Weekly Entertainment & Movie News

[FH]

Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2 Dominates the Box Office
Source: Coming Soon

The Coming Soon! Box Office Report has been updated with the studio estimates for this weekend. Be sure to stay tuned there for the final figures on Monday afternoon.

Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2, starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, and Daryl Hannah, dominated the box office this weekend earning an estimated $25.6 million from 2,971 theaters. The Miramax release averaged a strong $8,604 per site. The first film opened with $22 million last October, making this the biggest debut for a Tarantino film so far. It also ranks as the third-biggest April opening ever, surpassing Hellboy which made $23.2 million earlier this month. "Vol. 1" ended up with almost $70 million. Internationally, it earned about $110 million. Both films cost $30 million to produce.

Lions Gate's The Punisher took the second spot with $14 million from 2,649 theaters. The $33 million-budgeted comic book adaptation, starring Tom Jane, John Travolta, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, averaged $5,285 per site.

Fox Searchlight's Johnson Family Vacation remained in the third spot adding $6.4 million from just 1,326 theaters. The comedy, which cost only $12 million to make, has collected $21.4 million in two weeks.

Columbia's Hellboy dropped two spots to fourth making $5.7 million in its third weekend. The $66 million Guillermo del Toro film has earned $50.4 million. Disney's Home on the Range rounded out the top five with $5.4 million for a three-week total of $37.7 million. Warner Bros.' Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed garnered $5.1 million in its fourth week for a total of $72.2 million.

Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ dropped 72% from Easter weekend, adding $4.2 million. The $30 million Newmarket release has earned a massive $360.9 million, allowing it to climb to the 7th spot on the all-time domestic blockbuster list. Disney's $107 million-budgeted The Alamo lost 55% in sales and made just $4.1 million for a disturbing two-week sum of $16.3 million.

Universal's Connie and Carla debuted outside the top 10 at number 13 with $3.3 million from only 1,014 locations.

[FH]

John Woo to Direct The Rock's Spy-Hunter?
Source: Coming Soon

Latino Review spoke to The Rock on the set of Be Cool, where the action star announced he had just found out that Mission: Impossible II director John Woo is in the running to helm Universal's Spy-Hunter, coming summer 2005.

Based on Midway Games' popular arcade game of the 1980s, Spy-Hunter will see The Rock star as Alec Sects, a former F-15 pilot employed by International Espionage Services as a member of the Spy-Hunter team.

Interestingly, The Rock said last month to the press that Spy-Hunter is "like what Mission: Impossible was for Tom Cruise." Sounds like he was dropping a hint early on regarding the director.

Woo has also directed Broken Arrow, Face/Off, Windtalkers and Paycheck.

[FH]

ROB ZOMBIE's The Devil's Rejects Casting News
Source: Blabbermouth

Rob Zombie is continuing work on "The Devil's Rejects", the much-anticipated sequel to the his directorial debut, "House of 1000 Corpses", tentatively due later in the year. According to a posting on Rob's web site, "Ken ('Dawn of the Dead') Foree has signed on the play Charlie Altamont a.k.a. Captain Spaulding's pimp brother. If that ain't enough for you horror fiends Michael ('The Hills Have Eyes') Berryman has signed to play Clevon, Charlie's dim witted sidekick. Stay tuned for more."

"The Devil's Rejects" (which "refers to the nickname that the media has bestowed upon our favorite band of murderers") will feature a plot revolving around "the revenge-driven brother of slain Sheriff Wydell hunting down the family with a band of bounty hunters." All original cast members are said to be on board.

Even though "House of 1000 Corpses" was not a box office smash, the relatively low-budget flick's (which cost a reported $7 million to produce) $12.5 million haul was enough to make Lions Gate Films happy.

[FH]

Major Franchise Sequel Rumours
Source:Dark Horizons

Three franchises with long-rumoured sequels get gossip updates today:

Jurassic Park IV
For a long time we've heard talk about Spielberg's 'great idea' for the story of the fourth "Jurassic Park" movie that has gotten people exicted about the franchise. Well long time DH informer 'Undergear' finally has the scoop on what that idea might be:

"All these rumors about Jurassic Park 4 are false. They are retooling the script (out to big name doctors right now) But here's the worst part... All this talk about this "brilliant" idea, well... I cannot begin to tell you how bad his idea is...The government has trained dinosaurs to carry weapons and use them for battle purposes. I am not kidding!".

The X-Files 2
'Darren' chimes in with this relatively rough unconfirmed rumour "They're trying to do another X Files movie at Fox - Duchovny, Anderson and Chris Carter that is. Now, what I'm told - no less, over drinks night before last - is that the studio's reluctant to greenlight a new X Files movie - it's been too long, blah, blah - unless there's a big star in it. So who they thinking of? Robin Williams. Duchovny just directed Williams in a movie called 'House of D', and they've got a friendship"

Ghostbusters 3
Close friend of DH 'Wirrrn' just got off the phone with Ernie Hudson for a recent interview about the finished superb HBO series "Oz" which finally hit Aussie network TV this year and the topic of "Ghostbusters 3" came up. Sadly nothing new to report on this front:

"Yeah, I've heard the rumours too! I've met with Danny (Ackroyd) recently, and he'd love to do it, I'd love to do it, Harold Ramis would love to do it, but Bill Murray isn't interested, he doesn't like sequels. I'd love for it to go ahead, but it'd have to be soon, or we'll all be too old to bust anything! I doubt it'll happen"

[FH]

Kevin Spacey admits he faked mugging claim
He says he lied to cover his embarrassment at losing his cell phone to a con man.
Source: Entertainment Weekly



Kevin Spacey wasn't really mugged early Saturday morning in a London park; he was just acting. Talking to the BBC, the two-time Oscar winner admitted that he'd made a false report to Scotland Yard, and that he returned to the same police station an hour later to confess, saying he was only trying to cover his embarrassment at losing his cell phone to a con man.

Spacey, who's living in London while serving as the artistic director of the Old Vic theater, told a BBC radio show that he'd been walking his dog at 4 a.m. when a man asked if he could borrow the actor's phone, then ran off with it. Pursuing the thief, Spacey said he tripped over the pooch. ''I ended up falling on to the street and hitting myself in the head,'' he said. ''Now I'm bleeding relatively profusely, I'm extremely upset and I feel like the biggest fool that has ever lived. I fell for a con and I was incredibly embarrassed by it, so I went to the police and said I'd been mugged.''

After being treated and released at a local hospital, Spacey said he felt remorse and decided to correct the falsehood (though not before some British papers had rushed to publish his initial account of the incident). ''There's a difference between assault and theft, and it just wasn't on for me not to come clean about my own level of embarrassment and being humble at the fact that I got taken by the oldest con going,'' Spacey said. ''I just want to apologize to the police, and any readers and anyone who picks up this story thinking it is actually true.'' For their part, the police said they were no longer pursuing the case. ''That is the end of it from our point of view,'' a Scotland Yard spokesman told the BBC.

(Posted:04/19/04)

[FH]

What's Developing at Paramount Studios
Source: Dark Horizons

After a public shakeup which has resulted in the studio claiming they're going to be doing a bigger and wider range of product, Paramount Pictures has put a bunch of projects in development and 'Crotchety' breaks down what we can potentially expect from the studio over the next few years:

- Carrie Ann Moss's deal is apparently done for Mission: Impossible 3. Scarlett Johanssen is taking more time (scheduling). Phil Hoffman's is in limbo but producers are coming back.

- Pete Segal looks to be on board to direct It's Not You, It's Me, but they may ask him to step aside.

-Fountainhead - they may try to do this contemporary rather than as a period piece so as not to alienate the core audience.

- Fast & the Furious producer Neal H. Moritz is apparently trying to do a film based on the classic teen series 21 Jump Street.

- Sam Mendes is circling to potentially direct Dance Lessons.

- Alex Cross thriller Roses are Red is currently seeking a writer as the studio wants to go with a grittier edge ala Narc.

- Both Naked Jungle and Deathlok are currently under consideration by[/i]Punisher[/i] helmer Jonathan Hensleigh

- The Eye and a potential sequel are being developed with the same crew in mind. Sebastian Guittierez is currently rewriting the first film script.

- PJ Hogan is directing and rewriting to his notes on Let's Make Friends. Casting is about to begin.

- Snoop Dogg looks to be out of The Longest Yard, casting is still underway

- David Koepp is penning War of the Worlds, Stuart Beattie is adapting Without Remorse, Aeon Flux is currently casting.

- Being written: Carter Beats the Devil, The Manny, Honeymoon from Hell, Turn, Days of the Dead, The Girl Who Could Fly, Two Strangers and a Wedding, Seconds, Car Show, To Catch a Thief, and Pet Sematary.

[FH]

Carrie-Anne Moss Accepts Third Mission
Source: Coming Soon

"The Matrix" trilogy star Carrie-Anne Moss has signed on to Mission: Impossible 3, which is aiming for an August start date, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Moss will take a leading role in the sequel, which will see Tom Cruise reprise his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt. His Paramount-based Cruise/Wagner Productions has recently been scouting locations in Ghana and Berlin.

Moss is currently in production on an untitled feature about a disaffected teenager starring Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot). That project is shooting in Valencia, north of Los Angeles.

[FH]

Writers Set for Porky's Remake
Source: Coming Soon

Craig Moss and Steve Schoenburg will write the remake of 1982's Porky's, which Howard Stern is executive producing along with Larry Levinson.

The film starred Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson and Kim Cattrall. Porky's followed a group of high school boys on their mostly sexual misadventures.

The original only cost $4 million to make but brought in more than $105 million and spawned two sequels, Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge.

[FH]

Greetings from SIN CITY
Scoopage spills from the set
Source: Cinescape

Today's edition of Lying in the Gutters, which delivers insider news and scoops for the comic industry, has published a report from an individual with knowledge of the SIN CITY movie that Robert Rodriguez is now filming. Thanks to that scoop, we've learned the following:


The movie will be similar in structure to Rodriguez's pal Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION, meaning that the three stories that make up SIN CITY will weave together.


The three Frank Miller SIN CITY comics used for the majority of the film's storyline are SIN CITY, THAT YELLOW BASTARD and THE BIG FAT KILL.


The film's introduction, featuring Josh Hartnett, is from Miller's BOOZE, BROADS AND BULLETS story.


Rodriguez is using actual photocopied pages from Miller's SIN CITY books to determine the shots of his film. "They line up the camera to look like the panel, and they shoot," was how the scooper described it.


Mickey Rourke is indeed playing everyone's favorite thug from Sin City, Marv. According to the LitG scooper, Rourke is underneath makeup prosthetics that make him look like the battle-scarred Marv, including giving the character his trademark square jaw look.

[FH]

New DVD Releases 4/20

3 Women: The Criterion Collection
All For the Winner
Anthrax: Music of Mass Destruction: Live from Chicago
As Young as You Feel
Billie
Call Me Madam
Circuit 2
Classic Country Comedy
CrissCross
Detonator
Disorder 4: Ride the Lightning
Divine Intervention
Floating Landscape
The Flower of Evil (La fleur du mal)
Fool for Love
Follow That Dream
For the Moment
Give My Regards to Broad Street
A Good Night to Die
H2O 2003 Winter Classic
The Haunted Mansion (widescreen)
The Haunted Mansion (pan-and-scan)
A High Wind in Jamaica
Heavenly Legend
Helter Skelter
He's a Woman, She's a Man
Hour of the Wolf
I Could Go On Singing
The Ingmar Bergman Collection (5-disc set)
Just One Look
Killer Buzz
The King of New York: Special Edition (2-disc set)
The King of Queens: Season Two (3-disc set)
Knockabout
The Last of Sheila
A League of Their Own: Special Edition
Let's Make It Legal
Love Nest
The Lost World: Season Two
Man of La Mancha
Mary and Rhoda
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2-disc set)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (widescreen)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (pan-and-scan)
The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd
The Office: The Complete First and Second Series
The Office: The Complete Second Series
Out of the Ashes
Park: Special Edition
The Passion of Anna
Persona
Phase IV
Pirates of Tortuga
The Playboys
Queensryche: The Art of Live
Recipe for Disaster
Reefer Madness: Special Addiction
Roxie Hart
The Serpent's Egg
Shame
Star!
A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds: The Criterion Collection (2-disc set)
Stranded
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweet Violence (Douce Violence)
The Third Wheel
Tube (Tyubeu)
Wasted
We're Not Married
Wild Things: Unrated Edition
Wild Things 2
Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! (widescreen)
Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! (pan-and-scan)
Windfall
Wish You Were Here
Your Kung Fu Is No Good: 2-Pak

[FH]

New Comic-Book Releases 4/21

PUBLISHER
TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS

ABOUT COMICS
24 Hour Comics Vol 1 TPB, $11.95

ACTOR
Actor Midnight Nation #1/2 Ltd Ed, $10.00
Actor Tomb Raider Ltd Ed Cvr #11, $6.99
Actor Tomb Raider Ltd Ed Cvr #12, $6.99
Actor Tomb Raider Witchblade #1/2, $19.99
Actor Ultimate Spider-Man #1/2, $24.99
Actor Undertaker #1/2, $2.99

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Gloomcookie Vol 3 TPB, $14.95
Serenity Rose #3, $2.95

ANTARCTIC PRESS
AP You Can Draw Manga #3, $4.95
I Hunt Monsters #2, $2.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie #547, $2.19
Jughead With Archie Digest #192, $2.39
Pals N Gals Double Digest #84, $3.59

ASPEN MTL INC
Fathom Dawn Of War Poster Featuring Kiani, $7.99
Fathom Poster Featuring Aspen, $7.99
Soulfire Poster Featuring Grace, $7.99

AVATAR PRESS
777 The Wrath Nude #1 (Of 3)(AA), $6.00
Hellina Companion Bondage Adult Cvr (adult), $6.00
Joe Lansdales By Bizarre Hands #1 (Of 6), $3.50
Joe Lansdales By Bizarre Hands Wrap Cvr #1 (Of 6), $3.50
Jungle Fantasy Preview Sketched Nude Cvr, $29.99
Rich Johnstons Holed Up #1 (Of 3), $3.50
Rich Johnstons Holed Up Homeland Security Ed #1 (Of 3), $3.50
Stargate SG1 Pow Hazardous Duty #2 (Of 3), $5.99
Stargate SG1 Pow Prism Foil Cvr #1 (Of 3), $12.99
Stargate SGI 2004 Convention Special Photo Cvr, $3.99
Stargate SGI 2004 Convention Special Reg Cvr, $2.99
Stargate SGI 2004 Convention Special Wrap Cvr, $3.99

BONGO COMICS
Simpsons Comics #93, $2.99

BROADSWORD COMICS
School Bites Cherri Creeper Poster, $9.99

COMIC CAVALCADE
Badrock Wolverine Comicon Set, $9.95
Helina Vs Pandora Bad Ass Babes Ed #0, $5.99
Hellina Companion Enchanted Ed, $5.99
Lady Death #1/2 Velvet & Gold Signed Set, $75.00
Lady Death In Lingerie Leather Signed Ed, $29.95
Warrior Nun Crossovers Commemorative Set, $19.95
Wildcats X-Men Silver Age Chicago Con, $5.95

CPM MANGA
Dark Angel Vol 2 TPB New Ptg, $9.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
100 Paintings HC, $14.95
Blade Of The Immortal #88, $2.99
BTVS A Stake To The Heart TPB, $12.95
Criminal Macabre A Cal Mcdonald Mystery TPB, $14.95
Dh Goon Rough Stuff TPB, $12.95
El Zombo #1 (Of 3), $2.99
Go Boy 7 Vol 1 Ready Set Go TPB, $12.95
Goon Dh Ed #6, $2.99
Hellboy Movie Pvc Set 1 Good Guys, $14.99
Hellboy Movie Pvc Set 2 Bad Guys, $14.99
Kotobukiya Jango Fett Soft Vinyl Model Kit, $94.99
Lone #6, $2.99
Olivia Bettie Page By Day Stationery Set, $4.99
Olivia Bettie Page By Night Stationery Set, $4.99
Olivia Bettie Page Journal, $9.99
Ragnar Dear John Stationery Set, $4.99
Ragnar Journal, $9.99
Ragnar Passing Notes Stationery Set, $4.99
Star Wars Empire #18, $2.99
Ultraman Tiga Vol 1 TPB, $15.95

DARK PLANET PRODUCTIONS
2 To The Chest #2, $2.99
Ghost Wolf #1, $6.50
Rogues #2, $2.99

DC COMICS
Adventures Of Superman #627, $2.50
Arrowsmith Astro City (resolicited), $2.95
Batman Adventures #13, $2.25
Batman Gotham Knights #52, $2.95
DC Zatanna Mini Bust, $45.00
Fables Vol 3 Storybook Love TPB, $14.95
Fraction #1, $2.50
Green Lantern Classic Animation Maquette, $89.95
Hawkman #27, $2.50
Human Target #9, $2.95
JLA One Million TPB New Printing, $19.95
Lucifer #49, $2.50
Outsiders #11, $2.50
Powerpuff Girls #49, $2.25
Robin #125, $2.25
Rose And Thorn #5 (Of 6), $2.95
Spirit Archives Vol 13 HC, $49.95
Superman Batman #9, $2.95
Superman Batman Public Enemies HC, $19.95
Superman Secret Identity #4 (Of 4), $5.95
Tom Strongs Terrific Tales #10, $2.95
Wonder Woman #203, $2.25

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Micronauts #2, $2.95

DREAMCHILDE PRESS
Quantum Rock Of Ages #3 (Of 12), $2.99

DREAMWAVE
Transformers Energon #22, $2.95

DYNAMIC FORCES
DF Cable Deadpool Sgn #1 (resolicited), $19.99
DF Incredible Hulk Full Size 16 Inch Head Bust HC Edition, $399.99
DF Superman Batman Loeb Sgn #8, $24.99
DF Wanted Death Row Ed Foil Cvr #1, $14.99
DF Witchblade #1/2 Anniv Pack, $5.00
DF Witchblade #40 Anniv Pack, $5.00
DF Wolverine Weapon X 8 Inch Ap Edition Bust, $89.99
DFE Marvel Universal Studios Ltd One Shot, $14.99

EIGOMANGA
Rumble Pack #2, $4.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Blowjob #9 (adult), $3.95
Comics Journal #259, $6.95
Devil In Design Krampus Postcards Artbook (resolicited), $18.95
Hot Moms #3 (adult), $4.95
Spanish Conquest #1 (adult), $3.95
The Bradleys TPB Curr Prtg (resolicited), $16.95

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Donald Duck And Friends #315, $2.95
Mickey Mouse And Friends #264, $2.95
Overstreet Comic Book Price Gd Vol 34 Donald Duck HC, $32.00
Overstreet Comic Book Price Gd Vol 34 Donald Duck SC, $25.00
Overstreet Comic Book Price Gd Vol 34 Shazam SC, $25.00
Overstreet Comic Book Price Gd Vol 34 Shazam HC, $32.00
Overstreets Comic Price Review #8, $6.25

GUTSOON! ENTERTAINMENT
Slam Dunk Vol 5 TPB, $9.95

HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
School Book Of Sorcerers Apprentice HC, $24.95

HIGH IMPACT PUBLISHING
Forgive Me Father #1 (Of 3), $2.95
Forgive Me Father Variant Cover #1 (Of 3), $5.95

HURRICANE ENTERTAINMENT
John Carpenters Snake Plissken #1 Smith Cvr Ed (AA), $2.99
John Carpenters Snake Plissken Chronicles Coll Pack, $45.99
John Carpenters Snake Plissken Smith Cvr Ed #3 (AA), $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Aleister Arcane #1, $3.99
George Romeros Dawn Of The Dead #1, $3.99
Silent Hill Dying Inside #3, $3.99
Spookhouse Vol 1 TPB, $19.99

IMAGE COMICS
Casefiles Sam & Twitch #8, $2.95
Heaven Llc GN, $12.95
Magdalena Readers Set, $9.99
Ministry Of Space Omnibus, $4.95
Spawn #134, $2.50
Strykeforce #1 (Of 5), $2.99
Tomb Raider #11-12 Alternate Foil Cvr Set, AR
Tomb Raider #41, $2.99
Victory Cruz Cvr A #4, $2.95
Victory Francisco Cvr B #4, $2.95
Walking Dead #6, $2.95

KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT
Exploitation Now New Ptg TPB, $9.95
You Damn Kid Vol 1 TPB, $9.95

KENZER & COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table #90, $3.99

LINSNER.COM
Dawn Nice Mug Signed Print, $25.00

MARVEL COMICS
Cable Deadpool #2 (resolicited), $2.99
Captain Marvel #22, $2.99
Daredevil #59, $2.99
Essential Daredevil Vol 2 TPB, $16.99
Fantastic Four #512, $2.25
Hawkeye #7, $2.99
Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-Man Vol 6 2nd Ed HC, $49.99
Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-Man Vol 6 HC Var Dust Jack, $54.99
New Mutants #12, $2.99
New X-Men #156, $2.25
Runaways #14, $2.99
Ultimate Spider-Man #57, $2.25
Uncanny X-Men #443, $2.25
Wolverine #14, $2.25
Wolverine Vol 2 Coyote Crossing TPB, $11.99

NBM
Fairy Tales Of Oscar Wilde Vol 4 HC, $15.95
Treasury Victorian Murder Vol 6 Beast Of Chicago SC, $8.95

NEW DIMENSION COMICS
Miracleman #5 Eclipse Archive Platinum Ed, $49.99

ODDGOD PRESS
Runoff TPB Chapter One, $11.95

ONI PRESS
Love Fights Vol 1 TPB, $14.95

OPP
Bodhisattva GN, $11.95

THE NORM PUBLISHING
The Norm Magazine #3, $4.95

VEROTIK
Verotik World #2, $3.95

VIZ
Ceres Celestial Legend Vol 3 TPB 2nd Ed Suzumi, $9.95
Flowers And Bees Vol 3 TPB, $9.95
Vagabond Vol 10 TPB, $9.95
X 1999 Vol 14 TPB Concerto, $9.95

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
Wizard Anime Insider New Gundam Seed Cvr #14, $4.99
Wizard Anime Insider Rave Master Cvr #14, $4.99

magazines
Angel Magazine #4, $6.99
Angel Magazine Px #4, $6.99
Beckett Basketball Card Monthly #166, $4.99
Beckett Racing & Motorsports Monthly #117, $4.99
Comic Shop News #879, AR
Comics Buyers Guide #1589, $3.99
Comics Revue #216, $6.95
Game Trade Magazine #51, $1.99
Juxtapoz May Jun 2004, $4.99
Maxim May04, $4.99
Modelers Resource #56, $5.99
Newtype Eng Ver May 2004, $9.95
Penthouse Forum May04 (adult), $4.99
Playboy May 2004 (adult), $5.99
Previews Vol XIV #5, AR
Realms Of Fantasy Jun04, $3.99
Tattoo Flash Jul 04, $6.99
Toy Shop #331, $4.99
Tuff Stuff Jun 2004 #332, $5.99
WWE Smackdown Magazine (#16-04), $5.99

books
Big O Lost Memory Manga #2, $9.99
Doctor Who Halflife MMPB, $6.95
Joe Kuberts Comic Book Studio Kit (AA), $15.95
Shrek 2 Movie Novelization MMPB, $4.99
Shrek 2 Movie Story Book HC, $8.99

[FH]

Darth Vader Returns*
Source: USA Today
Star Wars fans get a first look at the final chapter in George Lucas' saga on the $70 Star Wars Trilogy DVD set due Sept. 21.

One of the extras is The Return of Darth Vader, a sneak preview of the as-yet-untitled Star Wars: Episode III in which Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) becomes Vader. The preview offers a first glimpse of the new Vader costume, too. "What we want to do is give people a sense of what it was like when Darth Vader steps back on the set again," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "It's one of those moments that happens only once in the lifetime of a saga."

*Thanks to Dennis!

[FH]

First look at the Fat Albert movie...

[FH]

Spielberg to Film 1972 Munich Olympics Aftermath
Source: Coming Soon

Steven Spielberg (The Terminal) will focus on the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics for a feature that has come together as a co-production between DreamWorks and Universal, reports Variety.

The director will shoot a script by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Insider), and he has begun casting, setting his Schindler's List star Ben Kingsley for a role. DreamWorks will likely distribute internationally while Universal distributes domestically.

The trade adds that the film doesn't have a title and remains shrouded in secrecy even as Spielberg and his production crew lock down European locations for a June start date.

Spielberg will follow this project by directing the Robin Swicord-scripted DreamWorks drama The Rivals and then will reunite with his Minority Report star Tom Cruise in a Paramount/DreamWorks adaptation of the H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which David Koepp is currently writing.

[FH]

Goldberg Investigates Frankenstein Monster
Source: Coming Soon


Variety reports that Adam Goldberg will star in the USA drama Frankenstein, playing an investigator in the update of the Mary Shelley classic. He stars opposite Parker Posey as his crime-fighting partner.

The series centers on the duo as they unravel the myth of Frankenstein through a seemingly standard homicide investigation. Meanwhile, doctor Victor Frankenstein and his creature reside in present-day Seattle.

The cable channel greenlit production on Frankenstein earlier this year, ordering a two-hour pilot and four scripts for the project. Casting is reportedly still under way for Victor and the creature.

Martin Scorsese, author Dean Koontz and Tony Krantz are executive producing. Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) is set to direct from a script by Koontz. Production is scheduled to begin next month in Toronto for a premiere in the fall.