Paul Hernandez to adapt 'Greatest American Hero'

Disney has hired Paul Hernandez to adapt the early 1980s TV series about an every man superhero, "The Greatest American Hero," for the big screen.

The story concerns a nebbishy teacher who becomes a reluctant superhero after extraterrestrials give him a special suit with powers he can barely understand or control when he loses its instruction manual. The picture will reference the old series, but in the update there is more than one suit floating around the world.

Hernandez won over producer Stephen J. Cannell by bringing the original "alien" suit worn by thesp William Katt on the 1981 show to his pitch meeting. The scribe tracked it down by contacting the show's original costume designer Judy Corbett, who sent it to him along with its patterns, which he's framed.

Hernandez, now in his second year at Disney's inhouse writing program, sold his reincarnation comedy "Instant Karma" to "Shrek" co-producers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio while working as a production assistant on the DreamWorks lot. He's also written "Sky High" for Disney and producer Andrew Gunn; that script is now out to directors.

Jamie Foxx In Negotiations For 'Shade'

Jamie Foxx is in negotiations to join the cast of the RKO Pictures/Merv Griffin Entertainment crime thriller "Shade" for first-time writer-director Damian Nieman. Production begins May 30 in Los Angeles.

"Shade" is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as the hustlers -- Thandie Newton, Stuart Townsend and Gabriel Byrne -- encounter "The Dean" (Sylvester Stallone) and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster. Foxx will play a man who wants to become a hustler but ends up getting hustled.

RKO chairman and CEO Ted Hartley is producing with Hammond Entertainment's David Schnepp and Chris Hammond. Merv Griffin and Joe Nicolo will executive produce with actor Bo Hopkins, who also will appear in the film.

"Shade is a wonderful L.A. story with a cast of amazingly colorful characters that will bring Damien Nieman's screenplay to life," Griffin said. "I'm thrilled with our talented cast. It's a unique ensemble of talent that has international appeal."

Cobalt Media Group's Peter Rogers and Ralpho Borgos will handle international sales for the film.

Foxx is repped by CAA and Jamie King of King Management. He is slated to star as legendary musician Ray Charles in Crusader Entertainment's "Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story," set to go into production this year. Foxx last appeared on the big screen opposite Will Smith in "Ali." Nieman is repped by Metropolitan Agency's David Boxerbaum.

Penelope Cruz 'Fanfan la Tulipe' Redo

Penelope Cruz has inked to star in "Fanfan la Tulipe," a French-language remake of a 1952 adventure-comedy.

 The Spanish actress will play a gypsy girl who dupes a handsome young peasant, Fanfan (Vincent Perez), into joining the French army by predicting that, if he does, he will end up marrying one of the king's daughters.

French Director Luc Besson co-wrote the screenplay with Jean Comas ("Capitaine Conan"), and will also produce. The picture will be directed by Besson collaborator Gerard Krawczyk ("Taxi 2").

Gerard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida toplined the 1952 picture, a French swashbuckler set in the 18th century under the reign of Louis XV. Earlier versions were filmed in 1907 and 1926.

"Fanfan" marks Cruz's return to French-language filmmaking after playing one of Don Juan's victims in Jacques Weber's 1998 "Don Juan." She recently starred in "Vanilla Sky" for writer/director Cameron Crowe.

'Wicker Park' with Josh Hartnett to star and Paul McGuigan to direct.

The Lakeshore Entertainment/MGM thriller "Wicker Park" has come together, with Josh Hartnett signed to star and Paul McGuigan on board to direct.

Scheduled to go into production in October, "Wicker" will be produced by Lakeshore chairman and CEO Tom Rosenberg and president Gary Lucchesi from a script by Brandon Boyce.

Based on the 1996 Giles Mimouni-directed "L'Appartement," "Wicker" is an intense, Hitchcockian psychological drama about a man's obsessive search for a lost love from his past that ends up uncovering the twisted machinations of an eccentric secret admirer.

For Hartnett, the role is the latest in a string of high-profile projects, including starring roles in Miramax's "40 Days and 40 Nights," Columbia's "Black Hawk Down" and the Walt Disney Co.'s "Pearl Harbor."

McGuigan's credits include the thriller "Ganster No. 1" and the recently completed "The Reckoning," which stars Paul Bettany and Willem Dafoe.

Lakeshore most recently released the Richard Gere starrer "The Mothman Prophecies" and the Sam Raimi-directed thriller "The Gift."

The company's upcoming projects include Miramax's "The Human Stain," which stars Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, and "Underworld," an actioner starring Kate Beckinsale to be released by Screen Gems.

Lakeshore International will also handle foreign distribution for C/W Prods.' upcoming "Suspect Zero" and the William Friedkin-directed suspense drama "The Hunted."

Hartnett is repped by Iris Burton, manager Nancy Kramer and attorney David Weber. McGuigan is repped by ICM.

Paul Feig, 'I Am David'

Billionaire investor Philip Anschutz' Walden Media has tapped "Freaks and Geeks" creator Paul Feig to write and direct "I Am David," a feature based on the novel by Anne Holm.

Pre-production is under way in London, with lensing slated to begin in Bulgaria on June 17. "I Am David" concerns an 11-year-old boy's escape and journey across post-WWII Europe.

"I've always been drawn to stories about outsiders," said Feig, a former standup comedian who segued into acting with a series regular role on CBS' "Dirty Dancing."

 "'Freaks and Geeks' was all about people who aren't accepted by the mainstream. To me, this film's protagonist, David, is the ultimate outsider -- he doesn't know who he is, where he came from, or what his place is in the world. I'm thrilled at having been given the opportunity to bring it to the screen."

In September, Random House will publish Feig's first book, "Kick Me -- Adventures in Adolescence," a series of comic essays about his childhood and school experiences in suburban Michigan.

John Daly To Be New Chairman for Miracle Entertainment

Miracle Entertainment, Inc., a diversified film and production company, today announced that it is to appoint one of the Hollywood entertainment industry's most well known veterans John Daly as its Chairman with effect from 1st June.

"We are tremendously excited to have secured the services and expertise of John Daly," said Tony Cataldo, the current Chairman of Miracle Entertainment, Inc. "I will now be able to focus my efforts on a new personal challenge knowing that the Company has an innovative and creative head, however I look forward to continuing to serve on the board of the Company as non-executive vice chairman."

About John Daly. Daly Founded the Hemdale Company in 1966 with actor David Hemmings and has been since associated with the production of an extensive and multi-billion dollar earning slate of films during his entertainment career. His company's films have achieved 21 Oscar nominations, winning 13 Oscars and unprecedented back-to-back Best Picture Awards for "Platoon" and "The Last Emperor." He is currently in St. Petersburg, Russia filming "The Petersburg Cannes Express" which is due to wrap shortly.

"My immediate challenge will be to define a completely new set of goals for the company," stated Daly from the set of "The Petersburg Cannes Express" in Russia. "With that in mind, I plan to announce a significant and well-known addition to the executive team in the next few days whose appointment will clearly demonstrate that the Company will have a phenomenally bold and exciting new horizon."

Miracle Entertainment, Inc., is a theatrical independent entertainment company dedicated to producing and distributing quality motion pictures for worldwide distribution. The company explores all options in releasing a film and making it available worldwide. To that end, the company has partnered with some of the leading distribution companies both in the U.S. and around the world.

Cannes 2002 Market Data May 18 -19, 2002

Miramax Films and Television Francaise 1 Announce Distribution And Production Agreement

Television Francaise 1 (TF1) and Miramax Films have announced the formation of a joint venture encompassing theatrical distribution in France, co-production, and acquisitions.

TF1 chairman and CEO Patrick Le Lay and Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein today announced that Miramax and TF1 have set up a joint partnership between their two companies.

Under this agreement, Miramax and TF1 will set up a theatrical release company in Paris, which will distribute motion pictures from Miramax, Dimension, and TF1 throughout France. The company will be owned jointly by TF1 and Miramax and will be operated as a stand-alone entity. The company will open offices in Paris and a French executive will shortly be named to direct the operation. First year theatrical releases will include Steven Soderbergh's "Full Frontal," as well as "Chicago," directed by Rob Marshall, and "Dark Blue World," directed by Academy Award® winner Jan Sverak.

Miramax and TF1 will also co-develop, co-finance, and co-produce films with a general focus on French and European projects. During the first year, potential co-productions include the remake of "Tanguy," Etienne Chatillez's French box office success, "The Gate of Heaven," an Italian-language drama, "The Rose" and "Colditz," a war action movie to be shot in Europe, with a European cast.

"This joint venture will give TF1 the opportunity to be present in all segments of the movie business in France and develop its involvement in European cinema with a major partner, renowned for the excellence of its artistic cinematographic choices," said Patrick Le Lay.

"This unique venture will offer an even greater opportunity to continue sharing Miramax's films with French audiences and to continue Miramax's proud tradition of sharing French and European cinema with filmgoers," said Harvey Weinstein.

Rick Sands, chairman of worldwide distribution and Agnes Mentre, evp of acquisitions and co-productions brought the deal to Miramax. Stuart Ford, svp of acquisitions and international operations, Sands and Mentre negotiated the agreement on behalf of Miramax. On TF1's side, Perrine Teze, Jean-Charles Levy and Caroline Dhainaut, negotiated the agreement under the supervision of Didier Sapaut, CEO of TF1 International.

Miramax Films

Miramax Films has acquired U.K. rights to the Jennifer Connelly - Ben Kingsley starrer "The House of Sand and Fog" from Signpost Films. DreamWorks will handle the title domestic.

Writer-director Vadim Perelman will make his feature-helming debut with the picture, an adaptation of the novel by Andre Dubus III. Perelman optioned the book before Oprah Winfrey's book club made it a bestseller.

Kingsley will portray a former colonel in the Iranian military who wins an auction for a foreclosed house. The home was previously owned by a self-destructive alcoholic (Connelly) who is determined to get the house back at any cost.

Winchester Films

Britain's Winchester Films is developing a slate of projects with its inhouse production companies Wind Dancer Films and the Donners Co.

With Wind Dancer, Winchester is developing "Fifty Mice," a thriller about a man with amnesia who is placed in a witness protection program against his will. Daniel Pyne ("Sum of All Fears") penned the script.

With the Donners, Winchester is developing two comedies.

"A-hole," written by Heidi Van Lier, is the story of a man who must live up to his unfortunate nickname. "Match Mutts," penned by Shaina Carol, is a tale of two dogs who fall in love and conspire to get their owners to do the same.

Wind Dancer, headed by partners Matt Williams, David McFadzean and Carmen Finestra, signed an exclusive three-year deal with Winchester in January 2001. Richard Donner and Lauren Schuler Donner signed their three-year pact with Winchester just before last year's Cannes Film Festival

Legende Enterprises

Alain Goldman will produce and Luc Besson will script the $30 million sequel to "The Crimson Rivers." Olivier Dahan has inked to direct "RP2: Les Anges de L'Apocalypse" with Goldman's Legende Enterprises producing.

Legende is in negotiations with Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel to reprise the roles of the two cops. "Our assumption is that there are two cops working on two apparently different cases, which in the end turn out to be the same case," Goldman told.

Shooting begins in January in Bavaria and France's Lorraine region. "The Crimson Rivers," which cost $14 million, grossed more than $60 million worldwide.

Legende will also produce "The Bird Watcher," based on the best-selling French novel "Le vol des cigognes" by Jean-Christophe Grange. Gilles Mimouni, who directed Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci in the 1996 picture "L'appartement," will helm; he has adapted the book with Grange.

Goldman called the English-language project "a physical and metaphysical thriller." It will shoot next year in Europe, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Central Africa.

Universal/Focus

In its first domestic acquisition, Universal's newly minted specialty arm Focus has pre-bought North American rights to the untitled Sylvia Plath biopic starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

The picture, formerly known as "Ted and Sylvia," will be directed by Pawel Pawlikowski ("Last Resort"). John Brownlow penned the script about the tempestuous relationship between Plath, the American writer best known for her novel "The Bell Jar" and her "Ariel" poems, and her English poet-husband Ted Hughes. Plath committed suicide in 1963 at the age of 31.

Focus was recently created by the merger of Good Machine, Good Machine Intl. and USA Films.

First Floor Features

First Floor Features, the Dutch production house responsible for 1998 Oscar-winner "Character", has put together a star packed production slate following its merger with "Guy Walks Into A Bar".

Its partner is a Los Angeles-based production and management group headed by Todd Komarnicki. The merger is intended to allow the combination of US facilities and talent with a Dutch film library, production skills and access to tax-based finance.

"The alliance has an eye on eventually entering the sales and distribution arena," said First Floor founder Laurens Geels in a statement, although for the foreseeable future pictures are likely to continue being sold through Kathy Morgan International.

The two companies’ collaboration began with First Floor’s production of novelist and screenwriter Komarnicki’s feature debut "Resistance". The $15m film, which stars Bill Paxton, Julia Ormond and Sandrine Bonnaire, is now in post-production with delivery scheduled for autumn this year.

New pictures on the slate include Alejandro Agresti’s $5m "Valentin", an Argentinian-set drama about a lonely boy, starring Agresti and Carmen Maura, which is also in post-production. In preparation is "The Last Face", a $17m love story starring Javier Bardem and Robin Wright-Penn which shoots next month; "Views And Sounds", a crime story to be directed by Geels himself from October; and, "Canto", an operatic thriller directed by Florence Strauss. First Floor is in casting discussions with Juliette Binoche, Vincent Cassel and Sandrine Bonnaire.