ROLL CALL: Vin Diesel Talks Possibly Playing A Talking Tree In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans

Has Vin Put Down Roots?: After weeks of speculation, Vin Diesel has come very close to confirming that he’ll star in Marvel’s upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy,” where he’ll play an alien, who looks like a tree and can talk (yes, you read that correctly). After posting a photo of “Guardians” character Groot on his Facebook page, the actor spoke with The Los Angeles Times about possibly taking on the very non-Vin role. “I’m an actor. I can do whatever the … I want. As an actor, not everything has to be the most obvious choice. And sometimes, the best thing you can do — as far as Steven Spielberg and his advice — is to defy expectations. So if everybody thinks you’re going to go for this one thing and you flip it entirely and go for the strangest Marvel character, it’s interesting. And when something is interesting, it’s inspiring,” he told the LA Times’ Hero Complex blog. So has he signed on for the project, which has already begun shooting? “That’s the thing — I’m so busy. The audience wanted Vin and Marvel, Vin and Marvel. But I’m too busy to do a six-month role. So what Marvel came up with was really interesting. … I am watching a social wave influence and in some ways guide their thinking,” the actor, who appears to enjoy referring to himself in the third person, continued. If cast, this role will make for an interesting future appearance on “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” when James Lipton asks his famous, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?” question.

Is That An Engagement Ring We See?: Hayden Panettiere was spotted wearing what TMZ refers to as a “huge diamond” ring. After numerous engagement rumors, does this mean that the actress and boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko are planning a trip down the aisle? Check out the rock!

PHOTOS: Stars Who Got Engaged In 2013

Gaga Is Looking Tiny!: After gaining a few last year, Lady Gaga is back to her svelte self. The singer, who is about to drop her “ARTPOP” album, is showing off her small frame in the pages of V Magazine. Check out a semi-naked and slimmed down Gaga!

Not To Be Outdone In The World Of Topless Stars: “Kick-Ass 2” star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is showing off his work in the gym in the pages of his Men’s Health UK magazine… the rest of Hollywood’s ab-tastic stars have been put on notice!

— Jesse Spero

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