Category: Rumours

PUT A KIRK IN IT
Reports of Captain Kirk beaming back up onto “Star Trek” again are getting stronger.
A trailer for the new season of UPN’s “Enterprise” showing William Shatner reprising his famous role as the maverick starship captain was shown to a select few at the CBS Television City Research Center in Las Vegas last week, according to sources.
UPN officials declined to comment yesterday.
Shatner is in talks with “Enterprise” producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga to appear on the show next season but is currently locked up in a contract with “Boston Legal,” ABC’s spin-off of “The Practice.”
But as the talks have heated up, insiders say network officials wanted to see how audiences would react to Kirk’s possible return. So a trailer for the new season was made and footage from one of Shatner’s “Star Trek” movies was added.
In several interviews, the producers have made no secret of their zeal to land Shatner for next season. Shatner himself is said to have come up with a Kirk storyline and approached Berman and Braga with it.
Although “Enterprise” is set more than a century before Kirk is born, the series’ main plot has included a storyline revolving around time travel and a “temporal war” between enemies from different times.

Director Searches for New ‘Superman’
LOS ANGELES – A powerful father from beyond the heavens sends his son on a fateful journey to Earth to become a savior for humanity.
James Caviezel starred in the Biblical version of that story in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” Could he play out that premise again under different circumstances? Say, the comic-book version, with blue tights and a cape?
No superhero fits the literary Christ motif as neatly as Superman, so it’s no surprise the soulful, buff and blue-eyed Caviezel is one of the fan favorites to answer a question that has perplexed Hollywood for decades: “Who can play Superman?”
Caviezel’s manager, Beverly Dean, is familiar with the rumor, but calls it speculation.
“Would he like to do it? He loves Superman,” she told The Associated Press. “But the truth is there has been no offer, the script isn’t even finished ó but absolutely he’d be interested.”
Bryan Singer, who directed the “X-Men” movies, took over the “Superman” project last month, refueling the rumor machine. He is currently at work on a script, and Warner Bros. says he hasn’t begun the casting process, although it must start soon to make the target 2006 release date.
From little-known soap opera stars to familiar leading men like Brendan Fraser, Jude Law and Josh Hartnett, it seems like nearly every actor between ages 20 and 40 has been draped with the cape at some point.
But playing someone bulletproof has many risks.
“He’s got to have all the qualities you want in your president and your father ó a toughness and a sensitivity at the same time,” said Danny Fingeroth, author of the book “Superman on the Couch,” about the mythical public image of superheroes.
“He has a square-jawed indominatability,” Fingeroth added. “He can be tough with bad guys, yet he’s got the ability to project sincerity and vulnerability that you want Superman to have.”
Some, like Law and Hartnett, considered and then rejected the role, in part out of fear of sight-unseen sequel commitment. Other contenders like Fraser and former “Roswell” actor Jason Behr are still interested, but not holding their super-freezing breath waiting for “Superman” to finally come together.
“Everybody is aware of the fact that they’ve been trying to redo that for a long, long time,” Behr told an audience two weeks ago at the Comic-Con International in San Diego. “So, you know, until things happen they happen.”
“Brendan was always interested in the piece, and at this point, with a new director attached, it’s in the hands of the film gods. Basically they’re starting from scratch,” said Fraser spokeswoman Ina Treciokas.
The Man of Steel hasn’t starred in a feature film since 1987’s “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” with Christopher Reeve, despite aggressive efforts by Warner Bros. to resurrect the series.
The Reeve movies grossed a total of $318 million domestically, but each installment had steadily diminishing returns ó from $134.2 million for the 1978 original to a pitiful $15.6 million for the last gasp in 1987.
Superman has had the most success lately as a TV show, “Smallville” on the WB, which chronicles the pre-superhero life of Clark Kent when he was just a farmboy with strange powers.
Tom Welling, who stars as young Kent, is another actor fans say they’d love to see in the movie “Superman” ó but that’s an extreme long shot.
There were at least three separate films in the works at various points at the studio over the past 10 years, including “Superman Lives” with Nicolas Cage as the lead and Tim Burton directing before it was aborted in pre-production in 1996 over its ballooning budget.
Warner Bros. considered mixing two popular franchises with “Superman Vs. Batman,” which Wolfgang Peterson was directing before he dropped out to do “Troy.”
The third and current “Superman” project has gone through three directors over the past year.
Last month, “Charlie’s Angels” filmmaker McG dropped out of the movie, making way for Singer. Before that, Brett Ratner, the director of “Rush Hour” and “Red Dragon,” was signed on to make “Superman” but quit last year, citing “the difficulty of casting the role of Superman.”
Although it would seem to be a natural for any actor, some of the very things that make “Superman” an ideal role on the surface ó massive worldwide exposure, guaranteed sequels and becoming the face of a pop-culture icon ó can also be counted as potential drawbacks.
And if fans don’t like the movie, you become their nemesis.
Hartnett was among the final contenders who passed on the role, in part because he would have been locked in to several as-yet-unscripted sequels. “A lot depends on the screenplay and the direction ó if those things aren’t good it will be hard for any actor to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, or turn Kryptonite into gold,” Fingeroth said.
Anyone who accepts the role can expect to spend the next six to 10 years ó the prime of a young star’s career ó immersed in grueling special-effects work, dangling from wires and fighting invisible foes. After that, an actor might spend another 10 years trying to undo their screen image as a do-gooder alien muscleman.
Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a 1995 horse-riding accident, remains ingrained as the image of “Superman” for millions and leaves a big shadow for the next actor fill.
Reeve’s spokesman said the actor, who has made several guest appearances on “Smallville,” is not involved in any way with the new “Superman” movie, despite Internet rumors to the contrary. Reeve has not seen a screenplay or discussed the project with the studio, and had no comment on who could be his successor.
Matt Damon was mentioned as a potential Man of Steel when Peterson was developing “Superman Vs. Batman,” but “The Bourne Supremacy” star was as surprised as anyone to hear that news. “That shocked me completely. I always thought of Superman looking like Christopher Reeve … That’s not me at all,” Damon told The AP recently.
A “Superman” movie could be a surefire smash ó akin to “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 2” ó but Damon said that alone would not be enough to persuade him.
“I would not be interested just because it was a comic book or because I thought it would be a big hit. I would do it ó I would do anything ó if you told me there was a great director and a great script attached. If Kenny Lonergan (screenwriter of 2000’s intimate sibling drama “You Can Count On Me”) wrote the script and (“Traffic” Oscar-winner Steven) Soderberg were directing, and it was ‘Superman,’ yeah I’d do it.'”
But getting a big-name actor may not be necessary for the movie to draw an audience. Tobey Maguire was known, but not quite a household name, before “Spider-Man.” And Reeve was a stranger to moviegoers before he starred in 1979’s “Superman.”
“I think it will need to be an unknown, a fresh face. A celebrity could be distracting,” said J.J. Abrams, the creator of TV’s “Alias” and author of the most recent “Superman” movie draft ó which recently was abandoned when Singer came aboard.
A struggling actor also wouldn’t have the typecasting worries of a Damon or Law.
“They may say to themselves, ‘I’m an unknown and they want me to be Superman, but will I be Superman forever?'” Fingeroth said. “It still may seem better than waiting tables.”

Would You Believe?
After a long search, Warner Bros has finally decided on a name to fill the shoes of Maxwell Smart in its GET SMART movie: Steve Carrell of ANCHORMAN and THE DAILY SHOW.
Maxwell Smart, originally played by Don Adams, was an inept secret agent, code name Agent 86, that worked for the United States’ secret agency CONTROL. The forces of CONTROL were always working to thwart the plans of the evil force KAOS. Smart eventually fell in love with and married Agent 99, who he often worked with.
Steve Koren (BRUCE ALMIGHTY) is writing a script specifically centered around Carrell’s strengths.
Andrew Lazar, Chuck Roven, Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold are producing.

Back in the Leather Again
The Sydney Morning Herald talked to Ben Affleck recently and he let slip that he’ll be appearing in the DAREDEVIL spinoff ELEKTRA. “They haven’t even told me what it is,” he said. “I guess it’s some kind of fantasy – I shouldn’t say fantasy. It’s a dream sequence.”

Bana the Next Bond?
Will the next 007 be Bana, Eric Bana?
If you believe Britain’s News of the World newspaper, the Aussie actor is the top pick of producers to succeed Pierce Brosnan as the martini-swilling superspy.
Bana, best known in the U.S. for his starring roles in last year’s The Hulk and this summer’s Troy, is reportedly in negotiations to star in the 21st James Bond film, slated to begin shooting this year.
“Eric is the guy they want, but he has a reputation for being demanding,” the tabloid quotes an unnamed insider privy to the talks. “[Producers] want to modernize Bond and turn him into a youthful, suave and modern hero to compete with the likes of Spider-Man and Keanu [Reeves] in the Matrix.”
The Bana-as-Bond headline got huge play over the weekend, making headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. But while the News of the World has stood by its story, MGM spokesman Eric Kops would only say Monday that the story “is not true.” He declined further comment.
MGM, which distributes the Bond films, and Britain’s Eon Productions, which produces the flicks, have traditionally been tight-lipped about the franchise, refusing to address speculation on the films until the publicity machine was ready to crank.
If the story pans out, Bana would become the sixth actor to play the gadget-loving, babe-bedding secret agent, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Brosnan–and the second to hail from Down Under after George Lazenby (which may not be a good thing, since Lazenby’s stint lasted only one film).
Until Sunday’s story, Bana’s name wasn’t among those in the mix for the new Bond. Instead, the producers’ short-list was said to include Clive Owen, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom and little-known Scottish actor Gerald Butler, who actually had a bit part in the 1997 Bond caper Tomorrow Never Dies.
Although Brosnan’s Bond days have reportedly been numbered for some time, the rumor mill went into overdrive last week after the 51-year-old actor told Entertainment Weekly that he was done.
“That’s it. I’ve said all I’ve got to say on the world of James Bond,” the Irish-born thespian told EW. “Bond is another lifetime behind me.”
Of course, a Bond should never say never again.
Some believe that Brosnan is merely bluffing for a bigger paycheck. His publicist has yet to confirm that Brosnan is done Bonding and didn’t comment on the Bana report.
Although producers supposedly want to go younger, Brosnan’s Bond was the most lucrative. His four 007 films–1995’s Goldeneye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough and 2002’s Die Another Day–have grossed a combined $1.4 billion in global ticket sales; Die Another Day was the highest-grossing Bond flick ever, raking in $413.9 million worldwide.
But Brosnan hasn’t been happy with the direction of the series and has chided producers in the press for playing it safe with the character.
“They don’t know what to do,” he said recently. “They don’t know how to move on–a sense of paralysis has set in.”
Brosnan even nominated Quentin Tarantino–who’s expressed an interest in directing a Bond film–to reinvent the franchise with a new version of Casino Royale (which was originally adapted in 1967 as a spoof starring Peter Sellers and Woody Allen).
Producers were not exactly stirred by the suggestion.
Assuming producers sort out the Bond situation soon, the still-untitled Bond 21 should hit theaters sometime in 2005.

BOND-ING?
The British tabloid News of the World reporting Sunday that Aussie actor Eric Bana, best known for his roles in The Hulk and Troy, is in negotiations to take over the role of James Bond from departing 007 Pierce Brosnan.
No official word yet from MGM.

Report: No More Bond for Brosnan
NEW YORK – Pierce Brosnan appears to be turning in his license to kill, says Entertainment Weekly. “That’s it,” Brosnan told EW.com. “I’ve said all I’ve got to say on the world of James Bond.”
In an interview on the magazine’s Web site, posted Tuesday, the Irish-born actor said 2002’s “Die Another Day” was his last mission on her majesty’s secret service.
“Bond is another lifetime behind me,” Brosnan said.
But the 51-year-old’s statement might be a negotiating ploy. Original Bond Sean Connery quit for a whole movie before being lured back for bigger bucks. If true, England-based Eon Productions, which produces the Bond flicks, must find another star to carry 007’s Walther PPK in the 21st Bond movie, scheduled for release next year.
Speculation surrounds Brits Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gerard Butler, Jude Law and Ewan McGregor, as well as Aussies Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Eric Bana.
For Brosnan, playing Bond will always be a fond memory.
“We went out on a high,” Brosnan said, “and I look back affectionately at that time and doing those four movies. But I’ve said all I gotta say on it.”

New Alias?
Cinescape is reporting that ALIAS creator J.J. Abrams may replace the departed Joe Carnahan as director for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3.

Does Whatever a Raimi Can
SPIDER-MAN 2 director Sam Raimi talked to the BBC about the upcoming second sequel: “I just finished this morning [Monday July 12] — I mean the basic story. I’d been working on it with my brother….It’s going to follow the natural progression of the growth of these two individuals, Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker…I’m not certain if Harry will become the Goblin or not…”

BACK ON THE JOB
Exclusive sources telling E! News Live that Jorja Fox will report back to work at CSI and it was just a misunderstanding with CBS.