Robert De Niro And Benicio Del Toro In Remake Of Japanese Film 'Chaos'

The British director Jonathan Glazer of "Sexy Beast" has signed to shoot the remake of Japanese film "Chaos," which is being developed as a potential starring vehicle for Robert De Niro and Benicio Del Toro.

The signing of Jonathan Glazer is considered a coup, given how aggressively he has been courted since making his feature debut on "Sexy Beast," the crime drama that got Ben Kingsley an Oscar nomination this year for playing one of the nastiest criminals seen on film in some time.

That edginess will be right at home in "Chaos," a Universal Pictures drama that revolves around a grifter drafted to stage the kidnapping of a rich businessman's wife. The plot goes awry when the grifter returns from making his ransom demand to discover his captive has been murdered.

Laura Bickford is producing with De Niro and his Tribeca Prods. production partner Jane Rosenthal. Andrew Bovell (whose credits include "Lantana" and "Strictly Ballroom") will write the script.

Del Toro, who worked with Bickford on "Traffic," hopes to play the kidnapper. While De Niro is currently attached only as producer, the hope is that he will play the businessman. Hideo Nakata directed the 1999 original, which was called "Kaosu."

Would Hollywood have been caught of passion for the Japanese cinema of the fantastic? The fashion seems in all cases with the remakes principal Nipponese films of the kind to have crossed our Western borders.

Right now launched: adaptations of Akira (signed Stephen Norrington), of Boxing ring (Ringu) (with Gore Verbinski with the cranks) and of Dark Toilets (produced by Bill Mechanic), both put in scene by Hideo Nakata , one of the current Masters of the Japanese horror.

WB Preparing the Third Installment Of 'Harry Potter' But Who Will Direct?

With "Harry Potter" the hottest franchise in franchise-hungry Hollywood, why is everything to do with the property so up in the air? The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's megaselling series is way behind schedule, much to the agitation of publishers and booksellers. And Warner Bros. is eyeing some wild cards to take over directing chores on the "Potter" pictures' third installment.

One name that can safely be crossed off the list: Chris Columbus, who directed both "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and this year's upcoming sequel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." He told the studio he wants to bring his family home after living in Blighty for more than a year.

Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the Spanish-language hit "Y Tu Mama Tambien," is high among the list of candidates. The Mexican director, known for the lush visuals and adult sophistication in pictures including "Great Expectations," also directed the kid-friendly "A Little Princess," based on Frances Hodgson Burnett novel.

Also on the list: Callie Khouri ("The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood") and hyphenate Kenneth Branagh, who plays Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, the new Defense of the Dark Arts instructor at Hogwarts, in the second picture.

Cuaron recently received a copy of scribe Steve Kloves' new (and carefully controlled) script for round three in the series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and is in conversations with Warner Bros. about his ideas for the picture.

Cuaron is attached to direct an adaptation of P.D. James' 1992 "The Children of Men." Meanwhile, Potter fans are puzzling over the unfinished fifth book, tentatively titled "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Scholastic, which has sold nearly 70 million copies of the first four books, was hoping to publish the book in July. But Rowling has told her publishers she needs more time to finish, prompting Scholastic to assure antsy shareholders they can expect the book by June 2003.

MDP Closes "First - Look" Deal With Handprint Entertainment

MDP Worldwide Entertainment, Inc. together with its producing partner Neverland Entertainment have closed an exclusive "first-look" production and development deal with Handprint Entertainment, whereby MDP - Neverland will have "first- look" at all Handprint Entertainment theatrical feature film projects. Additionally, the two companies will enter into a joint venture partnership on all feature films produced through this new entity, it was jointly announced today by MDP Worldwide Chairman and CEO, Mark Damon and Handprint Entertainment principal Jeff Pollack.

The first major theatrical film project to go into development under this new deal is "The Sixteen Pleasures" slated to star Handprint client Nicole Kidman. Based on the novel by Robert Hellenga, the screenplay is currently being written by John Collee ("Master and Commander").

"We are extremely pleased to be affiliated with Jeff Pollack, Benny Medina, Jane Berliner, David Guillod, and the rest of their top-notch team at Handprint Entertainment," commented Mr. Damon. Their company manages some of the biggest and hottest talent today including Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez. Coupled with the production and financing capabilities of both of our companies, I am confident that our close association together will lead to tremendous future success for all."

Jeff Pollack stated, "We are very pleased to be associated with Mark Damon and MDP Worldwide as well as with his partners Michael Jackson and Raju Sharad Patel of Neverland. In addition to immediate access to production financing, this partnership will give us greater control in greenlighting major film projects and ultimately a shorter time frame from development to production." "Mark has an incredible history of producing great movies, which are not dependent upon domestic theatrical deals, thereby putting us in contact with leading independent international film distributors. I am quite confident the rewards will be far in excess of a conventional studio deal."

Raju Sharad Patel stated, "Creatively, Michael Jackson and I are very excited about our company turning "The Sixteen Pleasures" novel into an epic motion picture with such a leading talent as Nicole Kidman."

Handprint Entertainment was formed in late 1995 by Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack and is a leading full-service personal management and production company. The company is currently in production with Paramount Pictures and MTV on "Fighting Temptation," starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. Since its inception, the company has a roster of over 150 clients supported by a full operating infrastructure. With a satellite office in New York, the company has strong relations with Canadian agencies and deep resources in both the UK and Australia. At the heart of Handprint's success is the collective eyes of its managers and principals who identify and develop star talent through its invaluable entertainment industry relationships.

MDP Worldwide most recently announced that they had entered into an agreement in principle with a to be formed entity co-headed by legendary entertainer Michael Jackson and film producer Raju Sharad Patel. The agreement provides for a significant capital infusion of equity and debt to the Corporation, which when concluded will result in the new entity becoming a major shareholder in the Corporation. Substantive negotiations are currently in progress, and the transaction is contemplated to close by June 20, 2002, subject to a definitive long form agreement, due diligence, customary regulatory and other approvals.

In addition, MDP has been rapidly expanding its production and distribution slate and has most recently acquired international rights to the poignant drama "The United States of Leland" which was directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge and produced by Kevin Spacey, Bernie Morris, Jonah Smith and Palmer West. The film, which is currently in post production, features Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, Chris Klein, Lena Olin, Michelle Williams, Jena Malone and Kevin Spacey. MDP most recently distributed the action adventure film "The Musketeer", directed by Peter Hyams, this past September that debuted No. 1 at the North American box office for Universal Pictures.

MDP is also currently handling worldwide distribution for the extreme sports action film "The Extremists", directed by Christian Duguay, which will be released later this year in the United States through Paramount Pictures and the cyber-horror thriller "Fear.com" directed by William Malone, which will be released in the U.S. through Warner Bros.

Angie Harmon 'Agent Cody Banks'

Former "Law & Order" star Angie Harmon has joined the cast of MGM's teen spy adventure "Agent Cody Banks."

Angie Harmon will play a government agent who trains a teenager (Frankie Muniz) for covert operations requiring young participants. The film also will star Hilary Duff.

"Agent Cody Banks " will be directed by Harald Zwart ("One Night at McCool's") and is based on a Jeffrey Jurgensen script that Zach Stentz and Ashley Miller have rewritten. It is being produced by Dylan Sellers Prods. and Maverick Films for Splendid Pictures.

Muniz will make 'Agent Cody Banks' during his break from the comedy series in which he plays Malcolm. He will be paid at least $2 million, making him the best-paid child movie star since Macaulay Culkin.

MGM production president Alex Gartner and vp Eric Paquette are overseeing for the studio, which anticipates a budget in the $20 million range.

Best known for her role as Abbie Carmichael on the long-running NBC drama "Law & Order," Harmon has also lent her voice to the animated television series "Batman Beyond." She is repped by CAA and Handprint Entertainment.

HBO Films' "Real Women Have Curves For International Theatrical Releases

A number of international theatrical distributors have bought local territorial rights to HBO Films' "Real Women Have Curves", even though the award-winning made-for-cable production will not be seen in US theatres. Among the buyers announced May 28, 2002 by the pay-TV networks sales arm, HBO Enterprises, were;

• Mosaic Entertainment, which bought UK rights in association with Optimum Releasing;
  
• Italy’s BIM Distribution;
  
• Mexico’s Gussi;
  
• ABC Distribution of Benelux;
  
• Monopole Pathé Films of Switzerland;
  
• Noah Communications of Israel;
  
• South Africa’s Nu Metro;
  
• ERFilm of Turkey; and
  
• Spentzos Film of Greece.

"We expect to announce similar deals for the film in other international markets shortly," said Perry Schneider, president, HBO Enterprises.

Real Women Have Curves, Is the story of Ana, a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman, who's torn between her mainstream ambitions and her cultural heritage. The film features a group rarely portrayed in mass media: complex, deeply human, hard-working Latino women. which marked the directorial debut of Patricia Cardosa, won two awards at this year's Sundance Film Festival: the Dramatic Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Acting to America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros. Its crowd-pleasing success at Sundance prompted numerous offers from enthusiastic US buyers, all of which were rejected by HBO Films chief Colin Callender in order to preserve the pay-TV premiere.

There had been some doubt as whether HBO would be able to find theatrical buyers overseas for movies with no US theatrical release, But the sales so far on Real Women Have Curves, not to mention Momentum Pictures’ recent pick-up of My House In Umbria for the UK, suggest otherwise.

"Increasingly international distributors are recognizing the potential value of what we're doing in the domestic marketplace," claimed Callender at a press breakfast in Cannes last week that was intended to drive home the company’s new offensive into international theatrical markets. "We spend a lot of money in the A of P&A. Which is more than you can say for the many films which are sold in foreign under the guise of getting a US theatrical release, but which never do."

He suggested too that the major studios' increasing focus on blockbuster franchise pictures is leaving a gap in the marketplace for director-driven pictures such as Mike Nichols' Wit, John Frankenheimer's Path To War and Mick Jackson's currently shooting Live In Baghdad starring Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter.

Upcoming pictures on the HBO Films production slate include Pancho Villa As Himself to be directed by Bruce Beresford and produced by Mark Gordon, Normal to be directed by Jane Anderson and star Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson, and the long-awaited film of Tony Kushner's Angels In America starring Al Pacino, Emma Thompson and Meryl Streep.

Movie Madness at E3

Spielberg, Kubrick, Miyamoto... which one of these three doesn't belong? that's a trick question: No one's making games anymore, they're creating landmark cinematic experiences.

If it wasn't Sony touting gritty crime drama cum computerized caper The Getaway, it was Codemasters with the Days of Thunder-esque Pro Race Driver or Cacpom and house of horrors Resident Evil 4. Encouraged by Tinseltown's perennial summer blockbuster glut, publishers are upping storytelling stakes almost as much as they are budgets. Given that big-screen licensing deals have lately come calling for such franchises as House of the Dead, Fatal Frame and Dead or Alive 3, the software giants may be onto something.

For those otherwise inclined, resolute underdogs such as Take 2, Koei, Simon & Schuster, Acclaim and Midway continue to push scrappy new franchises. Even Microsoft, Sega, Sony and Nintendo  are looking to their roots with a host of classic-inspired platform game content.

But, as always, Tinseltown tie-ins also had their day in the sun at E3, the giant three-day videogame expo that wrapped Friday. While not as prolific as in past years--due primarily to the gaming industry's newfound fascination with seating its own stars the director's chair--there are nonetheless plenty of mass-marketable franchises properties headed your way over the next year. Top contenders include:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Vivendi Universal, PS2)--You're Frodo, Gandalf or Aragorn in a third-person action-adventure chronicling the events in Tolkien's famed novels.
  
• The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers (Electronic Arts, PS2)--To arms! Closely mirroring the movie, it's a comprehensive combat action game that accurately captures the feel and scale of grand battles.
  
• Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (LucasArts, GC/PS2)--Comb the stars' worst locales as antihero Jango Fett, who'll blast his way to glory with weapons in both hands.
  
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (LucasArts, GameCube)--Pilot the vehicles that turned the tides of one of the most brutal conflicts the galaxy has ever witnessed.
  
• Star Wars: Galaxies (LucasArts, PC/PS2/Xbox)--This sprawling multiplayer online RPG allows upwards of 1 million players to live, battle and lord over the expansive Star Wars universe.
  
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Electronic Arts, GC/PC/PSOne/PS2/Xbox/GBA/Game Boy Color)--Follow the second book/movie's storyline on a mystical action-adventure filled with Quidditch, spells and Muggles aplenty.
  
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (LucasArts, Xbox)--The famed archaelogist's first foray into the Far East, whip, pistol, penchant for fistfights and all.
  
• Rocky (UbiSoft, GameCube/PS2/Xbox/GBA)--Go toe to toe with the Italian Stallion's most infamous opponents, including Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago and Tommy Gunn.
  
• Delta Force: Black Hawk Down (Novalogic, PC/PS2/Xbox)--Into Somalia one goes as a highly trained special operative. Close-quarters squad-level combat it promises to no end.
  
• X-Men: Wolverine's Revenge (Activision, PS2/Xbox/GC)--Featuring voice work by Mark Hamill and Patrick Stewart, this third-person adventure lets you take the mutant inside a super-secret lab in a search of his roots.
  
• Robocop (Titus, PS2)--Obey the prime directive while gunning down villains in a dark approximation of futuristic law enforcement.
  
• Tron 2.0 (Disney, PC)--Step inside the machine once again, enjoying the discs, light cycles and kitschy visuals that made the original film so timeless.
  
• The Sum of All Fears (UbiSoft, PC)--Clandestine operations, one-shot kills, and a lot of sneaking through corridors as you and your teammates hunt for terrorists.
  
• Blade II (Activision, PS2)--Wesley Snipes half-human, half-vampire alter ego slays Reapers and nastier foes with a bloodthirsty vengeance.
  
• Disney's Lilo & Stitch (Sony, PSOne)--A loudmouthed little girl and her extraterrestrial pal shake things up throughout some fairly typical platform challenges.
  
• The Thing (PC/PS2/Xbox)--Cult horror masterpiece goes interactive; trust no one in this truly terrifying action-adventure.

Playboy Names Tech-Savvy Executive David Zucker as President

Adult entertainment company Playboy Enterprises Inc. on Tuesday named a new No. 2 executive with experience in television and online technology as it aims to strengthen its own cable TV and Web operations.

David Zucker, 39, will take up the newly created position of president and chief operating officer, reporting to chief executive Christie Hefner, the company said.

The Chicago-based parent of Playboy magazine, founded by Hugh Hefner, has not had a president since the late 1970s.

"What David brings is a particularly compelling mix of experience in new technology as well as traditional businesses," Christie Hefner told Reuters.

Zucker had been managing director at Walker Digital LLC, where he oversaw development of that company's online games, e-commerce and Internet gaming and gambling businesses.

He also has experience as chief executive of DIVA Systems Corp., a provider of video-on-demand systems for cable TV operators, and he spent eight years at all-sports cable TV network ESPN where he helped launch the ESPN2 channel. Playboy believes its future growth is in TV and online because the magazine is a mature product.

The Playboy TV channel and Playboy's various adult movie channels are seeing their subscriber totals grow. Playboy programs reached a total 122.8 million household units at the end of 2002's first quarter, up about 8 percent from 113.8 million household units at the end of the fourth quarter.

Playboy's various channels were in 48.1 million digital cable TV households at the first quarter's end, up about 35 percent from 2001's fourth quarter. That is important because generally speaking revenues per digital subscriber are higher than for users of older, analog systems.

Moreover, newer digital systems are able to offer more in the way of video-on-demand movies and other programming than the older, analog systems. Zucker's experience with DIVA should give the company added expertise in the VOD arena.

Playboy, too, has said it wants to stem losses at its online unit to break even by the end of 2002. Those losses had narrowed to $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2002 from $5.1 million in fourth quarter 2001.

Playboy has said it is looking to boost subscription-based Web revenues, ignite online sales of Playboy products, and build Internet gambling businesses in countries where it is legal.

Hefner said Playboy's divisional chiefs in publishing, TV and videos, the Web and product licensing all support the idea of having a new executive who could take a broad look at the various groups and devise ways they might work together.

"This is a recognition that the various pieces of Playboy ... have to work more closely together than they have in the past," said veteran Wall Street media analyst Dennis McAlpine.

Hefner said Zucker, too, will be looking at how to build Playboy's brand name through partnerships and ventures with other companies in the United States and around the world.

His appointment does not mean Hefner will be devoting less of her time to her job. "If anything, David's success should keep me busier," she said. Zucker will be based at Playboy headquarters in Chicago.

Playboy shares ended up 36 cents, or 2.5 percent, at $14.56 on the New York Stock Exchange on a down day for most media stocks.

Wide Film Choices Bring Record Revenue

Action blockbusters, family fare and thrillers combined to hoist Hollywood to a record $200 million Memorial Day weekend.

``Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones'' led the way again with $60 million from Friday to Monday, raising its 12-day total to $201.3 million.

``Spider-Man'' placed second with $35.8 million, and at $333.6 million in just over three weeks, the film passed ``Forrest Gump'' to become No. 6 on the all-time domestic box-office chart.

Three new films rounded out the top five. ``Insomnia,'' an Alaskan murder thriller starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, debuted in third place with $26.1 million. The animated horse story ``Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron'' opened in fourth with $23.2 million. Jennifer Lopez's marital thriller ``Enough'' premiered at No. 5 with $17.2 million.

The overall box office should top out at just above $200 million for the long weekend, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks movie ticket sales. That easily surpassed the previous record of $186.1 million set last Memorial Day, when ``Pearl Harbor'' opened and ``Shrek'' continued to play strongly in its second weekend.

The top 20 movies at North American theaters Friday through Monday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Tuesday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and Nielsen EDI Inc. are:

1. ``Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,'' Fox, $60 million, 3,161 locations, $18,983 average, $201.3 million, two weeks.
   
2. ``Spider-Man,'' Sony, $35.8 million, 3,876 locations, $9,240 average, $333.6 million, four weeks.
   
3. ``Insomnia,'' Warner Bros., $26.1 million, 2,610 locations, $9,988 average, $26.1 million, one week.
   
4. ``Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,'' DreamWorks, $23.2 million, 3,317 locations, $6,998 average, $23.2 million, one week.
   
5. ``Enough,'' Sony, $17.2 million, 2,623 locations, $6,562 average, $17.2 million, one week.
   
6. ``About a Boy,'' Universal, $9.8 million, 1,749 locations, $5,615 average, $21.8 million, two weeks.
   
7. ``Unfaithful,'' Fox, $7.6 million, 2,401 locations, $3,146 average, $41 million, three weeks.
   
8. ``The New Guy,'' Sony, $5.4 million, 2,374 locations, $2,286 average, $24.4 million, three weeks.
   
9. ``Changing Lanes,'' Paramount, $1.9 million, 1,258 locations, $1,518 average, $64.4 million, seven weeks.
   
10. ``The Scorpion King,'' Universal, $1.8 million, 1,524 locations, $1,210 average, $87.9 million, six weeks.
    
11. ``My Big Fat Greek Wedding,'' IFC Films, $1.6 million, 260 locations, $6,116 average, $7.6 million, six weeks.
    
12. ``The Rookie,'' Disney, $985,328, 836 locations, $1,179 average, $72 million, nine weeks.
    
13. ``Space Station,'' IMAX, $784,947, 45 locations, $17,443 average, $5.1 million, six weeks.
    
14. ``Y Tu Mama Tambien,'' IFC Films, $620,633, 216 locations, $2,873 average, $11.1 million, 11 weeks.
    
15. ``Monsters, Inc.,'' Disney, $568,863, 289 locations, $1,968 average, $253.8 million, 30 weeks.
    
16. ``Murder by Numbers,'' Warner Bros., $526,570, 752 locations, $700 average, $31 million, six weeks.
    
17. ``Ice Age,'' Fox, $505,807, 594 locations, $852 average, $173.1 million, 11 weeks.
    
18. ``The Importance of Being Earnest,'' Miramax, $500,447, 38 locations, $13,170 average, $521,858, one week.
    
19. ``Monsoon Wedding,'' USA Films, $482,837, 193 locations, $2,502 average, $11.1 million, 14 weeks.
    
20. ``The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,'' New Line, $443,814, 335 locations, $1,325 average, $310.7 million, 23 weeks.