Chris Tucker as Clouseau?! DEUS EX!! Affleck and J.Lo in JERSEY GIRL?! Josh Hartnett has been signed to stra in the MGM thriller WICKER PARK. The film is a remake of a 1996 French film by Giles Mimouni called L\"APPARTEMENT. It focuses on an obsessive\’s search for his lost love, which uncovers another secret admirer with darker aims. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are in talks to star in Kevin Smiths JERSEY GIRL. Production begins in early fall on the picture, dealing with a guy named Ollie, and the effect a new wife and daughter has on his life. George Carlin may play Affleck\’s father. Val Kilmer may star in NINE MILES DOWN for director Anthony Waller. The film follows a security expert sent to a remote outpost to investigate strange goings-on at a scientific research facility. Gwyneth Paltrow will star in a biopic of the late poet Sylvia Plath. The story will deal primarily with the strained relationship between Plath and her writer/poet husband Ted Hughes. Hugh Jackman is in negotiations to star in GRAND THEFT PARSONS. Based on a true story, the film follows the journey of road manager Phil Kaufman as he tries to fulfill rocker Gram Parson\’s last wish, to be buried in the desert. Javier Bardem and Anthony Hopkins may star in EDGARDO MORTARA for Miramax and director Damien O\’Donnell. Based on the true story of how in 1858, police in Bologna, Italy took a 6 year-old boy away from his Jewish family after allegations that he had been secretely baptized by a servant girl. Upholding a law forbidding a Christian child being raised by Jews, the incident had powerful consequences for the country and the Catholic church. Monica Belluci will join Fabrizio Bentivoglio in RICORDATI DI ME (NEVER FORGET ME) for director Gabriele Muccino. Shooting begins in Rome this July. Micheal Jackson is reported to be contemplating playing a werewolf in WOLFED, the first feature for his new production label Neverland Pictures. Pierce Brosnan will star in and produce both the romatnic comedy THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION and historical epic THE LEGEND OF LOCHENBAR. John Malkovich may join the cast of BORGIA for director Neil Jordan. Malkovich would play Machiavelli in the historical drama which also stars Ewan McGregor and Christina Ricci. Cynthia Stevenson, Judge Reinhold and Arnold Vosloo are in talks to join Frankie Muniz, Angie Harmon and Hilary Duff in MGM teen-spy comedy CODY BANKS for director Harald Zwart. New Line is in negotiations to pick up the thriller CELLULAR, from screenwriter Larry Cohen. Dean Devlin is attached to produce the film, about a man who gets a mysterious random call on his cell from a woman who has been kidnapped. Knowing she will die if he doesn\’t help, the young man undertakes her rescue himself. Vadim Perelman has been hired to helm THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, based on the novel by Andre Dubus III. Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connely will star in the story of a retired Iranian Colonel who buys a foreclosed house at auction, only to find that the previous owner is willing to do anything to get it back. Paul Mazursky is set to direct FREUD AND JUNG, based on the true story of how the legendary psychoanalysts fell out over a woman. Columbia Pictures is developing a feature film version of the popular video game, DEUS EX. Set in 2052, the world has been ravaged by disease and global terrorism and the governments most potent weapon is a nano-tech enhanced supersoldier named J.C.Denton. Dominic Sena is in final negotiations to helm THE COURIER for Splendid Pictures. The story follows a mythic figure who can make deliveries to anyone, anywhere. This mysterious courier is hired to make a delivery to an underworld legend who is supposedly untrackable. Wolfgang Peterson has been signed to direct the big-screen adaptation of Orson Scott Card\’s best selling sci-fi novels ENDER\’S GAME and ENDER\’S SHADOW. Card will write the first draft of the adaptation. Jan DeBont will direct a period film based on the adventures of 4th century Austrian warrior St.Nikolas, as he investigates a deadly mystery in a troubled town full of corruption. Ridley Scott will direct a period western for 20th Century Fox, which will be written by Bruce C. McKenna. David Thewlis is set to make his feature directorial debut with CHEEKY, about a widower who goes on a bizarre game show to honor his late wife\’s dying wishes. Warner Bros. is said to be contemplating a modern updating of MARY POPPINS . Tentatively titled MARIA POPPINS, and set in present day Los Angeles the update would exchange the proper English au\’ pare for a Latino Nanny. Alfonso Cauron, Callie Khouri are being considered to take over for Chris Columbus as director for the third installment of the HARRY POTTER series. Columbus wants to move on after he finishes HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, due for release this winter. Also being considered is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Gilderoy Lockhart in the new film. Jonathan Glazer, director of last years hit SEXY BEAST has signed on to direct CHAOS for Universal Pictures. The film will star Benicio DelToro and Robert DeNiro, and is a remake of Hideo Nakata\’s 1999 film KAOSU. Chris Tucker has reportedly read for director Ivan Reitman in a bid to take on the role of Inspector Clouseau in the long awaited return of the PINK PANTHER franchise, made famous by Peter Sellers in the 60\’s and 70\’s. Roger Moore, Alan Arkin and Roberto Benigni have also tried to revive the franchise in the past.
