Kit Bowen's Weekly Role Call, Aug. 13
By Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com Staff
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Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Sofia Coppola |
Off with her head!
Sofia Coppola is heading to France, and the big bad studio system, for her next project. The Academy Award-winning writer/director of Lost in Translation, who is used to doing quiet little indie movies, is set to write and direct a bigger-budgeted Marie-Antoinette for Columbia Pictures. Kirsten Dunst will play the ill-fated French queen, while Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore) is tagged to play her husband, Louis XVI. If you recall, the happy couple both lost their heads during the French Revolution. That must've been painful. "I've always loved the story of Marie Antoinette and the decadence of Versailles on the brink of revolution," Coppola said, "and the fact she was just a teenager when circumstances forced her to play a significant role in history." Let's hope Sofia doesn't sell out to the corporate machine and infuses the project with her own quirky sensibilities.
Mann, DiCaprio are Public Enemies
Collateral director Michael Mann and Leonardo DiCaprio are collaborating on a drama Public Enemies, about the great crime wave of 1933-34. There's definitely some symmetry to that. Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Barbarians at the Gate author Bryan Burrough, the film tells the story of how the government's attempt to stop Depression-era criminal legends, such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, transformed J. Edgar Hoover's FBI from a powerless agency into the country's first federal police force. It is unclear yet which role DiCaprio will take, or even which side of the law his character will be on. If I were a bettin' gal, I'd say he'll play Dillinger.
Spielberg, Cruise gear up for War
After a frenzied 48 hours of rapid-fire negotiations, it looks like Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise are heading into an adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds as their next immediate project. Cruise has let go of Mission: Impossible 3 for the time being while Frank Darabont (The Green Mile) writes a script; Spielberg's untitled drama about the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where members of the Israeli team were held hostage and slain by Palestinian extremists, has been put on the back burner as well. The director's interest in the tragic event and what followed has been a lightning rod for gossip and published reports, which have centered on whether the volatile subject matter--the film reportedly deals with the Mossad's retribution against the kidnappers--have created such security concerns that Spielberg would shelve the film. But apparently, Spielberg just wants to get a script that satisfies him and has given the task to playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America). Can't wait for all three films.
Ryan, Brody travel to Land of Women
Meg Ryan and TV's The OC star Adam Brody are set to star in In the Land of Women for Castle Rock, a bittersweet comedy that will mark the directorial debut of Jonathan Kasdan, son of director Lawrence Kasdan (Dreamcatcher). Jonathan Kasdan, who also wrote the script, told Variety, "It is about a comedy screenwriter from L.A. (Brody) who, in the wake of a tumultuous breakup, heads to the suburbs of Michigan to take care of his ailing, eccentric grandmother." Apparently once there, he becomes involved with a house full of women across the street. Now it's unclear which role Ryan is playing but if she's playing the grandmother, that's a kick in the teeth, isn't it? Yikes. Jon Kasdan becomes the third member of his clan to get behind the camera-- his brother, Jake, made his directing debut with the 2002 Orange County, starring Tom Hanks' son, Colin Hanks. Jon also credits his mentors, Cameron Crowe, James L. Brooks and, of course, his father, who is also exec producing the film. What can I say? Nepotism works, baby!
American Girl comes to life
Thanks to Julia Roberts, the popular American Girl dolls and books are finally getting a small screen treatment. The Oscar-winning actress is the executive producer of Samantha: An American Girl Holiday and will be the WB's first made-for-TV movie, premiering Nov. 23. Set in 1904, the movie explores the different worlds of young Samantha (AnnaSophia Robb) and her Irish maid, Nellie O'Malley (Kelsey Lewis) and the challenges they face together--including Nellie's snowy escape from a New York orphanage. Mia Farrow will star as Samantha's grandmother. My teeth ache just thinking about it.
FDR comes to HBO
British actor Kenneth Branagh is set to play Franklin D. Roosevelt (sure, why not? Brits play important American icons all the time) in Warm Springs, an HBO TV movie that focuses on the famous president before he became a famous president. Here's a little history lesson, courtesy of Variety: Roosevelt began his political career in 1910, when he was elected to the New York State Senate. Ten years later, presidential candidate James Cox tapped Roosevelt as his running mate. The duo failed in their bid for the White House, but Roosevelt still had a seemingly bright political future ahead of him when he was diagnosed with polio in 1921. The incurable disease paralyzed both of his legs. Roosevelt invested in a rehabilitation retreat in Warm Springs, Ga., (hence the title). Through a great deal of rehabilitation, he did regain some use of his legs and went on to serve two terms as governor of New York and 12 years as president of the United States, leading Americans out of the Great Depression and into World War II. Roosevelt eventually built a cottage at Warm Springs he called "the Little White House"; the location would become his favorite retreat. On April 12, 1945, during his fourth term as president, Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage while posing for a portrait at Warm Springs. I envision much shedding of tears and acceptance speeches for the Emmys to come.
Until next week…
Photo(s) by Ken Kwok- © 2004- Hollywood.com, Inc- All Rights Reserved