First thing’s first: Penélope Cruz has been locked for Ridley Scott‘s The Counselor, and is now amongst a cast led by Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt. (This confirms a rumor that had circulated in April.) In the Cormac McCarthy-penned thriller, she’ll play Laura, fiancée of the titular lawyer who finds himself caught up in the drug trade after making a few bad business decisions. Production has been eyed for a late summer or early fall commencement, after which a 2013 release is expected to follow.

Now, when it comes to speculation, Deadline reports that Cruz is looking to reteam with Pedro Almodóvar — her director on Volver, Broken Embraces, All About My Mother, and Live Flesh — and take an undisclosed part in his next picture, Standby Lovers. The film, described as a dark comedy, revolves around “a group of airplane passengers traveling to Mexico City who are provoked into colorful confessions when they are placed in a life-threatening situation.”

Since The Skin I Live In was Almodóvar‘s first film since 2004′s Bad Education not to feature Cruz, the reunion was somewhat inevitable; much as that last film was admired, most are probably glad it’s actually coming to fruition. Javier Cámara (Talk to Her), Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother), Lola Dueñas (Volver) José María Yazpik (The Burning Plain), Carlos Areces (Extraterrestrial), Raúl Arévalo, and Paz Vega will also star in the film.

Which pairing of Cruz’s are you more excited to see?