We just got a monster tip that comes from one of regular scoopers who enjoys remaining anonymous. While we was dead-on with his insider info on Alien and Predators, he was off on announcing that Neil Marshall would direct Predators (although it’s a known fact that he was in close negotiations). This afternoon I got a phone call from our good pal who tells us he has the names of the first four individuals cast in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete feature film! Read on for the skinny.
What we learned is the following:

Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis are teaming up to begin filming Machete on July 29th. They are co-directors.

–DANNY TREJO is returning (obviously) as “Machete”, the madman bent on revenge.
–MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ (“Lost”, Fast & Furious, Avatar) is said to be playing “Luz”.
–JONAH HILL, the comedian who has starred in such films as Superbad and the forthcoming Adam Sandler comedy Funny People, will play “Julio”.
-Lastly, a legend of our time, ROBERT DE NIRO, will take on the role of “Senator McLaughlin”.

Machete (Trejo) is a Mexican ex-Federale with a gift for wielding a blade, who hides out as a day laborer, who is double-crossed by a corrupt state senator (De Niro). The film was teased as a faux trailer that was directed by Robert Rodriguez in Dimension Films’ Grindhouse, which featured a full-length film from both Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

Obviously, keep this sucker filed under rumor until confirmed.