· As we rocket toward the end of the '00s, time is running out to determine the greatest casting rumors of the decade. Thankfully we have the producers of Down and Dirty, the long-planned adaptation of Peter Biskind's celebrated indie-film tome Down and Dirty Pictures, to wallop the competition with word that Vincent D'Onofrio is in talks to play the book's mad, evil genius Harvey Weinstein. Ever the Method actor, D'Onofrio will immediately commence touting his performance for Oscar consideration. [Screen Daily]
A Swedish blockbuster finds its own Type-A Hollywood savior; Chris Columbus sidesteps wizards for a change, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.
· Scott Rudin and Sony finally landed English-language remake rights to Swedish author Stieg Larsson's hit Millennium Trilogy. The books are worldwide best-sellers, as is the first film adaptation, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which arrives in the States next spring. Yet Larsson, who died in 2004, left a messy estate that both the Swedish legal system and Rudin -- no doubt in his French-maid finest -- needed a while to properly clean up. Screenwriter Steven Zaillian is one rumored candidate for the US adaptation. [TOH]
· Last anyone saw Chris Columbus, he was getting a little too old to babysit once-and-future franchise superstars. The producer/filmmaker's 1492 shingle will soon change directions with The Help, an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's hit novel about African-American servants in the South ahead of the Civil Rights Movement. Tate Taylor is tagged to write and direct. [Variety]
· More book news! David Mamet has adapted the novel Come Back to Sorrento, a Depression-era romantic drama in which -- shocker -- Mamet regulars William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman and Rebecca Pidgeon are in talks to star. [THR]
· At left, find the photograph of the vice president Variety chose to run beneath today's headline, "Biden Vows to Fight Fakes." Cheeky, guys. Verrrry cheeky. [Variety]