THE WOLVERINE (News Update)

• THE WOLVERINE TAKES ON A VIPER

The Wolverine -- which is getting a rewrite before it heads before cameras next year -- will have a very badass babe among its cast of characters.

Variety reports that Mark Bomback (Unstoppable, Live Free or Die Hard, Total Recall) has been brought aboard to rewrite the original screenplay penned by Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie.

"Story will find Wolverine suffering from amnesia and searching for answers about his past in the Japanese criminal underworld where he finds both love and tragedy," according to the trade. "The entire cast will be comprised of Japanese and Japanese-American actors except for a newly-expanded character named Viper, who's the Caucasian secretary for Japan's Minister of Justice."

Silver Samurai & Viper

Marvel reminds us that Viper, who was also known as Madame Hydra when she was part of the HYDRA organization, "found a mentor in Seraph, adventurer and guardian against the ninja clan the Hand. The two once helped rescue Wolverine (then called Logan or Patch) from Sabretooth, and he also became Seraph's pupil. Before Seraph passed away, she bade Wolverine to swear an oath of loyalty to Viper" Viper later reminded Wolverine of his debt of honor to Seraph and married Viper so that she could seize power in the island nation of Madripoor.