R.I.P. Lew Wasserman… X2 Casting! Micronauts! House of 1000 Corpses!! Clash of the Titans?! Lew Wasserman, Chairman Emeritus of Vivendi Universal Entertainment, died Monday at the age of 89. Wasserman was a respected and legendary pioneer of the shift from the \’Studio System\’ to the current style of \’Corporate\’ Hollywood. He ran Universal studios for the better part of the last 50 years and even after his retirement from position as Chairman, Wasserman was still active in Universals day to day business and was seen in his office every day. Kelly Hu has signed on to play Anne, the sidekick of villainous Striker in the long awaited XMEN sequel X2, due next spring. Alan Cumming was recently announced as Nightcrawler, and Aaron Stanford will play the part of Pyro. After undergoing back surgery , Director John Frankenheimer has chosen to drop out of the planned prequel to THE EXORCIST. A new Director is being sought, and the film is still being scheduled for a Sept.1 shooting date. Cast members Liam Neeson, Gabriel Mann and Billy Crawford are still attached. Neeson will play the young Father Merrin, portrayed in his old age by Max Von Sydow in the original film. Jennifer Lopez has signed on to star in SHRINK for Columbia Pictures. SHRINK is based on an internet comic by former Marvel Comics illustrator Rob Liefeld, which deals with a world full of costumed superheroes who turn to \’The Shrink\’, to unburden their problems and deal with their mental health concerns. The Shrink, once a superhero herself, gets caught up in a love triangle between a supervillian and two heroes. Rob Zombie\’s HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES has finally been picked up by a distributor. MGM will release the film for Halloween 2002, but with cuts to ensure an R rating. There is good reason to believe that an uncut version will be released on DVD, considering the fan support of Zombie\’s horror opus. Jerry Bruckheimer is developing a big budget adaptation of THE MICRONAUTS, based on the Marvel comic book and popular MEGO toy line from the 70\’s. Frank Darabont has been confirmed as the screenwriter for INDIANA JONES 4. The story is said to feature appearances by Karen Allen and Kate Capshaw, reprising their roles from the series. Sean Connery has expressed interest in returning as Indy\’s father Dr. Henry Jones, and there are rumors circulating that the story, outlined by George Lucas, will also include the introduction of a son, to whom the aging Indy can pass down the hat and whip to. The only fact that has been verified so far, is that it will take place in the 1950\’s. INDIANA JONES 4 will hit theatres in July of 2005, just as Indy himself, Harrison Ford, celebrates his 63rd birthday. Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ray Winstone have been added to the already impressive cast of COLD MOUNTAIN. MOUNTAIN is based on the best-selling novel by Charles Frazier, and is to be directed by Anthony Minghella. It follows the journey of a wounded Confederate soldier as he makes his way home to his sweetheart on the struggling family farm. Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zelwegger are headlining. John Glenn and Travis Wright scripted a remake of THE WARRIORS for MTV and Paramount and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH for Fox 2000. Now they are working on a revision of CLASH OF THE TITANS for Warner Bros. It refocuses all the action toward Zeus\’ son, the ancient Greek soldier Perseus, as he tries to procure the head of Medusa to defeat an unstoppable tyrant, doing away with the ultra-cheesy Mount Olympus sub-plots from the original.
