BBC - Movies -news article - High Noon

		James Bond Rumour No. 346 Following reports earlier this week that Pierce Brosnan was likely to reprise his role as 007 in Casino Royale, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive. Britain's busiest actor Daniel Craig (Enduring Love, Layer Cake) is now being touted for super spy duties with "unnamed sources" claiming that the all-powerful Broccoli clan have offered him a three-picture deal. Naturally reps for both Brosnan and Craig have denied everything along with previously cited candidates Clive Owen and Dominic West. High Noon recommends chucking the whole lot of them in a shark tank to fight it out.

		In The Cannes The Cannes Film Festival looms on the horizon (11th-22nd May) and the Americans are set to dominate once again. Competition entries include comicbook noir Sin City starring Bruce Willis and Clive Owen; David Cronenberg's A History Of Violence, with Viggo Mortensen as a vigilante killer; Jim Jarmusch's untitled project featuring Bill Murray; and Gus Van Sant's Last Days, headlined by Michael Pitt as a suicidal 70s rocker in his final hours. Of course it wouldn't be Cannes without Danish director Lars Von Trier, but even his latest is set in the USA. After Dogville, Manderlay is the second part of his Land Of Opportunities trilogy, this time dealing with racial oppression. Willem Dafoe and Lauren Bacall star. Yup, it's all about as French as freedom fries.

		Another Duff Movie Sibling starlets Hilary Duff and Haylie Duff (yes, there are two of them) will team up for tweenie outing Material Girls. Martha Coolidge (The Prince & Me) will direct the comedy about a pair of "celebutante" cosmetics heiresses who lose their fortune in a corporate scandal and launch an investigation to expose the culprit. Hilarious! Apparently the story was inspired by Madonna's hit song Material Girl, which is surprisingly convenient given that Madge herself is co-producing the movie under her Maverick Films banner. And it gets worse: Hilary Duff has announced that she will re-record the 80s anthem for the soundtrack...

		Carter Finds Freedom After scoring a modest hit with Coach Carter, director Thomas Carter has signed to direct Freedom House. It's based on the story of Freedom House Enterprises, an organisation that trained residents of Pittsburgh's poorest neighbourhood to become the first modern-day paramedics. Barbershop scribe Don Scott rewrote the script from an original pitch by newcomer Stephen David. Sounds like another no-nonsense pep-talk for Samuel L Jackson.

		Wanted Dead Or Alive The green light has been given to the dark comedy crime drama .45, which will star Milla Jovovich and Scotsman Angus Macfadyen. They'll play a criminal couple who turn on each other and bring about their own downfall. Stephen Dorff has also signed for the film, which marks the big screen writing/directing debut of Gary Lennon. True Romance anyone? Frankie Muniz will star in horror thriller Stay Alive for upcoming director Brent Bell. Apparently the sometime Agent Cody Banks is trying to shake off his squeaky-clean image by playing, um, a computer nerd drawn into a waking nightmare after playing a violent video game. Basically The Ring with a joystick... The Cooler's Maria Bello has joined the cast of horsey drama Flicka, based on the 40s novel by Mary O'Hara. Set on a modern-day ranch in Wyoming, it stars Alison Lohman (Matchstick Men) as a teenager who embarks on a life-changing friendship with, um, a horse. Bello will play her mother in what is bound to be the most shamelessly sentimental film since Seabiscuit. Fetch the nosebag.