In a pairing that seems certain to spawn at least one catchphrase for every two lines of dialogue, Ron Burgundy is about to meet Napoleon Dynamite. Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are in talks to join forces for "Blades of Glory," a comedy that would bring a "Happy Gilmore"-esque tone to the world of competitive ice skating. The script tells the story of two men's figure skaters banned from competition after an embarrassing brawl during the Salt Lake City Winter Games. After three years of stewing, the two unite to exploit a loophole in their suspension by returning to glory as a figure skating pair. Although the packed schedules of Ferrell and Heder are considered an obstacle to the project, real-life comedy couple Amy Poehler ("Saturday Night Live") and husband Will Arnett ("Arrested Development") are expected to help the movie soar as Ferrell and Heder's skating rivals. ...

With "Punch-Drunk Love" and "Spanglish," Adam Sandler got serious, but compared to the topic currently on his mind, those films look as lighthearted as "Billy Madison." Writer/director Mike Binder, who made a splash earlier this year with the dark comedy "The Upside of Anger," is in negotiations with Sandler and Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle ("Crash") to star in the 9/11 drama "Reign O'er Me." Written by Binder, the film would cast Sandler as a grief-stricken man who lost his family during the terrorist attacks. When he reunites with a friend from college, played by Cheadle, the ex-roommate-turned-doctor attempts to counsel Sandler's character through his grief. The film would be the third major 9/11 project to go in front of the cameras after Hollywood's initial fears of addressing the subject, following Oliver Stone's now-filming World Trade Center project and Paul Greengrass' "Flight 93" drama. Sony Pictures hopes to make "Reign" sometime next year. ...

11.16.05

Despite recent comments by Michael Bay that indicated otherwise, two of the producers for his Platinum Dunes production company claim "The Birds" is still planning to take flight. "We are just starting to write a script," Bradley Fuller said, updating the status of the proposed revisiting of Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic. "That's the challenge in 'The Birds,' " Fuller admitted, "because you're talking about a film that was made by arguably the best thriller director of all time. He was a man with a track record that was revered across the board." Fuller's production partner, Andrew Form, then added: "We're not remaking the Hitchcock movie, not at all," a crucial detail that Fuller immediately seized upon. "That's a good point. We're going from the short story. Our source material for that movie is the original short story." According to the duo, the upcoming film will adapt the catalyst for Hitchcock's inspiration, first published by English novelist Daphne du Maurier in 1952. The characters and locations will be different than in the classic film, and the producers added that they have not yet chosen any actors. They're also making plans to seek out the project's director, who would have to be "a very special individual" to navigate the media pressure and what they say will be their biggest budget yet. ... Every weekend, countless couples engage in the same age-old argument: he likes superhero movies, she wants to see a nice romantic comedy. Well have no fear, because "Super Ex-Girlfriend" will be coming to theaters in 2006. In the flick, directed by Ivan Reitman ("Ghostbusters"), regular-guy Luke Wilson dumps his girlfriend (Uma Thurman), who then uses her superpowers to get revenge. "[Thurman's] really strong; she can fly around," said a bubbly Anna Faris, who's also in the movie. "She's always saving something, like saving a plane from crashing. She's doing all these great things, but she's also kind of a wreck of a person, so it's funny." In the currently filming movie, Faris plays Hannah, a normal girl and architect who is "the next girlfriend. [Thurman's] not happy with me being the next girlfriend, the replacement. ... I end up fighting [her], which I'm really scared to do. I mean, she's good at that stuff -- and she's tall." ...

Twenty-one-year-old Taylor Handley may be best known for playing Oliver Trask on "The O.C.," but he's now making a variety of big-screen plans. He's just about to finish filming the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" prequel in Texas this month and, believe it or not, the young actor has a Mormon movie in the can that will boast an even higher body count. "It's a highly financed independent film called 'September Dawn,' " Handley said. "It's a period piece set in 1857 with Jon Voight." The cast also includes Dean Cain and Lolita Davidovich and tells a love story set against tragic events. "It's based on the true story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which is gonna get some press coming out of Utah. They won't be too happy with it ... a group of renegade Mormons ambushed a Christian wagon train on its way to California. I guess 157 people were massacred." Handley says his character "starts off as this innocent, young man who has two wives, everything's peachy. And then his dad [goes crazy], and then he just ends up tortured because of the obedience to his father, and he has to kill these people and he loses all his innocence." ... Last year Hilary Swank ("Million Dollar Baby") and Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake") went toe-to-toe for the Best Actress Oscar. Now the former rivals will co-star in "Freedom Writers," based on the true story of an English teacher who helped her inner-city English class find inspiration through the written word. Swank revealed she'll start filming in December and that she's already begun preparations by meeting with Erin Gruwell, the woman she'll be playing. "[She's] just an amazing inspiration, that woman. How she devotes her life to these kids is just nothing short of astonishing, truly. But she's complex, and she's really human and amazing, and really open and giving. ... It's a true story obviously, and just one of those stories that gives you hope." ...

Why are we reporting that Mandy Moore has signed on to do a movie with Diane Keaton? "Because I Said So" would likely be her answer -- and it's also the title of the flick. The actress/singer will play Keaton's daughter, who has to deal with her mother's constant attempts to set her up with Mr. Right. The film is scheduled to shoot later this month. ... Since he began helping out his friends with David Spade's "Joe Dirt" in 2001, Adam Sandler has become one of the busiest producers in Hollywood, overseeing everything from Rob Schneider's "The Hot Chick" to Dana Carvey's "The Master of Disguise." Now the former Canteen Boy will continue his Hollywood dominance with "Strange Wilderness," a comedy about a group of assorted goofballs who, attempting to improve the ratings for their poorly performing TV show, travel to the Andes in search of Bigfoot. Steve Zahn ("Sahara") and Allen Covert ("The Longest Yard") will star. ... Val Kilmer may not be a man of many words, but the few he does offer can't help but grab your attention. " 'Coin Locker Babies,' " the veteran actor offered when asked about his possible upcoming work. "I hope it gets made. Sean Lennon is one of the screenwriters; it's an adaptation from the novel of the same title." Kilmer wouldn't spill the details of his character, or discuss the plot about young men seeking revenge on the mothers who abandoned them, but said Lennon and the other producers are currently looking for the money. Taking things one step further, Kilmer cryptically revealed that he'll be returning the favor by transitioning into Lennon's field. "I'm making a record," Kilmer said. "I can't talk about that either." Don't laugh -- Kilmer has sung impressively in such movies as "Top Secret!" and a Hollywood stage production last year. Grinning, the star concluded by coughing up a simple, three-word summary of his debut album: "Rock and Roll."