Will Smith is in talks to step into Fox 2000's "Phone Booth" and grab the starring role.
Smith's involvement would give a big boost to the project. No director is currently attached, although the script, which Fox picked up in late 1998, has drawn the attention of some well-known helmers. Michael Bay flirted with it last year before opting for "Pearl Harbor," and the Hughes Bros. were briefly attached, but they departed recently to focus on "From Hell."
Pic is a thriller about a man who answers a random call at a phone booth and winds up the target of a sniper.
Smith's biggest commitment at the moment is starring in Columbia's Muhammad Ali biopic, to be helmed by Michael Mann (Daily Variety, Feb. 23). If Smith signs to film "Phone Booth," Fox is hoping to shoot before the thesp takes on the Ali role.
"Phone Booth" was written by Larry Cohen and is being produced by Gil Netter and David Zucker.
The project was originally brought to Fox by Fox 2000 president of production Elizabeth Gabler and Tom Rothman, 20th Century Fox Film Group president. Last year, Smith had "Wild Wild West" in theaters. He's repped by CAA.
-- Paul Duke
Philbin may be 'Million' winner, too
There's no final answer yet, but Regis Philbin may soon land a significant raise for his duties hosting ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Philbin hasn't been shy about declaring his desire for more coin, and now industry insiders say Buena Vista TV, the Disney unit which produces "Millionaire" here, has granted his wish. A deal could wrap as early as today. Reps for CAA and Buena Vista TV had no comment.
-- Josef Adalian
Smith fumes over new 'Clerks' slot
ABC's decision to delay the launch of the animated version of the Miramax pic "Clerks" until summer has exec producer Kevin Smith fuming.
Alphabet said last week that the long-delayed toon would finally bow on May 31, a week after the season ends. ABC said it believed the show would have a better shot at survival if it premiered outside the clutter of the regular season.
Smith, however, believes ABC is simply burning off the Miramax TV-produced show, posting a message on his official Web site detailing how his show "got fucked by ABC."
"Folks, May 31 pretty much insures the show's failure, in my book," he added, noting that "very seldomly does a show launched in the summer get picked up."
"I can't believe we got fucked by the Mouse twice in the span of a year," Smith said, in an apparent reference to "Dogma," the feature pic which Miramax, fearing heat from religious groups, sold to Lion's Gate. "Fucking suits, man. I don't know why I bother."
Later in his rant, Smith calls the skedding of "Clerks" and the multinight airings of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" as reasons "why TV sucks...With the exception of 'The Simpsons,' 'Law and Order' and 'The X-Files,' this is why I used my television solely as a means to watch DVDs, videos and porn."
Smith wraps up by comparing his treatment by ABC to a prison rape.
The anti-Alphabet blast comes as speculation persists that Smith and Miramax Television are battling over the content of several segs of "Clerks." Show is said to push the envelope somewhat further than ABC standards and practices execs are comfortable.
An ABC spokesman had no response to Smith's specific charges, saying only that the net "remains committed to 'Clerks' and believes in the show."
Web insiders also point out that contrary to Smith's assertions, several shows which have bowed in the summer have gone on to success, including "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "Whose Line is it Anyway" and "Seinfeld."
Miramax TV topper Billy Campbell said Smith was "disappointed and frustrated" because he and the studio were led to believe that "Clerks" would come on in March or April. When ABC announced a summer start date, Smith "sort of frustratingly struck out."
While conceding the positive aspects of a summer run-- less competish, more time to market the skein-- Campbell said he shared Smith's frustration.
"We all had these expectations. We were disappointed," he said.
-- Josef Adalian
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