Hey folks, harry here.... dead tired... been doing LOSCON since 9am this morning.... Larry Niven has confirmed to fans the truth about a RINGWORLD film, though wasn't familiar about Phil Tippet...hehehe, Orson Scott Card is still developing ENDER'S GAME, but is also working on a couple of unnamed smaller science fiction films that are easier (unfortunately) to get produced. And I've heard that the ELFQUEST animated film is moving along nicely. So... hurrah... more as I have the time! Here's Elston Gunn with another great Recap of the Week that was....
TAKEN FROM VARIETY AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
CASTING
* Willem Dafoe has committed to play the Green Goblin in SPIDERMAN, opposite Tobey Maguire, for director Sam Raimi. Shooting is slated to begin in January.
* Shannon Elizabeth is in talks to join JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK for Dimension Films and writer/director Kevin Smith. Jason Mewes, Jason Lee, Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Smith star in the pic with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in negotiations to make appearances. Shooting starts in January for an Aug. 10 release.
* Anjelica Huston and James Coburn have joined Julianna Margulies, Andy Garcia, Mick Jagger and Olivia Williams in Gold Circle Films' THE MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS. George Hickenlooper directs.
* Jesse Bradford (BRING IT ON) will star in CLOCKSTOPPERS the Paramount/Nickelodeon pic about a teen who discovers his father's invention, a machine that makes time stand still. Jonathan Frakes (STAR TREK: INSURRECTION) will direct from a script by David N. Weiss and J. David Stem (THE RUGRATS MOVIE).
* Connie Nielsen (GLADIATOR) joins Tommy Lee Jones in THE HUNTED for director William Friedkin. It's about an FBI tracker who hunts down a trained assassin.
* Kurt Russell is in final talks to join Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Jason Lee in VANILLA SKY for director Cameron Crowe. The film is an adaptation of the 1997 Spanish film ABRE LOS OJOS (OPEN YOUR EYES) that starred Cruz.
* Richard Roundtree will play a former prize fighter in the Alchemy Pictures period film AL'S LADS. It's about three Englishmen in 1927 who are given the opportunity to work for Al Capone.
* Ever Carradine ("Once and Again," upcoming THE BUBBLE BOY) will join Sarah Jessica Parker and Harry Connick Jr. in LIFE WITHOUT DICK for writer/director Bix Skahill and Columbia Pictures.
* Peter O'Toole, Joan Plowright, Alicia Silverstone, Keram Malicki-Sanchez and Lochlyn Munro will star in the indie pic GLOBAL HERESY for director Sidney J. Furie. It's about a successful rock band whose frontman disappears and the group ends up at a country manor to regroup before a big tour. Meanwhile, they get a young woman to replace their former leader and as things start to click, the singer returns and the band discovers it was all a publicity stunt. Mark Will penned the script. Production is underway in Toronto.
* Christina Applegate will play Gwyneth Paltrow's rival in the Miramax comedy A VIEW FROM THE TOP/ Bruno Barreto direct the pic centered on the glory of flight attendants.
* Jeffrey Wright (SHAFT) will play journalist Howard Bingham in ALI for director Michael Mann.
DIRECTOR/WRITER ATTACHMENTS
* Jon Turteltaub is attached to direct and produce POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET: MURDERERS, CHEETAHS AND THE 2000 WORLD SERIES OF POKER for Landscape Entertainment, based on the Jim McManus article in Harper's Magazine. It's based on the author's experiences covering the World Series of Poker and his status as an amateur player (he placed 4th out of 507 professional players). It also tells of McManus' attention to the murder trial of Ted Binion, whose father originated the series.
* Srdjan Dragojevic (WOUNDS) will direct THE PAYBACK ALL-STAR REVUE for Miramax Films and Icon Prods., who are co-financing the film. The project is the director's English-language debut.
* Ridley Scott will direct CAPTAIN KIDD for Disney, who bought the high seas adventure pitch by Doug Cook and David Weisberg, based on the life on the 17th century pirate. Scott's Scott Free Films will produce along with Jerry Bruckheimer. The pic will focus on the man who became an outlaw following a life as an indentured servant. He was beloved by his men because he gave them their fair share of his unburied loot.
* John McTiernan may be in talks to direct Arnold Schwarzenegger in TERMINATOR 3 for producers Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar--under their C-2 banner--and Intermedia.
FOR SCRIPT NEWS, CHECK OUT MY SCRIPT REPORT AT HTTP://WWW.SCREENWRITERSUTOPIA.COM
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTION TIDBITS
* Beacon Communications bought the feature film rights to the comedy novel SPONGING by Anthony Marsh, Jay Blumenfield and Robert Moritz. John Jacobs will produce with Will Gluck adapting the book for the screen. It's described as a mix between DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF as it tells the story of two pals' adventures in the Hamptons one summer where they live off the wealthy.
* Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Columbia Pictures are expecting to start production on MEN IN BLACK 2' on June 4. Stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and director Barry Sonnenfeld will return. The shoot is being structured to work around the possible strikes. The plan is to shoot first the scenes that will need special effects work. Smith will have finished ALI by that point while Jones will have completed THE HUNTED.
Thanks to Thanksgiving, the recap is short. However, there was some Hollywood activity percolating on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Ridley Scott, Willem Dafoe, McTiernan... some interesting tidbits out there.
Hope your Thanksgiving holiday was swell. Until next week...
Elston Gunn
