The Material Girl Beefs up Trilogy
Madonna is in line to co-star as femme fatale Trixie in Peter Greenaway's new project, The Tulse Looper Trilogy, which is being sold in the Cannes market by Vine International. Also in the frame are Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, Vincent Gallo (who plays a jailer), David Thewlis (a Best Actor winner in Cannes with Naked) and Isabella Rossellini as Madame Plens. Trixie was originally a small role. But now that Madonna has expressed her enthusiasm for the project, Greenaway is reportedly beefing it up.

Scheduling difficulties may prevent some of the named actors appearing in some of the films, which shoot all over the world. But Kasander estimates that 90% of those currently linked with Tulse Looper will appear. Among other names already committed to Tulse Looper are Debbie Harry, Tcheky Karyo, Amanda Plummer, Rachel Griffiths, Celia Imrie and Ronald Pickup. Greenaway has assembled about one-third of the cast, which runs to over 90 names, but the part of Tulse Looper himself has yet to be cast. The first film in the trilogy starts shooting in the Utah desert later this autumn.

Former Spice Girl Gets Therapy
Geri Haliwell has clinched her first starring role in a film. Therapy, a romantic comedy set in London, centers around career girl Amy (Halliwell) who falls for her therapist. The only problem is that she has a long-term boyfriends and the new object of her desire is engaged. David Green, chief executive of September Films, which executive produced the BBC documentary Geri's World Walkabout, is directing the film, which is to be financed, marketed and distributed by Guy Collins' IAC Film.

"We've been talking for some months about finding the right role for her. She's been offered a lot of things but this was the one we were both immediately passionate about," said Green. "I can see a long and successful career ahead of her, as long as she doesn't stretch too far beyond her own character." Shooting of the film is due to begin in London this August for a spring 2001 release and a possible Cannes launch next year. Haliwell is in Cannes today to promote the project.

Cuban hearthrob gets Directing Deal
Actor Jorge Perugorria (Strawberries and Chocolate) is preparing his (partial) directorial debut in the late autumn with Viva Zapato (Long Live the Shoe). The film is due to shoot in Brazil and Cuba and is a co-production between Total Filmes of Rio and Madrid's Euroficcion. About 60% of the $1.8 million budget will be put up by the Five Plus consortium of Brazil, of which Total is a part. In fact, Perugorria is listed as a co-director on the project, along with Luis Carlos Lacenda. The comedy, about a variety of adventures surrounding a misplaced shoe, will be sold internationally by KWA.

"Feet of Flames" Tap to Big Screen
Dance star Michael Flatley is set to make his big screen debut next year in The Lord of the Dance. "I may not become a great actor but I've definitely got the makings of a movie star," said the Lord of the Dance/Feet of Flames star whose feet are insured for $40 million. UK director Tony Palmer, a music specialist, who has worked with artists as diverse as Maria Callas, Leonard Bernstein, Mike Oldfield and Frank Zappa, has signed to direct the film, which is scripted by My Left Foot writer Shane Connaughton. The film is due to start rolling in Ireland, the UK and Chicago in the autumn. LA producer Matt Mazer has set up the UK-based Dancelord Film Limited to produce the film.

Joan Chen Signs to Direct Again
Producer Hisami Kuroiwa of New York-based Media Space has announced that filmmaker / actress Joan Chen's next directorial effort will be Fu Song, a historical romantic melodrama about a love affair that spawns two lifetimes, from the late 1800s to modern day San Francisco. The film marks Chen's second indie directorial effort, the first being Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, which, like Fu Song, is based on a novel by Chinese writer, Geling Yan. Betwen the two indie projects, Chen directed Autumn in New York for MGM.

Vincent d'Onofrio and Emile Hirsch get "Dangerous"
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys has added Vincent d'Onofrio and Emile Hirsch to a cast including Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, and Jodie Foster. Lives will be directed by Peter Care in his feature film debut, with animated sequences to be developed by producer/director Todd McFarlane of Spawn fame. Jeff Stickwell wrote the script. Egg Pictures' Foster and Meg LeFauve will produce with Trilogy Entertainment Group and Jay Shapiro of Cinema Go-Go. The darkly comic film features eight altar boys in a local parish school. When one of the Catholic sisters seizes a comic strip featuring their own superhuman altar egos, the boys go for revenge.