Hey folks, Harry here with a cast forming up for Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes Biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio as well... Mr Spruce Goose himself! Given Howard Hughes knew and affiliated with everybody that was anybody, there's an awful lot of casting modern types for gods of long ago...

So far... the most perfect casting has been... Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn... I tremble at the thought of Cate Blanchett bringing Hepburn to life on-screen, because she's just damn near the best actress working today with that ethereal recklessness that Katharine so easily let fly.

Then the oddest casting is Gwen Stefani, taking her feature film debut, as Jean Harlow. Personally... Harlow is one of those screen beauties that defies imitation. Her pre-code wanton sexuality... her tragic early death... her glow. Nobody has that today, certainly not Gwen Stefani. I love Jean Harlow movies desperately... My mom was a Harlow freak and brought me up on RED DUST, CHINA SEAS, DINNER AT 8, PLATINUM BLONDE, LIBELED LADY, BOMBSHELL and RED-HEADED WOMAN. On my own I devoured PUBLIC ENEMY, HELL'S ANGELS, SARATOGA and RIFF-RAFF. If you've never seen her work, it is absolutely great and is more wanton than Marilyn was ever allowed to be... though that unfinished last film's swimming pool scene was right up there. Hehehe... Hell, I even have a LUCKY STRIKES Cigarette Cardboard One-Sheet sized advertisement from the late 30's, where Harlow's endorsement reads:

Anyway... I just don't believe Gwen Stefani will pull a Harlow through the whole shoot, meaning... wear zero undergarments and ice up her nipples before every shot. TRUE STORY FOLKS! Like I said, Harlow ruled!

There's also Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner and Kelli Garner as Faith Domergue.

I hear that John C Reilly is in negotiations to play Hughes' former buisness manager Noah Dietrich

Then there's 3 cast members playing parts that I don't know who they are playing. Like Jude Law, who can be anything. Then there's that PARTY OF FIVE guy... Adam Scott. Lastly an Austin Powers Go-Go Dancer whose real name is Chekesha Van Putten - she was one of the Spartanette cheerleaders in AMERICAN BEAUTY and a Cotton Club Dancer in HOODLUM.

This film's coming together very very nicely. And I'd love to read this John Logan script... There's all sorts of takes one can pursue in bringing Mr. Curvy Nails and Kleenex Shoe Boy to life. There's that Playboy side, but then there's the genius business man and flight innovator... but also the freak. Hopefully they'll focus the film on a period or side of his personality rather than trying to capture it all... Can't wait to see this one!