Elston Gunn is back again with another of his wonderful WEEKLY RECAPS of the news and views from the world of Variety and the Hollywood Reporter. Helps keep it all real for us in the reel world. Hoo hoo (Daffy Duck laugh) Now on to Elston my dear man...
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA REUTERS
CASTING
(signed)
CASTING
(signed)
* Mariah Carey joins THE BACHELOR with Chris O'Donnell.
* Ann-Margret joins Oliver Stone's ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (or THE LEAGUE).
* Nicollete Sheridan will have a role in CREATING KALI.
* Ryan O'Neal is among the cast in the indie bank robber pic GENTLEMAN B.
* Method Man will star in BUNDY about a deaf-mute who becomes a drug courier between rival gangs. Bill Duke (HOODLUM) directs. Frank Vincent and Raekwon (also of Wu-Tang Clan) will star in LUCKY MAN.
* Sean Connery will star in FINDING FORRESTER about a reclusive writer who forges a relationship with an underpriveleged young black writer.
* Alan Cumming (EYES WIDE SHUT), Josh Hamilton (THE HOUSE OF YES), Matt Keeslar (THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO) and Dan Futterman (THE BIRDCAGE) will star in indie black comedy pic URBAN FOLK TALES.
(in talks)
* Arnold Schwarzenegger is in talks to reprise his famous cyborg role in a third installment of the TERMINATOR franchise. James Cameron plans to write and produce, but, so far, not direct.
* John Travolta is currently eyeing 3 projects: FAMILY MAN (once with director Curtis Hanson and Nic Cage attached) about a banker who has the chance to relive his life as a father; COMMON GROUND, about an elite crime-fighting force following a killer at an airport; BATTLEFIELD EARTH based on the L. Ron Hubbard book.
* Gretchen Mol is close to a deal to star in Paul Schrader's (TOUCH) FOREVER MINE opposite Joseph Fiennes.
DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* Steven Soderbergh is in talks to direct the tentatively titled ERIN BROCKOVICH PROJECT, a possible starring vehicle for Julia Roberts. The story centers on a single mother who works for an attorney and uncovers a corporate cover-up of a toxic spill.
* Kevin Allen (upcoming JE M'APPELLE CRAWFORD) will write, produce and direct the comedy-thriller R.V. about an 8-wheel recreation vehicle which lets elderly folks be hip.
* Phillip Stark (former assistant on "South Park") sold his scipt DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? to Alcon. It's a story of two slackers waking up to hangovers and a missing car.
* Stuart Blumberg (upcoming KEEPING THE FAITH directed by Edward Norton) will adapt for the screen Samuel Wilson Fussell's book MUSCLE: MEMOIRS OF AN UNLIKELY BODYBUILDER for Universal.
* Bob Drury's upcoming book THE P.J.'S may be a film at Paramount for Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner's C/W Prods. The story is centered around Alaskan para-rescue jumpers.
* Yves Simoneau (FREE MONEY) will direct indie horror pic THE BOAT for Jan De Bont's Blue Tulip Prods. about a boat that sails into people's lives to "wreak havoc."
* Philip Kaufman (RISING SUN) is close to a deal to direct a feature about Marquis de Sade.
* Larry Levin (DR. DOLITTLE) will write the sequel to DR. DOLITTLE for 20th Century Fox.
* Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, ED WOOD) are adapting the screenplay to John Scott Shepherd's unpublished novel HENRY'S LIST OF WRONGS about a ruthless businessman.
* Amy Talkington (SECOND SKIN short) will direct DIARY OF A MAD FRESHMAN adapted from the Hugh Gallagher Rolling Stone article.
* Larry Williams and Leslie Libman ("Homicide: Life on the Streets", various videos and ads) will direct BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE for MGM based on the young adult werewolf novel by Annette Chris Klause.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* October Films has acquired BORICUA'S BOND by 20-year-old writer/director Val Lik. The film stars Frankie Negron and features cameos by Tyson Beckford, Method Man, Big Punisher, Treach, Stickyfingaz, Redman and Mi Mayor.
* Universal has decided not to go forward with the Kevin Costner Cuban missile crisis pic 13 DAYS. Phil Alden Robinson (FIELD OF DREAMS) was supposed to direct.
(HARRY NOTE: UNIVERSAL officially has it's head lodged in it's ass! 13 DAYS is one of the best scripts in development, and was the only film I've seen in a script stage that could possibly hope to knock off THE GREEN MILE for best picture during 1999)
* Miramax has picked up the HAMLET update with Ethan Hawke, Sam Shepard, Kyle MacLachlan, Diane Venora and Bill Murray.
Last update 'til Christmas. I bet the TERMINATOR news was kind of a gift to a lot of you. We'll see what happens... *** Not a whole lot of casting news this week. Glad to see Gretchen Mol is busy, Sean Connery and Ann-Margret too. *** So which project do you wish John Travolta to tackle next? Discuss... *** I was kinda looking forward to 13 DAYS. Oh well...it's not to say it won't re-emerge. *** Wu-Tang fans and hip-hop fans in general should be pumped about BUNDY, LUCKY MAN and BORICUA'S BOND. Keep your eyes open. *** Anyone know what issue of Rolling Stone the DIARY OF A MAD FRESHMAN article can be found? Much appreciated. *** Please, thoughts on a HAMLET update (a la ROMEO + JULIET with Leo and Claire) with Ethan Hawke and Bill Murray...
Happy Holidays and keep the e-mails a-comin'.
Shop safely and eat well.
See ya on Christmas...
Elston Gunn
elstongunn@hotmail.com
