Once again here is Elston with his fantastic Media Recaps...
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA REUTERS
CASTING AND MORE
* Ben Stiller joins MYSTERY MEN with Geoffrey Rush, Hank Azaria, Paul Reubens, Claire Forlani, Lena Olin, William H. Macy and Janeane Garofalo.
* Illeana Douglas joins Kevin Bacon in A STIR OF ECHOES directed by screenwriter David Koepp.
* Actor/writer Eric Bogosian (TALK RADIO) will direct his own SLOW MOTION RIOT adapted from Peter Blauner's novel.
* Fredro Starr joins LIGHT IT UP.
* Mel Gibson will star in THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL for director Wim Wenders. U2's Bono helped write the story.
* Natassja Kinski and Robret Forster star in the low-budget drama THE MAGIC OF MARCIANO. Tony Barbieri directs from his script.
* Julianne Moore is in talks to join Ralph Fiennes and Stephen Rea in World War 2 drama THE END OF THE AFFAIR for director Neil Jordan.
* Amanda Peet signed to star in RASHOMON-like flick JELLO SHOTS.
* Edward Furlong joins KISS pic DETROIT ROCK CITY.
* Gabriel Byrne has renewed his production deal with Phoenix Pictures. He has the drama EARLY BIRD and the comedy THE LYING LAIRD in development as well as TV projects.
* Allison Anders and Kurt Voss (both collaborated on 1988's BORDER RADIO) have wrapped an untitled comedy about the rock business in LA.
* Screenwriter Paul Attanasio will adapt LINDBERGH hoping for Speilberg to direct at Dreamworks.
* ORGAZMO, from the co-creator of "South Park" will remain NC-17 by the MPAA.
* RKO Pictures is producing THE WAY TO SANTIAGO, a 1941 never-produced script by Orson Welles.
* Thomas Schlame (HOW I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER) will direct HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS from adaptation by Bob Dolman (WILLOW). Shooting begins January.
* Robert Loggia joins Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez and Eva Marie Saint in I DREAMED OF AFRICA.
* A retelling of Africa is happening with: Ethan Hawke as Hamlet; Kyle MacLachlan as Claudius; Sam Shepard as the ghost; Julia Stiles as Ophelia; Diane Venora as Gertrude; and Bill Murray as Polonius.
Due to time constraints and my being out of town, the Recap is bulleted this week. I skimmed the top of the news, folks, but feel free to mention anything I missed in VARIETY and HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. I don't include the rumor stuff in the recap, but feel free to mention that too. *** MYSTERY MEN has an incredible cast. Let's hope there's a good script with it. Sometimes too many people will take away from the story, but I'm really excited about this one. *** A new Orson Welles story--never been told? Cool. *** Hamlet retelling...what do you think about this? Have a good one.
Until next week...
Elston Gunn
