Wes Craven To Direct A Gothic Horror Version Of "Alice In Wonderland

Jon and Erich Hoeber will write "Alice," a gothic horror version of "Alice in Wonderland" to be directed for Dimension Films by Wes Craven.

The story, based on the Electronic Arts video game "American McGee's Alice," takes place after Alice is put in a mental institution by her wicked aunt.

"I can't wait to follow Alice down the rabbit hole for a completely new and nightmarish journey," Craven told Daily Variety. He previously directed the "Scream" trilogy for Dimension.

The Hoeber brothers recently wrote "White Out," to be produced by Gail Katz and Wolfgang Petersen, as well as a television show for the WB network called "Ringo and McCann," to be produced by Joel Silver. Their first film, "Montana," starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci and Kyra Sedgwick, played at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival

Jeff Daniels To Do Bloodwork For Clint Eastwood

Jeff Daniels has joined the cast of Warner Bros.' "Bloodwork" for director Clint Eastwood, who stars in the film as well as produces through his Malpaso Prods.

The project sees Eastwood playing Terrell McCaleb, one of the most effective serial killer investigators in the history of the FBI. After being sidelined by a heart-transplant operation, he decides to turn his badge in to spend more time restoring his boat, but an incident pulls him back in. Daniels plays Buddy Noone, an aging professional boat bum who appears to be Terrell's friend.

Additionally, Tina Lifford ("Joe Somebody") has been added to the cast, playing an LAPD officer. Dylan Walsh also stars as a police officer.

Daniels, repped by ICM, next stars in "Gods and Generals," which Warner Bros. is releasing. He wrote, directed and stars in the indie feature "Super Sucker," which will premiere this month at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo.

Lifford is repped by Stone/Manners and Sanders/Armstrong. Walsh is repped by UTA and McGowan/Levine Management.

Charlie Hunnam eyes 'Nickleby' for UA, McGrath

Charlie Hunnam is in final negotiations to star in the title role of United Artists' big-screen adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel "Nicholas Nickleby" for writer-director Douglas McGrath and Hart Sharp Entertainment Inc.

Jamie Bell, Nathan Lane and Christopher Plummer also will star in the project, which will shoot in April in London and Liverpool.

The book, adapted by McGrath, follows Nicholas, a young boy whose father dies and leaves him destitute. In order to make money to support his family, Nicholas' greedy uncle (Plummer) finds him a job teaching at a Yorkshire school, but the boy flees the place along with his friend Smike (Bell), and the two join a troupe of actors, headed by Lane.

Nicholas becomes responsible for many people, including Smike, his sister Kate, who is subjected to unwanted attentions by her uncle's friend, and Nicholas' new sweetheart, Madeleine.

Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson and Anne Hathaway are being eyed to join the project as Nicholas' parents and girlfriend, respectively.

John Hart and Jeff Sharp, who produced "Boys Don't Cry," are producing "Nickleby" with Simon Channing Williams ("Topsy-Turvy"). Cinematographer Dick Pope and production designer Eve Stuart, both of whom worked on "Topsy-Turvy," also have signed to work on the project.

Hunnam, repped by ICM and Handprint Entertainment, next stars in Paramount Pictures' "Abandon" for writer-director Stephen Gaghan. He stars on the Fox comedy "Undeclared."

Plummer also is repped by ICM. Lane is repped by UTA. Bell is repped by Artists Independent Network in the United Kingdom. McGrath, also repped by ICM, directed "Company Man" and "Emma."

Monster's Ball Sex Scenes 'Vital,' Says Director

Monster's Ball's Swiss director defended an unusually long and explicit sex scene in his new film on Saturday, while star Halle Berry described the movie as an "out-of-body experience."

Already considered a possible Academy Award candidate, "Monster's Ball" had its world premiere in Berlin this week.

Director Marc Forster and Berry, who co-stars with Billy Bob Thornton, faced a barrage of questions about its sexual content at a news conference on Saturday. "I saw it last night and forgot how long it was," Forster said.  "You forgot?" Berry retorted.

Forster said the graphic nature of the scene had required a spot of sharp cutting to see the film past the film board in the United States.

"I had to cut a minute to get the rating. I tried to convince them the scene was vital. It seems you can't have too much thrusting. We cut some out," Forster explained.

Berry said she had seen herself on screen in the film like an "out-of-body experience." "I thought, wow, look at her. It was the first time. I thought look at that person," she said.

The film tells the story of racist Death Row prison guard Hank, acted by Thornton, who falls in love with a black woman, Leticia, played by Berry.

The two leads and the supporting characters all live in an emotionally bleak world mostly devoid of love. Hank tells his son he always hated him, feels the same about his father, and spews out racist epithets.

But the deaths of Leticia's husband in the electric chair, Hank's son after a violent confrontation and Leticia's daughter set the stage for Hank and Leticia's unlikely relationship.

Deep loneliness and sex bind them. Berry, who stars in the forthcoming Bond film before also taking on a part in the sequel to the X-Men, said Monster's Ball had given her the chance to move away from her typecasting as a beauty.

"I could leave my physical self in Los Angeles. We filmed in New Orleans. She cared little about herself. I didn't work out. I lost weight. I was rather waif-like. I didn't care about my body," she said.

Monster's Ball was released nationwide in the United States last week in more than 400 movie theaters after a restricted early showing.

Nathan Fillion Is Taking A Seat Behind The Controls Of "Firefly."

Nathan Fillion, the former "Two Guys and Girl" star has been cast as the lead in Joss Whedon's upcoming space Western for Fox Broadcasting Co. from 20th Century Fox TV.

Fillion will play Captain Malcolm (Mal) Reynolds in the show that has a 13-episode commitment from the network. Set 400-500 years in the future in a newly established Union of Planets, "Firefly" centers on Reynolds, the owner and the captain of a small transport spaceship of class Firefly named Serenity, who takes any job -- legal or not --to stay afloat and put bread on the table for his crew.

The time period in the series is a version of the Reconstruction era and Reynolds is a disillusioned war veteran of the big battle to unite the planets who fought on the side that sought independence and lost bitterly. "He's a very dark-driven guy," Whedon said.  Whedon said he is "psyched" about the casting of Fillion in the role.

"The great thing about Nathan is that he has that presence, that gravity and that coolness that you believe he's been through stuff and he's lived," Whedon said. "At the same time, he can turn on a dime from drop-dead bad-ass to complete goof -- he's deeply, deeply funny and that's another important part of Mal's character."

Though it is set in space, "Firefly" will have a distinctive Western flavor since the spaceship, in order to stay below the radar, will ride mostly to the frontier planets that are barely inhabited.

The combination makes it a dream come true for Fillion. "The couple of things I wanted to do since I ever stared acting was be in a Western, be in a space show and this is kind of like both, so I'm really excited," he said.

The actor also acknowledged 20th TV, the producer of "Two Guys," which, following the cancellation of the comedy by ABC, signed him in a talent holding deal that resulted in the "Firefly" casting.

"20th has been very kind to me, and now the whole thing came full circle, it's nice little happy ending to that chapter," he said.

The spaceship for "Firefly" is currently being built on the Fox lot where the series is scheduled to begin production in early March. "Firefly" is set to premiere in the fall with a two-hour pilot written and directed by Whedon whose Mutant Enemy Prods. is producing the show with 20th TV.

Ever since the series was announced in December, there has been speculation the show might get "The X-Files' " Sunday 9 p.m. slot that got a boost by Chris Carter's announcement last month that "The X-Files" will bow out at the end of the season.

Fillion first joined "Two Guys" in its second season, guest starring as Johnny, the rugged and handsome boyfriend of Sharon (Traylor Howard). The guest spot turned into a recurring role, which soon led to Fillion's joining the cast as regular.

Before that, he did a three-year stint on "One Life to Live," which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1996. His film credits include "Saving Private Ryan," "Dracula 2000" and "Blast From the Past."  Fillion is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment and the Gersh Agency.

Donnie Wahlberg has moved to "Boomtown."

In the first casting for the NBC/NBC Studios L.A.-based ensemble cop drama from writer/executive producer Graham Yost, Wahlberg has signed on to play one of the leads -- a bright, shyly charming and soulful detective, who seemingly has it all -- a perfect job and a perfect family -- but is falling apart on the inside. The pilot will be directed by Jon Avnet.

"I think that the writing-directing team of Graham Yost and Jon Avnet and now the casting of Donnie Wahlberg show that this is a very high-profile project that's going to attract other actors of similar quality," said NBC Studios president Ted Harbert.

Meanwhile, Kevin Kilner ("Earth: Final Conflict"), Stacey Travis ("Bandits"), Terry Chen ("Romeo Must Die"), Tyler Andrews and Eddie Jemison ("Ocean's Eleven") have been added to the cast of ABC/Touchstone drama pilot "Paranormal Girl," while Rachel Skarsten ("Virginia's Run") has been cast as one of the leads in the WB Network's drama pilot "Birds of Prey" from Warner Bros. TV and Tollin/Robbins Prods.

"Paranormal Girl" centers on a 15-year-old girl (Sasha Barrese) with paranormal abilities who is recruited by the FBI. Kilner and Travis will play her parents, and Jemison will play her liaison at the FBI.

In "Birds of Prey," based on the DC Comics' offshoot of the Batman comics, Skarsten will play one of the three leads-- Black Canary- Dinah Lance.

Wahlberg, repped by David Lillard at the Ilene Feldman Agency and AMG, recently signed to star in Castle Rock Entertainment's adaptation of Stephen King's bestseller "The Dreamcatcher" for filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan and the indie feature "Leopold Bloom." His other credits include "The Sixth Sense" and HBO's "Band of Brothers."  Skarsten is managed by Steve Lovett.

Intermedia To Move Most Activities From UK to LA

Intermedia, the biggest film concern listed on Germany’s Neuer Markt, is scaling back the UK base from which it first launched as a small independent sales outfit.

As the indie film giant becomes more of a Hollywood player, it is understood to be leaving only the international marketing department under Paul Davis based in the UK. Since floating on the stockmarket in 2000, Intermedia has increasingly shifted its focus from edgy, low-budget fare such as UK Berlin competitor Iris to big budget US films such as Terminator 3, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

UK-based collections and delivery activities are expected to move to Los Angeles. Intermedia’s well-regarded head of development Nick Drake is likely to be offered a consultancy position. Up to 10 of Intermedia’s existing London staff of around 15 are thought to be affected.

The restructuring continues the process started 15 months ago when Intermedia moved activities such as business affairs to Los Angeles.

Only this week German commissioner for cultural and media affairs Julian Nida-Ruemelin criticized the export of 80% of the country’s film cash to Hollywood.

However, Intermedia insists that it is committed to production outside the US and that London-based Guy East will continue to have a key role. Current projects include a remake of Das Experiment, which is likely to transplant the hit German thriller to the US.

Jean Prewitt Promoted To CEO Of AFMA

Jean Prewitt, president of AFMA, the trade organization for the independent film and television industry worldwide, has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer, it was announced today by Kathy Morgan, chairman of the AFMA board of directors. Prewitt, who joined the organization in April 2000, will retain the title of president as well.

"Over the last two years, Jean has exhibited exemplary leadership in solidifying AFMA's role in representing the independent film production and distribution community worldwide. Additionally, she has succeeded in expanding AFMA leadership in the public policy arena both in Washington and overseas. For these reasons and others, it was the unanimous decision of the board to grant Jean the additional title of CEO, " said Morgan.

Before AFMA, Prewitt served as a principal in Podesta Mattoon, a Washington D.C.-based lobbying and public relations firm representing entertainment and high-technology companies. Previously, she served as an official with the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications & Information Administration where she focused on representing the White House on international communications and information policy matters.

From 1982-89, Prewitt was senior vice president and general counsel of United International Pictures, the foreign distribution arm of Paramount, Universal and MGM studios. She began her career at Donavan Leisure Newton & Irvine where she practiced intellectual property, anti-trust and tax law, representing clients such as Disney and Universal.

"My mandate from the beginning has been to provide our member companies with the resources they need to face the constantly changing issues impacting the independent film community, whether in the areas of new technologies, market access, government policy, film finance or industry relations. I am honored by the board's vote of confidence in me and in the course that I have set for AFMA," said Prewitt.