'Whale' tale finally takes plunge with Hartnett

By ARMY ARCHERD

GOOD MORNING: "He's the reason it's getting made." The "he" is Josh Hartnett and the film is "Mozart and the Whale." The project's been in/outta the works for seven years, admits Ron Bass, who scripted and is one of the four producers for Avi Lerner's Millennium Films. Pic was originally at DreamWorks with Steven Spielberg to direct and Robin Williams interested to star. Hartnett plays an Aspergen Syndrome (a form of autism) male lead to similarly affected Radha Mitchell. Bass won an Oscar for the screenplay of "Rain Man" (1988), which starred Dustin Hoffman as the autistic savant. While Hartnett is gaining fame for epics like "Pearl Harbor" and "Black Hawk Down," with "Wicker Park" and "Black Dahlia" coming up, this role is a complete new look at him and his talents. Bass cannot compliment Hartnett enough about his desire to play the role -- which has a true life background. "The role is for a William H. Macy, shy kind of guy. But why couldn't it be for a guy who's so gorgeous (as Hartnett)? It (autism) strikes who it strikes," Bass said. Bass describes femme costar, Mitchell as "a young Michele Pfeiffer." Bass says the film is "a love story that stands on its own -- plus an added dimension." ... Hartnett says, "I've been trying to get this film together for a year." From the Spokane, Wash., location of "Mozart and the Whale" he elaborates, "I did everything I could to make it happen. " And that includes forgoing his rapidly rising salary. In addition to helping raise the money, he did research on the role in various autistic groups And he says "playing this role has made me more honest. Autistic people can't tell lies to keep up a façade. They react honestly. Hopefully it will seep into my life." He says the script "is so interesting -- a love story with a struggle -- like everyone's and it has a realistic ending." Yes, Hartnett has a different look. And, he notes, "I walk and talk a little differently -- little things, mannerisms. But I decided against dyeing my hair" ... Costar Mitchell is next seen in "Man On Fire" starring Denzel Washington and "Neverland" with Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Dustin Hoffman. "Mozart And the Whale" is directed by Petter Naess who won the Oscar for "Elling."

WILL FARRELL IS NEGOTIATING to play Franz Liebkind, the wacky Nazi playwright of "Springtime for Hitler" in the film of the musical "The Producers." He would join Mel Brooks' already-set New York cast of Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Roger Bart (Carmen Ghia), Gary Beach (Roger De Bris) plus (and whatta plus!) Nicole Kidman as Ulla. Susan Stroman directs the film as she did the legiter. And in her first feature Stroman plans to "open up" the legiter with scenes such as the little old ladies chorus emerging from their Park Ave. apartments and dancing their spectacular number on walkers -- down Park Avenue ... Brooks happily reports that the hysterical season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," in which Larry David (as Max Bialystock) and David Schwimmer (as Leo Bloom) costar on the B'way stage in "The Producers," has brought a surge to the box office at the St. James (where "Curb" filmed on a dark Monday), well as the troupe's B.O. in Canada and the two national touring companies ... Brooks is off to Melbourne April 15 to launch "The Producers" Down Under. It's Brooks' first trip to Oz.

DON RICKLES' DRAMATIC SCENES in TNT's "The Wool Cap" starring William H. Macy were skedded together to fit Rickles' hefty saloon and personal dates. Just back from the Montreal shoot, he bows tonight at the Stardust in Vegas, pre-Toronto, Atlantic City resorts, etc. Rickles, whose dramatic outings include over the years include "Kelly's Heroes" with Clint Eastwood and "Run Silent, Run Deep" with Clark Gable, says he is "very excited" about having worked with Macy. "Wool Cap" is based on the Jackie Gleason 1962 starrer directed by Gene Kelly. Steven Schachter wrote, directs and produces this version with Macy. Rickles' scenes are all with Macy, who plays the deaf-mute seeking to adopt the girl played by Keke Palmer. Rickles has several lengthy dialogues to the speech-less Macy. ... Jerry Lewis heads to stands in London, Geneva and Paris May 5 ... Michael Feinstein is departing his Feinstein's at the Cinegrill in Hollywood. Effective June 6, his name will no longer be associated with the club in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where he's appearing with Jimmy Webb through Saturday. Meanwhile, he continues his club at the Regency in New York. He says "management situations at the two hotels are very different." Here's hoping the L.A. club can continue. It is a much-needed upscale site for talent in this town and the several shows I've seen there -- including those of Michael's and Lorna Luft -- made the club an important chapter in the hoped-for improving Hollywood Blvd. Meanwhile, Michael continues his tours with dates in Houston, Providence, and Carnegie Hall and his annual holiday show at Feinstein's at the Regency ... Tony Martin plays Feinstein's at the Cinegrill May 14-16 ... The Red Carpet will be out at the Kodak again, this time for the Miss USA 2004 competish at the Kodak April 12. The 51 delegates will be presented on the red carpet in the evening gown competition. And they'll be lensed around town at landmark locations as part of the show. And you can bet that Donald Trump, who co-owns the show with NBC, will make a larger appearance on the show this year ... More than 50 of the top models showed for the "Today" show audition to try to fit Audrey Hepburn's Ascot race scenes from "My Fair Lady." The gown's one of the movie and TV memorabilia items going up for auction at Profiles in History in L.A. on Wednesday ... Michael Paloma joins Burt Reynolds, Robert Loggia, Richard Greico, Charles Durning, Raquel Welch and Phyllis Diller in the comedy, "Forget About It" ... A dozen of the 27 bi-coastal authors-TV exex in the newly published "Fridays With Art" (Parrot) will appear at tonight's book signing at Studio City's BookStar ... Paula Heil Fisher's docu "Finding Eleazar" is an official entry in the Tribeca Film Fest. It's about the 1835 Halevy opera "La Juive" which was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and taken out of the Met's rep two years later. It's in the fest's first-time docu director competish.