Sexy septuagenarian singer Eartha Kitt, famous as Catwoman in the '60s
Batman TV show, will be playing evil once again, this time on the big
screen. Kitt will be heard (but not seen) in the upcoming Disney animated
release, The Emperor's New Groove. Based loosely on Mark Twain's The
Prince and the Pauper, Groove tells the tale of stuck-up Aztec Prince
Kuzco (voiced by smarmy funnyman David Spade), who's set to take the throne
of the empire on his 18th birthday, at which time his evil aunt Yzma (voiced
by the sultry chanteuse) must step down. But like all good villainesses, Yzma
isn't about to cooperate. She enlists the help of henchman Kronk (Patrick
Warburton, who played Puddy on Seinfeld) to kill the young prince. Needless
to say, wacky antics ensue, most of which teach young Kuzco how to be a
better ruler. Disney has been working on Groove, originally titled Kingdom
of the Sun, for over four years, and a rumored $30 million worth of
completed animation has been discarded in an attempt to work out the story's
troubled plot. But the resulting film, including original songs by Sting, is
rumored to be Disney's funniest flick since Aladdin. Groove is currently
slated for release around Christmas.
What Will Trey Parker Wear?
While queer faves Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry), Tom
Cruise (Magnolia), Kevin Spacey (American Beauty), and director Pedro
Almodovar (All About My Mother) will all be going to the Academy Awards
ceremony on March 26, there will be one downer for gays. The Academy has
vowed to do away with those annoying Debbie Allen-choreographed interpretive
dance numbers -- and Marc Shaiman and Trey Parker's song "Blame Canada," from
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, has been nominated for Best Original
Song. What will Brian Boitano do? Bummer. (I'm guessing Celine Dion won't be
the one picked to sing this South Park anthem.)
Ed Harris Joins Glad
Actors (and real-life husband-and-wife team) Ed Harris and Amy Madigan have
partnered with producers (and real-life couple) Elton John and David Furnish
in an attempt to bring the Scottish novel So I Am Glad to the big screen.
Glad, written by A.L. Kennedy, tells the tale of a voice-over artist (to be
played by Madigan) with a troubled past and a taste for sadism who finds true
love when she meets a drug addict. The dark romance is said to be very funny.
Knopf plans to publish the novel this month in the United States, and the
producers are expected to announce a screenwriter on the project shortly.
Moore Follows in Foster's Footsteps
It looks like actress Julianne Moore, who just garnered an Oscar nomination
for Best Actress for her turn in the high-end, soft-core porn flick -- er, I
mean classy movie -- The End of the Affair, will take on the role of Clarice
Starling in Hannibal, the much-anticipated sequel to Silence of the
Lambs. Moore, who beat out a host of other actresses for the role, including
fellow Oscar nominee Hilary Swank, is perhaps the best choice in the
age-appropriate sense. The latest pass at the screenplay, by high-priced
Schindler's List scribe Steve Zaillian, is said to leave the door open for
yet another sequel -- and some more fava beans and Chianti. Hannibal is
expected to roll before cameras in June.
Romeo San Vicente would love to accompany Trey Parker to the Academy Awards.
Trey (or you) can reach Romeo at RomeoDeep@aol.com.
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