Miramax Films. Truth, Justice & the American Way

Miramax Films has committed to make "Truth, Justice & the American Way," a Paul Bernbaum-scripted drama based around the death of TV's original Superman, George Reeves.

Miramax picked up the film after it was put in turnaround by USA. Michael and Mark Polish are set to direct and produce the film, which Miramax will cast quickly and put into production this year.

The film is perhaps the most sober of the many Superman projects that keep winding up on the bigscreen and TV. It has been a passion of the Polish duo, who wrote, directed and produced "Twin Falls Idaho" and just wrapped "Northfork" with James Woods and Nick Nolte.

The script has generated buzz around potential cast, with thesps like Benicio Del Toro mentioned as potential participants.

Hugh Jackman To Star In 'Van Helsing' For Universal Pics

Hugh Jackman is in negotiations to star in the title role of Universal Pictures' action-adventure feature "Van Helsing" for writer-director Stephen Sommers, who also will produce with his partner Bob Ducsay.

The project will be Sommers' first feature for Universal since signing a multiyear deal with the studio in November to write, produce and direct films.

Sommers' screenplay, set in the late 19th century, finds Bram Stoker's fabled monster hunter Van Helsing summoned to a distant Eastern European land to vanquish evil. The project will feature classic Universal monsters, including Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man, as reimagined by Sommers.

"Hugh was my only choice," Sommers said. "I'm very glad he liked the character in the script because I had no backup. I was looking for a man, not a boy -- a guy who had some weight about him. Almost more importantly, Hugh's a good guy, and these movies are so hard to make, I only want to work with nice people."

A Dec. 1 start date is being planned, with filming set for locations in Paris, Rome and Prague and soundstages in Los Angeles.

The Van Helsing character made his first onscreen appearance in the 1931 Universal film "Dracula," in which he was played by Edward Van Sloan, who had created the role on Broadway opposite Bela Lugosi. Van Sloan reprised the role in the 1936 sequel, "Dracula's Daughter." The character since has appeared in hundreds of motion pictures and theatrical adaptations of Stoker's novel, but Sommers' project marks the first time that Van Helsing has been the central character.

Jackman, repped by Endeavor, most recently starred onscreen in "Kate & Leopold," which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a musical or comedy. Next, he will reprise his role of Wolverine in 20th Century Fox's sequel to "X-Men."

Destination Unknown For Phoenix Pictures

Mike Medavoy's Phoenix Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the Agatha Christie novel "Destination Unknown" and will develop a contemporary version of the thriller. Nic Osborne is penning the script.

The deal was made with Matthew Prichard, grandson of the famed mystery author and gatekeeper to her literary properties, charged with making film and TV deals for her novels. The project, which is not a whodunit, is the first feature set up since Prichard began his dealmaking quest.

The story focuses on a young woman who, after losing a child to a tragic accident and watching her marriage break up, resolves to kill herself. A ruthless CIA operative persuades her instead to become part of a suicide mission, but when the woman gets snatched by the bad guys, she suddenly finds a purpose in life.

"The deal is noteworthy because it does not have Poirot or Miss Marple in it, and yet it provides a great role for an actress," Prichard said.

Joel Schumacher, A Star Is (re) Born

Joel Schumacher has come aboard to develop, with an eye toward directing, Warner Bros. Pictures' remake of "A Star Is Born."

The remake of the classic drama is being produced by Jon Peters, and there have been discussions with Will Smith to take on a starring role.

"Star," the story of an up-and-coming actress who falls in love with an accomplished actor only to surpass the actor as his star falls, has been successful in several incarnations.

The original 1937 version was directed by William A. Wellman and earned Oscar nominations for stars Fredric March and Janet Gaynor, while writers Robert Carson and Wellman won an Oscar for best writing, original story. A 1954 remake directed by George Cukor garnered two more acting Oscar nominations for stars James Mason and Judy Garland. In 1976, producer Peters and director Frank Pierson offered a more rock 'n' roll take on the story with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starring as musicians as opposed to actors.

It remains to be seen what Schumacher's take on the material will be. A veteran director, his credits include such varied material as the comic book adaptation "Batman Forever," legal thriller "The Client" and the military drama "Tigerland." Schumacher's latest, the Chris Rock- Anthony Hopkins starrer "Bad Company," opened last weekend with an $11 million take.

Schumacher's other upcoming releases include the Fox thriller "Phone Booth" and the Buena Vista crime drama "Veronica Guerin."

The "Star" remake is being overseen for Warners by production executives Jessica Goodman and Courtenay Valenti. Schumacher is repped by CAA.

Arthur Sarkissian Has Optioned Remake Rights El Cid

"El Cid" is girding up to ride once more into battle. "Rush Hour" producer Arthur Sarkissian has optioned remake rights to the 1961 feature. The project is out to writers.

The original film, directed by Anthony Mann and starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, is set in war-torn Spain during the 12th century. It centers on Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, a lord who became one of the greatest heroes of all time, rising above religious hatred and calling upon Christians and Moors to stand up against the fanatical religious warrior Ben Yussuf and his army.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including art direction, musical score and song.

Sarkissian optioned the rights from the film's French rights holder, Jean Paul Devidas, who likely will produce in some capacity. Sarkissian hopes to shoot the project in Spain for a 2004 release.

"This movie is not as well-remembered as the likes of 'Spartacus,' 'Ben-Hur' or 'Lawrence of Arabia,' yet has the scope, the grandeur and the power of those pictures," Sarkissian said. "The original movie will serve as my blueprint for the remake in the same way that the 1964 film 'Fall of the Roman Empire' inspired the movie 'Gladiator,' starring Russell Crowe, which turned out to be a far superior film to the original and one of the best movies I've seen in recent years. Ironically, both original movies were directed by Anthony Mann."

Sarkissian, best known for producing "Rush Hour" and "Rush Hour 2" for New Line Cinema, also has produced such films as "Last Man Standing" and "While You Were Sleeping," which he also executive produced.

Christopher Walken Will Co-Star With Ben Stiller In The Comedy 'Envy'

Christopher Walken will co-star with Ben Stiller and Jack Black in the comedy "Envy," which will be directed by Barry Levinson.

The Castle Rock/DreamWorks project centers on two lifelong best friends whose relationship goes awry when one of them strikes it rich by selling an invention. The other friend falls into a jealous rage. "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David co-wrote the script with Steve Adams and will executive produce.

Walken last worked with DreamWorks on the holiday release "Catch Me If You Can," playing Leonardo DiCaprio's father. He also recently co-starred in "Gigli" along with Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck; Sony will release the comedy next year.

DreamWorks Inks Scribe Rod Lurie

DreamWorks Pictures has tapped journalist-turned-filmmaker Rod Lurie to write an untitled project revolving around the media world in contemporary New York.

Studio principal Steven Spielberg will eye the script's development with a mind to direct. DreamWorks and Lurie are being extremely tight-lipped about the project's storyline.

When Lurie was an investigative reporter for Los Angeles magazine in the early 1990s, he wrote several stories about the sourcing methods of the tabloids. Those brought him national attention, and it's likely the movie he's writing will focus on that world.

Lurie is practically making his home at DreamWorks: his second film, "The Contender," was picked up for distribution by the studio after Spielberg watched it. DreamWorks financed and distributed 2001's "The Last Castle," penned and helmed by Lurie, which starred Robert Redford and James Gandolfini.

The former movie critic for Los Angeles magazine and KABC radio recently wrote and directed the pilot "Capital City" for DreamWorks TV and Touchstone TV. The project looks to be on track for midseason on ABC.

Artisan Has Nabbed Amandla! A Revolution In Four Part Harmony

Continuing its string of acquiring music-related documentaries, Artisan Pictures has nabbed North American distribution rights to the docu "Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony," directed by Lee Hirsch.

The film, which centers on the role of music in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it won the fest's documentary audience award and the freedom of expression trophy.

Produced by Hirsch and Sherry Simpson in association with HBO/Cinemax Documentary Films, "Amandla!" will have its South African premiere Sunday in Johannesburg, coinciding with the 26th anniversary of the Soweto uprising, noted as the turning point in the journey to end apartheid. The docu will have an accompanying soundtrack distributed by ATO Records in October. A release date for the film has not been set.

Artisan, which released the Oscar-nominated music docu "Buena Vista Social Club" to a gross north of $7 million, also recently acquired another music-themed docu, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," scheduled for release Oct. 25.

"Amandla!" was brought to Artisan by Gunn along with Artisan Pictures senior vp acquisitions and production Rachel Cohen. Gunn negotiated the deal with Micah Green for Cinetic Media and Paul Brennan for Sloss Law Offices on behalf of the filmmakers.

Jennifer Love Hewitt to release album BareNaked

Movie and television star Jennifer Love Hewitt will release her Jive Records debut album "BareNaked" on Sept. 24, her label said on Thursday.

The self-titled single track will be shipped to radio on June 16, to be aired on July 1. The video for "BareNaked" will debut on MTV's "Making The Video" the week of July 15. "BareNaked," the single, was co-written by 23-year-old Hewitt and Meredith Brooks, who produced the album.

The Texas-born star first hit it big in 1995 by landing a role in the TV series, "Party of Five." She has starred in various films, including "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" in 1998.

Hewitt will next co-star with Jackie Chan in an upcoming film called "The Tuxedo." Jive Records is a unit of Zomba Music Group, which this week agreed to be sold to Bertelsmann AG .