Voice talent actor and successful director Frank Oz (The Score (2001), Bowfinger (1999)) is in negotiations to direct a feature film adaptation of the underground comic Powers, with Sony overseeing the future project. In the same vein as the recent superhero trend, but with a twist, Powers follows the adventures of detective Christian Walker, a special homicide cop who is in charge of investigating a series of murders. These killings aren't ordinary, however - in fact, someone or something has been killing off a group of good superheroes, who keep peace and order in the city. Walker is joined in the case by fellow officer Deena Pilgrim and Kutter, a young antagonistic rookie cop. The start date for the production has yet to be announced.

American Caesar, a drama originally intended for Oliver Stone, was a film put on the backburner when the director opted to do his project about Alexander the Great instead with actor Heath Ledger. The film has gained momentum again with Top Gun director Tony Scott expressing his interest in helming the project. William Nicholson, who was one of the writers on Gladiator (2000) - directed, incidentally, by Scott's brother Ridley - wrote American Caesar as a military drama that retells the story of Caesar and Brutus. In the script, the White House is taken over by a rogue Army general who encounters resistance from a close colleague who figures out the underlying danger in the general's plans. Universal will distribute the film, once it gets a commitment from Scott or another director.

Pitch Black (2000), the film that really put action star Vin Diesel on the map as an A-list actor, will have its sequel treated with some heavy handed talent. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, who just won an Academy Award for his A Beautiful Mind (2001) script, will take on The Chronicles of Riddick, the next film in the sci-fi story about anti-hero Riddick, who Diesel brought to life in the first film. In Pitch Black, Riddick was a prisoner with altered eyesight that allowed him to see in the dark. This talent came in handy when the ship he was being transported on crash landed onto a hostile planet inhabited by nocturnal aliens who killed off the surviving crew one by one. Universal will distribute the next film, and with the hiring of Goldsman, seems determined to keep some integrity in the franchise rather than letting it descend into the usual 'bad sequel' trap. Goldsman's take on the script isn't a 100% guarantee of a good product, however - the scribe also penned the atrocious Batman & Robin (1997) and Lost in Space (1998).

Actor/Director Ed Harris (A Beautiful Mind (2001), Enemy at the Gates (2001)) is currently in negotiations for Radio, a film that will also star Cuba Gooding, Jr. and will be distributed by Revolution Studios. The project has Mike Tollin (Summer Catch (2001)) attached to direct. Radio is based on a Sports Illustrated article about a white football coach at South Carolina who becomes a mentor to a young football player who can't read or write. Mike Rich, the screenwriter behind The Rookie (2002) adapted the story, which focuses on the dynamic social change that develops at the school through the course of the friendship. Harris can be seen in the upcoming The Human Stain (2002) for Miramax, which also stars Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman. A talented actor as well as producer, Harris made his directorial debut with the biopic Pollock (2000).

Two big names are in final negotiations for Warner Bros. upcoming project Matchstick Men, based on author Eric Garcia's novel. The studio is seeking Nicholas Cage to star for director Ridley Scott in this story of an obsessive-compulsive con man whose daughter comes back into his life. If Scott decides to direct the film, he will perform his duties for Matchstick Men before moving into the epic production of Tripoli. Robert Zemeckis will be one of the producers on the upcoming project. If Cage accepts the role, it will reunite him with Warners, a studio he worked for last in 1998's City of Angels. Scott's last film was the Academy Award winning war drama Black Hawk Down (2001), and Cage recently wrapped up his feature debut directing job with Sonny (2002).

War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells' terrifying vision of a Martian invasion of Earth, is set to become a new motion picture developed for Paramount by Cruise/Wagner. The star's production team that has worked with the studio before on films including last year's head trip romantic thriller Vanilla Sky (2001) and the Mission: Impossible franchise. Cruise will possibly star in the new film, which is set to go into production sometime in 2003. The original novel was first published in 1898, and was turned into the now legendary radio broadcast read by Orson Welles that caused a nationwide panic 40 years later. The novel first hit the big screen in the heyday of the American science fiction age with a popular film version released in 1953, and briefly became a television series in 1988. One major difference in Wells' original vision and the new influx of sci-fi like Independence Day (1996) is that War of the Worlds takes place during the turn of the century, before the advent of computers or any kind of modern weapons or technology. Whether Paramount's new version of the project remains faithful in time frame to the book, or updated to present age, remains to be seen.

DreamWorks is prepping Envy, a new film starring Ben Stiller (Meet the Parents (2000)) and Jack Black (Shallow Hal (2001)) to be directed by Barry Levinson, who was last behind the lens for last year's Bandits (2001). Envy, the story of two lifelong friends who become bitterly estranged when one of them sells an invention and gets rich, was originally the brainchild of Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who pitched it to Warner Bros., a studio that eventually passed. Stiller is tagged to play the jealous friend, while Black will take on the role of the inventor who hits it big. Levinson and DreamWorks are expected to bring the comedy before cameras this July.

Film Comment magazine has reported that Richard Kelly, who made one of the most critically praised writing and directorial debuts in recent years with last October's disturbing, teen-angst paranormal drama Donnie Darko (2001) is set to rewrite and direct Ryan Pearson's script Knowing as his next project. The film will be produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The story tells of a time capsule filled with children's views of the future. All of the visions in the time capsule, including some terrible events, seem to have come true apart from one shocking prediction. Of the script and the new project, Kelly has described it as "different from Donnie Darko, but within terrain I like to explore. It's a modern-day sci-fi thriller, but also a character piece."

Visionary filmmaker David Fincher (Panic Room (2001)) is in negotiations with Paramount Pictures to direct The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, a remake of an original 1975 film that starred Michael Sarrazin and Margot Kidder. The plot of the film centers around a professor who begins having flashbacks of a former life - visions that eventually bring him back to a strangely familiar small town and a wife he never knew he had. Producer Scott Rudin (Changing Lanes (2002), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)) got the rights to the remake last year for a high six-figure sum with plans on developing it for a big budget remake. Fincher surprised fans and industry people alike earlier this year when he signed on to direct the forthcoming Mission: Impossible 3 for Paramount and Tom Cruise. There is no word yet on when the film is targeted to begin shooting.

Successful singer and actress Jennifer Lopez has just signed on to produce and star in a remake of the classic opera Carmen for Universal, from a screenplay by Moulin Rouge writer Craig Pearce. Carmen has been in development for some time now at Absolute, a subsidiary of MGM. Producer Julio Caro will also develop the film with Lopez, after recently putting together a new version of the blaxploitation classic Foxy Brown as a project for Academy Award-winning Halle Berry. Pearce's Carmen will be a re-imagined look at the popular opera, which itself was based on a short story by Prosper Merimee about the seduction and temptation of a Spanish solider by a captivating Gypsy. Lopez was last seen in The Wedding Planner (2001) and will next be seen in the upcoming Enough (2002), which is being distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Newspaper USA Today was one of the first news agencies to release the first ever snapshot of the superhero Daredevil in costume.

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The Marvel comic book adventure (the same company that brought us Spider-Man) is currently filming under the direction of Mark Steven Johnson (Simon Birch (1998)) with Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears (2002)) in the title role as the blind lawyer-turned vigilante for justice, and is set for release next January. Johnson has said that they wanted to stay faithful to the comic book, but at the same time to not look to 'ridiculous' with the red tights approach. A more stylized, dark leather approach has been taken instead. Starring alongside Affleck in Daredevil will be Made actor/director Jon Favreau, Alias' Jennifer Garner, and Michael Clarke Duncan (The Scorpion King (2002), The Green Mile (1999)).

The trade magazine Variety has reported that Harrison Ford is set to star in an adaptation of the novel A Walk Among the Tombstones for director Joe Carnahan once he is wrapped on his current project. Universal is behind the project for Tombstones, which is based on the novel by Lawrence Block and is about a detective (Ford) who is hired by a drug dealer to discover his wife's killers. Ford's character, Matthew Scudder, is a private eye featured in several of the author's books, including 6 Million Ways to Die (1986), which starred Jeff Bridges in the role. Universal will distribute the film, and Jersey Films (Danny DeVito's company) will produce. Carnahan is a relatively new director, having helmed the flicks Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998) and this year's Narc (2002).

Paramount Pictures is a busy studio these days, as it prepares for the upcoming Tomb Raider 2, set to start production as early as this autumn. Angelina Jolie has stated that she doesn't want to star in the sequel if the script isn't up to snuff and a big improvement over the first film, which was panned by critics and audiences alike, but all signs seem to indicate that she will most likely return for the next film. Much like the strategy being taken with the upcoming X-Men 2, the studio has hired two screenwriters to work on separate versions of the new script, with either the best script chosen or the best parts from both scripts fused together. De Bont is no stranger to the action genre, having helmed pictures like Speed (1994), Twister (1996), and The Haunting (1999).

Charlie's Angels beauty Lucy Liu is in current talks with Fox to bring a modern day version of the Charlie Chan mysteries back to the big screen. If it happens, this 're-imagined' version by the studio will have Liu portraying Chan's granddaughter for an all new adventure. John Woo and Terence Chang will produce the film alongside Liu, who will act as executive producer. The studio released a series of Chan films during the 1930's and 40's, based on the novels by author Earl Derr Biggers. Before going before the cameras as the newest sleuth in the Chan family, Liu will first tackle a series of projects, including Charlie's Angels 2, set for filming this summer, and Quentin Tarantino's long awaited project Kill Bill.

Robert Altman (Gosford Park (2001), Dr. T and the Women (2000)) is currently in negotiations to direct The Company, a ballet-oriented flick for which actress Neve Campbell (Scream 3 (2000), Three to Tango (1999)) will produce and star. The script, which follows the lives of dancers in a ballet company, was written by Barbara Turner, who also scripted Ed Harris' directorial debut, Pollock (2000). Like many of Altman's work, the film would be an ensemble piece, with Neve Campbell's character being a dancer who never quite lives up to her potential due to the happenings in her personal life. Altman was just nominated this past year for an Academy Award as director of Gosford Park, and next will be behind the lens for the Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman picture Voltage. Campbell's most recent work includes the films Panic (2000), Drowning Mona (2000), and Investigating Sex (2002).

James Franco, the young actor who made an impression with his role as James Dean and is currently breaking box office records along with the rest of the Spider-Man cast, is in negotiations to join John Dahl's (Joy Ride (2001), Rounders (1998)) next feature. The Great Raid is an World War II action drama that Miramax is backing, and is based on the true story of a daring rescue of over 500 American soldiers who were being held at a POW camp in the Philippines. The film will be based on the book by historian and writer William B. Breuer. According to the trade magazine Variety, actor Benjamin Bratt has already joined the cast and Franco is expected to follow suit shortly.

After years stalling in development hell, the long awaited sci-fi showdown Aliens Vs. Predator has finally been greenlit by 20th Century Fox. The feature (which has already been turned into a highly successful series of comic books as well as computer games) will pit the safari-hunting nasties from the Predator films up against the acid-bleeding, insect-like creatures from the Alien series of movies. So far, no director has officially been hired, but in the front running is horror/action director Paul Anderson (Resident Evil (2002), Soldier (1998), Event Horizon (1997)). John Davis, the executive who produced the Predator films, is in charge of heading up the production, which is still in its early days (many drafts of a screenplay have been written to this date, all of which will no doubt be thrown aside in favor of a fresh script). More information from Fox will be on its way as soon as this project gets some real steam rolling. Stay tuned!

Comic actor Will Ferrell, who recently left Saturday Night Live, is set to star in the romantic comedy Action Newsman, according to Variety. Ferrell wrote the script alongside Adam McKay, a writer on SNL. McKay will also make his directorial debut in this film, about seasoned, egotistical anchorman Ron Burgandy (Ferrell), whose career as a newsreader is threatened upon the arrival of a professional female news anchor and journalist at the station. A master of impressions and memorable comic routines, Ferrell will next be seen in the Christmas-themed comedy Elf, about a human raised among Santa's elves who is forced to return to the real world and make his way. That film will be under the direction of Made (2001) actor/director Jon Favreau.

Actress Annette Bening (What Planet Are You From? (2000), The Siege (1998), The American President (1995)), who got excellent reviews for American Beauty (1999), will be returning to the spotlight in Disney's remake of its classic 1976 movie Freaky Friday. The original film, which starred Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris, centered around a feuding mother and daughter who somehow manage to switch bodies. With the mom (Bening) set to get married soon, the two must find a way to work together and get their own bodies back. Andrew Gunn will produce the film, and the directing duties will go to Mark S. Waters.

Filmmaker Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Dogma (1999)) will re-team with veteran View Askew actor Ben Affleck and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez for his next flick, the romantic drama Jersey Girl. Smith's new project is about Ollie Trinke (Affleck) struggling to deal with his life, his six year-old daughter, and his new wife (Lopez). Production on the film is scheduled to begin this fall. Another Smith regular, comic George Carlin, is in negotiations to play the role of the father of Affleck's character. Lopez and Affleck recently worked together in the upcoming Martin Brest directed film Gigli (2002). Affleck will next be seen in the Jack Ryan thriller The Sum of All Fears (2002), while Lopez recently opened with the abused woman revenge drama Enough (2002).

The newest mutants have just been added to the cast of 20th Century Fox's upcoming sequel to the blockbuster smash X-Men (2000). British thesp Alan Cumming (The Anniversary Party (2001), Spy Kids (2001)) has signed on to play the role of Nightcrawler, a blue-skinned mutant who has the ability to teleport. Earlier reports had circulated around the trades indicated that actor Ethan Embry had signed on for the part, but this has since proven false. Little known actor Aaron Stanford (Hollywood Ending (2002), Tadpole (2002)) has also joined the cast in the part of Pyro, a mutant who has the ability to create fire (and who made a brief appearance in the first film as a young student at Xavier's school). X2 will take up where the first film left off, involving a potentially deadly virus that former X-Men adversaries from both Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto's (Ian McKellen) opposing camps must join together to fight. Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects (1995), Apt Pupil (1998)), who directed the first film, will begin filming the sequel June 17th in Canada. Fox is looking to release X2 in 2003.

It looks as though stunning actress Charlize Theron may join Mark Wahlberg for a remake of the heist flick The Italian Job, an updated version of the 1969 film which Paramount has on its fast track. The new film is described by the studio as a grittier story than the original, which starred Michael Caine and had more comic undertones. The story centers around a duo who plan a robbery of gold in a town in Italy through the distraction of a traffic jam. Wahlberg has already signed on for the film, in which he'll play a character named Charlie Croker, a thief who masterminds the big heist. Theron would be up for the role of his partner, a woman who happens to be a very talented safecracker. The film will go before cameras this August, with an eye towards a 2003 release date.

Director Chris Columbus, who is finishing up helming duties behind the camera with this fall's upcoming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), will make the sequel his last trip behind the camera for the Potter franchise. The filmmaker also directed last Thanksgiving's hugely successful first film, as Sorcerer's Stone went on to shatter box office records around the world and delight devoted fans of the series of books by author J.K. Rowling. With the departure of Columbus, Warner Bros. has begun the process of shopping the script for the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2003) around to a short list of directors. The trade magazine Variety reports that the filmmaker on the top of that list is Alfonso Cuaron, who had a recent hit with the film Y Tu Mamá También (2002). Other directors on the list include Callie Khouri, who was behind the upcoming Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002), Kenneth Branagh (who will also star as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Chamber of Secrets), and even Steven Spielberg's name has been listed as a possibility (although his association with the project will probably not happen, as his schedule is pretty booked with the upcoming Indiana Jones IV project). The familiar young cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will also be replaced on the third film, as they have already outgrown their respective parts.

The Pink Panther, the on again, off again project that has been in development for years over at MGM, has picked up steam once more with the possibility of comic actor Chris Tucker taking over the lead role as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. The role was made famous by the late Peter Sellers in the original 1963 film, who went on to reprise the part in several sequels. The franchise has had a long and winding history, with the role of Clouseau also being played by Roger Moore, Alan Arkin, and even Italian actor/director Roberto Benigni in Blake Edwards' Son of the Pink Panther from a few years back. The new project has had names attached to it that include Kevin Spacey and Mike Myers, both of whom have since bowed out of the potential film. Tucker, who got his big break alongside Ice Cube in Friday (1995) and the two Rush Hour films, would mark the first time a black actor has taken on the part. Director Ivan Reitman (Evolution (2001), Six Days, Seven Nights (1998)) is still attached to direct the film.

Veteran actor Robert DeNiro may star alongside Benicio Del Toro (The Pledge (2001), Traffic (2000)) in a remake of the Japanese film Kaosu (1999). The new version, entitled Chaos is a thriller about a kidnapping of a businessman's wife that goes awry, will be written by Andrew Bovell (Lantana (2001), Strictly Ballroom (1992)) and will be directed by Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast (2001)). Tribeca Productions, De Niro's company, will produce the film for Universal. There is no word at this point when shooting on the project is expected to commence.