By Romeo San Vicente
Kristin Chenoweth gets Dusty
Dusty Springfield may be gone, but her memory is about to get a well-deserved shot in the arm. Tony-winning singer/actor Kristin Chenoweth has signed on to play the late bisexual soul singer in a biopic for Universal. Springfield, born in London in 1939, was one of the most respected singers of the 1960s and died in 1999 after a long battle with cancer. Chenoweth, who has a recurring role on "The West Wing" and stars in Broadway's "Wicked," will play Springfield at the height of her '60s success, in a storyline that reportedly will culminate with the recording of the acclaimed "Dusty in Memphis" album. How much of Springfield's private life and her then-secret sexuality will be included in the film is unknown. But Vicki Wickham, Dusty's longtime manager, will act as consultant on the project. And best of all, Chenoweth has the pipes to do the legend justice.
Jennifer Beals visits 'Desolation Sound'
When "The L Word" takes a break, its women don't rest. Jennifer Beals, star of the popular Showtime series, has made good use of her time in Vancouver – where much of "L" is filmed – to co-star in the Canadian independent film "Desolation Sound." Director Scott Weber and screenwriter/actor Glynis Davies' feature is a murder mystery about a woman (Helene Joy) who discovers that her sophisticated best friend (Beals) is sleeping with her husband. From that moment on, the bad consequences and intrigue begin to unfold. The low-budget indie finished shooting last November and will play the film festival circuit before opening in Canada – and hopefully the United States – later this year.
Ian McKellen cracks 'Code'
Other actors his age are envious of Ian McKellen's full-steam-ahead screen career, and he's just given them one more reason to be green. McKellen has joined the cast of "The Da Vinci Code," to be directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Alfred Molina, and "Amelie"'s Audrey Tautou. "Da Vinci" follows the adventures of Robert Langdon (Hanks), a man searching for the Holy Grail, who uncovers not only clues in Da Vinci's "Last Supper," but also a conspiracy within the Catholic Church. McKellen will play Sir Teabing, a wealthy man who helps Langdon on his mysterious quest. The thriller will begin shooting in June with an expected release in May of 2006.
Berlanti takes 'Bridge'
The creative talents behind successful gay indie films "The Broken Hearts Club" and "Latter Days" are joining forces for the upcoming New Line feature "Bridge and Tunnel." Greg Berlanti, writer-director of "Broken Hearts" and creator of TV's "Jack and Bobby" and "Everwood," will work with writer Michael Green on a new draft of an original script co-written by "Latter Days" director C. Jay Cox. "Bridge and Tunnel"'s plot centers on a female stockbroker whose business tips are provided by a suburban 16-year-old day trader. No cast is set, nor is there any word on gay content script-wise, but Berlanti has also signed on to direct the comedy, which Robert De Niro's Tribeca Films will produce. Shooting is planned for later this year.
