Harry Here still at the computer and I figured I would post up the latest Weekly Recap from the capable and industrious Elston Gunn...
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA REUTERS
CASTING
* Ben Affleck will star in REINDEER GAMES for director John Frankenheimer (RONIN) and Dimension Films.
* Sophia Loren will star in DESTINATION VERNA for "Italy's greatest living director" Michaelangelo Antonioni. It's based on the sci-fi story by Jack Finney.
* Claire Danes will star in CONJUGATING NIKI for Tribeca Prods. and New Line Cinema about a 21-year old New York society girl whose family loses their money and she has to take a job in the Hamptons while looking after an 8-year old.
* Ryan Phillippe, Alan Cumming and Anthony LaPaglia join Doug McGrath, Sigourney Weaver and John Turturro in COMPANY MAN co-writers and directors McGrath and Peter Askin. The story finds a 1960s high school grammar teacher who eventually tries to overthrow Fidel Castro.
* Rutger Hauer will star in a sequel to the 1986 horror hit THE HITCHER written by Gerald DiPego (PHENOMENON, INSTINCT).
* Dina Meyer (STARSHIP TROOPERS) joins DETOX.
* Ian McKellen (GODS AND MONSTERS) is in talks to play a villian in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2. Shooting begins in early March.
* Guy Pearce joins RULES OF ENGAGEMENT with Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson.
* Jane Krakowsky ("Ally McBeal") will play Betty Rubble in VIVA ROCK VEGAS.
* Embeth Davidtz (SCHINDLER'S LIST) will play the lead female opposite Robin Williams in BICENTENNIAL MAN for director Chris Columbus.
* Robert DeNiro and Edward Burns are close to a deal to star in the New Line thriller 15 MINUTES about a famous homicide detective who teams with a fire department investigator to solve a murder case. Shooting begins in April with John Herzfeld (2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY) writing and directing.
DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* New Line has picked up the dark comedy SUGAR AND SPICE AND SEMIAUTOMATICS written by Lona Williams and to be directed by Hank Perlman. The story centers on a high school cheerleader who gets pregnant by the star quarterback only to involve herself in crime to support the lifestyle she wants. Wendy Finerman (FORREST GUMP) will produce.
* Universal has bought LOVE II LOVE YOU written by Mark Goff and Richie Porter for Will Smith to star. The story is about a man who falls in love with a woman and the relationship doesn't work out. His scientist best-friend then clones her for him.
* Jamie Blanks (URBAN LEGEND) will direct MUNCHIES for MGM about four unpopular anorexic high school girls who come back from a diet clinic only to eat everything in sight, including human flesh.
* Stage director Gregory Mosher will direct LAUGHTER IN THE DARK about a middle-aged art dealer, a young artist and the woman they love.
* Brian DePalma is in talks to direct Disney's MISSION TO MARS--replacing Gore Verbinsky (MOUSE HUNT).
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* Fox Searchlight has acquired TAKE IT LIKE A MAN starring Hillary Swank and Chloe Sevigny about a Nebraska woman who passed herself off as a boy before she was the victim of a violent attack.
* Steven Spielberg promises MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA will be made, but wants to wait until after the end of the year as to avoid the film possibly being generally overlooked due to other millenial events. He feels the script is some of Ron Bass' best work.
* Disney is developing a sequel to the 1996 film 101 DALMATIONS. Glenn Close is not attached to reprise her Cruella Deville role yet, but she may if she likes the script. John Hughes will produce the sequel written by Kristen Buckley and Brian Regan.
REMAKE NEWS OF THE WEEK: Hugh Wilson (FIRST WIVES CLUB) is in final talks to write, direct and exec produce a remake of the 1937 film TOPPER (which starred Cary Grant and Constance Bennett) about a ghost couple who gives their banker a crash course in fast living.
Sundance and award news dominated the trades this week, but now and then came a few interesting casting and production news. Affleck joining REINDEER GAMES ups my excitement about the picture. Can't wait to see more casting news on this one. *** SUGAR AND SPICE AND SEMIAUTOMATICS...great title. *** I guess the "VERB-ing MODIFIER" title of the week award is CONJUGATING NIKI. Other recipients have been FINDING FORRESTER, CREATING KALI, KILLING MRS. TINGLE and many others. *** Ian McKellen and MI2. Very cool. *** COMPANY MAN is sporting an interesting cast. Love to hear more. *** LOVE II LOVE YOU, MUNCHIES, VIVA ROCK VEGAS and sequels to 101 DALMATIONS and THE HITCHER. Comments?
I'll stop there. Have a good Groundhog Day.
Thanks for the emails.
Elston Gunn
elstongunn@hotmail.com
