Posted: Thu., Mar. 11, 2004, 9:00pm PT

Par going it alone with 'Elizabethtown'

Project expected to lense in July

By Dave McNary

Crowe

The Paramount-DreamWorks link that was supposed to foster seven pics won't include Cameron Crowe's romantic comedy "Elizabethtown," starring Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom.

Project, produced by Crowe and Paramount-based Cruise/Wagner, is expected to start lensing in July with Par hoping for a 2005 release. Story centers on a suicidal man who returns to his small-town Kentucky home after the death of his father.

Crowe, who's directing and scripting, decided last fall after second-unit shooting to push the start of production back from first quarter 2004. That led to Ashton Kutcher's replacement by Bloom.

The studios recently co-financed "Paycheck" and remain partners on other projects, including a trio set for release this year:

• "Stepford Wives," a comic remake of the 1975 fantasy, with Nicole Kidman starring, Frank Oz directing, and Par-based Scott Rudin and Donald De Line producing. Release date is June 11.

• "Collateral," with Tom Cruise in a rare role as a bad guy, directed by Michael Mann, with Cruise/Wagner producing. It's opening Aug. 6.

• "Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events," with Jim Carrey toplining, DreamWorks co-prexys Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald producing, and Brad Silberling signed up as director. "Snicket" is due out at Christmas.

Paramount and DreamWorks are also partnered on "Killing Pablo," the tale of the hunt for drug lord Pablo Escobar, to be directed by Joe Carnahan ("Narc") after he finishes "Mission: Impossible 3;" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," a remake of the Danny Kaye comedy.