Fresh off the success of this summer’s blockbuster “War of the Worlds,” Steven Spielberg will be producing yet another science fiction epic. “When Worlds Collide,” like “War of the Worlds,” was based on a novel and was made a film in the 1950s. He has taken the reins from Steven Sommers of “The Mummy” fame, who has left the project in order to produce and direct “A Night at the Museum.” Though there have been rumors that Spielberg may direct “Worlds” as well, so far he has denied these claims.Apparently Britney Spears is bringing 13-year-old girls to tears. According to reports, she told off Alexa Nikola, who co-stars with Spear’s sister Jamie Lynn on the hit Nickelodeon show “Zoey 101.” An unnamed source claimed that the confrontation was “totally uncalled for.” But Spears claims that she was simply sticking up for her sister, who had a dispute with Nikola over some undisclosed issues.
Juliette Lewis, most remembered for her portrayal of Audrey Griswold in the classic “National Lampoon’sChristmas Vacation,” recently snapped at a fan in a webchat who inquired about her past with drugs. Though it’s been known that Lewis had a drug addiction as a teenager, she insists that such reports were blown out of proportion and that she was never addicted to cocaine – it was a “cheap habit.”
The fan reportedly asked her, “Now that you have kicked your drug addiction, what do you spend your cash on?” Lewis retaliated with “What a stupid question! I did have a drug addiction 10 years ago, but it was never a cocaine addiction so it doesn’t follow that I necessarily spent loads of money on it. I did do drugs, but cocaine was just not the drug of choice. And anyway, I’m only really little so I actually didn’t consume that many drugs. I never needed much so it was quite a cheap habit! Drug addiction costs much more in how it corrupts the soul than in how it corrupted my bank account.” Fans of Steve Carrell of “40-Year-Old-Virgin” fame will be happy to learn that he will be reprising his rolefrom “Bruce Almighty” in a new comedy planned for 2006 called “Evan Almighty.” Details are sketchy right now, but according to imdb.com the premise involves God (played by Morgan Freeman, again) planning another world wide flood and inspiring TV journalist Evan Baxter (Carrell) to construct an ark.
And finally, filmmakersare hoping to cast Jim Carrey alongside Ben Stiller in a new comedy directed by Jay Roach of “Austin Powers” and “Meet the Fockers” called “Used Guys,” a film set in a futuristic Earth where women rule and men are extinct. According to Comingsoon.net, “Carrey and Stiller will play clones rendered obsolete by superior models whose enhancements include better listening and lovemaking skills.” If that wasn’t strange enough, their main goal in the film is to regain their humanity by finding a place called “Mantopia.” That’s it this week for your Hollywood Scoop.