Robert Benton To adapt and direct "Appointment in Samarra"

Robert Benton will adapt and direct John O'Hara's classic novel "Appointment in Samarra" for Universal Pictures.

Published in 1934, "Appointment" is set during the 1930s in the fictional, upper-class world of Gibbsville, Pa., and tells a tale of liquor bootlegging, inherited wealth and self-destruction.

O'Hara's first novel, which has been called the "American Beauty" of its day, focuses on young Cadillac dealer Julian English and his socialite wife, Caroline. One night, Julian throws a drink in the face of one of the town's wealthiest citizens and begins a downward spiral that takes place over a three-day period and ends tragically.

O'Hara, one of the best-selling authors of his era, enjoyed a vogue in Hollywood during the late '50s-early '60s, when his books provided the source material for such high-profile projects as 1957's "Pal Joey," starring Frank Sinatra; 1958's "Ten North Frederick," starring Gary Cooper; 1960's "From the Terrace," starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; and 1960's "Butterfield 8," which earned its star Elizabeth Taylor a best actress Oscar.

David Brown and Barry Mendel are producing the project, which Universal production president Scott Stuber is overseeing for the studio.

"Appointment" is not the first feature based on a novel that Benton has adapted for the big screen. His credits include the adaptations "Nobody's Fool," "Billy Bathgate" and "Kramer vs. Kramer," which won him directing and screenplay Oscars . Benton is in production on Miramax Films/Lakeshore Entertainment's "The Human Stain," based on Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Roth's novel of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins. Benton is repped by CAA.

Seven Figures For Douglas Carter Beane's script "Skinner's Eddy"

Disney has paid seven figures to pick up Douglas Carter Beane's script "Skinner's Eddy" with choreographer-cum-helmer Adam Shankman ("The Wedding Planner") attached to direct for producer Hyde Park Entertainment.

Pic marks the second high-profile teaming of Shankman/Hyde Park with Disney, as all three start shooting the Steve Martin/Queen Latifah starrer "In the Houze" this Friday.

"Eddy" is a romantic comedy with fantasy elements about a girl who returns home to a small town to take care of her uncle's estate after his death. While living there she meets the perfect man, whose only flaw is that he seems too good to be true. Production is expected to start late this year contingent on cast.

Beane is a co-founder and artistic director of the Drama Department, the award-winning New York-based theater collective whose members include Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Billy Crudup and Amy Sedaris.

He recently produced "Music From a Sparkling Planet" and is currently casting "Free to Be You and Me." He also penned the successful Off Broadway play "As Bees in Honey Drown," being adapted by Richard LaGravenese for Universal; and he wrote Universal's "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar." Shankman most recently directed Warner Bros.' Mandy Moore hit "A Walk to Remember."

Stephen Herek preparing 'Air Tight' at Castle Rock

Stephen Herek in negotiations to develop and direct "Air Tight" at Castle Rock Entertainment.

The action-drama, written by Tony and Joe Gayton, is about four small-time convicts who manage to pull off a heist worth $3 million. Led by Spike, the smooth con who masterminds the plan from behind bars, the other group members are Spike's neat-freak cellmate Herschell; Shirlee, a black pre-op transsexual with computer hacking skills; and Yuri, a man who knows how to steal and fly helicopters. Their connection to the outside world is Jonnie, Spike's beautiful, manipulative partner who helps him plan the master heist.

Mike Lobell is producing the project through his Mike Lobell Prods., which has a production deal at Castle Rock. Castle Rock picked up the project as a pitch for high-six figures 18 months ago . Herek's producing partner Toby Jaffe will produce in some capacity.

Gayton wrote the upcoming Castle Rock features "Murder by Numbers," starring Sandra Bullock, and "The Salton Sea," starring Val Kilmer.

Herek, repped by Endeavor, next directs 20th Century Fox/Regency Enterprises' "Life or Something Like It," starring Angelina Jolie and Edward Burns. His credits include "Rock Star," "Holy Man," "101 Dalmatians" and "Mr. Holland's Opus."

Paramount Pictures has set Charles Shyer to direct a remake of "Alfie

Paramount Pictures has set Charles Shyer to direct a remake of "Alfie," the 1966 romantic comedy about a womanizer whose near-death experience prompts him to rethink his superficial, empty life.

Shyer is writing the script with Elaine Pope, the Emmy-winning writer and producer of such sitcoms as "Seinfeld" and "Murphy Brown." That duo will produce the film, which Shyer hopes to be his next directorial effort.

The original starred Michael Caine as the lothario, and the film was nominated for five Oscars including best picture and actor. Paramount has been raising a lot of Caine in the last month; Mark Wahlberg recently began negotiating for the role Caine played in "The Italian Job," a remake to be directed by F. Gary Gray.

For Shyer and Pope, the film's themes of love and sexuality are still highly fertile ground for strong comedy. The remake was their idea, and their pitch to Paramount led to their ICM agents and attorneys making their deals.

"I was a huge fan of the movie, and especially that device in which he gives his inner thoughts to the camera," Pope said. "There were restrictions of censorship back then that aren't there now, so the character will be able to say more about women and society."

Shyer, who last directed Hilary Swank in "The Affair of the Necklace," said "Alfie" holds potential similar to that of the remake he directed of the Spencer Tracy comedy "Father of the Bride," which Shyer and Nancy Meyers turned into two hit films starring Steve Martin.

"It is the kind of movie that can make you laugh but also touch you, because it as much about loneliness and fear of commitment as it is about sex," Shyer said.

Seriously Dude, Where's My Car?

Twentieth Century Fox is developing a sequel to its low-budget hit comedy "Dude, Where's My Car?"

Entitled "Seriously Dude, Where's My Car?," the new picture would follow the adventures of two sophomoric underachievers, played by Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, who -- thanks to some particularly potent marijuana -- are once more comedically denied the whereabouts of their ride.

The decision seems obvious, at least on a financial level: the $14 million picture "Dude, Where's My Car?" grossed $73 million worldwide since its 2000 release.

The studio is in final negotiations to sign producers Gil Netter and Wayne Rice and screenwriter Philip Stark for the sequel. It plans to shoot the film next year during Kutcher's summer hiatus from hit sitcom "That '70s Show," where Stark formerly served as a story editor.

Warner Bros. has bought the rights to remake "Il Mare

Warner Bros. has bought the rights to remake "Il Mare," a Korean romantic drama that will be produced by Vertigo Entertainment partners Roy Lee and Doug Davison.

The original is a love story with a time twist.  Sung-hyun, who just moved into ' Il mare ' receives a strange letter. The letter is from a young woman in the year 1999, two years from the present. Her predictions about the past are amazingly accurate. Her warning about a flurry of snow on a certain day in January of 1998 and the ensuing flu virus turns out to be true. Eun-joo is convinced that her letter has traveled back in time to December of 1997 and starts writing regularly to her newfound pen pal. A professional voice actor, Eun-joo asks Sung-hyun to find her long lost cassette recorder at a train station. Sung-hyun goes to the train station and gets a glimpse of Eun-joo, who of course, has no idea who he is. After he receives his father's last book from the future Sung-hyun belatedly realizes his father's love for him. He confesses his selfishness at his father's grave. Eun-joo's old flame returns from the United States. But he's found himself a new love and is planning to marry her. Heartbroken, her only hope is that Sung-hyun will stop her from letting Ji-hoon go in the first place. Faced with the prospect of losing Eun-joo whom he's grown to love, Sung-hyun decides to make the ultimate sacrifice by stopping her from sending her boyfriend away. Eun-joo visits Sung-hyun's school and is shocked to find out he died two years ago in a car crash. She realizes too late that she is in love with him too. He died on his way to stop Eun-joo from letting her boyfriend leave to the U.S. Eun-joo races against time to Il mare to warn Sung-hyun

Lee and Davison, who have a first-look deal at Dimension, are building a nice business feeding Hollywood's appetite for reheating foreign fare. Their first big sale was the "Ring" remake to DreamWorks for a picture that has been directed by Gore Verbinski. They sold "Sassy Girl" to DreamWorks, "My Wife is A Gangster" to Miramax and "Dark Water" to Bill Mechanic's Disney-based Pandemonium, and they've got pending sales of remakes from films emanating from Indonesia to Hong Kong.

Lee, a D.C. lawyer who came to Hollywood six years ago, got started by representing Asian studios hungry for ancillary sales of their films. He bought a subtitling machine and has been cranking out deal memos. "It's great for Hollywood, because U.S. audiences haven't seen the films," Lee said.

It's also great for the studios. Japanese studio Asmik Ace spent $1.2 million making the original "Ring," which has become a cult horror favorite.

"The remake deal made them $1.3 million upfront, and a good backend in terms of distribution rights to their country," Lee said. "I am getting hundreds of films now, and am taking one to market every two weeks. I have sold every one of them."

Paramount Pictures and Kerner Entertainment Partner for a Four-Year, First-Look Motion Picture Deal

Sherry Lansing, chairman of the Motion Picture Group of Paramount Pictures, announces today that the studio has entered into a four-year, first-look motion picture deal with Kerner Entertainment, the production company founded by producer Jordan Kerner. Under the agreement, Paramount will finance, market and distribute Kerner's new motion picture projects.

"Jordan will fit right in at Paramount," says Lansing. "He is an intelligent producer, whose filmmaking style is a perfect match for the many entities of the Viacom family. We couldn't be happier about this agreement."

"I love family entertainment, and I also have a passion for dramas that can elevate and challenge the audience. I trust that this emphasis will make a significant contribution to Paramount, Nickelodeon and MTV Films in establishing an even greater diversity in their already wide ranging slate of films," says Kerner. "This is a phenomenal opportunity for me to be working with Sherry Lansing, John Goldwyn and Rob Friedman."

"Mr. Kerner has an impressive history of films," said Rob Friedman, chief operating officer of Paramount Pictures and vice-chairman of the Motion Picture Group. "We have had great success with marketing and distributing family entertainment are looking forward to working with him on his upcoming projects."

Working with Mr. Kerner is his executive vice president and head of development Paul Neesan. Mr. Neesan previously was head of Development at Mostow/Leiberman Productions. Prior to that he served as vice president of Production at Universal.

During his career, Kerner has produced many successful feature films, including the recent family hit "Snow Dogs," starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., as well as other box office successes such as "George of the Jungle," "Inspector Gadget," "When A Man Loves A Woman," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Three Musketeers," "Less Than Zero" and the three installments of "The Mighty Ducks."

In 1986, Kerner and Jon Avnet formed The Avnet/Kerner Company, a production entity that developed socially relevant and family-oriented motion pictures and television movies, series and mini-series. With many acclaimed productions, the company established a reputation for high-quality, value-oriented entertainment.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom, Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.

MIP 2002, Euros Are Slotting Fewer Yanks On Their Screens These Days

Catherine Deneuve, John Hurt, Rupert Everett and a real-life biker gang will have their work cut out for them in Cannes this week as they tubthump various programs to TV station buyers at the 39th annual Mip market, which opened Monday April 15 and runs through Friday April 19.

The five-day bazaar unspools in the wake of German media firm Kirch Group's bankruptcy, which has sent shock waves through the industry -- and prices for U.S. movies and TV shows plummeting in Germany.

Also worrying are just-released stats confirming what most MIP-goers already know: Euros are slotting fewer Yanks on their screens these days. Stations in the big five markets -- Germany, the U.K., France, Italy and Spain -- programmed 3.3% fewer U.S.-made shows last year.

With the Hollywood majors still trying to figure out exactly how much they stand to lose from the Kirch debacle -- it'll be in the hundreds of millions -- they'll likely keep a low profile at the market. Sony's Columbia TriStar is hosting a pour for its upcoming summer movie slate, led by sequels to "Men in Black" and "Stuart Little," but otherwise most of the majors plan a quick in and out of Cannes.

A host of Euro, Canuck and Aussie program distributors hope to step into the breach.

France's TF1 is pulling out the stops for its miniseries "Dangerous Liaisons," bringing to the Riviera not only Deneuve and Everett, but also Nastassja Kinski and Leelee Sobieski to hobnob with buyers and the press.

Meanwhile, Monte Carlo's Daro Films and Canada's Cine Tele will unleash a gaggle of 20 Harley riders in leather jackets on the beach. The bikers will pick up buyers and journalists at the Palais this evening and transport them to a launch party for a six-parter about the "Triple Sixer" gang called "The Last Chapter." Canuck star Michael Ironside is set to ride in for the event.

Canada's TVA will hype its series phenomenon "Fortier," which garnered top ratings in Quebec and has gone on to English-language public broadcaster CBC. The show is based on the life of criminal psychologist Anne Fortier, who works with a police task force to track down the criminally insane.

British actor Robson Green will be in Cannes to launch another crime franchise, "Wire in the Blood," which is being peddled by Aussie outfit Southern Star. The series, about a clinical psychologist, is based on the best-selling novels by Val McDermid.

And finally, British film actor Hurt hits town to tout a thriller called "Bait," which was made for Britain's ITV network.

Meanwhile documentary production is staging a comeback, as evidenced by the fifth Cannes MipDoc convention, which wrapped Sunday.

The factual revival is being driven by a still-voracious audience appetite for high-end historical re-creations and current affairs programs in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Eight of the 10 documentaries most viewed by buyers at MipDoc screening booths were history or current affairs programs. Not one featured wildlife.

Six turned on terrorism or war: the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s "In the Line of Fire," about journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Marathon's "Fighting Aviation Terror"; Powerdocs' "Clear and Present Danger -- The Evolution of Modern Terrorism"; British Movietonews' "Palestine"; "September 11, 2001" from Germany's Spiegel TV; and Granada Intl.'s "Portrait of a Terrorist."

"There's a great interest in knowing not only what's happening in the world, but why it's happening," said Anna Glogowski, director of documentaries at France's Canal Plus.

According to Michael Weatherseed, Reed Midem television division director, MipDoc saw a record number of documentaries presented -- 1,328. Sellers rose 7% to 177 companies.

Legal: Judge dismisses case against 'N Sync

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against 'N Sync by a firm that made giant look-alike puppets of band members for their 2000 American Music Awards performance.

Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures Inc. filed the U.S. District Court copyright suit in November 2000 seeking damages and a portion of the profits from sales of a souvenir program and backstage "pass" using the puppet likenesses.

U.S. District Judge Robert Kelleher dismissed all claims against group members Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass and Joey Fatone Jr., and band manager Johnny Wright, court documents showed Friday.

The judge found the Kroffts "cannot establish vicarious liability and no genuine issues remain for trial," according to the court papers.

The giant puppets were used during the performance of the hit Bye Bye Bye from the No Strings Attached album. The Kroffts copyrighted the puppets in July 2000.

The suit claimed a photograph of the Krofft puppets on the back of souvenir programs sold at 'N Sync concerts as well as the laminated backstage pass that carried its image violated the puppet firm's copyright.

High anxiety at Vivendi Universal

Battle lines are being drawn between French pay TV service Canal Plus and its Vivendi Universal parent company as the media giant's April 24 shareholders meeting in Paris draws closer.

Canal Plus chief executive Pierre Lescure told union reps Monday that he will resign if Vivendi Universal CEO Jean-Marie Messier tries to block his choice of a new deputy to replace Denis Olivennes, who quit abruptly Friday.

Meanwhile, an embattled Messier will ask that the board not award him stock options this year unless the company's share price rises to $52.80 by September. The stock, which has slumped 40 percent this year, ended at $33.53 on the New York Stock Exchange Monday.

Vivendi also said Monday that members of the firm's executive committee had decided unanimously to reinvest their 2001 bonuses in Vivendi Universal shares after the shareholder meeting.

Olivennes resigned as chief operating officer of Canal Plus and a member of Vivendi Universal's exec committee in apparent protest at Messier's leadership. One high level source told Daily Variety that Olivennes had quit to make it politically impossible for Messier to fire Lescure before next week's shareholder meeting.

Olivennes attended Monday's meeting with union reps alongside Lescure. According to one staffer, he said he resigned because of Messier's double-dealing with the Canal Plus management. Olivennes claimed that Canal Plus had met performance targets set by Messier, despite the Vivendi Universal topper's public insistence to the contrary.

Lescure made it clear that he will be the one to choose Olivennes' successor and that Messier will not impose a replacement on him or the company.

"Lescure said that he will meet Messier later this week, that Messier would propose somebody to be No. 2, and that Lescure would propose somebody else. If they didn't agree, then Lescure would have to resign," one union rep told Daily Variety. "He didn't exactly seem angry, just firm."

Lescure explained that he appoints replacements to the company's five-member board, of which Olivennes was a member, in accordance with the charter Messier signed with France's Conseil Superieur de L'Audiovisuel at the time of the Vivendi Universal-Canal Plus merger a few years ago. Messier must approve the choice, however.

What had once seemed a viable working relationship between Lescure and Messier seems to have degenerated into open antipathy. Lescure told union reps that he still believed in the merger between Canal Plus and Vivendi but that he no longer sees eye to eye with Messier.

As Messier boarded a plane from the U.S. to Paris Monday, Lescure boarded one from Paris to Spain.

Lescure has also cancelled his trip to Cannes, where he was to host a party Tuesday night for Canal Plus' prestige show, "The Lights of Brindisi," about the problem of immigration in Europe, co-produced by all the Canal European affiliates.

Meanwhile, a report has given Messier only an 80% chance of survival amid calls from one of France's most powerful unions for his resignation and a brouhaha over stock options.

"The astronomical debt of Vivendi Universal in 2001, 13.6 billion euros ($12 billion), is the catastrophic result of a capitalist system that allows a sorcerer's apprentice to drive us toward political suicide. We ask for Jean-Marie Messier's resignation without indemnity," France's third largest union, Force Ouvriere, said in a press release.

A report released last week by an analyst with French bank Credit Lyonnais said that Messier had a 20% chance of being ousted at the annual meeting.

Messier has been pushing Vivendi shareholders to agree to a billion-euro stock option proposal. But execs and shareholder activists found the proposal unfair and untenable, as it would allow certain execs to make a profit from Vivendi Universal's woes, while diluting shareholders' stocks.

Messier has backed a plan that dedicates 5% of the company's equity to stock options for execs, insisting that to retain talent in the creative industries, he has to reward people properly, especially the U.S. staff that has different pay expectations than their European counterparts.