MARGARET THATCHER BIOPIC
It had to happen. After the enormous success of The Queen, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is set to have her story told on the big screen. Well one of them, anyway. Pathe (one of the companies behind The Queen) are teaming up with BBC Films to produce a script that will centre on the 17 days leading up to the Falklands War. No Peter Morgan writing the screenplay this time, though – duties have been awarded to Brian Fillis.
SUPPORTING CAST JOINS WHITEOUT
Tippex: The Mov… sorry, Whiteout has delivered some more casting news. Two supporting actors will be joining Kate Beckinsale in the Dominic Sena thriller – Alex O'Loughlin, who's got a couple of larger roles coming up this year in August Rush and The Invisible after a bunch of tiny bit parts, and Columbus Short, primarily known for his dancing skills in Stomp The Yard unless you're a fan of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, will play "cocky pilot" and "wet behind the ears pilot" respectively, according to the Hollywood Reporter. They'll be turning up quite frequently as Kate tries to solve Antarctica's first murder and catch the nutter in just three days, before winter sets in for 6 months.****
DOLEMITE WILL RETURN
Move over Shaft, '70s blaxploitation hero Dolemite has been marked for a remake. Fallout pictures are the folks taking on the gig, which was originally the creation of comedian Rudy Ray Moore. Jeff Hause and David Hines have already started writing the script, and Bill Fishman (who also is head of Fallout) will direct. Very difficult to come across this side of the pond, Dolemite was an action comedy about a jailbird who teams up with some kung-fu babes to take back his club. Some may recognise the name as referenced by Damon Wayans' character in The Great White Hype.
BOLLYWOOD'S ALTERNATIVE TO CRICKET WORLD CUP
There truly will be nowhere to escape the Cricket World Cup if you live in India. Instead of providing an alternative to the saturation levels of coverage already provided by any and all forms of media, Bollywood is also getting in on the action, producing a trilogy of their inimitable films about the sport. The first one will be called Hattrick (surely a better title for the third instalment?), telling the story of five people whose lives are connected by the event. Meanwhile of course, the Indian team wins the cup.