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March 2, 2000

Source: Variety

Director Ridley Scott will provide CBS with a new version of HANNIBAL that will include an hour of added footage for a four-hour miniseries presentation of the film to air in November of 2003. The film will closely resemble the director's original cut of the film which clocked in at well over three hours. Scott and editor Pietro Scalia will work on the new version to present to CBS, which is retaining the right to air the theatrical version if they are unhappy with finished product. CBS is paying $18 million for three airings of the film while the USA network has paid $12 million for any subsequent airings.
                       

March 2, 2000

Source: Variety

It was reported a while back that rapper Eminem was offered the role of the villain in a major action movie. Yours truly speculated that it was the Denzel Washington pic TRAINING DAY, but Variety is reporting that Em has been offered more than $4 million to play the villain in THE CROW: LAZARUS which would star fellow rapper DMX. Mr. Nem is also still working closely with Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment to develop a biopic based on his life.  That project is in the scripting stage while Eminem and Dr. Dre work on writing songs to be used in the film. 
                       

March 2, 2000

Source: Inside

Producer Charles Evans has fired a law suit against New Line Cinema and director Michael Mann (among others) claiming that he pitched the idea for a Howard Hughes biopic to the company and now they are moving along without
him. Evans claimed he managed to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to star, despite the fact this meant firing then director, Kevin Spacey. DiCaprio chose Michael Mann (ALI, HEAT) to direct the project and in March of 2000, Evans discovered DiCaprio, Mann and New Line had made a deal regarding the project. Representatives from New Line told Evans that they were not interested any longer in having him be a part of the project and Mann admitted he intended to cut him out of project entirely. The status of the Howard Hughes movie is now up in the air, considering Mann is deep into production on ALI, the executive changes at New Line and now this lawsuit.
                        

March 2, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson (SHANGHAI NOON) have signed on to star in the theatrical remake of the 1960's television show I SPY. The film will be directed by Betty Thomas (DR. DOLITTLE) and production won't start until after the actor's/writer's strikes have been settled.  What is Hollywood going to do when they run out of old TV shows to make movies out of? I'm still waiting for the ALF movie and the animated WKRP IN CINCINNATI feature film.
                          

March 2, 2000

Source: AICN

Access Hollywood reported from the set of SCOOBY-DOO (the good folks at AICN digitized it) and through this we get to see our first look at Fred, Daphne and Velma. Unless you enjoy blood spurting from your ocular cavities or
violent dry heaving DO NOT click on the link below to look at Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Linda Cardellini in character. Be warned....

Click here if you dare!
                         

March 2, 2000

Source: Variety

CORRECTION: 'The Terminator' was kind enough to note that in yesterday's Mike Myers/AUSTIN POWERS scoop, we incorrectly stated that Myers would receive $25 million plus 21% of the film's gross. Myers will actually
receive a $25 million advance on 21% of the film's gross.

Variety is reporting on the possibility of a third AUSTIN POWERS movie saying star Mike Myers could net $25 million for the role (take that Harrison Ford!) and 21% of the film's profits. They say that Myers and Mike
McCullers will again script the film and that negotiations are still ongoing with director Jay Roach. When they attempted to obtain a comment from New Line, they denied that a sequel deal had been signed. The article made no mention of the rumors that Sean Connery would co-star as Austin's father in the movie.
                       

March 1, 2000

Source: Empire Online

As you may know, Aardman Animations' (those British folks behind WALLACE AND GROMIT and CHICKEN RUN) next film will be a remake of the classic fable THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE. Up until now, details were scant, but Peter Lord spoke about the picture this weekend saying that the picture will closely resemble the classic rock mock-documentary, SPINAL TAP. He also went on to say that they film probably won't be ready for release for another two years. Thanks to 'Fran the Man' for the heads up.

Click here to watch the full video interview
                      

March 1, 2000

Source: Joey Baloney

As you might know by now, the biggest tease magazine ever, Maxim, came up with a list of the Top 100 Movie Moments. I have heard a lot of griping and complaining about this and that and why wasn't this higher since. This got me thinking that we should jump aboard the "Top 100 List" bandwagon and compile a list of the Schmoes' Top Movie Moments. The final list will be posted for all to see in an upcoming news column.

But here comes the part where every good Schmoe must come to the aid of their favorite movie website. Please send your nominations for Best Movie Moments to scoops@joblo.com with the subject line "Movie Moments" or reply on the boards HERE with your suggestions. Feel free to send as many as you like and we here at JoBlo.com will compile a list of the REAL Top Movie Moments.
                      

March 1, 2000

Source: Entertainment Weekly and Comics2Film

Producer of the upcoming Ang Lee directed HULK movie, James Schamus, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the project. He stated that he and Lee are considering using computer graphics to create the Hulk instead of burdening an actor down with prosthetics. Schamus defends the choice saying, "if we do it, it's only because we believe that we can create a superhero/monster movie nobody has ever seen before." He went on to mention that the earliest we can expect to see the movie would be the Summer of 2003. That's a damn long time, but one that I'm willing to wait.
                         

March 1, 2000

Source: Warner Bros

Take a guess where you'll be able to see the new HARRY POTTER teaser trailer first. Your local mutliplex? Nooo.  The official internet site? Nooo. Your backyard satellite dish?  Well, as weird as that sounds, yeah.  Warner Bros. has released a press release stating that the HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE teaser trailer will be broadcast via satellite on Thursday, March 1st. The best part is that WB has given their blessing to those who would like to copy the teaser and post it online (hmmm, sounds like they're trying to make up for all the bad press they got for crushing 13-year old webmasters). So get to work Schmoes and report back with your digitized version of the trailer. What's the frequency, Joey, you ask?

Satellite Coordinate: Telstar 6 transponder C11 -- 9:00 AM (EST); 6:00 AM (PST)
Satellite Coordinate: Galaxy 11 transponder C8 -- 1:00 PM (EST); 10:00 AM (PST)
                        

March 1, 2000

Source: Variety

One of the most often told horror tales is set to be redone once again, this time with Wes Craven in the director's chair. The project will be scripted by Craig Rosenberg who sold Dimension Films on a pitch of a new twist on the
old tale. No real other information on this project, yet with no stars or start dates announced. Next up for Craven is ALICE based on American McGee's Alice in Wonderland video game.
                          

February 28, 2000

Source: Cinescape

Spyglass Entertainment received a bit of bad news over the weekend with reports that Haley Joel Osment will not return to any possible SIXTH SENSE sequel or prequel. Osment spoke with a reporter and said the original movie "does without a sequel" and that any other films in the series would be completely unnecessary. OK, a twelve year old kid can figure this out, but reasonably intelligent adults can't?
                    

February 28, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Twentieth Century Fox is hopping on the "cartoon developed into live-action movie" craze with at least one live action FAT ALBERT movie (hoping to turn the film into a franchise) from a script co-written by Bill Cosby. Studios have been trying to get Cosby to commit to a film for years and he only recently decided to do so. The film will combine "hip-hop music, humor and topical social and personal issues." The film could go into production as early as next year. Hopefully this will go over better than LEONARD: PART 6.
                   

February 28, 2000

Source: Variety

No, this isn't like the Onion deal with Miramax (although I would love to see a feature film on diving into elephant poo), it's Johnny Knoxville turning his cult status as the star of MTV's JACKASS into movie stardom. Knoxville is currently shooting LIFE WITHOUT DICK with Sarah Jessica Parker and Harry Connick, Jr. and has just finished shooting the Barry Sonnenfeld comedy BIG TROUBLE. Then he will re-team with Sonnenfeld for a role that could give him his greatest exposure yet; a two-headed alien in MEN IN BLACK 2. Besides those roles already a done deal, Knoxville is negotiating to star in the Farrelly Brothers' THE RINGER, about a man who poses as a Special Olympics participant, and as a California slacker who gets drafted into the Mexican army.  All this means that JACKASS will end, as Knoxville puts it in Rolling Stone, sooner rather than later.
                     

February 27, 2000

Source: New York Post

Harrison Ford is set to receive a record $25 million for his twenty days filming the Russian submarine drama K-19:  THE WIDOWMAKER. The amount has only been equaled once before in Hollywood history (for Mel Gibson's work in
THE PATRIOT) but never for such a limited amount of work. Ford will be earning the equivalent of $1.25 million a day but insists that he took the role for the script, not the cash. "The cash didn't tempt me. I took the part because of the gripping plot." If that were true, why did Ford back out of TRAFFIC? Was that not enough of a "gripping plot" or were producers only willing and able to pay $10 million? Inquiring minds want to.....bah!
                  

February 27, 2000

Source: Reuters

Francis Ford Coppola will unveil a new director's cut of APOCALYPSE NOW at this year's Cannes Film Festival that will add approximately 53 minutes of footage to the film. Director Coppola released a statement through the festival saying he hopes the new 3 hour and 17 minute version will be "more disturbing, sometimes funnier and more romantic" to audiences 21 years after its initial release. The film, which won top prize at the Film Festival in 1979, has been completely re-edited, instead of just splicing in the unused footage. There are no dates set for the showings of the film or plans to release the new version on DVD at this time.
                

February 27, 2000

Source: Dark Horizons

I'm really interested to see how they are going to work a Pamela Anderson cameo into the SCOOBY-DOO movie.  I'm sure it will be some lame Shaggy, drug-induced hallucination joke. But the actress/model was in Australia last week filming her role. In other SCOOBY news, a tentative release date has been set: June 14th, 2002. Mark your calendars and make sure you have somewhere else to be that day.
                

February 27, 2000

Source: Variety

The recent success of THE GRINCH seems to have breathed some life into the once dead CAT IN THE HAT film project. Former Seinfeld producers Alec Berg, Jeff Schaeffer and Dave Mandel have been hired by the folks at Imagine Entertainment to rewrite Dr. Suess' classic for the big screen. There is a current draft of the script and there was no mention if they would be reworking the script or starting anew. At one time Tim Allen was considered to star as the Cat but has since moved on to other projects. Michael Clancy (EMILY'S LAST DATE) has been rumored to be directing the project.
                 

February 27, 2000

Source: Joey Baloney and AICN

A scooper by the name of 'Nigel Batistuta' was kind enough to chime in and shed some light on the purported plot of HALLOWEEN 8. He says AICN is reporting that the movie revolves around a group of teenagers who set up a live webcast from the Myers' home in Haddonfield. Unfortunately for them, Michael isn't dead and he's up to his old tricks again. Sounds like this could be HALLOWEEN meets BLAIR WITCH. Thanks to Nigel for the heads up.
                   

February 26, 2000

Source: Dark Horizons and Unofficial Ocean's 11 Site

Dark Horizons posted pictures that originally appeared at an unofficial fan website from the set of OCEAN'S ELEVEN. The nice looking shots (and I don't mean because they're of Brad Pitt) feature shots of Mr. Pitt as well as director Steven Soderbergh and a circus tent used for filming. If anyone has any other shots please feel free to send them to scoops@joblo.com

< click on pic for entire story & more pics>
              

February 26, 2000

Source: Z Review

The 2001 BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards were just announced.

BEST FILM
Gladiator

THE ALEXANDER KORDA AWARD for outstanding British Film of the Year
Billy Elliot

THE DAVID LEAN AWARD for Achievement in Direction
Ang Lee for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

SCREENPLAY (Original)
Almost Famous

SCREENPLAY (Adapted)
Traffic

PERFORMANCE by an ACTRESS in a LEADING role
Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich

PERFORMANCE by an ACTOR in a LEADING role
Jamie Bell for Billy Elliot

PERFORMANCE by an ACTRESS in a SUPPORTING role
Julie Walters for Billy Elliot

PERFORMANCE by an ACTOR in a SUPPORTING role
Benicio Del Toro for Traffic

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

THE ANTHONY ASQUITH AWARD for achievement in Film Music
Tan Dun for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD for Most Promising Newcomer to British Film
Pawel Pawlikowski

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Gladiator

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Gladiator

COSTUME DESIGN
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

EDITING
Gladiator

SOUND
Almost Famous

ACHIEVEMENT IN SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
The Perfect Storm

MAKE UP/HAIR
The Grinch

SHORT FILM
Shadowscan

SHORT ANIMATION
Father and Daughter

ORANGE AUDIENCE AWARD
Gladiator

THE ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Albert Finney

THE MICHAEL BALCON AWARD for outstanding British Contribution to Cinema
Mary Selway
            

February 26, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

New father Al Pacino has signed on to star in the thriller INSOMNIA which will be directed by hot new thang Christopher Nolan, whose MEMENTO should be wowing audiences in month or so. The film revolves around an Alaskan cop who accidentally kills his partner during a murder investigation and becomes a victim of blackmail.  INSOMNIA is being executive produced by new buds Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney. Production begins in Vancouver in April.
             

February 26, 2000

Source: Coming Attractions

Information over at Coming Attractions gives us a few dates as to when to expect trailers for some of the bigger releases of the year 2001. First up we have PLANET OF THE APES, whose official site (www.planetoftheapes.com), duh!) will go live on Wednesday and feature the trailer available for download at 3 p.m. EST. The teaser will run about one minute and will be in theaters this Friday. Next, the teaser for HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE will be attached to the David Arquette crapfest (talk about redundancy) SEE SPOT RUN. Guess I'll just have to wait until this one hits the net. Finally the new trailer for TOMB RAIDER will be in theaters near you on March 16th (most likely attached to ENEMY AT THE GATES).
            

February 26, 2000

Source: Film Force

Film Force is reporting that the title for the upcoming Halloween sequel will be HALLOWEEN 8: MICHAEL MYERS.COM. They go on to say that Jamie Lee Curtis was originally supposed to be the star but that may not be the case any longer. The film revolves around the "real" Michael Myers returning to stalk Laurie once again (the Michael Myers in H20 was an imposter. Riiiiiight.)  No real word on what michaelmyers.com has to do with anything, but that name is already taken by a photographer who shares his namesake with the killer.