Haunted Mansion With Eddie Murphy to Star, Rob Minkoff to Direct and Don Hahn to Produce

A trio of top-name talent including Eddie Murphy, director Rob Minkoff and producer Don Hahn are negotiating to come aboard Walt Disney Co.'s "Haunted Mansion."

Murphy, whose Warner Bros. action-comedy "Showtime" opened to $15 million during the weekend, will star in the film based on the legendary Disney theme park ride. He will play a work-obsessed father whose encounter with a ghost makes him realize the importance of his own family.

The project reunites "Stuart Little" director Minkoff and Hahn with the studio at which they have had some of their biggest successes. The duo worked together on Disney blockbuster "The Lion King," while Minkoff worked individually on "The Little Mermaid" and Hahn produced "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Hahn joins studio-based Andrew Gunn in producing the film, which was written by David Berenbaum. Production execs Mark Vahradian, Brigham Taylor and Louanne Brickhouse are overseeing the project for the studio. Murphy and Minkoff are repped by WMA and CAA, respectively.

Dreamworks Pays A $1.25 Million Advance For An Untitled Action Thriller Pitch

DreamWorks prevailed in a heated bidding battle for an untitled action thriller pitch to be written by David Benioff and directed by Marc Forster, who last helmed "Monster's Ball."

The price tag -- a $1.25 million advance against a $2 million payday if the film is made -- is one of the highest sums paid for a pitch in recent memory.

It marks the second million-dollar deal in the last six months for author-turned-screenwriter Benioff, who got $1.8 million from New Regency for his spec script "Stay," a "Sixth Sense"-type drama that attracted director David Fincher and is rumored to have Tobey Maguire circling.

At the same time, his adaptation of his own novel "The 25th Hour" is a go project at Disney, with Spike Lee directing Edward Norton and Rosario Dawson, and his adaptation of Homer's "The Iliad" is coming together as a period event picture at Warner Bros. Called "The Trojan War," it has caught the fancy of director Wolfgang Petersen. Equally compelling is that Benioff hooked all of those deals and creative elements on first drafts.

Johnny Depp soars into 'Neverland' lead

Johnny Depp will star as "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie in Miramax Films' "Neverland." The project, to be directed by "Monster's Ball" helmer Marc Forster, will go into production in the summer in London.

"Neverland," written by David Magee, is based on Allan Knee's play "The Man Who Was Peter Pan." It is the true story of how Barrie wrote his classic story during the 1800s in England after bonding with four fatherless children who lived next door to him, essentially becoming their surrogate dad.

Miramax-based Richard Gladstein is producing the project through his studio-based FilmColony. The company's Gary Binkow is executive producing with Nellie Bellflower.

The project reunites Depp with Miramax, where he worked on "Chocolat," "Dead Man" and the upcoming Robert Rodriguez feature "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," a co-production with Columbia Pictures. The actor, repped by UTA, most recently starred in the features "From Hell" and "Blow."

Miramax, My Name Is Modesty

Stylish special agent Modesty Blaise is returning to the screen in a new film, "My Name Is Modesty," which Miramax Films hopes to turn into a series of movies featuring the character who first appeared onscreen in 1966 in director Joseph Losey's "Modesty Blaise," starring Monica Vitti.

Janet Scott Batchler and Lee Batchler, who have story and screenplay credits on "Batman Forever" and the upcoming "Smoke and Mirrors," starring Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, have been signed to write the screenplay.

Michael Berrow and Marcelo Anciano are producing the film, with Paul Berrow co-executive producing.

Miramax first announced its interest in making an updated "Modesty" feature eight years ago at the Festival de Cannes. Berrow and Anciano brought the project to Miramax in the early 1990s.

The adventure heroine made her debut as a comic strip character in 1963 in the London Evening Standard and graduated to adventure novels in 1965. Englishman Peter O'Donnell penned the comic strip and the 13 novels that followed.

"My Name Is Modesty" chronicles the original story of Modesty, dealing with her escape from a Balkan prison as a young girl and her eventual ascendancy over the La Louche gang in Tangier, Morocco.

Casting is under way, and an announcement regarding the lead character is expected in a few weeks. A director has yet to be selected, though Quentin Tarantino, who at one point was attached to the project, will not be at the helm. Tarantino holds U.S. rights to the Modesty novels.

Alien Jesse Dylan to direct 'Shorty'

Jesse Dylan has come aboard to helm Universal Pictures' "Shorty" starring rapper Lil' Romeo and produced by his father, rap entrepreneur Master P, along with studio-based producer Marc Platt. The project is on a fast track.

"Shorty" reunites Dylan with Universal, for whom he made his feature directorial debut on the Jersey Films comedy "How High," in which he worked with another rapping duo, Method Man and Redman.

Written by Dallas Jackson, "Shorty" is about a midget alien stranded in a Los Angeles 'hood. He becomes a rapping, hip-hopping partner with a 12-year-old (Lil' Romeo) who wants to win an MTV talent contest.

Marc Platt Prods.' Gregory Lessans and Adam Siegel brought the project to Platt. Master P and Platt partnered on the project and took it to Universal, whose Universal Records division has a deal with Master P's indie record label No Limit. Universal came aboard "Shorty" last month.

Dylan, repped by CAA, began his career as a director of commercials and music videos. Musical acts he has worked with include Lenny Kravitz, Tom Waits, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Michael Penn, the Wallflowers (fronted by his brother Jakob Dylan) and his father, Bob Dylan. His commercials include spots for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Energizer batteries, Pizza Hut, Snapple, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Reebok and Audi.

Fox Has Made A Strong Six-Figure Commitment To An Untitled Romantic Comedy Pitch

Twentieth Century Fox has made a strong six-figure commitment to an untitled romantic comedy pitch by Ron Bass and Vicki Iovine, the first time the duo has hooked up for a writing collaboration.

Bass is a romantic comedy fixture, but Iovine, wife of music executive Jimmy Iovine, is best known for writing the bestselling "The Girlfriends' Guide to..." series for Penguin Putnam. Iovine, whose books have covered subjects ranging from surviving motherhood to raising toddlers, just completed a new deal for eight books to be published by Penguin Putnam under a new Girlfriends' Guide imprint.

Details about the Fox film were scant, but the project Bass and Iovine pitched will focus on a family's recovery from a death.

E.T Phones Home At Gala World Premiere

One can think of worse things to do on a Saturday afternoon here in the City of Angels than attend the Red Carpet World Premiere of the 20^th Anniversary edition of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. A charity premiere on behalf of the Special Olympics, the stars were out at force to pay homage to a film that has truly stood the test of time. Made amidst the cynicism of Reagan’s America, E.T still holds out as part fable and part social commentary on the anguishes of childhood, self-identity and acceptance, within the milieu of a childhood fantasy tale.

The premiere was a special event, one of those wonderfully old-fashioned premieres rarely seen in Hollywood. Screened at the Shrine Auditorium, former home of the Oscars, one of the unique and truly memorable facets of the screening, was the unusual decision for the film’s Oscar-winning composer John Williams, to conduct the film’s score, live, throughout its screening. The seamless integration of the live orchestrations and the movie was such that very quickly one would forget that there was a live orchestra in the room, as all sound queues were remarkably matched.

The 20^th Anniversary edition had been painstakingly restored, digitally remastered and some digital enhancements – including an added scene – made to this wonderful work. 20 years on, and it held up brilliantly, and the packed audience agreed, giving the film – and Williams’ magnificent work – a standing ovation. At the conclusion of the screening, Spielberg introduced his now grown-up cast and some key crew members, thanking us, for once again, “embracing E.T with all our hearts.” How could we not.

The after party was held in a large banquet room adjoining the Shrine, with E.T’s famous forest recreated, and stations of food designed mainly for the plethora of children. Stars who walked around included the likes of Will Smith, Maria Shriver, Drew Barrymore and Spielberg, with Barrymore commenting on how much she once again “laughed and cried throughout the film.”

E.T still holds up as one of the truly great classics of contemporary Hollywood cinema, an eloquent and richly thematic fable the timelessness of which was all too apparent as we sat through the film again with memories of childhood and innocence flooding back. A great film deserved to be screened like this, and Universal outdid themselves. As for E.T, he is still as adorable and as mystical as ever. The public can judge for themselves when the film releases on Friday. Copyright Dealmemo-Paul Fischer

Zomba taking initial spin on DataPlay format

Britney Spears, 'N Sync and R. Kelly are among the first music artists whose works will be made available on a new portable media format intended to replace the CD.

In a deal set to be announced today, Zomba Recording Corp. will become the first record label to unveil a roster of artists whose albums will be distributed on DataPlay digital media.

Universal Music Group, EMI Group and BMG Entertainment also have announced plans to distribute music on DataPlay discs, but those labels have not yet named specific artists.

DataPlay discs are about the size of a half-dollar and resemble a tiny CD encased in a translucent shell. The technology is designed to resist piracy but permit consumers to make their own personal copies and compilations, a capability that analysts agree is essential to the success of any secure music initiative.

"Zomba's support will not only strengthen DataPlay's entrance into the market, but it ensures that enthusiastic fans will be able to enjoy a new music experience with their favorite Zomba artists," said Pat Quigley, DataPlay's chief marketing officer and senior vp.

Zomba's labels include Jive, Silvertone, Volcano, Verity and contemporary Christian music from labels under Provident Music Group.

"DataPlay presents exciting new digital possibilities for distributing and enjoying music, and it epitomizes the kind of emerging technologies that Zomba will leverage to maximize exposure for our artists," said Ivan Gavin, Zomba's executive vp finance and commercial operations, North America.

DataPlay discs come in two capacities: a single-sided 250MB and a double-sided 500MB. The larger one can hold more than 11 hours of compressed music files, or the equivalent of five complete prerecorded CDs. DataPlay discs and music players are scheduled to go on sale in the summer with players costing $280-$450. Blank discs are expected to cost $5-$12 depending on size.

DataPlay has a major rollout planned for a target date of June 11 that will involve high-profile advertising, including spots on NBC's "Today" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman."

The discs are not limited to music but also can store about one hour of video, 1,000 high-resolution photographs, 100 e-books or one video game.

Quigley said the discs' multimedia capabilities provide unique packaging concepts. A prerecorded album could include the video, tour schedules or other bonuses that would provide an attractive alternative to illegally downloaded music. The disc also could have catalog product, games or videos that could be unlocked for an additional fee without the need for downloading.

EMI has been involved with DataPlay for nearly three years in an advisory capacity, EMI Recorded Music senior vp new media Jay Samit said. "It's versatile for both prerecorded and recordable," he said. "It also offers some new business models, such as buying a single and unlocking an album or buying one album and unlocking older albums."

There also are piracy deterrents built into DataPlay. Any music or other file can be stored on a DataPlay disc, but a DataPlay-equipped music player will play only music files that have been encrypted to prevent them from being copied or moved within limitations set by the content owner.

"DataPlay can put digital rules on that are different from any other media in the world," Quigley said. "An album can be set to play for a set amount of time or limited to making a specific number of copies, for example." It also is possible to offer free previews of songs that can then be unlocked with purchase.

Wherehouse Music is one of the retailers on board to carry DataPlay products. So is Trans World Entertainment, operator of the roughly 900 FYE retail stores; it is also an investor, and its chairman and CEO, Bob Higgins, is on DataPlay's board of directors.

Toshiba and Samsung are among the companies that will manufacture portable music players/recorders, digital cameras, PC peripherals, PDAs and portable game machines that will support the DataPlay format.

Regardless, there is still the huge question of whether the consumer will adopt any other new medium, much less one that comes with usage restrictions and requires the purchase of new hardware.

"Timing is a major issue with the success or failure of any product," Quigley said. "Today, protecting the consumers' right to make copies, share them over the Internet and yet limit the artists' risk are key. The music industry needs a new format; I think we all realize that."

He added that his music background, which includes having been CEO of Capitol Records Nashville during the rise of Garth Brooks, makes him cognizant of that industry's concerns.

Samit said the consumers' interest depends on the potential uses. "Recent years have shown that there's a variety of media for the different ways in which people enjoy their music," he said. "A camera that also is your music playback device or a driver that fits in your cell phone could be attractive."

DataPlay is headquartered in Boulder, Colo., and employs 240 people in the United States, Singapore and Japan. The company has raised $119 million in three rounds of funding since May 1999 from such investors as Eastman Kodak, Olympus Optical, Intel Corp., Trans World Entertainment, Toshiba, Samsung and venture capital firms and individual investors like musician David Crosby.

Disney to Cut 250 Animation Jobs

 Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. told 250 employees at its animation unit on Monday that they were either being laid off or that their contracts would not be renewed over the next 12 months, the New York Times reported in its online edition on Tuesday, citing Disney executives.

The job cuts come on the heels of layoffs at another Disney unit, Miramax Films, which last week said it would cut 75 jobs, or about 15 percent of the studio's worldwide staff, the newspaper reported.

Walt Disney Animation had a peak of 2,200 employees in 1999, the newspaper reported, citing the unit's president, Thomas Schumacher. The division now has about 1,500 workers, the paper said.

Top Murdoch Lawyer Arthur Siskind To Fight Hacking Claim

Rupert Murdoch has called in his most senior legal adviser to fight a $1bn court claim that a subsidiary of his News Corporation helped hackers spread across the internet secrets about the technology used by his pay TV rivals, including ITV Digital.

Arthur Siskind, News Corp's group general counsel and one of Mr Murdoch's closest business confidantes, has been assigned to help NDS, a UK based technology firm 80% owned by News Corp, defend the claim by French firm Canal Plus Technologies.

In a move that underlines how seriously both sides are taking the dispute, the French secret service's industrial espionage team has launched its own investigation into the allegations.

In a suit filed in California last Monday, Canal Plus alleges that NDS employed a "sophisticated and well funded" team of scientists to crack the codes on the smart cards that protect the French company's pay TV systems.

Smart cards ensure that viewers can only watch programmes they have paid for. Canal Plus alleges that following the publication of its smart card codes on the web pirates were able to watch movie and sport pay channels free, depriving it of millions of pounds of revenue.

The struggling ITV Digital, a user of Canal Plus smart cards, said it had lost £100m due to widespread piracy in Britain. ITV Digital is considering launching a legal action of its own, either directly against NDS or indirectly against Canal Plus, over the security of its smart cards.

NDS, which has Mr Murdoch's sons James and Lachlan as directors, has said it plans to vigorously defend the case and is planning a counter claim. Chief executive Abe Peled has described Canal Plus's allegations as "outrageous and baseless". He says Canal Plus has fallen victim to pirates because of the "inferior" nature of its technology.

Mr Siskind and a team of News Corp lawyers in New York are drawing up the defence.

Sources close to Canal Plus suggest the French secret service interest was prompted by the financial and reputational damage the hacking has caused Canal Plus, which is a large French employer. It is a subsidiary of French media giant Vivendi Universal.

Evidence in the hands of the Guardian suggests that a former Scotland Yard commander employed by NDS helped finance a UK hacker who actively distributed ITV Digital smart card codes across the internet.

Ray Adams, head of security for NDS UK, was in regular contact with Lee Gibling, a hacker who published ITV Digital codes through his House of Ill Compute website. NDS also paid several thousand pounds into Mr Gibling's personal bank account.

Mr Adams, who retired from the Met in 1993 with back trouble, was investigated following his handling of two of the most significant crime stories of the past two decades: the first involving Ken Noye, the underworld boss convicted of handling gold from the 1983 Brink's-Mat bullion raid, and the second the racist stabbing of Stephen Lawrence.

In the first case, the 1987 investigation centred on claims that Mr Adams - by then head of the force's intelligence gathering arm, SO11 - and other officers had taken bribes and had improper relations with criminal informants. Three years after the internal inquiry began the director of public prosecutions announced there was no evidence to justify charges against Mr Adams.

In the second case the Lawrence family claimed Mr Adams may have had links to Clifford Norris, the criminal father of Dave Norris, one of the chief murder suspects. Mr Adams gave evidence to the Lawrence inquiry for two days. Sir William Macpherson, in the report on the case, concluded that while there were "strange features" to Mr Adams' account, the accusations against him were unfounded.

Mr Adams has insisted that he was unaware the website was publishing the codes. Mr Gibling has now disappeared.