Screen: Whispers

By John Hill on October 17, 2008 4:00 PM |

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film gossip

HE once appeared in the horrible movie adaptation of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth.

But surely an Oscar nod for The Last King Of Scotland has given Forest Whitaker a place on the Hollywood top table?

It seems so, as the newly-statued thespian will take on the role of jazz legend Louis Armstrong in Wonderful World. Forest will also be directing the piece, which is his second portrayal of a jazz star after his turn as Charlie Parker in Bird.

Helen Mirren’s biopic of the Queen had us all shivering with Oscar excitement.

But can she pull off the role of a Shakespearean wizard?

Helen is an unusual choice for the lead in Julie Taymor’s latest bard adaptation, not least because her role is normally played by a man.

She’ll star as Prospera in Julie’s take on The Tempest, which will also feature Spiderman 2’s Alfred Molina, Jeremy Irons and MTV Award-scoundrel Russell Brand.

The traditional English fairytale Tom Thumb will get the big screen treatment from Warner Brothers.

Early word from the project – which will be directed by Enchanted’s Kevin Lima – is that it will re-spawn Tom as a knight who is magically shrunk, and has to prove himself.