BBC - Films -news article - High Noon

		Box Office Killing Quentin Tarantino slayed the competition at the US box office this weekend as Kill Bill: Volume 1 raked in a cool $22.7m. Another strong performer was Jack Black's comedy hoofer School Of Rock, which tapped $15.4m in its second week. That was just ahead of the Coen brothers' old school screwballer Intolerable Cruelty, rolling into third place with $13.1m.

		Martin Falling On Farce? How about this for a beumb-shell? The word in Tinseltown is that Steve Martin is being groomed to resurrect The Pink Panther franchise. MGM has offered him the role of bumbling detective Inspector Clouseau, made famous in the 60s by dearly departed Peter Sellers. No deal has been struck as yet, and sources close to Martin reckon he's more than a little wary of following in Sellers' tracks. However, Variety reports that, if Martin were to accept the deal, it would be his biggest payday yet. In the past couple of years, the role has reputedly been offered to the likes of Mike Myers and Chris Tucker.

		Weisz's Film From Hell Rachel Weisz has just begun work on sci-fi thriller Constantine, reuniting with Chain Reaction co-star Keanu Reeves. Based on the DC-Vertigo comic book Hellblazer, Reeves plays a detective who's literally been to hell and back, and uses his supernatural powers to help Weisz's character uncover the truth about her sister's death. Weisz told us: "We just started filming about two weeks ago here in Los Angeles, and it's going well. I'm playing a LAPD homicide detective who's very guilt ridden. She's a very interesting character, and Keanu's great." Director Francis Lawrence added: "Constantine has a hardboiled detective edge and a punk Sid Vicious attitude. He smokes, he drinks and is sarcastic and wry. He's not a blond Englishman, but the heart of the character is intact." On being cast in the lead, Keanu said it was apt that he should be offered the role of a detective, since he's spent most of his life looking for a clue...

		Ruffalo Cruising The A-List Hot off Jane Campion's erotic thriller In The Cut (getting its UK release on 31st October), Mark Ruffalo is being courted for a part in Michael Mann's Collateral, opposite Tom Cruise. The story follows contract killer TC as he cruises from job to job, chauffeured by reluctant cabbie Jamie Foxx. Ruffalo would play a detective on the Cruiser's tail - replacing Val Kilmer who ditched the project to play King Philip of Macedonia in Oliver Stone's Alexander.

		Carrey Hypnotised By Brit's Script The King of Comedy Jim Carrey is attached to star in The Hypnotist, penned by British writer Sacha Gervasi. The script was recently the subject of a Hollywood bidding war, with Revolution Studios finally picking it up for a cool $1m. The set-up revolves around a hypnotist (Carrey) who loses his powers and must fall in love in order to get them back. Gervasi also scribbled romantic drama Terminal, currently being directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

		Kids' Pics Are Quids In Your very own BBC is joining forces with The Film Council and the Children's Film & TV Foundation to create a fund for the development of live-action and animated films for all the family. The trio have already committed £900,000 to be spent over the next three years. Film Council bod Jenny Borgars states: "Big-budget successes such as Chicken Run and Harry Potter have shown that there is an audience for distinctively British family-friendly films. This initiative will help to meet that demand."

		Harris Finds Her Place In The Sun Last seen outrunning a flesh-eating virus in Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, British newcomer Naomie Harris is stepping into the limelight with a part in Hollywood thriller After The Sunset. Amid a line-up that includes Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Woody Harrelson, Harris will play an island cop in pursuit of a master thief (Brosnan). Sunset director Brett Ratner (Red Dragon) told The Hollywood Reporter: "Naomie Harris is an extraordinary talent. I really look forward to working with her. She is going to make a brilliant contribution to this movie." Gushing Ratner stopped just short of telling us exactly where he thinks the sun rises and sets.