Elston files yet another of his marvelous weekly mini-reviews. These are little collections of the breaking stories of the week all put together for your easy access. Father Geek suggests that you print them out. They go great with that Saturday morning espresso and cheesecake, or whatever. So read on geeks, this was the week that was.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Obviously, the biggest news of the week is New Line Cinema's $130m commitment to make the cinema version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS with Peter Jackson (THE FRIGHTENERS) producing and directing. To avoid redundancy I urge you to check out Harry's coverage of this news earlier in the week. Thank you and here is the rest...
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA REUTERS:
CASTING
(signed)
* Tom Berenger is replacing Forest Whitaker, who called in sick, in the Dimension/Millenium drama TAKEDOWN directed by Joe Chappelle (PHANTOMS).
* Rupert Everett will star in the comedy thriller UNCONDITIONAL LOVE by the makers of MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING.
* Emmy Laybourne ("Apartment 2F") has joined Molly Shannon in SUPERSTAR. She will play Mary Katherine Gallagher's best friend.
* Paul Rudd joins Tobey Maguire in THE CIDER HOUSE RULES based on the John Irving novel for Miramax.
* Matthew Lillard (SCREAM) and Kieran Culkin (THE MIGHTY) have joined SHE'S ALL THAT for Miramax.
* Alex Rocco joins the cast of DUDLEY DO-RIGHT.
* Kirk Douglas is going back to work in SUNDOWNING with Dan Aykroyd. Shooting begins Oct.5. Meanwhile, he and son, Michael, are working on the script.
(in talks)
* Angela Bassett is in negotiations to star in TRAUMA for Fox. This love story is set against a New York City emergency room.
(passes)
* Leonardo DiCaprio has passed on AMERICAN PSYCHO, a film based on the horror novel about a psychotic Wall Street banker.
* Mel Gibson has quit his negotiations to star in A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* Former LA Laker Girl Morgan Lawley has signed to direct her debut BABE IN THE WOODS, an offbeat comedy for Universal.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* Britain's Millenium Dome may become a part of the next James Bond film which is set for release in Nov. 1999--directed by Michael Apted (NELL).
RERELEASE OF THE WEEK:
Roberto Rossellini's PAISAN (1946) will be screened at the Venice International Film Festival.
REMAKE OF THE WEEK:
None. Can you believe it?
That's it for the week. Pretty skimpy, but the big LORD OF THE RINGS news makes up for it. Sorry there was not a recap last week. I had no access to a computer. There was nothing I could do. *** Though its not film news, I should mention that New Line Cinema is shopping a primetime animated series version of AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY exec. produced and starring the voice of Mike Myers. This should be cool.
Until next week.
Elston Gunn
