DAN’S MOVIE DIGEST 79

TOMB RAIDER IIIIn a recent webchat at ‘The Sun’, Chris Barrie (right) (TV’s Red Dwarf) revealedthat a third Tomb Raider is in the cards. Barrie played butler Hillaryopposite Angelina Jolie in both previous films.

Barrie: “It’s been good to be part of such a successful franchise. There isa third Tomb Raider film on the slate and I’m hoping Hillary will be back.The perfect storyline would be that Hillary turns out to be both thearch-baddie and Lara’s love interest! Although I’m not sure how Angelinawould feel about that.”

BOND 21’MGM’ has reaffirmed its first-look deal with ‘Irish DreamTime’, theproduction company run by Pierce Brosnan and Beau St. Clair, according to’Variety’. The company is developing several Brosnan projects at the studio,including The Thomas Crown Affair 2 and Mexicali.

Brosnan is also confirmed for his fifth outing as James Bond in the 21stBond movie, which should be released in November 2005.

THE GREEN HORNET’Miramax Films’ co-chairman Harvey Weinstein announced that writer-directorKevin Smith (Clerks) will write and direct the film version of the classicaction-adventure persona, The Green Hornet.

Weinstein: “Kevin’s tremendous work on our upcoming Jersey Girl, hasdemonstrated his continued growth as a filmmaker and we have no doubt thathe will tackle this franchise for us in a compelling and entertaining way.”

“In addition to being a great writer and director, Kevin knows more aboutcomic characters, books and the creative process than anyone else I haveever met.”

“The character of The Green Hornet offers a myriad of possible film ideasand numerous merchandise and branded integration opportunities with ourcorporate partners, giving us a platform for a very viable and long standingfranchise.”

Kevin Smith himself has said: “Long-time comic geek gets to make comic bookmovie? This is a dream come true. I’m still reeling! You don’t know how inlove with Harvey Weinstein I am right now. I couldn’t have asked for abetter vote of confidence in me as a filmmaker than being afforded theopportunity with Hornet to push beyond the boundaries of what I’ve done infilm thus far.”

“And making this movie with Miramax means that not only will we deliver anexciting, chop-socky-filled action flick, but it’s gonna have a compellingstory, believable characters, and great dialogue to boot! Let’s roll, Kato!”

LETHAL WEAPON 5Mel Gibson (right) talked to ‘Moviehole’ about the status of proposed sequels LethalWeapon 5 and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Gibson laughed when asked how much money he still gets offered for a newLethal Weapon: “Ah, good question. I’m too old and I can’t deal with theaction stuff anymore.” He also rules out a Mad Max return, saying: “It’sgetting to the point where they’ll start calling it Fat Max. Those guys aremasters so of course I’d love to work with them again. The trouble is – willthey want me?”

INDIANA JONES 4’Ain’t It Cool News’ attended the recent ‘Santa Barbara Film Festival’ whereIndiana Jones 4 screenwriter Frank Darabont explained why his script did notget the green light.

Darabont: “The short and simple version of the Indiana Jones 4 situation isthat after more than a year of working closely with Steven Spielbergdeveloping the story, I had completed a screenplay that Steven loved and washoping to shoot in July of this year.”

“However, George Lucas had issues with the script and slammed on the brakesin order to rework the material himself. There is talk of enlisting anotherwriter. Given that George is the producer, but even moreso because of theirlong and close friendship, Steven is deferring to George in this situation.”

“It is now up to them to try to find a common ground regarding the film. Iwish them luck and hope their efforts result in something they’re bothexcited about shooting.”

“What, if anything, might remain of my work at the end of the process isanybody’s guess, assuming the film even gets made at this point. As for me,I’m disappointed, but I’m putting the experience behind me and moving onwith my life and my own projects.”

‘Paramount’ had hoped to go into production on the movie in 2004 for a 2005summer release, but it is now looking like a 2005 start at the earliest.

All figures are weekend box-office gross.

• 1. 50 First Dates ($45.1m)
• 2. Miracle ($17.0m)
• 3. Barbershop 2: Back in Business ($16.5m)
• 4. You Got Served ($6.0m)
• 5. The Butterfly Effect ($5.9m)
• 6. Catch That Kid ($5.8m)
• 7. Along Came Polly ($5.4m)
• 8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($5.0m)
• 9. Mystic River ($4.3m)
• 10. Cold Mountain ($3.9m)

UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)

• 1. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) (£1.81m)
• 2. The Haunted Mansion (£1.67m)
• 3. School of Rock (£1.46m)
• 4. Something’s Gotta Give (£1.20m)
• 5. Looney Tunes: Back in Action (£0.92m)
• 6. Big Fish (£0.59m)
• 7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (£0.48m)
• 8. Lost In Translation (£0.42m)
• 9. Scary Movie 3 (£0.39m)
• 10. The Last Samurai (£0.33m)

Note that these are UK release dates.