Germany Says ‘Nein’ to Tom Cruise

Germany Rejects Valkyrie, Cruise: The German government announces that United Artists’ Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Bryan Singer, is not welcome to shoot at German military sites, citing Cruise’s Scientology beliefs. UA reps say shooting will go ahead with German locations to be determined. Film, true-story retelling of plot to kill Hitler, is a cornerstone of United Artists’ plans, and is first example of studio player Cruise’s Scientology interfering with business as usual. [Variety]

Disturbia Couple Reunites: Director D.J. Caruso and star Shia LaBeouf, who made a splash this spring with sleeper hit Disturbia, will reteam on thriller Eagle Eye, about a mother and son framed for terrorism. [Variety]

Ritchie Sets Cast: No matter how much you’re annoyed by Guy Ritchie, or by the idea of his RocknRolla being a throwback to the style of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, you have to admit this is a hell of a cast: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Chris “Ludacris� Bridges, and Idris Elba (Stringer Bell from The Wire). [Variety]

NBC Gets a New Joey: Former ‘N Syncer Joey Fatone will host NBC’s game show The Singing Bee, debuting in July. No word yet on whether the network will force Fatone to shave his head, Mandel style. [Variety]

Hawke to Direct for New Group: Ethan Hawke will direct Jonathan Marc Sherman’s Things We Want as part of the New Group’s 2007–2008 season, just announced. Other shows for the Off Broadway company are American premieres of Mike Leigh’s Two Thousand Years and Kevin Elyot’s Mouth to Mouth. [Variety]

Richard Belzer, Fictional Detective: Comedian and actor Richard Belzer, familiar as Detective John Munch on ten gazillion Law & Orders, makes two-book deal with Simon & Schuster for detective series starring … Richard Belzer, a TV actor forced to solve mysteries. Mike Black co-writes. The inspired title of the first book: I Am Not a Cop. [PW]