BBC - Movies -news article - High Noon

		De Niro Hot On Winter Robert De Niro will star in The Winter Of Frankie Machine. He's also producing this adaptation of the novel by Don Winslow and has just hired Ocean's Thirteen scribes Brian Koppelman and David Levien in a deal worth seven figures. The story follows a retired mob hitman whose quiet life is threatened when the son of the local kingpin calls in a favour. Just when you think you're out etc... Paramount Studios are bankrolling the project after snapping up the rights to the as-yet unpublished novel.

		BBC Gaff Good For Guy Independent outfit Rosenzweig Films have bought the rights to the life story of Guy Goma. He's the Congolese immigrant who was mistakenly interviewed on BBC News 24 after arriving at the studios for a job interview. "While this must have been an embarrassing incident for the BBC, it has turned into a sensation because of how Mr Goma handled the situation," says Alison Rosenzweig. She adds that she plans on "developing a fresh comedic film that captures the absurdity of our modern media world and the essential humanity of one man whose life is transformed by sudden, unexpected limelight". Whatever. We still think Goma would make a cracking presenter on Newsnight.

		Snipes Leads Rebellion Danny Glover is venturing behind the camera for historical epic Toussaint, reports Production Weekly. He will direct Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle and Angela Bassett in the story of a slave uprising in Haiti between 1791 and 1804. Snipes will play the eponymous Toussaint L'Ouverture who led the charge against the French, Spanish and British to establish the first independent black republic. In the best tradition of rebel fighter stories, he was captured, imprisoned and perished shortly afterwards. Cameras will roll later this year in South Africa.

		Minkoff Brings Back Peabody Stuart Little helmer Rob Minkoff is greasing the wheels on Mr Peabody & Sherman. DreamWorks Animation are overseeing this CGI adventure following a bespectacled dog and his adopted pet boy as they travel through time. The duo first appeared in vintage cartoon series The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show, which was also turned into a movie. But we'll gloss over that for Mr De Niro's sake... Studio honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg is rubbing his hands with anticipation. "One of the most gratifying relationships in my 20-plus-year career of making animated movies has been that of working with Rob Minkoff on The Lion King," he says. "I've waited more than a decade to have an opportunity to work with him again."

		London's 50th Fest A bumper line-up of 181 features from almost 50 countries will make up the 50th edition of The Times London Film Festival (opening 18th October). Festival director Sandra Hebron explains, "By championing work from lesser-known filmmaking countries in big slots we want to highlight the truly international focus of the festival to audiences." Of course there'll also be a slew of American independents unveiling their work. Marc Forster presents his comedy drama Stranger Than Fiction (starring Will Ferrell), Richard Linklater showcases Fast Food Nation and Emilio Estevez offers his take on the assassination of Robert F Kennedy in Bobby. Homegrown highlights include Anthony Minghella's Breaking And Entering and Shane Meadows skinhead pic This Is England. The festival will close on 2nd November with Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.