Good Morning readers, Father Geek here with Elston's review of Hollywood news for this week. Several interesting bits of info this week.

Happily Traci Lords will be returning to join Wesley Snipes in director Guillermo del Toro's BLADE 2, we saw way too little of her in the 1st installment of this saga to suit Father Geek. I really like the way this flick is shaping up.

Also Neil Jordan optioning Peter Carey's very fine novel THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG about the 1800's Irish/Australian bandit/revolutionary Ned Kelly has sparked my interest alot. Years ago when I was a senior in high school I read Kelly's personal journal he kept in prison while waiting to hang, and it fired ol' Father Geek's imagination. A few years later in 1970 Tony Richardson made his drive-in hit, NED KELLY with Mick Jagger in a straight up action/dramatic role portraying Ned as a well meaning if some what unlucky folk hero. Its not a Great motion picture, but I found it an interesting and fun one, and local Austin badboy outlaw country singer Waylon Jennings does a good job with the once blacklisted folk/"call to arms" song THE WILD COLONIAL BOY. Bob Chitty played Ned Kelly in 1951's GLENROWAN AFFAIR which I've never seen, and in 1993 he was protrayed again on the big screen in a not very good RECKLESS KELLY. Father Geek caught a pretty good TV treatment of the legend back in 77 that was called THE TRAIL OF NED KELLY. Yeah, Father Geek will be watching for this one! Neil is perfect to do the legend justice.

Well, enough of Father Geek. Refill that cup of expresso, grap another roll and sit back and review the week that was in Hollywood...

CASTING
* Damon Wayans is in talks to join Lisa Kudrow in MARCI X for Paramount Pictures and director Richard Benjamin about a spoiled Jewish princess who takes over her father's hard-core rap label. Paul Rudnick (IN & OUT) scripted.
* James Gandolfini will join Robert Redford and Mark Ruffalo in Rod Lurie's THE CASTLE for Warner Bros. about a court-martialed general who is sent to prison and takes on a corrupt warden to be played by Gandolfini. Production begins March 19 in Nashville.
* Jackie Chan will star in Buena Vista's/Spyglass Entertainment's SHANGHAI KNIGHT, a sequel to SHANGHAI NOON. Production on the project will probably commence after the threatened strikes.
* Jennifer Aniston is in talks to star in THE GOOD GIRL for director Miguel Arteta, producer Matthew Greenfield and writer Mike White (all from CHUCK & BUCK). Shooting begins in March and will tell the story of a young woman who works as a small town discount store clerk and has an affair with the new cashier because she is unhappy with her infertile husband. She and her new boyfriend try to steal money from the store's safe only to have him killed by a security guard.
* Haley Joel Osment will voice the young bear in Disney's THE COUNTRY BEARS for director Peter Hastings. Production begins next month.
* Courtney Love joines the cast of WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD for filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo and producers Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney. Shooting begins in April in Cleveland. It's about a group of working-class guys who try to rob a pawn shop. Jennifer Esposito, Louis Guzman and Isaiah Washington also star.
* Debra Messing, Will Patton, Lucinda Jenney and Alan Bates will join Richard Gere and Laura Linney in the thriller THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES for director Mark Pellington and Lakeshore Entertainment. Production begins Jan. 24 in Pittsburgh. It's about a reporter investigating a series of strange supernatural events in a small West Virginia town. Richard Hatem adapted the true story documented by journalist John A. Keel.
* Anthony Hopkins will star opposite Chris Rock in BLACK SHEEP for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It's about a guy's whose secret agent twin is killed by the enemy and he has to finish his brother's mission. Jason Richman scripted.
* Britney Spears will make her feature debut in an untitled pic for director Tamra Davis about three childhood pals (a straight A student, a cheerleader and a burnout) who are heading in different directions. They get together and take a road trip across the country and meet a musician who encourages them to come to L.A. to compete in a musical contest. Shaonda Rhimes wrote the script to be produced by Filmco and Jive Records. Shooting begins in March.
* Kurt Russell in talks to potentially star in MGM's BASIC INSTINCT 2 opposite Sharon Stone. If the producers do not cast a male lead soon, the project will likely be shelved.
* Rachel Griffiths is in talks to star opposite Dennis Quaid in THE ROOKIE for director John Lee Hancock about a baseball coach who tries out for the major leagues. Mike Rich penned the script.
* Catherine O'Hara and Lily Tomlin join Colin Hanks in ORANGE COUNTY for director Jake Kasdan and MTV Films. Mike White (CHUCK & BUCK) wrote the script. about a high schooler who wants to go to Stanford University, but his hopes are shattered when his guidance counselor accidentally sends out the wrong transcripts.
* Tim Allen is in advance talks to star in PUBLIC ENEMY for Disney and JOE SOMEBODY for Fox. Both films are expected to begin shooting before the threatened strikes.
* John Cusack will star in and produce COSMIC BANDITOS, based on the upcoming republished novel by A.C. Weisbecker. It's about a group of Colombian marijuana smugglers on the run in the jungle. One of them is an American expat who, through the laws of subatomic physics, realizes that their lives are governed by particles. It's being written for the screen by Abbe Wool (SID AND NANCY) and Jimmy Fishman (DESPARATE BUT NOT SERIOUS producer) for the Shooting Gallery.
* George Clooney is in talks to star in THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE about a professor/capital punishment activist who is put on death row after being convicted of murdering another activist. Alan Parker will direct the Universal picture as well as produce alongside Nicolas Cage, who is in talks to play a small role.
* Jon Voight will play Howard Cosell, Paul Rodriguez is set to portray fight physician Dr. Ferdie Pacheco and Jada Pinkett Smith has been cast as Muhammad Ali's first wife Sonji Roi in Columbia's ALI for director Michael Mann. Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Mario Van Peebles, Mykelti Williamson and Ron Silver star in the biopic written by Stephen Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson.
* Johnny Depp is now in final talks to play Chuck Barris in CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND with George Clooney in negotiations to play CIA recruiting agent Jim Byrd. Bryan Singer will direct the film for Renaissance Films.
* David Krumholtz (SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK) and Milla Jovovich will star in the romantic comedy YOU STUPID MAN for writer/director Brian Burns (brother of filmmaker Ed Burns). It's about a guy who goes on a blind date with the maid of honor in his friend's wedding after being dumped by his famous girlfriend. Denise Richards and William Baldwin also star.
* Kevin Costner is set to work again with director Ron Shelton on the drama pic TWO GUYS ON THE JOB for Beacon Communications. Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon (THE HURRICANE) wrote the script about two cops who were once partners/best friends, but are now enemies. They ultimately have to work out their disputes in order to save their lives.
* Kim Basinger will have a small role in the Southfork Pictures pic PEOPLE I KNOW starring Al Pacino. Dan Algrant directs the pic about a Gotham publicist. Tea Leoni may join the cast as well.
* Traci Lords (BLADE, CRY BABY) and Tcheky Karyo (THE PATRIOT, GOLDENEYE) join Wesley Snipes in BLADE 2 for director Guillermo del Toro.
* Ben Foster (LIBERTY HEIGHTS, GET OVER IT) joins BLACK HAWK DOWN for director Ridley Scott. Josh Hartnett and Tom Sizemore also star.
* Alan King and Stephen Sable join the cast of RUSH HOUR II with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Brett Ratner directs.
* Charlize Theron will star and Courtney Love is in final talks to join her in the action-thriller 24 HOURS for director Luis Mandoki and the Canton Co./Senator Entertainment AG. It's about a doctor and his wife who take matters in their own hands when their daughter is kidnapped. Production is expected to begin in March. Mandolin Entertainment and Propaganda Pictures are also producing the pic written by Greg Iles.

DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* Milos Forman will direct a feature about the life and times of Spanish painter Francisco Goya for producer Saul Zaentz. Production is not expected to begin until the spring or summer of 2002 in Spain. Michael Weller (RAGTIME, HAIR) will write the script chronicling the life of Goya, his art, politics and being a target of the Inquisition.
* Writer/director Neil Jordan has optioned, and may adapt, Peter Carey's novel THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG about a 19th century Australian bandit named Ned Kelly who is portrayed more as a folk hero than a criminal. Jordan and Stephen Woolley will produce the project.
* Peter Hewitt (THE BORROWERS) will direct the Pathe Pictures film THUNDERPANTS about a boy who achieves fame by breaking wind. He later finds himself on death row, but then soon attempts to fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut. Shooting begins in April.
* McG (CHARLIE'S ANGELS) will produce and direct the action project AIRSHOW about two fighter pilots from the Gulf War. One becomes a pilot for United Airlines while the other joins a militia group. The two ultimately meet again and duke it out at the world's largest airshow in Chicago. The director is also developing the military thriller DREADNAUGHT and a sequel to CHARLIE'S ANGELS.
* Doug Ellin (KISSING A FOOL) will write and direct the comedy PLEDGE for Miramax about three buddies who want to pledge a fraternity and the hijinks that ensue.
* Ang Lee will direct Universal's big screen adaptation THE INCREDIBLE HULK based on the Marvel comic book character. David Hayter's (X-MEN) script is said to have made Lee's mind up to do the pic which will be set in Berkeley, CA. It centers on scientist Bruce Banner and his alter ego, the green misunderstood monsterous Hulk. Banner/Hulk is being pursued by the military while he tries to take down evildoers. A love story between Banner and a colleague is also in the story. Universal is hoping for a summer 2003 release.

MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* Ed Zwick has exited the director's chair on Paramount's psychological thriller ABANDONED to star Katie Holmes, though he is still attached to produce. Shooting begins March 1. Writer Stephen Gaghan (TRAFFIC) may take over helming duties.
* Constantin Film is close to purchasing the rights of the 1981 German novel PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER by Patrick Suskind. It's the story of an 18th-century serial killer perfume maker. Suskind once wanted Stanley Kubrick to make it and wasn't willing to negotiate the rights until now.
* Producer Walter Latham (THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY) has three projects in development at Paramount/MTV Films: PIMP PASTY, scripted by Bradley Allenstein (upcoming JUWANNA MANN) and Robert Henny, about the rise and fall of a white rapper; a romantic comedy o star Mo'Nique ("The Parkers"); and another untitled project about three coeds who kidnap a rap star hoping to teach him the proper way to treat women, but each start to fall for him.
* Choreographer-director Rob Marshall has dropped out of helming Disney's live action/animated romantic comedy ENCHANTED due to creative differences. The project is about a girl who lives in an animated world and wants to marry a prince, but is banished to the "real' world.

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Good Morning readers, Father Geek here with Elston's review of Hollywood news for this week. Several interesting bits of info this week.

Happily Traci Lords will be returning to join Wesley Snipes in director Guillermo del Toro's BLADE 2, we saw way too little of her in the 1st installment of this saga to suit Father Geek. I really like the way this flick is shaping up.

Well, enough of Father Geek. Refill that cup of expresso, grap another roll and sit back and review the week that was in Hollywood...

User login

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