Maggie Q, best known for her action pics ("Mission Impossible III," "Live Free or Die") has been cast in "Nikita," The CW's pilot that updates Luc Besson's sci-fi spy-action "La Femme Nikita" franchise. She will be the first actress with Asian roots (her mom is Vietnamese) to topline the Nikita stamp, playing a spy replacing the one who goes rogue.

It's the role originated by Anne Parillaud in the 1990 film, replayed by Bridget Fonda in the 1993 reboot, "Point of No Return," and Peta Wilson in the 1997 USA Network cable series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CW premise of a new Nikita being trained to replace the original enabled creator Craig Silverstein a chance to go against the stereotype and make the lead "beautiful and exotic," which Maggie Q is. Behind the scenes, the celebrated McG is an executive producer. ...

Anthony Ruivivar, the acting son of Society of Seven founder Tony Ruivivar, has a role in "The Adjustment Bureau," a sci-fi romance-adventure directed by George Nolfi ("Ocean's Thirteen," "The Bourne Ultimatum" and the upcoming Bourne-again No. 4). The film stars Matt Damon, playing a congressman on the brink of political stardom, and Emily Blunt, a ballerina. Daniel Dae Kim, Jin of "Lost," also is in the film, as a staffer of the bureau of the title. ...

Other castings with Isle implications: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," has found its evil pirate Blackbeard in Ian McShane, who'll challenge Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow in the fourth of the franchise shooting in Hawai'i this summer. McShane is best known for HBO's "Deadwood."

And Len Wiseman, who did 2007's "Live Free and Die Hard" action pic, will direct CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" reboot. Buzz is that the governor will be female, a la Lingle. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Sorry to report the death of Ethel Walker, longtime secretary and "mom" to the Society of Seven and mother of Karen Ruivivar, spouse of SOS leader Tony Ruivivar. Walker collapsed in her Las Vegas apartment Monday and died later in a hospital. A remembrance celebration was held Thursday at Bear's Best golf club in Las Vegas; "She wants her ashes scattered at Strawberry Fields Forever in Central Park," said Ruivivar. ...

Singer Jimmy Borges lost his mom, who died in Palm Springs earlier this month, while he was in San Francisco. "My mom went from hale and lucid to nonfunctioning in two months," he said. "My brothers, my sister and I will celebrate her life this summer; she died proud and fulfilled because we've all had fruitful lives," said Borges. ...

Meanwhile, Borges and wife Vicki will head to Albuquerque for a March 6 Frank Sinatra tribute concert,where he will be shoo-be-doo-be-doing with maestro Matt Catingub. . ...

RANDOM NOTES: Executive chef Ivan Pahk, of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar Maui, just turned 40 last Sunday and finished No. 12,377 in the recent Great Aloha Run— smack dab in the middle of the pack (2 hours, 15 minutes). "It felt great," he said of his accomplishment. To celebrate, "I went right to d.k. Steak House and 'mauled' a rib-eye," he said. Spoken like a truly elated chef. ...

Get ready for the Portuguese Kings of Comedy Tour, pairing — for the first time — Frank DeLima and Augie T. The launch pad will be March 5, at the Palace Theatre in Hilo; tickets are $20 ($25 at the door), available at the Palace, 38 Haili St. Other stops are planned, including a March 19 show at the Sheraton Poipu on Kaua'i, with more dates to follow. Information: 934-7010, kma.productions808@yahoo.com. ...

Hey, understand there are a couple of real standouts in Army Community Theatre's "A Chorus Line," playing Fridays and Sundays. Check it out! ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com. Read his blog in Friday's TGIF section and at www.showandtellhawaii.honadvblogs.com.