which actor will don the cape and cowl after Christian Bale's critically acclaimed turn. But one fan-favorite choice has preemptively removed himself from the list: Armie Hammer. "I'm not actually a big fan of superhero films," said Hammer. "If you have a guy who is supposed to be invincible, what's the point?" It's hard not to take Hammer seriously when you consider the grounded, realistic characters he has played, like the Lone Ranger. [Metro]

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2. Universal greenlights another Matt Damon-less Bourne movie

Good news: We're getting another Bourne movie! Bad news: It's one of those Matt Damon-less Bourne movies nobody likes as much. According to Deadline, screenwriter Anthony Peckham has been hired to script an as-yet untitled Bourne movie, with Jeremy Renner stepping into the lead role once again — so we can officially start calling him a "Bourne again." [Deadline]

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3. Kelly Clarkson bought one of Jane Austen's rings, and the U.K. doesn't like it

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a pop star in possession of a good fortune must be in want of memorabilia the rest of us could never afford — which is why American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson recently spent more than $225,000 to purchase a ring that belonged to Jane Austen. But not everyone is pleased that one of three pieces of jewelry known to belong to the British icon will be in the hands of an American. According to the BBC, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has asked a bidder to come forward and offer more money so the ring can be "saved for the nation" — a move that comes with copious amounts of both pride and prejudice. [BBC]

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4. Walking Dead-themed editions of Risk and Monopoly are on the way

The Walking Dead is a massive, massive hit, which can only mean one thing: Lots of nonsensical marketing tie-ins! Earlier today, Hasbro announced that it would be releasing special versions of two board games pegged to the zombie franchise: Risk, which makes a modicum of sense, and Monopoly, which makes no sense at all. Dead-heads interested in passing Go and collecting a severed zombie head can pick up the games when they're released in September. [Paste Magazine]

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5. It's Friday, so here's Mel Gibson wearing a cape

Earlier today, Ellen DeGeneres announced that she'll be hosting the Academy Awards next year — and just a few hours later, we got a glimpse of a surefire Best Picture contender. The latest trailer for Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills features Michelle Rodriguez with an eyepatch, Sofia Vergara with a machine gun brassiere, and Mel Gibson with a cape and a sword. It's exactly as stupid as it sounds. But hey, it's Friday, you've earned it. [Entertainment Weekly]