CASTING Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson will put up their dukes in "Play It to the Bone" as two washed-up boxers who travel to Las Vegas for one last attempt to resurrect their careers. Sports-movie veteran Ron Shelton ("Tin Cup," "Bull Durham") will direct.... Drew Barrymore may assume the position (legs crouched, gun cocked, hair perfect) for the movie version of "Charlie's Angels." Barrymore is also considering producing the film, and although her two fellow Angels haven't been cast, she is wooing her "Wedding Singer" director Frank Coraci to steer the project.... Richard Gere may star in "The Mothman Prophecies," the tale of a journalist whose wife's death inspires him to investigate an alien sighting in a small town. Carl Franklin ("One True Thing") is negotiating to direct.... Wesley Snipes will play yet another one-man army in "Art of War." This time he's a mysterious man-with-no-name type who must stop a plot to destroy the United Nations.... Uma Thurman and Tim Roth are in final negotiations to star in "Vatel," a lavish period piece about a chef preparing a crucial feast for King Louis XIV.

REEL DEALS The award-winning creative team from "The English Patient" -- writer/director Anthony Minghella and producer Saul Zaentz -- are reteaming for an untitled project about a suicidal, lovelorn man who is convinced to live by the spirits of the Seven Deadly Sins, who show him the benefits of living a sinful life.... After years of depicting the American and British experience, Taiwanese director Ang Lee ("Sense and Sensibility," "The Ice Storm") is heading back to his native China for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," a martial-arts film with Michelle Yeoh ("Tomorrow Never Dies"). All dialogue will be in Mandarin.... After John Singleton ("Boyz N the Hood") finishes the glossy Paramount remake of "Shaft," with Samuel L. Jackson, he's returning to his indie roots. He'll direct his own script for "Baby Boy," which follows the life of an irresponsible man who fathers two kids out of wedlock.... The Taco Bell Chihuahua has inspired a new film. Although the movie is not officially connected to the fast-food chain, it's about a spokesdog who reinvigorates a taco restaurant and is kidnapped by a rival Mexican food magnate. Can a Budweiser frog miniseries be far off?

CONDEMNED Matthew McConaughey has been scolded by an Asian-American watchdog group for an insensitive comment he made on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" Tuesday. In describing his latest role in the war movie "U-571," now in production in Italy, he said, "I'm over in Rome fighting Germans and Japs from World War II." While the Media Action Group for Asian-Americans said "the term 'Jap' has historically been used to dehumanize an entire race of people," McConaughey's publicist said he meant no offense.

CHARGED A helicopter pilot trafficking a tabloid photographer who swooped too low over Barbra Streisand's wedding to James Brolin in July has been charged with reckless flying and disturbing the peace and could face up to 270 days in jail and a $1,400 fine. Although there were more than 15 helicopters with paparazzi hovering over the wedding, Robert Butler was the only one who dipped below the 500-foot legal barrier.

SIGNING OFF After 10 years, the stranded hecklers of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" will mock their last movie. The Sci-Fi Channel, which picked up the show three years ago when Comedy Central dropped it, has announced that it is not ordering any more episodes after this season.