by Gary Susman

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All these movies are projects of Paramount-based producer Scott Rudin, who specializes in literary adaptations. (He also produced the movie version of Chabon's ''Wonder Boys.'') That's a typically full plate for Rudin, though Variety reports he's just dropped out of producing the Lemony Snicket kid-movie franchise for the studio. (The reason, Variety reports, was Paramount's desire to curtail the budget for the first film, ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events,'' which will star Jim Carrey as the wicked Count Olaf.)

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(Posted:12/12/02)