erinmoran
03-27-2002, 09:58 AM
Do they sound like hits to you??
John Travolta is in early talks to star in "Mr. 3000," about a baseball player who unretires when three of his past base hits are disallowed, dropping him below the esteemed 3,000-hit plateau.
Callie Khouri, who won an Academy Award for writing "Thelma & Louise," is negotiating to direct the film for Disney's Touchstone Pictures.
The project has had several incarnations, first at Paramount and then Disney. Touchstone has fast-tracked the film toward a summer start date, a development that follows the strong tracking results on its upcoming picture "The Rookie," which stars Dennis Quaid as a 39-year-old pitcher who makes it to the major leagues.
Talks with Travolta are in the early stages, but indications are that if a deal can be made, he'll star in the film. Travolta has a strong Touchstone history (critically acclaimed "A Civil Action," blockbuster "Phenomenon") and he'd look good in a baseball uniform, as evidenced by the svelte physique he displayed presenting alongside Sharon Stone at the Academy Awards.
He'd play a Hall of Famer who, after hanging up his spikes and using his jock career to branch into business, is moved to return to the Detroit Tigers seven years after retirement with the intention of knocking out three base hits. As a player, he had become selfish, surly and so infatuated with his statistics that he retired right after his 3,000th hit. This time, he discovers a love he'd lost for the game as he mentors a rookie.
Khouri has long been enamored of the project, ever since she did a rewrite of the Eric Champnella and Keith Mitchell script while the film was at Paramount. She made her directorial debut on "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," which Warner Bros. releases June 7 with a star-studded ensemble that includes Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith and James Garner.
Travolta recently completed reteaming with "Pulp Fiction" co-star Samuel L. Jackson in the John McTiernan-directed Intermedia/ Phoenix drama "Basic."
If casting can be secured quickly, Khouri will make "Mr. 3000" her sophomore effort as a helmer.
03:22 03-27-02
Carrey Takes 'Almighty' Gig
NEW YORK (Variety) - Jim Carrey is set to star in "Bruce Almighty," a Universal Pictures comedy that reteams him with "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective" director Tom Shadyac. Shooting will start in July.
Carrey, Shadyac and scribe Steve Oedekerk began working together on the film in earnest last month, when Carrey became available after the Gary Ross-directed comedy often called "Dog Years" screeched to a halt. At that time, Universal executives were eager to get Carrey into another film following their success with "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Liar Liar."
Carrey and Oedekerk wrote together on "In Living Color," and Oedekerk also directed the "Ace Ventura" sequel.
"Bruce Almighty" is a whiny guy who questions once too often why God gives him so much grief. He is suddenly given almighty power for 24 hours to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. Comedy ensues as the guy misuses, then tries to harness his awesome power.
Universal originally bought the project as a spec script by Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe. Carrey and Shadyac have been working with Oedekerk to rewrite the script, a three-man formula they employed during "Ace."
Carrey will follow up by starring in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," the USA Films picture reteaming "Human Nature" writer Charlie Kaufman and helmer Michel Gondry. He was last in theaters with "The Majestic."
<img src="http://members.aol.com/erinmoran01/images/bobafez.jpg"" height=100 width=300>
John Travolta is in early talks to star in "Mr. 3000," about a baseball player who unretires when three of his past base hits are disallowed, dropping him below the esteemed 3,000-hit plateau.
Callie Khouri, who won an Academy Award for writing "Thelma & Louise," is negotiating to direct the film for Disney's Touchstone Pictures.
The project has had several incarnations, first at Paramount and then Disney. Touchstone has fast-tracked the film toward a summer start date, a development that follows the strong tracking results on its upcoming picture "The Rookie," which stars Dennis Quaid as a 39-year-old pitcher who makes it to the major leagues.
Talks with Travolta are in the early stages, but indications are that if a deal can be made, he'll star in the film. Travolta has a strong Touchstone history (critically acclaimed "A Civil Action," blockbuster "Phenomenon") and he'd look good in a baseball uniform, as evidenced by the svelte physique he displayed presenting alongside Sharon Stone at the Academy Awards.
He'd play a Hall of Famer who, after hanging up his spikes and using his jock career to branch into business, is moved to return to the Detroit Tigers seven years after retirement with the intention of knocking out three base hits. As a player, he had become selfish, surly and so infatuated with his statistics that he retired right after his 3,000th hit. This time, he discovers a love he'd lost for the game as he mentors a rookie.
Khouri has long been enamored of the project, ever since she did a rewrite of the Eric Champnella and Keith Mitchell script while the film was at Paramount. She made her directorial debut on "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," which Warner Bros. releases June 7 with a star-studded ensemble that includes Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith and James Garner.
Travolta recently completed reteaming with "Pulp Fiction" co-star Samuel L. Jackson in the John McTiernan-directed Intermedia/ Phoenix drama "Basic."
If casting can be secured quickly, Khouri will make "Mr. 3000" her sophomore effort as a helmer.
03:22 03-27-02
Carrey Takes 'Almighty' Gig
NEW YORK (Variety) - Jim Carrey is set to star in "Bruce Almighty," a Universal Pictures comedy that reteams him with "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective" director Tom Shadyac. Shooting will start in July.
Carrey, Shadyac and scribe Steve Oedekerk began working together on the film in earnest last month, when Carrey became available after the Gary Ross-directed comedy often called "Dog Years" screeched to a halt. At that time, Universal executives were eager to get Carrey into another film following their success with "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Liar Liar."
Carrey and Oedekerk wrote together on "In Living Color," and Oedekerk also directed the "Ace Ventura" sequel.
"Bruce Almighty" is a whiny guy who questions once too often why God gives him so much grief. He is suddenly given almighty power for 24 hours to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. Comedy ensues as the guy misuses, then tries to harness his awesome power.
Universal originally bought the project as a spec script by Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe. Carrey and Shadyac have been working with Oedekerk to rewrite the script, a three-man formula they employed during "Ace."
Carrey will follow up by starring in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," the USA Films picture reteaming "Human Nature" writer Charlie Kaufman and helmer Michel Gondry. He was last in theaters with "The Majestic."
<img src="http://members.aol.com/erinmoran01/images/bobafez.jpg"" height=100 width=300>