Los Angeles/Paris Mandalay Entertainment's The Double, which was initially slated to star John Travolta, has now been put on hold until October with Steve Martin set to replace Travolta.

Reports coming out of Paris, where the already assembled crew were enjoying a kick-off party, suggest that Martin has asked for a number of re-writes in the script to take into account his more physical brand of comedy.

"It became evident after John Travolta's 11th hour departure that a delay was necessary because of the scheduling needs of the key cast and crew, the re-tooling of the script to adapt the role for Steve Martin, and the overall production realities of trying to start this picture under such constraints," a Mandalay statement read.

Rumours in Hollywood suggest there was a serious clash between Travolta and director Roman Polanski when the American actor arrived in Paris to find the original script he had agreed to play had been greatly changed by the director - nearly 40%, said his attorney, Bert Fields.

The problems on the US$60 million production only started with Travolta. Actress Isabelle Adjani has used a clause in her contract to walk; Jean Reno has a scheduling clash; and cinematographer Robert Richardson has decided to pass on the new schedule. The Double is one of six films with foreign output deals on Mandalay's slate.

Travolta's timely return to the US coincides with the roll-out of Touchstone Pictures' Phenomenon which is now due to debut on 3 July.

Despite going directly up against the expected blockbuster, Independence Day, a well-orchestrated marketing campaign of theatrical trailers and TV spots is turning John Turteltaub's Phenomenon into a "must see" and early word from the previews talk of a possible third Oscar nomination for Travolta. The film is on track to become the year's surprise hit.

Christopher Pickard

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