Hey folks, here's Elston Gunn with more from the world of film, and the groovy newsie sorts of views on the films yet to come. So enjoy... And be sure to let us know which of these gets your juices flowing... alrighty? Cool.
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA REUTERS
CASTING
* James Frain (ELIZABETH), Donal Logue (BLADE) and Danny Trejo (CON AIR) join REINDEER GAMES.
* Jonathan Lipnicki (JERRY MAGUIRE) will play a boy who befriends a vampire family in THE LITTLE VAMPIRE based on the children's book by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg.
* Claire Danes is in final talks to star in HEAD OVER HEELS for Universal and director Mark Waters. The story centers on a woman who finds herself attracted to a man she believes murdered someone.
* Taye Diggs joins MGM's DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE (formerly MARY JANE'S LAST DANCE?). He'll play a sheriff who investigates the death of a college teenager.
* Alfred Molina (BOOGIE NIGHTS) joins MAGNOLIA. He may also direct a movie based on a script by Tom Griffin entitled FIDELITY.
* Joshua Jackson ("Dawson's Creek") will star in SKULLS for Universal. Rob Cohen ("The Rat Pack") will direct the pic described as THE FIRM at an Ivy League College.
* Thomas Gibson ("Dharma & Greg") will play the villain in VIVA ROCK VEGAS. He's also in talks to star in 15 MOMENTS for director Denys Arrand (LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS).
* Morgan Freeman will star in CHIEF based on a "Frontline" documentary about the son of an African chief who travels to the U.S. to learn how to bring his tribe into the 20th Century.
* Kevin Bacon is in final talks to play the lead in THE HOLLOW MAN with Elisabeth Shue.
* Gabriel Mann (upcoming OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE) joins CHERRY FALLS. Shooting begins this month in Virginia.
* Patti LuPone, Michael Moriarty, Gloria Reuben, John Kapelos, Tony Nardi and Kenneth Welsh will star in BAD FAITH, an indie drama directed by Randy Bradshaw and written by Ian Adams.
DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* MTV Films has acquired the rights to Tim Murphy's THE BREEDER'S BOX to produce as a film The project is described as a musical about incest. MTV Films is also developing DISCO INFERNO, a spoof on 70s disco mania.
* Guillermo Del Toro (MIMIC) will write/direct a film based on the Japanese comic book DOMU. Think of it as a REAR WINDOW but with psychics...
* Michael Cimino (THE DEER HUNTER) is attached to direct 1500, an epic that focuses on the discovery of Brazil by the Portugese. It's aimed for a 2000 release to coincide with the 500th anniversary celebrations. Fabio Fonseca writes/produces.
* Don Mancini will write/direct SEED OF CHUCKY for Universal as a follow-up to last year's BRIDE OF CHUCKY with Jennifer Tilly in talks to reprise her role as Tiffany. The pic will be a spoof of ROSEMARY'S BABY.
* David Benullo ("Cupid") and David Goldstein have written THE NEFARIOUS PHIL GUTHRIE: KILLER OF MAN which MGM has picked up. The pic follows a guy who accidentally kills his boss and is mistaken as a serial killer.
* Miramax has picked up THE RAIN IN SPAIN from Universal written by Frank Cappello (SUBURBAN COMMANDO). The story centers on a U.S. Air Force lawyer who goes to Spain to make peace after a midair collision leaves several undetonated hydrogen bombs in the area.
* John Kretchmer ("Charmed," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") will direct A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH for the Bubble Factory. It's based on the Paul Fleischman novel of the same name.
* Michael Rymer (ANGEL BABY) will direct Halle Berry in VICTIMS OF FASHION, an improv indie pic about the fashion industry.
* Darren Aronofsky (PI) will direct REQUIEM FOR A DREAM in mid-April. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans and Ellen Burstyn will star in the pic based on the Hubert Selby Jr. novel. Aronofsky already has a week's worth of footage he shot in December.
* MGM bought SPECIAL by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio about a man who pretends to be disabled to win over his fiancee's son--to be in the vein of THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.
* Tony Kaye (AMERICAN HISTORY X) is developing a film to shoot in Iceland based on the introduction to rapper Busta Rhymes CD "Extinction Level Event" about an investigation on how the entertainment world has glorified violence such as gang violence and technological warfare. The project may be one of Kaye's next two flicks.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* Phoenix Pictures will develop a sequel to URBAN LEGEND based on a pitch by Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman. The producers from the first film will return.
* Muhammad Ali's manager is suing Columbia Pictures over rights to a feature about the boxer. Jabir Herbert Muhammad said the rights are controlled through Muhammad Ali Productions. A film starring Will Smith as Ali has been preparing to shoot.
* Universal is setting up KARAOKE KNIGHT as a project for Ben Stiller to be produced by Tom Shadyac (PATCH ADAMS). The story revolves around on a wannabe singer who has a bad voice but finds salvation in karaoke and a disabled would-be crooner.
* Columbia Pictures is in final talks to buy the rights to Astro Boy, a Japanese comic-strip character, for a feature film hoped for a Christmas 2000 release. The film would contain CGI, animatronics and live action to tell the story of a grieving scientist who builds a crime-fighting robot not unlike his son who was killed.
* Fine Line Features and BBC Films are developing a movie based on pop star Boy George's autobiography TAKE IT LIKE A MAN.
* New Line has picked up the rights to Tess Garritsen's upcoming sci-fi thriller novel GRAVITY--described as TITANIC in outer space.
* Disney and Columbia are co-financing the Robin Williams/Chris Columbus collaboration BICENTENNIAL MAN which began production this week.
Harry Note: Yessssssss!!!!! BICENTENNIAL MAN is a real damn good movie awaiting to be made!
REMAKE OF THE WEEK: Producer Scott Rudin will develop a remake of the 1974 horror flick THE STEPFORD WIVES about husbands who turn their wives into robotized models of themselves.
The recap is a little smaller than recent ones. Everyone is gearing up for the big night Sunday. Does it bother you that everyone seems to have the winners pegged weeks before they are handed out? Discuss.
REINDEER GAMES casting is rounding out. Nice additions this week. *** Michael Cimino to comeback with an epic? *** DOMU and ASTRO BOY. How 'bout that? *** So Universal gave up THE RAIN IN SPAIN and 13 DAYS but is going ahead with CHUCKY 5. Hmm. *** Kevin Bacon has THE HOLLOW MAN. Cool. *** MAGNOLIA keeps on casting and casting. *** Morgan Freeman, Claire Danes, Jonathan Lipnicki...all busy. *** CHERRY FALLS, BAD FAITH, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, Tony Kaye projects...script reviews or additional info? *** Hope they get the Ali pic straightened out. A biopic of all biopics.
See you at the Kevin Smith rescheduled appearance at Virginia Tech this Wednesday (I'll wear a black jacket and be accompanied by a Celtics fan and a beautiful blonde.)
Enjoy the Oscars. Last ceremony of the 1900s. (PERSONAL NOTE: Go Billy Bob!)
Elston Gunn
elstongunn@hotmail.com
