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By Josh Wolk
Josh Wolk
Josh Wolk
Josh Wolk is a senior writer at EW and the author of ''Cabin Pressure: One Man's Desparate Attempt to Recapture His Youth as a Camp Counselor''

CASTING Bruce Willis is lightening up for the comedy "The Whole Nine Yards," where he'll play a mobster in the witness-protection program whose suburban neighbors get entangled in his criminal world. Hopefully with Jonathan Lynn ("My Cousin Vinny") directing, the humor will be more "Moonlighting" than "Hudson Hawk".... Nicolas Cage is reportedly considering taking the lead of the film version of Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm".... Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman are starring in "Under Suspicion," a remake of the 1981 French film "Garde a Vue," with Freeman playing a cop who tries to get a powerful lawyer (Hackman) to confess to murder. Stephen Hopkins ("Lost in Space") will direct.... Woody Allen may take the lead in the comedy "Picking Up the Pieces," playing a butcher who kills his wife after discovering she's having an affair and ends up in the witness-protection program. Alfonso Arau ("Like Water for Chocolate") will direct.

REEL DEALS Joel Schumacher ("8MM") will make an English version of the 1996 French film "L'Appartement," a thriller about an investment banker who tries to protect an ex-girlfriend whom he suspects is being threatened.... Jim Carrey's remake of "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" may be in trouble thanks to friction between Warner Bros. and writer/director Steve Oedekerk ("Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls"). Although Oedekerk is still part of the project, a source told the Hollywood Reporter that there have been many creative differences with the studio, and if Oedekerk leaves, his pal Carrey may go with him.... Kevin Smith and Miramax are developing an animated series based on "Clerks," his 1994 indie film about bored cashiers in New Jersey. ABC is expected to order six episodes

IN CHARGE David Cronenberg has been elected head of the Cannes jury this year. Cronenberg won the Grand Jury Prize at the distinguished festival in 1996 for "Crash," although the twisted film earned much fervent criticism there as well.

LAWSUIT R&B up-and-comer Kelly Price is suing her record labels, T-Neck and Island Records, according to Billboard, alleging that the company held back her progress and mistreated her professionally, including ruining her plans to duet with Elton John and Barry White, and misadvertising her as an opening act for the Isley Brothers. Price, whose "Soul of a Woman" album has been on the R&B charts for six months, wants $11 million in compensatory damages and her contract to be torn up.


Posted Feb 25, 1999 | Order Article Reprints