Howard looking at 'The Paper'
Director Ron Howard, who hasbeen vigorously pursuing his next project, may have found it in "The Paper," the story of a day in the life of an editor at a New York tabloid newspaper.
Sources confirmed Howard is "very interested" in directing the film, written by David Koepp, and that the script is currently out to a number of male stars including Mel Gibson, Richard Gere and Tim Robbins.
If the film does indeed go into production with Howard at the helm, it will be an Imagine Films Entertainment production distributed by Universal. Howard's partner in Imagine, Brian Grazer, would produce the film.
But sources also stressed that Howard will only commit to the project -- developed by Universal and submitted to Howard and Grazer -- if there is top-notch talent involved.
"It's the one script he's the most excited about," said a source, "but only if it's a castable production with big stars."
Howard's last film was "Far and Away," which was released last summer by U. Howard and Grazer recently bought out Imagine's minority shareholders, returning private control of the company to the duo, and Howard has been searching for a suitable project.
Screenwriter Koepp wrote U's "Death Becomes Her" in addition to the final rewrite of the studio's "Jurassic Park." He is currently writing another U pic, "Carlito's Way," which will be directed by Brian De Palma and stars Al Pacino.
