Glenn Close to lead the Nova Corps in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

With production set to begin on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy next month, director James Gunn is starting to finalise the cast for the cosmic superhero ensemble. Earlier this week we heard that John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) has been offered the role of Rhomman Dey, and now Deadline has revealed that Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction, Damages) has been cast as the leader of the Nova Corps, an intergalactic police force.

Close's role is described as similar to that of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and it's thought that she has secured the part ahead of competition from the likes of Hugh Laurie (House), Alan Rickman (Die Hard) and Ken Watanabe (Godzilla). She joins a cast that so far includes Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (Avatar) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax the Destroyer and Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) as Yondu, along with Lee Pace (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) and Ophelia Lovibond (London Boulevard). Several roles are still to be filled, including Guardians members Rocket Raccoon and Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel's final Phase Two offering before The Avengers 2, and is due to hit cinemas on August 1st, 2014.