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I Dreamed of Africa: Poster for the drama "I Dreamed of Africa," starring Kim Basinger, Vincent Pérez and Robert Loggia.

Pearl Harbor: Josh Hartnett ("The Faculty") is set to star alongside Ben Affleck in "Pearl Harbor." The six-month project is expected to go before cameras in the spring. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the signing of Hartnett and Affleck ends months of searching for the two Army Air Corps pilots and best friends who fall in love with the same Navy nurse.

From Hell: Johnny Depp is in negotiations to star in "From Hell," a Jack the Ripper tale that Albert and Allen Hughes ("Dead Presidents") are directing at 20th Century Fox. According to Variety, the picture is based on the graphic novel by Allan Moore and Eddie Campbell. With the screenplay written by Terry Hayes ("The Road Warrior"), "From Hell" will focus on Scotland Yard Detective Frederick Abberline's (Depp) investigation of the 1880 London killings by Jack the Ripper.

Black Knight: Chris Tucker has dropped out of the 20th Century Fox/New Regency comedy "Black Knight" a week after director F. Gary Gray exited the project over creative differences. It is not clear why Tucker left the project. He is still expected to shoot a sequel for "Rush Hour" this fall. THR states that the studio and production company are still planning to go forward with the Darryl Quarles-scripted project about a restaurant employee who is transported back to medieval times, but the original May start date will likely be pushed to June or July, as a new star and director have not yet been named.

The Darkness: Columbia Pictures has optioned the Top Cow comic book series "The Darkness," which centers on a young mafia hit man who lives a wild life of fast cars, fast women and easy money, for producer Chris Lee. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Morgan is currently adapting the comic book, in which the hit man finds out on his 21st birthday that he is the next in his family's lineage to wield an ancient power known as the Darkness. The downside of the power, however, is that he cannot have sex because he will die instantly and pass the power on to the next generation.

See Spot Run: David Arquette ("Scream 3") is set to play a postal worker in the comedy "See Spot Run," with shooting to begin in June. Arquette's character takes in a stray dog that turns out to be a refugee from the witness protection program and is a pooch with exceptional crime-fighting skills. Variety reports that the Warner Bros. film was written by former "Seinfeld" scribes Alec Berg, Jeff Schaeffer and Dave Mandel.

The Salton Sea: Peter Sarsgaard ("Boys Don't Cry") is in final negotiations to star opposite Val Kilmer in Castle Rock Entertainment's crime thriller "The Salton Sea." The project is slated to begin shooting April 24 with first-time feature director D.J. Caruso. Written by Tony Gayton, the story follows a man (Kilmer) who witnesses the murder of his wife and goes undercover as a drug dealer to avenge her death. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sarsgaard will play a well-connected drug dealer who introduces Kilmer to his world.

Mission: Impossible 2: A review of Robert Towne's "M:I-2" revision, dated December 8th 99. Minimal spoilers. Thanks to Stax.

Mission: Impossible 2 - Script Review (Mixed)

Rush Hour 2: Chris Penn will reprise his role in New Line Cinema's "Rush Hour 2," opposite Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The actor has also signed on to star in the independent "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Stellan Skarsgard. In "Rush Hour," Penn will portray amoral ex-bomb salesman Clive. Directed by Brett Ratner, the picture shoots this fall. According to Variety, Penn will begin production on "Kiss Kiss'' in London on March 27. The picture, a comedy thriller, is about a hit man (Skarsgard) who must adopt a full-grown man with the personality of a 5-year-old (Penn). Stewart Sugg directs.

What's the Worst that Could Happen: Martin Lawrence is set and Danny DeVito is in negotiations to topline the MGM comedy "What's the Worst that Could Happen" with Sam Weisman ("George of the Jungle") directing. Based on Donald Westlake's caper novel, "Worst" tells the story of a billionaire (DeVito) who catches a crook (Lawrence) robbing his home. To get even, the rich man takes the robbers' ring - his good luck charm - and the crook spends the remainder of the film trying to get it back. The struggle leads to a contest of wills between the men. Matthew Chapman ("Color of Night") adapted the novel, with Barry Fanaro ("Kingpin") scripting the most recent draft. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is slated for a June start.

A Star Is Born: "A Star Is Born" is close to being born again at Warner Bros., this time with Oliver Stone looking to direct Jamie Foxx. This latest and modernized version, produced by Jon Peters, would tell a similar story to the three "Star Is Born" films to come before it, with a touch of "Romeo and Juliet" tragedy in it. Deals for Stone and Foxx are not yet done. The remake of the story about a young actress who meets Hollywood success and marries a famous leading man, whose star wanes as hers shines brighter, was being developed during the past several years for Will Smith, who recently opted to star in the Peters-produced "Ali" for director Michael Mann at Columbia Pictures. The "Star" script was written by Stephen Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson ("Nixon"), who also penned "Ali." According to THR, the project is being eyed for a summer start.

Mission: Impossible 2: Although the official trailer is set to premiere online tomorrow, Entertainment Tonight aired footage from it last night, which you can now download below with thanks to the folks over at Cinemenium - Mission: Impossible 2.

Mission: Impossible 2 - ET Trailer Preview (16.8 MB)

Quiller Solitaire: John Travolta is circling MGM's "Quiller Solitaire," the feature adaptation of an installment in Adam Hall's series of novels about a British agent. Variety reports that the studio has put the James Bondish property on the fast track with hopes of turning it into an action-adventure franchise, and it is now out to directors.

Danger: Eriq La Salle ("ER") will make his feature film directorial debut with the low-budget thriller "Danger." The story centers on a case of mistaken identity in which a man is pursued after sitting on an airplane next to a hired serial killer. According to THR, the project is slated to start shooting in May in Los Angeles from a screenplay by Joe Singer and Jason Squire.

The Pledge: Helen Mirren is set to join Jack Nicholson in the crime-drama "The Pledge," which Sean Penn will direct. "Pledge" is a 1950s-era crime drama based on a novel by critically acclaimed Swiss author Friedrich Durrenmatt and adapted by Jerzy Kromolowski and Mary Olson-Kromolowski. Mirren will portray Nicholson's psychiatrist. Aaron Eckhart ("Erin Brockovich") also stars in the project. According to THR, principal photography is set to start this month in Canada.

Filthy: MGM has plunked down low six figures for the spec script "Filthy" from college students-turned-scribes Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. "Filthy" is the story of two best friends trying to get their lives on track after college using a three-step plan that one of them devises. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hurwitz, 22, is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, and Schlossberg, 21, is a history major at the University of Chicago. The pair met at New Jersey's Randolph High School and wrote "Filthy" two summers ago, tweaking it during school breaks and holiday vacations.

Novocaine: Laura Dern is in negotiations to join Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter in Artisan Entertainment's comedy "Novocaine." The project is slated to go before the cameras in mid-April, with screenwriter David Atkins ("Arizona Dreams") making his feature film directorial debut. "Novocaine" tells the story of an unassuming dentist (Martin) living the American Dream who finds himself the target of a con gone bad. He becomes a murder suspect after a patient (Bonham Carter) seduces him into prescribing her drugs. According to THR, Dern will portray Martin's dental hygienist and steady girlfriend who is seemingly pure on the surface but capable of evil deeds.

Sprockets: Mike Myers ("Austin Powers") will earn his first $20 million payday to star in "Sprockets" for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. The studio has greenlit the Myers-Michael McCullers script with plans for a summer start. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Sprockets" revolves around Dieter, an avant-garde German movie critic/talk-show host who obsessively asks guests if they would like to touch his monkey. A director has not yet been named.

The Phantom of the Opera: Antonio Banderas has been tentatively picked to play the title role in the new screen version of "The Phantom of the Opera," composer Andrew Lloyd Webber recently said. According to Variety, Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth") is directing. "We are looking for a stunning girl to play the role of Christina,'' Lloyd Webber said.

Taking Lives: Cate Blanchett is in negotiations to star in director Tony Scott's action-thriller "Taking Lives." According to The Hollywood Reporter, a summer start date is being eyed for the project, which tells the story of a female FBI profiler tracking down a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. Based on the book by British author Michael Pye, the "Lives" screenplay was most recently penned by Jon Bokenkamp.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher: The Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co. has acquired in a high-seven figure deal the feature film rights to Bruce Coville's four-book Magic Shop series, targeting "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" as the first to be adapted for the big screen. The New York-based company has hired scribe Tim McCanlies ("The Iron Giant") to adapt the book for a $30-40 million live-action/CGI film. The book centers on a boy, Jeremy Thatcher, who buys a mysterious egg at a magic shop and raises the dragon inside. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is being targeted for a 2002 release, although the project does not yet have a domestic distributor.

The Incredible Shrinking Man: Eddie Murphy has committed to star in "The Incredible Shrinking Man," which Peter Segal ("Tommy Boy") has come aboard to direct. Murphy has been eyeing the "Shrinking" project since January. The original 1957 "Shrinking" film, based on Richard Matheson's novel, starred Grant Williams as a man who begins to shrink after he is exposed to a strange mist. His life becomes a battle for survival, with only his wits to overcome the liability of his size. According to THR, Murphy is expected to shoot "Shrinking" after he completes "Pluto Nash," set to go before cameras next month.

Posters: A poster for the German horror flick "Anatomie," starring Franka Potente ("Run Lola Run"). Also one for the romantic drama "Here on Earth," starring Chris Klein, Leelee Sobieski and Josh Hartnett.

Mexicali: Roger Avary ("Killing Zoe") will direct Bill Paxton in "Mexicali," a thriller that will begin production this summer. Variety reports that Paxton will play a retired stuntman who gets married and takes his honeymoon in Mexico. The romantic getaway goes awry when the newlyweds witness a drug killing. Before the ex-stuntman knows it, his wife disappears, possibly kidnapped, and he must use his wits to avoid a ruthless group of killers and make his way back across the U.S. border.

Pearl Harbor: Ben Affleck ("Reindeer Games") has officially jumped aboard Disney's "Pearl Harbor." Negotiations were completed late Friday night on a deal by which Affleck will take no money upfront for the lead role. Gene Hackman ("Enemy of the State") might also join the cast, but no decision has yet been made. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmakers plan to re-create fully the Dec. 7, 1941, early-morning bombing by the Japanese of the Hawaiian naval base, a pivotal moment that pulled the United States into World War II.

Erin Brockovich: Review of the drama "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts, Aaron Eckhart and Albert Finney. Spoilers. Thanks to 'Brian' over at The Cinema Files.

Erin Brockovich - Film Review (Mixed)

The Salton Sea: A review of Tony Gayton's script for "Salton Sea." Val Kilmer is attached to star in this upcoming crime drama, and Frank Darabont ("The Green Mile") will co-produce. Spoilers are included. Thanks to Stax.

Salton Sea - Script Review (Mixed/Positive)

Miss Congeniality: Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") is set to star opposite Sandra Bullock in the comedy "Miss Congeniality." The project is slated to go before cameras next month with Donald Petrie ("My Favorite Martian") at the helm. "Congeniality" tells the story of an FBI agent (Bullock) who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant to thwart the efforts of a group threatening to bomb the event. According to THR, Caine will play Vic, an image consultant who must transform Bullock from a tough cop into Miss New Jersey.

Julie Johnson: Courtney Love is in negotiations to star opposite Lili Taylor in "Julie Johnson," an indie feature from director Bob Gosse. Based on Wendy Hammond's stage play of the same name, the film tells the story of a housewife (Taylor) rearing two children in Hoboken, N.J., who gains the courage to leave her husband and earn her GED in hope of becoming a computer scientist. Along the way, she discovers her sexuality with another woman (Love). Hammond wrote the adaptation with Gosse. According to The Hollywood Reporter, principal photography is targeted to start next month in New York.

Blood and Champagne: Pierce Brosnan has agreed to produce and star in "Blood and Champagne," a period romantic drama about famed war photographer Robert Capa. Variety reports that writers David Bernath and Alex Kershaw, who brought the project to Brosnan, based their pitch on Kershaw's article "Up Close and Personal," which was published in London's Guardian Weekend section in July 1998. "Blood" will examine a previously unplumbed 18-month period of Capa's brief but tumultuous life. Born Andre Friedmann in 1913, he was forced to flee his Hungarian homeland at 17 because of his political activism. After moving to Paris and discovering his talent for photography, Capa took his camera to the Spanish Civil War and WWII. He later shot portraits of luminaries ranging from Truman Capote to Pablo Picasso. He died in 1954 after stepping on a land mine while on assignment in Indochina.

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