Spike Lee to Attend Theater for First Time in Years

Spike on Broadway: Spike Lee will direct a remounting of World War II comedy-drama-mystery Stalag 17 on Broadway, produced by play’s original producer, Michael Abbott. Lee has never directed for the stage and, according to the Times, can’t remember the last play he attended. As the lead, production sources mention Clive Owen; Lee assures nervous/old Broadway playgoers, “We’re not casting rappers. 50 Cent’s not gonna be in this one.� Despite everything, we think this might be good. [NYT]

Wopat Joins Affair: Tom Wopat joins cast of Broadway-bound A Catered Affair, musical adapted by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino. Wopat plays the cabdriver role originated by Ernest Borgnine in the movie, and has requested that his taxicab have its doors welded shut so it can only be entered through the windows. [Playbill]

Fishburne to Direct The Alchemist: Paulo Coelho’s gazillion-selling novel The Alchemist will be adapted and directed for film by Laurence Fishburne. Fishburne, of course, already has quite a bit of experience with pseudophilosophy thanks to his work on the Matrix films. [Variety]

Eloise Onscreen: Director Charles Shyer (Alfie) will helm Eloise in Paris, first installment of series based on beloved children’s books about the little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel. Shyer will co-write with his daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, and many hearts will be warmed by the producer’s assurances that the story will be contemporized. Oh, whew. [Variety]

50 Cent Joins Pacino, De Niro: Curtis Jackson, a.k.a. 50 Cent, will join cast of Al Pacino–Robert De Niro starrer Righteous Kill, playing a drug dealer who aids the acting legends in their desperate hunt for more scenery to chew. Good to see Fitty’s dealing with his disappointment at Spike Lee freezing him out of Stalag 17. [Billboard]

McTeigue to Bangkok: Millennium Films options John Burdett’s Thai-set thriller Bangkok 8, with John McTeigue (V for Vendetta) set to direct. Gritty novel, first in a series, follows a Thai police detective as he investigates the murder of a U.S. Marine. [Variety]

Sony Remaking Hitchcock: The Lodger, early silent film by Alfred Hitchcock, will be updated and remade by Sony Pictures, with short-film director David Ondaatje writing and directing. We grudgingly admit that we are not opposed to the addition of dialogue for this remake. [Variety]

Hounsou to Get Some: Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, In America) joins cast of Get Some, drama about a teen who gets involved in an underground fight club. Hounsou will play a mentor to the film’s teen hero; rest assured, he will be noble. [HR]

Weezer Recording Next Record: Rivers Cuomo and his band Weezer are recording a new album, according to posting on band’s Website. Rumors of band’s breakup last year were apparently untrue. [Pitchfork]

More of Molly Shannon: Molly Shannon will star in TV movie More of Me for Lifetime. Comedy, about an overstressed woman who splits into three different versions of herself, will be directed by Daisy von Scherler Meyer (Party Girl, remember that one?). Thankfully, this isn’t a woman-in-peril Lifetime movie, though it’d be perversely interesting to see Molly Shannon in one of those. [Variety]