Category: Rumours

Now that he’s killed Bill, Quentin Tarantino may be ready to tackle Jason.
The maverick Oscar-winning writer-director is meeting with New Line Cinema executives to discuss resurrecting hockey-masked slayer Jason Vorhees for a new installment in the studio’s highly profitable Friday the 13th franchise that would resurrect hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees.
A source close to the talks told E! Online that Tarantino first mentioned the idea of reinventing the big-screen slasher to Cabin Fever director Eli Roth, saying he had always dreamed of doing a Jason movie and already had a story and opening montage worked out in his head.
But the studio didn’t seriously consider approaching the Pulp Fiction filmmaker until its plans fell through to make a follow-up to its 2003 hit Freddy vs. Jason.
That campy flick saw Jason go weapon-to-weapon against New Line’s other horror icon, dream-weaving slayer Freddy Kruger of A Nightmare on Elm Street series fame and was the last celluloid foray for the Friday the 13th baddie.
New Line had originally set out to persuade director Sam Raimi to license his Evil Dead hero, Ash, for a sequel aptly titled Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash, but those dreams were dashed when the deal fell apart. Raimi has plans for his own Dead remake.
Tarantino would be tasked with reviving the moribund Friday franchise, which had long ago stumbled into self-parody as Mr. Voorhees bid adieu to the cozy confines at Camp Crystal Lake and set out for the big city (Jason Takes Manhattan), paid a visit to the underworld (Jason Goes to Hell) and even managed a trip into space (Jason X).
Not unlike Jason, the cinematically sadistic Tarantino is known for dreaming up creative ways to dispatch characters, from the ear-offing scene in Reservoir Dogs to the brain-splattering in Pulp Fiction to the blood orgies of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. New Line is undoubtedly hoping the Pulpmeister would help Jason recapture his scariness and make a killing at the box office.
And don’t think directing a Friday the 13th would be beneath the Tarantino: He’s an avowed fan of low-brow fare.
The director, who helmed the 1995 blood-soaked “Mother” episode of ER, signed on two weeks ago to write and direct the season finale of CBS’ hit series CSI. He’s also aiming to shoot another kung fu saga–this one entirely in Mandarin–that will hit theaters in 2006.
Before getting the Friday feeler, Tarantino had volunteered to direct an installment of the James Bond franchise. Although the notion was seconded by erstwhile 007 Pierce Brosnan, Tarantino’s offer was turned down by the Bond producers who have tapped GoldenEye helmer Martin Campbell to direct the upcoming Casino Royale.
If all goes according to Hoyle, a Tarantino Friday the 13th movie would be the first flick he would make outside of Miramax. However, reps for both New Line and the director are cautioning fans not to get their hopes up just yet.
“It’s premature at this point,” says a studio spokeswoman. “It’s just a meeting.”

WHAT A DRAG!
John Travolta in drag? As bizarre as it sounds, Travolta is the front-runner to play the overweight laundress Edna Turnblad in the new film adaptation of “Hairspray,” knocking out Harvey Fierstein, who originated the role on Broadway.
And many involved with the show aren’t pleased.
“All the creators of ‘Hairspray’ very strongly wanted Harvey for the movie,” says Tom Meehan, co-writer of the Broadway production. “This is a decision New Line made; they can do what they want.”
Travolta’s publicist had no comment.
What New Line wants, says Meehan, is for “Hairspray” to be a blockbuster Christmas release for 2006. New Line refused comment on the casting negotiations, first reported in yesterday’s Variety.
But Meehan said it was widely known among the show’s creators that the studio had also been considering Tom Hanks and Jack Nicholson. “They were thinking big,” he says, laughing. “It got pretty wild.”
Edna was first played in the 1988 John Waters film by the late drag queen Divine, who famously ate real dog excrement in Waters’ trash-terpiece, “Pink Flamingos.”
Michael McKean, Bruce Vilanch and Fierstein have all interpreted Edna on Broadway, but Fierstein was considered the true soul of the hit musical, based on the demented yet sweet movie about kids in racially segregated ’60s Baltimore.
Fierstein wouldn’t comment on Travolta’s possible casting, other than to say, through a spokesperson, that since he gets royalties, “the bigger a hit ‘Hairspray’ is, the happier I am.”
Travolta “is certainly a good marketing hook,” says Hollywood Reporter columnist Martin Grove, even if he “may not be the first name to come to mind.” Travolta’s career has gone through truly steep low points (“Perfect,” “Battlefield Earth,” “Look Who’s Talking!”), but he’s built a decades-long career on playing characters that are cool in an off-kilter way: the dim rebel Vinnie Barbarino on “Welcome Back, Kotter,” Danny Zuko in “Grease,” Tony Manero in “Saturday Night Fever” and the smack-addled hit man Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction,” his 1994 comeback.
“Edna Turnblad is not a character you associate with him,” says David Poland, editor of Movie City News. “He’s never played high camp. But now he’s aging. It’s time for him to start playing senior adults, instead of clinging to the macho stuff.”
And there are few things less macho than donning a polyester housecoat and technicolor make-up – which was traumatic even for Divine, who spent almost his whole life in drag.
As Edna, Divine was stuck “in my flip-flops and hideous housedress, with varicose veins drawn on my nubbly shaved legs and everything wrong with me accentuated, schlepping along in these pin curls.”
Even Travolta’s champions, Grove and Poland, say cross-dressing could prove too much for the actor.
“I just saw him at the premiere for his new movie, ‘Be Cool,’ and he is a big, macho guy,” says Grove. “He does not look like he would enjoy being in drag.”
“He’s never played in this realm before. He plays characters at a lower note,” says Poland. “In many ways, it’s why he’s still a star.”
Yet for all the complaining about Travolta’s likely casting, even co-writer Meehan understands the bottom line.
“Harvey is not the world’s greatest singer or dancer; he’s just a great, great performer,” says Meehan.
“We all agree that we’d love to have a successful movie, so we’re not going to walk away.”

Coming Soon?
Here’s some cool information from our industry sources on great DVD titles currently being worked on (or planned) by the folks at 20th Century Fox.
The first title we should mention is the one we get the most requests for by far – the long-awaited Office Space: Special Edition. It’s currently in production, and is being actively worked on by director Mike Judge. Look for it sometime later in 2005.
There’s also work being done on a special edition of David Cronenberg’s The Fly. With any luck, it’ll be ready in time to be a Halloween release.
You Denzel fans will be thrilled to learn that Tony Scott’s Man on Fire has being given 2-disc special edition treatment. It’s tentatively planned for release around Father’s Day (so watch for an announcement soon). Expect this to be a great SE, complete with an alternate ending and a version of the film that’s some 20 minutes longer than the theatrical cut.
A lot of you have asked about a more elaborate edition of Alien Vs. Predator. It’s not on the radar at the moment, but that could change depending on how well the current DVD version sells. There is a 2-disc “extreme” edition currently available in the U.K., but it doesn’t include any of the unrated material.
A lot of you have also been asking about the Mel Brooks promotion that Fox had planned for March (High Anxiety was among the titles expected). As we mentioned the other day, this has been delayed indefinitely. The reason apparently is that Fox wants to really give these films the attention they deserve on DVD. Special editions are planned, they’re just going to take some time to realize.
No movement yet on the classic Batman TV series, which is still tied up legally with Warner and D.C. Comics.
Likewise, there’s been no work started yet on the Space Above And Beyond TV series, although the current plan is to try to get this out in early 2006.
Finally today, let’s talk about the BIG Fox title you probably want to know about. No, not Episode III (although you can likely expect that to hit DVD in time for the holidays). We’re talking about James Cameron’s Titanic. Our industry sources have confirmed that a SERIOUS special edition is currently being worked on by Fox. You can expect it to follow a similar pattern to New Line’s Lord of the Rings films on DVD – a 2-disc version and a more elaborate 4-disc edition. Both will feature a sparkling new anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film. Among the many extras you can expect are lots of deleted scenes and tons of “behind-the-scenes” material. Watch for it to be announced later this year for release in the 4th Quarter. As expected, it’ll be released by Paramount here in the States, and Fox internationally.

‘Die’ Another Day
Bruce Willis is 49, but that’s not stopping him from donning John McClane’s tank top one more time. The long-in-development fourth Die Hard movie, the first since 1995, is about ready to shoot, Willis told BBC Radio this week. A year ago, Willis told reporters that the big hurdle was coming up with a script that handled the franchise’s usual terrorism plot in a way that was appropriate after 9/11. But Willis and Twentieth Century Fox have apparently overcome that stumbling block.
In London to promote his forthcoming action drama Hostage, Willis also revealed the sequel’s title. ”Die Hard 4.0 is being written as we speak,” he said, ”and if all goes well we’ll be shooting it in autumn on the East Coast of the United States.” The actor was reluctant to divulge much more than that. He said, ”John McClane has retired as a cop, and that’s all that Fox have allowed me to tell you about it.”

FAKING THE BAND ON ‘LOST’
The TV show LOST has gotten so popular, the fictional rock band on the show, Drive Shaft, is threatening to become a real band ó and may even put out an album.
“We’ve been talking about putting out an official album,” “Lost” executive producer Bryan Burk tells TV Guide Online.
On the show, Dominic Monaghan (“Lord of the Rings”) plays Charlie Pace, the bass player for Drive Shaft ó a supposedly famous rock band fronted by his brother, Liam.
Already, several faux fan Web sites, including www.driveshaftband.com, have sprung up that include fake bios of its members, tour dates and even a downloadable song called “You All Everybody” (which popped up as background music at a party on a recent episode of “Alias”).
There’s even a music video at www.abc.com.
One of the Web sites mentions how Charlie has mysteriously disappeared and has dedications to the band’s missing bassist.

Tautou May Decipher ‘Da Vinci Code’
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) – French actress Audrey Tautou, who stars in the World War I drama “A Very Long Engagement,” may have a chance to run around modern-day France for her next project.
The gamine actress will reportedly play opposite Tom Hanks in the film adaptation of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel “The Da Vinci Code,” according to Le Parisien newspaper.
The project centers on symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks), who must clear his name of murdering a museum curator by deciphering a series of codes left by the dead man that point to the location of the Holy Grail. Tautou will play Sophie Neveu, the curator’s granddaughter who helps Langdon crack the code.
Tautou, 26, beat out Sophie Marceau, former Miss France Linda Hardy and Julie Delpy for the coveted role. Also recently cast is Jean Reno as Bezu Fache, the captain of the French Judicial Police.
Director Ron Howard will begin shooting this summer, aiming for a May 19, 2006 release date.
Tautou’s other film credits include “Venus Beauty Institute,” “Dirty Pretty Things” and her breakthrough film “Amelie.”

De Niro and Scorsese Discuss ‘Taxi Driver’ Sequel
Screen legend Robert De Niro has reunited with iconic director Martin Scorsese to work on a sequel to their classic movie Taxi Driver. The Oscar-winning actor, who starred as disturbed Vietnam veteran Travis Bickle in the 1976 film, has confirmed the movie veterans are mulling over script ideas for a follow-up to the gritty original. Apart from his comedy turn in Meet The Parents and its recent sequel Meet The Fockers, De Niro has starred in a series of flop films – and critics are hoping Travis Bickle’s resurrection will restore his reputation as one of the greatest dramatic actors of all time. De Niro, 61, says, “I was talking with Martin Scorsese about doing what I guess you’d call a sequel to Taxi Driver, where he is older.”

Fincher eyes Zodiac killer film
“Seven” director David Fincher is in talks to direct the thriller “Zodiac,” Variety reports.
The film is based on the obsessive efforts of three men who hunted Zodiac, the infamous serieal killer who terrorized San Francisco for 25 years.
The Zodiac killer was also the basis for Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film, “Dirty Harry.”
Fincher’s other credits include “Fight Club,” “Alien3” and “Panic Room.”

SPRINGTIME FOR UMA?
Variety reporting that Uma Thurman is in talks to replace Nicole Kidman as bombshell Swedish secretary Ulla in Mel Brooks’ movie version of his hit Broadway musical, The Producers.

Garner Sparks Pregnancy Questions
Alias star Jennifer Garner has sparked speculation she’s pregnant with boyfriend Ben Affleck’s baby, after being photographed with a plumper-than-usual stomach.
The brunette actress, who has been dating her Daredevil co-star since the summer, is shown in shots taken on December 11 looking more full around the middle than usual. And in another taken a day later, Garner covered her stomach as soon as she spotted a photographer, while a day later, she emerged on the streets of Los Angeles wearing a long, wide scarf covering her belly.
While Garner’s representatives has refused to comment, Utah-based nutritional biochemist Dr. Shawn M. Talbott, who does not treat the actress, tells Star magazine, “It really does look like Jen is pregnant. Where she seems to be gaining weight – lower belly and hips – is a typical change in shape for a young, fit, pregnant woman. Jen could have started early eating for the holidays but I think she looks more like she has a baby on the way!”
Judging from the photographs, it is predicted that Garner is four to five months pregnant.