News: July 31st - August 6th 2000

Old Movie News:
July 31st - August 6th 2000

This section is now updated every weekday. If you have a cool scoop you'd like to submit, you can either send it via e-mail, or with our submit form (if you prefer to remain anonymous). You'll get proper credit/link for your contributions.

Untitled Allen Project: Helen Hunt has been set to star with Woody Allen in his next project, which begins filming in New York this September for DreamWorks. Though Allen is customarily covert about the subject matter and even the title of the annual project he writes and directs, Variety's sources said Hunt and Allen are the central characters. Charlize Theron is set for a minor role in the film.

Training Day: Ethan Hawke is in negotiations to star opposite Denzel Washington in Warner Bros.' cop drama "Training Day" for director David Guggenheim. Written by David Ayer, "Training" tells the story of a grizzled LAPD veteran (Washington) who shows a rookie narcotics cop (Hawke) the ropes during his first day on the soul-destroying inner-city beat. According to The Hollywood Reporter, shooting is slated to start in mid-November.

Script Reviews: A review of David Koepp's last "Spider-Man" draft, dated April 14th, 2000. Scott Rosenberg ("High Fidelity," "Beautiful Girls") is currently rewriting the script. A look at Skip Woods' script for "Swordfish," a Hugh Jackman/John Travolta crime thriller. A very positive review of Leslie Dixon's "Pay It Forward" script. And finally, a look at Patrick Smith Kelly's rewrite of the "Ace in the Hole" script. Minor/Some spoilers. Thanks to 'Stax at IGN FilmForce,' Den and Chris.

Cubbyhouse: Joshua Leonard ("The Blair Witch Project") is set to star in the Australian thriller "Cubbyhouse." Variety reports that Leonard will star opposite Belinda McClory ("The Matrix"), Lauren Hewett ("Ocean Girl") and pop singer Craig McLachlan. The picture, which starts filming next week in Queensland, has an American family moving to Australia's Gold Coast, where their children's playhouse is possessed by a demonic presence.

Frailty: Bill Paxton is poised to make his feature directorial debut and Matthew McConaughey is in serious discussions to star in the psychological horror-thriller "Frailty" for producers David Kirschner and Marty Katz. Based on Brent Hanley's script, "Frailty," described as "Seven" meets "The Shining," is a nonlinear tale about a single father of two boys in rural Texas who may or may not be able to identify demons. As the father embarks on a mission to eradicate evil people, one son sees him as a hero, while the other sees him as a killer. According to THR, shooting is scheduled to begin in early October.

Almost Famous: A poster for the comedy/drama "Almost Famous," directed by Cameron Crowe ("Jerry Maguire"). Thanks to DreamWorks SKG Fansite-Almost Famous.

Planet of the Apes: Helena Bonham Carter ("Fight Club") is set to star in Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" for 20th Century Fox. The project is scheduled to begin shooting this fall. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carter will likely play the role of an ape princess who holds a humanitarian belief that apes and humans can peacefully coexist.

The Tailor of Panama: A review of John Boorman's "Tailor" script, dated November 15th, 1999. Boorman also directs the film, which stars Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Glesson, and Catherine McCormack. Some spoilers. Thanks to 'Stax at IGN FilmForce.'

Hart's War: Edward Norton is in negotiations to receive his highest payday to date (in the $8 million range) for toplining MGM's World War II drama "Hart's War" for Gregory Hoblit ("Frequency"). "War," based on the John Katzenbach novel of the same name, centers on Lt. Tommy Hart, a young lawyer fresh out of Princeton who is captured and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. While there, he is asked to defend a black man wrongly accused of murder. Billy Ray ("Volcano") and Terry George ("In the Name of the Father") adapted Katzenbach's novel for the screen. David Ladd ("The Mod Squad") and David Foster ("The Mask of Zorro") are producing for the studio. According to THR, the production is slated to start shooting next year.

The Cell: A 'Style B' poster for "The Cell," a thriller starring Jennifer Lopez and Vincent D'Onofrio. (See the first poster here.)

Wolff and Byrd: Norwegian director Harald Zwart is set to direct Universal Pictures' live-action feature "Wolff and Byrd" (AKA "Supernatural Law"), based on Batton Lash's cult comic of the same name. The project is targeted for a January start, with Marc Platt Prods. and Stampede Entertainment producing. According to THR, Zwart was supposedly hired by the studio after a screening of his upcoming film "One Night at McCool's."

Changing Lanes: Roger Michell ("Notting Hill") has inked a deal to direct "Changing Lanes," a thriller centered on a routine car accident in New York that changes the lives of the two men involved in it. Variety reports that the project will be developed at Paramount Pictures, by studio-based producer Scott Rudin.

Dracula 2000: A review of Joel Soisson's "Dracula 2000" script, dated March 15th, 2000. Patrick Lussier ("The Prophecy III") directs this film, with Wes Craven producing. Minor spoilers. Thanks to 'Stax at IGN FilmForce.'

Reviews: An early look at George Romero's "Bruiser," as well as "Space Cowboys" and "The Replacements." Some spoilers. Thanks to Nick and Michael.

Baker Street: Miramax Films has closed a deal with Jonathan Lynn ("The Whole Nine Yards") to direct "Baker Street," the true story of a London bank heist that created a political upheaval during the 1970s. The project was written by English scribes Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais ("The Commitments").

Hardball: John Hawkes ("The Perfect Storm") has been cast opposite Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane in Paramount Pictures' "Hardball." The project is slated to start shooting in Chicago on Monday with director Brian Robbins at the helm. "Hardball," based on the Daniel Coyle book "Hardball: A Season in the Projects," is about a ticket scalper (Reeves) who ends up coaching a Little League team in the Chicago housing projects, where he is transformed by mentoring the children. Lane will play the role of a teacher who works in the inner city, while Hawkes was cast as Reeves' best friend and fellow ticket scalper. According to THR, John Gatins adapted the book for the screen, which Robbins will produce with his partner Mike Tollin.

Bless the Child: Poster for the thriller "Bless the Child," starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Rufus Sewell and Christina Ricci. Thanks to Bill.

Proof of Life: A review of Tony Gilroy's "Proof of Life" script, dated July 6th, 1999. 'Proof' stars Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan, with Taylor Hackford ("The Devil's Advocate") at the helm. Minor spoilers. Thanks to Chris.

Spider-Man: Tobey Maguire ("Pleasantville," "The Cider House Rules") is now in final negotiations to play the title role in "Spider-Man." Maguire will sign a lucrative deal in the range of $3 to $4 million for the first film with options for richer back-end deals for two sequel. Variety reports the the deal is "pay-or-play" - meaning he gets paid even if the project does not happen. Filming on the first installment will begin in New York and on the Sony soundstages in November, expected for release by November 2001. Read the official press release here.

Catch Me If You Can: Leonardo DiCaprio has found his next picture: DreamWorks' "Catch Me If You Can." The actor agreed late Friday to star in the true-life story of the youngest man ever to make the FBI's 10 most wanted list. The actor will segue into "Catch Me" in March 2001, after he completes Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gore Verbinski is the frontrunner to direct "Catch Me," but no deal has yet been negotiated. Other directors (including David Fincher) are said to still be circling. Full Story >>>

The Crow: Lazarus: DMX ("Romeo Must Die") has signed on to star in Dimension Films' fourth installment of "The Crow" franchise for the Edward R. Pressman Film Corp. The feature project is expected to begin production by the end of the year. According to THR, Pressman is looking to reinvigorate the franchise, having signed DMX to a multipicture deal specifically for "Crow" films. Written by James Gibson, "Lazarus" is about a hard-living rap artist who leaves the music scene for a woman. Soon after, he is killed in a drive-by shooting. He comes back from the grave to seek revenge on the biker gang responsible for his murder.

Copyright © 1997-2000 Bjørn Erik Hundland. All rights reserved.
Best viewed with IE 5.0 and/or Netscape 4.0. Contact Movie-Page.com.
Original Movie-Page Design By Web Byrået Turbin as. Hosted by Digiweb.