Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Patrick Dempsey: Michael Bay has paged Dr. Shepherd for next year’s Transformers 3. Not much is known about Dempsey’s “darker character,” but the Grey’s Anatomy hunk will reportedly serve as Megan Fox’s boss. That’s probably all he needs to know.

Richare Gere: Brooklyn’s finest will be paired up with Topher Grace in The Double, a film from first-time director Michael Brandt. The thriller centers on the murder of a senator by a Russian assassin. Gere, a retired CIA op, attempts to track down his old foe with help from Grace, an FBI agent.

Dwayne Johnson: I never thought this day would come - the day Dwayne Johnson put down the tutus and entered adult fare again. The Tooth Fairy star is now pumped to board Protection, an action thriller about a Mexico City security operative who has to get the daughter of a judge across the border while avoiding corrupt officials and drug lords. Con Air‘s Simon West will direct.

Drew Barrymore: E.T.‘s former friend has moved on to rescuing marine mammals in Whales, a Universal production to co-star John Krasinski. Ken Kwapis, Drew’s director on He’s Just Not That Into You, will helm the fact-based story about three trapped whales under the ice in the Arctic Circle. A start date has not yet been established.

Kevin James: Paul Blart will write, produce and act in Here Comes the Boom, his latest picture for Sony. The details behind James’ action comedy have not yet been revealed, but it’s believed Salma Hayek may join the project. Adam Sandler, who will not appear, is helping to produce.