News: March 10th-16th 1999

Old Movie News:
May 10th-16th 1999

In this section you will find the latest news & rumours on current and upcoming Hollywood projects. To spice up the page we also serve a variety of new posters, images and reviews. If you have a scoop you'd like to share with everyone, please submit it to us.

May 15th/16th 1999 - Movie News/Rumors

The Tenth Victim: Catherine Zeta-Jones ("Entrapment") has committed to star in "The Tenth Victim," a romantic sci-fi thriller to be directed by New Zealander Lee Tamahori ("Once Were Warriors"). The project is a remake of a 1965 Italian film, "La Decima Vittima," which starred Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni. Both are based on Robert Scheckley's short story "The Seventh Victim," about a society where violence is channeled into organized murder hunts. As one contestant closes in on 10 victims, she and a male contestant and chief rival fall in love and join forces to battle the sadistic system. The male role has not been cast, according to Variety.

Diary of a Mad Freshman: Macaulay Culkin ("Home Alone's") is in final negotiations to star in indie "Diary of a Mad Freshman" for Redeemable Features. Culkin would star as a college freshman who makes an extra course of exploring the wild nightlife in New York. Redeemable is also in advanced talks with Fairuza Balk ("The Waterboy") and Natasha Lyonne ("Slums of Beverly Hills") to join the cast. Writer-director Amy Talkington will make her feature debut on "Diary," which she adapted from a Rolling Stone article by Hugh Gallagher, THR reports.

Loving Lulu: Patrick Swayze and Melanie Griffith will star in the black comedy "Loving Lulu" for Avi Lerner's Millennium Films. "Lulu," which also stars Penelope Ann Miller ("Carlito's Way"), is slated to begin shooting on May 24 in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Lerner pegs the budget at just over $20 million. Griffith and Antonio Banderas will also help produce the film through their Green Moon Prods. banner. John Kaye ("Where the Buffalo Roam") will write and direct the film, which follows Griffith as a romantic schizophrenic who tracks down her college boyfriend (Swayze), a television writer who has begun to tire of his wife (Miller), according to THR.

X-Men: Variety reports that Sir Ian McKellen ("Gods and Monsters") is set to reunite with director Bryan Singer ("Apt Pupil.") for "X-Men." In the film he will play Magneto, the Master of Magneticism (whose weapons include force fields) and leader of a band of evil mutants who battle the X-Men, a team of genetic mutants with superhero powers. Magneto's wicked pathology can be traced to his mistreatment at the hands of the Nazis during WWII. Though they are often feared and hated by the very humans they protect, the X-Men are bonded by a dream to one day live peacefully with humans. Magneto and his clan, on the other hand, feel that the only way to achieve that same goal is to conquer the humans and rule the world. The remaining X-Men and villains have not yet been cast. Pic is slated to go before the cameras in August in Toronto. Thanks to 'VAMPYR1835.'

Tarzan: The second advance poster for Disney's upcoming animated 'Tarzan' movie just landed online.

Freddy Vs. Jason: Cinescape reports that in response to the recent F Vs. J rumors, New Line President of Production, Michael De Luca said: "I just wanted to write in and correct some wrong information. We will be doing FREDDY VS. JASON first, probably in the fall, and do JASON X after that. Thanks!"

The Last Producer: Burt Reynolds will direct the indie ensemble drama "The Last Producer" this month. Reynolds also stars in the film, alongside Lauren Holly, Benjamin Bratt, Charles Durning, Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Robert Costanzo, Gregg Gurman, Sean Astin and Robert Goulet. The picture focuses on an aging, Willy Lomanesque producer trying to make his career-signature film before he's set out to pasture by the young turks of Hollywood, according to Variety.

Sugar and Spice: Marley Shelton (“Pleasantville”) is in negotiations to take the lead role in New Line Cinema’s “Sugar and Spice” for director Hank Perlman. A July start date is being planned. Formerly titled “Sugar and Spice and Semiautomatics,” the story follows a popular cheerleader (Shelton) who becomes pregnant with the star quarterback’s child, only to find herself turning to a life of crime to support the lifestyle she wants. The film is produced by Wendy Finerman. Lona Williams (“Drop Dead Gorgeous”) wrote the script, THR reports.

High and Low: Martin Scorsese is about to try his hand at reworking one of his favorite director's films: A new version of Akira Kurosawa's "High and Low" that playwright David Mamet is in talks to write and direct. Steve Martin, William H. Macy and Joe Mantegna are in talks to star in the film, which Buena Vista Film Sales' Jere Hausfater is putting together in Cannes. The 1963 "High and Low" is the story of a business executive who is financially ruined when he nobly pays ransom money to kidnappers who mistakenly grabbed his chauffeur's son. It was based on a novel by Ed McBain, according to THR.

Notting Hill: A poster for this Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant comedy, which has gotten a lot of positive buzz at its preview screenings. You can also download the movie's trailer below.

The Mummy 2: Variety recently reported that director Stephen Sommers and producers Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel will soon meet with U brass about a sequel, for which they laid the groundwork in the original, with a redo centering around the creature resurfacing in London. Brendan Fraser will be courted to return, and his price is expected to go from the $5 million he was paid on the original to $10 million.

Jason X: FridayThe13th.com is reporting that SSC Films are currently working on a new Jason sequel titled "Jason X" (aka Jason 2000) these days. Probably because of the recent difficulties getting the "Freddy vs. Jason" project off the ground. The Jason flicks have always been a guilty pleasure of mine, so I wouldn't mind seeing another one. Just hope they hire some decent writers this time around. Stop laughing, it could happen :)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Jeffrey Tambor is in final negotiations to play the Mayor of Whoville in "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Tambor will be paired with Christine Baranski as his wife Martha Who-ert in the Ron Howard-directed film. The film also stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch and Molly Shannon and Bill Irwin as husband and wife Betty and Lou Lou Who. In addition to Tambor, stand-up comic Walter Franks has joined the "Grinch" cast as one of the townspeople of Whovill, THR reports.

Liam Neeson: Popcorn.co.uk has just landed an exclusive real audio interview with Liam Neeson in which he confirms that the rumors of his retirement are untrue. It can be found right here. Thanks to 'Peter' for pointing us in the right direction!

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: A report on some new 'Episode I' TV clips with thanks to 'Michael.'

At a local television station where I work, 7 new exclusive clips came down on a satelite feed from Star Wars-Episode I. On the header before the clips stated, "NOT FOR INTERNET USE", meaning once the movie is released, these various clips they will send down will not be shown on the internet. Each clip lasted roughly 45 seconds each. No spoilers but here is a description of each scene:
1)Qui Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan on board a flagship discussing the Trade Federation possible motives for negotiations with the queen.
2)Qui Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar after their intital meeting discussing where they can hide before the destroyer droids can find them.
3)Anakin saying goodbye to his mother inside his home-boring scene
4)Anakin saying goodbye to his mother outside his home-boring scene
5)The Queen discussing her return to Naboo, with Palpatine urging her to do so.
6)Qui Gon Jinn discusses, in front of the Jedi Council, that Anakin
should be tested. It's the scene where Mace Windu(Sam Jackson) states, "You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force.......Yoda still looks fake.
7)Obi-Wan urging Qui Gon Jinn to reconsider his position on Anakin to the council. As they walk out onto the walkway you can see the Coruscant night skyline.

Shiny New Enemies: Salma Hayek (“Desperado”) is in advanced negotiations to star with Jeff Goldblum in “Shiny New Enemies” for Bel Air Entertainment. Orlando Jones is also in final talks to join the cast. Steve Zahn is already on board. Pontus Lowenheim and Patrick Von Krusenstjerna of the Swedish commercials collective Traktor will make their U.S. feature helming debut on the $20 million offbeat comedy. Bel Air will fully finance the pic, which Warner Bros. will distribute domestically. “Shiny New” begins production June 7 in Vancouver. Full Story >>>

Druids: Christopher Lambert is set to star in the historical action drama "Druids,'' playing Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix, who waged a bloody and ultimately unsuccessful military campaign against Julius Caesar. Also lined up for the English-language picture are Max von Sydow and Klaus Maria Braundauer, who will play Caesar. Jacques Dorfmann will direct. The $15 million film will start shooting this summer in Bulgaria and is described as "being very much in the 'Braveheart' style'' by executives at French company TF1, which has picked up world rights, except for France, Spain and Italy, Variety reports.

Really Scary: Director John Landis is firming up a deal to produce a horror anthology feature for New Line Cinema in which he will also serve as one of the directors. Landis pitched the project to the studio, tentatively titled “Really Scary,” currently being developed through his production company St. Clare Entertainment. The anthology will consist of four segments directed by different filmmakers, who Landis is currently in discussions with for a tentative fall start date. “The working title is ‘Really Scary’ only because our intention is to do films that are really scary,” said Landis. “We’re going for real suspense and horror,” according to THR.

Movie Posters: A new "13th Warrior" ad which appeared in the L.A. Times newspaper last week with thanks to the Antonio Banderas Web Mall. Also a poster for "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" (formerly titled 'Killing Mrs. Tingle'). Thanks to 'Lisa' and 'Gavin' for the images! For more new poster images, click here.

Get Carter: Sylvester Stallone has committed to star in a new version of 1971British crime thriller 'Get Carter' for producer Mark Canton. In the gritty drama of redemption and revenge based on Ted Lewis' out-of-print novel "Jack's Return Home," Stallone will play tough guy Jack Carter, a mob heavy who goes home for his brother's funeral. The strange circumstances surrounding the death send Carter on a hunt for the killer that pits him against local criminals in a seedy world of porn and gambling and reaches a violent conclusion, according to THR.

Star Wars: Episode I - TPM: The 'Jar Jar' and 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' commercials are now available. There's also quite a few new reviews online today, this time by the critics rather than the fans. As expected they're mixed, but as Lucas himself put it: "lackluster reviews might cool off the over-expectations, and hopefully people can go see it with a more neutral mind." You can read some of the reviews below. Thanks to Mads.

Gone in 60 Seconds: Variety reports that James Duval (“Go”) will join Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie and Giovanni Ribisi in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced “Gone in 60 Seconds.” In “Gone,” directed by Dominic Sena (“Kalifornia”), Duval will play a young car thief in a gang led by Ribisi’s character. Pic, to be distribbed by Touchstone, will start shooting this month.

Bowfinger: A short, non-spoiler review for this upcoming Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy comedy with thanks to 'Jesse K.'

The new Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy movie, directed by Frank Oz, and scheduled to open at the end of July, is typical Steve Martin/Frank Oz stuff. It's got some laughs, and is highly enjoyable to watch Eddie Murphy playing well... Eddie Murphy. If you've seen LA STORY, THE JERK, PARENTHOOD, ROXANNE, and THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, you've seen BOWFINGER. It's the same stuff, but it's entertaining, and occasionally really really funny.

The Whole Nine Yards: Amanda Peet has nabbed the female lead opposite Bruce Willis in the crime comedy “The Whole Nine Yards” for director Jonathan Lynn and financed by Franchise Pictures. In the pic, Willis plays a hit man who moves to the suburbs as part of the witness protection program. Peet will play a dental hygienist with mob ties who gets involved in Willis’ business. She joins co-stars Matthew Perry and Natasha Henstridge, Variety reports.

Picking Up the Pieces: Andy Dick and Kathy Kinney are joining the all-star cast of Alfonso Arau's "Picking Up the Pieces," which got under way May 2. The film is a mystical comedy about murder, miracles and the supernatural. Dick (NBC's "NewsRadio") will play Father Bunuel, a New Mexican priest whose name possibly pays tribute to great Spanish surrealist filmmaker Luis Bunuel. Others in the cast of the film are Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, David Schwimmer, Kiefer Sutherland, Cheech Marin, Fran Drescher, Lou Diamond Phillips and Elliot Gould, THR reports.

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