By Romeo San Vicente
Halle's role gives her paws
Oscar winner Halle Berry is taking on the role of the hottest supervillain in tight black leather. No, she's not starring in "Leona Helmsley's Excellent S/M Adventure." Berry, who knows a thing or two about playing a comic-book character thanks to her experience in "X-Men," has signed on to the sought-after title role in "Catwoman." Warner Bros. has been trying to make a Catwoman movie for years, first with director Tim Burton and Michelle Pfeiffer … then with Ashley Judd … then with Nicole Kidman. The script, originally written by John Rogers ("The Core"), is now being revamped by John Brancato and Mike Ferris ("The Game") and will explore the complicated good cat/bad cat nature of Batman's sexiest nemesis. But we must all be patient kitties, since the film won't stalk its way into theaters before 2005.
Homo at the end of the world
With the film adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel "The Hours" still wowing audiences, Hollywood has kept a close eye on casting for the award-winning novelist's next page-to-screen transformation, "A Home at the End of the World." First to sign on was everyone's favorite bad boy, Irish actor Colin Farrell. Now coming along for the ride are Robin Wright Penn and stage actor Dallas Roberts, who recently played gay in an off-Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's "Burn This." "Home" revolves around the emotional triangle of two close male friends – one gay, one straight – and the woman they both come to love. It's expected to have plenty of gay sensibility, considering that out theater director Michael Mayer ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown") is at the helm.
Keeve has 'Balls'
Queer filmmaker Douglas Keeve, probably best-known for his 1995 documentary, "Unzipped," about then-boyfriend Isaac Mizrahi, is currently casting for his debut as a feature-film director. Set in the crazy world of fashion, "Balls" focuses on a small-town boy who becomes a big-time male model and has a tempestuous relationship with his mannequin girlfriend and male best friend – the three apparently get caught up in a love triangle. Keeve plans to start shooting "Balls" in New York City this spring. In the meantime, the director has just wrapped "Rodeo Girls," a documentary about the aspiring rodeo queen whom fashion king Ralph Lauren used as the inspiration for his clothing line.
Collette gets dragged into Nia's picture
Toni Collette, the actress who belted out ABBA tunes in "Muriel's Wedding" and locked lips with Julianne Moore in "The Hours," has committed to her next role: dinner theater. No, the Aussie actress's career hasn't taken a downturn. Instead, Collette has been cast opposite Oscar-nominated writer-slash-actress Nia Vardalos in her upcoming drag comedy, "Connie and Carla Do L.A." Collette and Vardalos will both portray dinner-theater performers who are forced to go undercover as drag queens in Los Angeles. Michael Lembeck ("The Santa Clause 2") will direct, and production is slated to begin in May.
