More Split Personalities: Abel Ferrara has announced plans for a contemporary version of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring Forest Whitaker and — wait for it — 50 Cent. It’s unclear whether Whitaker will play the normal version or the crazy version, but either way we’re hoping some short-term ailment knocks him off the production, leaving 50 to play both roles. For the record, this is not the Keanu Reeves version of Jekyll and Hyde that was announced last week, or Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming version. No, this is a different version starring 50 Cent. [Variety]
Sinatra Screen Time: Martin Scorsese will direct and produce Sinatra, the first big-screen biopic to tackle the life of Frank Sinatra; Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) will write the screenplay. No lead is set, but co-producer Cathy Schulman, who spent the last two years acquiring Sinatra’s life and music rights, suggested Leonardo DiCaprio, the star of Scorsese’s last four films, including the upcoming Shutter Island. Not bad — but wouldn’t Jamie Foxx totally nail it? [Variety]
Even More Wackiness: The Tina Fey-Steve Carell comedy Date Night has more wacky characters on board. Already featuring Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Taraji P. Henson, Common, Leighton Meester, and Kristen Wiig, the flick has added Ray Liotta as a “villain of peace†(?), Mila Kunis as Franco’s low-rent criminal wife, and Mark Ruffalo as Wiig’s husband and Carell’s best friend. And since you’re probably wondering — yes, this is directed by the Night at the Museum guy. [HR]
She’s Back: Hey, Lindsay Lohan got a job! Lohan, whose last feature role was 2007’s I Know Who Killed Me (Rotten Tomatoes: 8%), will star in indie fantasy-comedy The Other Side along with Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Alanis Morissette, and Dave Matthews (of Band fame). Lohan will play a grad student who spends the summer working for a scientific institute on a remote island, where she uncovers an eccentric cast of characters hiding a secret: that, despite what millions say, Dave Matthews Band music isn’t very good. [Variety]
Turn to the Left: Monica Bellucci, Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto will star in Bruce Beresford’s romantic comedy The Women in Black. Based on the Madeleine St. John novel, the film takes place in the high-fashion salon of a 1960 department store, where the lives of a group of sales ladies and their families become intertwined. We’re looking forward to this because so far our only experience with high-fashion on screen has been the shoe-store scenes in Married…With Children. [Variety]