LOS ANGELES, Feb 27, 2001 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- Twentieth Century Fox invites a worldwide audience to experience the "PLANET OF THE APES," at the studio's first global movie Web site, www.planetoftheapes.com. 

Launched today, the site will hurtle movie and science fiction fans deep inside the ape planet. The site will be offered in 10 languages: French, Italian, German, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English -- the most ever by a single motion picture Web site. 

Online visitors will find themselves aboard the spaceship USAF Oberon, which suddenly crashes into a bog on a strange planet. While trying to figure out where they are, the planet's stranded "guests" will be treated to the latest exclusive information and imagery on the countdown to the release of "PLANET OF THE APES." Among the site's many features are: the film's new teaser trailer (in QuickTime), which goes up on Feb. 28, two days ahead of the trailer's theatrical debut; an exclusive interview with director Tim Burton, four exclusive still photos (with new ones going up each week), a weekly character "reveal," wallpaper, and information about the making of the film. 

Director Tim Burton's "PLANET OF THE APES" begins with the premise of Pierre Boulle's acclaimed and beloved science fiction novel: A pilot crash lands on a strange planet and finds himself in a brutal, primal place where apes are in charge and humans scavenge for subsistence, hunted and enslaved by the tyrannical primates. But Tim Burton's unique personal vision and style break new ground in story, design, makeup and visual effects. 

Twentieth Century Fox is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group. 

Go ahead. Ask Mark Wahlberg to expose his (prosthetically enhanced) privates. Just don't expect him to prance around in a scrap of underwear. 

A loincloth isn't the former briefs model's costume of choice -- even after playing porn star Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. ''Charlton Heston is a hard act to follow,'' quips Wahlberg, 29, taking a break in New York from filming his starring role as Leo Davidson, the pilot hero of Tim Burton's wildly anticipated reinvention of Planet of the Apes, out July 27. 

This Planet is being shot in California and Arizona, in some of the same stretches of desert as its predecessor. But unlike the 1968 original, it doesn't take place on Earth. That means no Statue of Liberty poking out of the sand. 

Still, Heston will make a cameo, this time reportedly as an ape, not an astronaut. But Wahlberg almost got himself into a hairy situation. When presenting the best-villain trophy at the MTV Movie Awards last June, Wahlberg, standing on stage with George Clooney, suggested they ''skip the nominees and go right to the winner. The winner is Charlton Heston, for being the head of the NRA.'' 

''Actually, my buddy Clooney put me up to that,'' Wahlberg says. But apparently fur hasn't been flying on the set: ''Charlton's got a great sense of humor.'' 

As Diggler, Wahlberg bussed a bevy of beautiful women. So what's it like to smooch a simian? ''It's Helena Bonham Carter under there, so it's actually a very pleasant experience,'' he says, grinning. ''(Makeup artist) Rick Baker has just made her so cute. It's very easy.'' (Still, it ain't easy being an ape: Bonham Carter's daily call starts at 2:30 a.m., and she has to eat her lunch through a straw.) 

After The Perfect Storm, Wahlberg says his intention was to stay away from action films. ''But working with Tim Burton, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,'' he says. ''He's always done so many amazing things. So I would have been foolish to pass up the opportunity. 

''And he promised I didn't have to wear a loincloth.'' 

The following comes from a press release from Dark Horse comics: 

Dark Horse goes ape with comic-book series based on Twentieth Century Fox's Planet of the Apes. 

Oregon-based comic-book publisher Dark Horse Comics announced plans today to produce a comic-book miniseries based on Twentieth Century Fox's Summer 2000 event film Planet of the Apes feature film, due to hit theaters nationally next Summer. Directed by Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands) and featuring an all-star cast including Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Tim Roth, Planet of the Apes is the story of a young human astronaut stranded on a remote planet where humans cower in tribal chaos, fearing enslavement and extinction at the hands of a horde of massive, English-speaking apes who rule with horrific brutality. 

"This is another milestone is the long and successful relationship between Dark Horse and our friends at Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising," said Phil Amara, who has been named editor of the Planet of the Apes comic-book series. "We've had a great time with Fox over the years, working on adaptations of some of its best properties, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, and Predator. 

"Besides all that business stuff," Amara continued, "I am a HUGE Planet of the Apes fan! Being involved with Tim Burton's re-imagining of the movie on the comics level has me excited beyond description. If you think Dark Horse does licenses right, with 'til you see what we do with Apes." 

The publishing plan for Planet of the Apes comic books includes a three-issue miniseries building on the film's story, and an original graphic novel adaptation. The three issue series Planet of the Apes: The Human War is being written by Ian Edginton with art by Paco Medina and covers by J. Scott Campbell. The original adaptation of the film is written by Scott Allie with art by Davidé Fabbri. Look for the comic-book miniseries starting in June, and the miniseries collection and original graphic novel in July.

Planet of the Apes made its American debut this week. Not in any cinema - the film is still being shot in Hawaii and is a long way off even being screened for test audiences - but, far more importantly, at the New York Toy Fair where the spin-offs received their first outing. 

Film maker Fox is gearing up for the biggest merchandising drive in movie history, one which highlights a stark reality of the modern industry - as long as the toys and T-shirts are a success, movies no longer have to do well at the box office to make bags of money. 

Director Tim Burton, whose previous credits include the acclaimed Edward Scissorhands and Batman, knows he can't lose. 

Two years before he and his team pitched up in Hawaii, Fox chiefs were already signing contracts with firms such as toy giant Hasbro. 

Even if the movie is the biggest box office flop in history, it may still rake in huge profits from all of the ape-related merchandise - including dolls of its star Mark Wahlberg - that is set to hit the shops long before the film ever reaches a cinema screen. 

British audiences will not be able to see the finished celluloid product until October at the earliest. 

In the 2001 version of Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston, hero of the 1968 classic original, and his simian pals will be replaced by a host of big names including former Calvin Klein model and Boogie Nights star Wahlberg and British actors Tim Roth and Helena Bonham Carter. 

Film companies are highly secretive about the figure that merchandising is worth to them - but for some of the bigger movies, it is estimated to be hundreds of millions of pounds. 

One industry insider added: "The actual film release is merely incidental to the merchandising process. That's the real money-spinner. It's now at a situation where it doesn't matter how a film is received as long as kids like the dolls, the T-shirts and the trainers. 

"It's Hollywood's insurance policy to make sure films bring in cash whether they flop or not - and it's the consumers who ultimately pay." 

Fox is quite open about its proposed assault on Britain's parents. Peter Byrne, vice president of Fox Licensing and Merchandising, said: "We are confident that this will be one of next year's biggest theatrical releases and are developing a hugely exciting licensing programme that will span multiple product categories. 

"This film is coming at a perfect time for retailers to fully capitalise on the Apes opportunity, covering both back-to-school and Christmas selling periods." 

Stars, too, have cottoned on to the importance of merchandising. Those who can dictate terms now demand a cut of the spin-off profits in their contract. Hollywood actors and actresses aspire to membership of the 20:20 club, to which Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey belong. This means that not only do they receive $20 million (£13.5 million) for each movie they star in but, more importantly, they also get 20 per cent of profits from box office takings and merchandising, which they can confidently expect to run into many millions more. 

As Wahlberg's agent might have put it, pay peanuts and you won't get monkeys. 

Still, as long as you promise to buy your Planet of the Apes dolls, badges, posters, footwear and, wait for it, inflatable furniture, Fox may even let you off seeing the film. 

CENTURY CITY, CA, Feb 16, 2001 (INTERNET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising (Fox L&M) will unleash a wide range of merchandise for Tim Burton's highly anticipated PLANET OF THE APES at MAGIC in February. Fox L&M is building a highly targeted licensing campaign geared toward the vast action-adventure audience. The PLANET OF THE APES campaign will utilize the immense popularity of the film's all-star cast including Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan and supermodel Estella Warren, and the new interpretation of their ape and human character counterparts, to develop an intriguing line of in-demand merchandise based on director Tim Burton's vision. 

PLANET OF THE APES apparel to be unveiled at the show includes products for the entire family. Apparel licensee Buster Brown is developing athletic and casual shoes, sandals, slippers and boots; Changes will unveil T-shirts, sweatshirts and tank tops; Highpoint Accessories will keep feet warm with slippers and socks; Briefly Stated will unveil boxers, sleepwear and loungewear; and Rubie's Costumes will dress things up with costumes, costume accessories including prosthetics, trick-or-treat bags and safety lanterns, costume masks and costume make-up. M.Z Berger will launch LCD, digital and quartz watches, and Head Start Licensed Products tops off the PLANET OF THE APES apparel and accessories with caps, baseball caps, bucket caps, knit hats, polar fleece headwear and snowboard beanies. 

Additional PLANET OF THE APES Licensees Include: 

INTERNATIONAL  APPAREL & ACCESSORIES
Distribution Network (U.K.)     T-shirts, baseball caps
Samuel Eden & Son (U.K)         socks
Calego International (Canada)   backpacks, lunch kits, luggage, wallets, coin purses, keychains, bags, fanny packs, umbrellas, rain gear
Adorable Kids, Inc. (Canada)    children's sleepwear and underwear
The Home Game, Inc. (Canada)    headwear, socks, accessories
NTD Apparel Inc. (Canada)       activewear, fleece sets, boxer shorts, underwear

TOYS/ELECTRONICS
Hasbro Inc.         action figures and collectible toy lines, play sets, radio and remote-controlled toys, toy communicators, trading cards sold with figures
Applause      specialty resin figurines, dioramas, frames, 3D magnets, bookends, metal signs, mugs and 3D mugs
Rubie's Costumes               costumes and accessories
The Topps Company          trading cards, binders, collectible tins
Cardinal Industries              board games including chess & travel games
Toy Island                      inflatable furniture, sleeping bags, slumber tents, fold-up chairs
Sport Fun Inc.                  skateboards, scooters
Outrageous, Inc.                scooter heads
Downpace (U.K)                  plush, puzzles, computer diskettes, disposable cameras, cameras

PUBLISHING
Dark Horse Comics, Inc.         comic books, hardbound comic books, graphic novels
Andrews McMeel Publishing       wall calendars
Toy Island                             stationery kits
Starmakers Rising Inc.          posters
GB Posters (U.K)                posters, postcards, photographs
NMR Entertainment Group (Canada)   posters

HOUSEWARES
Jazwares Inc.                   3D sippers and tumblers with toppers
Creation Entertainment     glasses, photographs, pewter keychains & pins, pewter & acrylic pins
Urban Station                   alarm, desk and wall clocks, tin CD & DVD cases, tin totes
NECA (U.S. & Canada)   metal collectible lunch boxes
Beltex N.V. (Benelux)       bedding, sleeping bags, curtains, towels, scarves, bath robes, shower caps

GIFTS/NOVELTY & SOCIAL EXPRESSIONS
Basic Fun                      PVC keychains
C&D Visionary             stickers, iron-on & sew-on patches, magnets, PVC keychains
Vending Supply Inc.             stickers, tattoos
VTG Worldwide                   cell phone fascias
Collectible Concepts Inc.       desktop metal replica props, pins, wall scrolls
Unique Concepts (U.K)           3D magnets, pewter figurines, chess &checker sets, keychains, corkscrews, vignettes
Downpace (U.K)            glasses, mugs, keychains, magnets, pins, watches, clocks, mobile phone accessories, stationery, bags, room guards, message mates
Polar Magnetics (Canada)        magnets, removable stickers, keychains, wall plaques, magnetic picture frames, car magnets
Allstar Distributing (Canada)   stickers, tattoos, keychains

PLANET OF THE APES stars Mark Wahlberg ("The Perfect Storm") as Leo, a young pilot who finds himself in a world turned upside down, after landing on a strange planet; Tim Roth ("Pulp Fiction") as Thade, the powerful General of the ape army; Helena Bonham Carter ("Fight Club") as Ari, a chimpanzee and "human rights" activist who aids Leo; Michael Clarke Duncan ("The Green Mile") as Attar, the most feared warrior in Thade's army; Paul Giamatti ("Big Momma's House") as Limbo, a shrewd orangutan who sells humans as slaves and pets on the black market; and supermodel Estella Warren as Daena, a beautiful and strong-willed human with a hatred for the apes who persecute her family. 

The behind-the-camera talent includes some of today's most honored artists. Five-time Academy Award winner Rick Baker ("Men In Black," "The Nutty Professor") designed and created the special make-up. The director of photography is Academy Award winner Philippe Rousselot, A.C.S. ("A River Runs Through It"). Tim Burton is also joined by several longtime collaborators, including Oscar-winning production designer Rick Heinrichs ("Sleepy Hollow"), Oscar-nominated costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Sleepy Hollow"), composer Danny Elfman ("Batman"), and editor Chris Lebenzon, who has worked on all of Burton's films. Industrial Light & Magic, which has been honored with 14 Academy Awards for its breakthrough work in special effects on more than 120 films, will create PLANET OF THE APES's visual effects. 

PLANET OF THE APES began principal photography on November 6, and will wrap in April, 2001. The film will shoot on location in Trona Pinnacles in Ridgecrest, California, an alien-like landscape of dry lakebeds that were underwater 20,000 years ago; the jungles and lava fields of Hawaii; and in Lake Powell, Arizona, as well as on soundstages in the Los Angeles area. Fox will release the film nationwide on July 27, 2001. 

Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, along with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, comprise the retail-oriented strategic alliance of Fox Consumer Products. A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. 

CONTACT:          Shari  Rosenblum
                  Fox Consumer Products
                  310-369-5369
                  Steve  Feldstein
                  Fox Consumer Products
                  310-369-5369
                  Shawna  Lynch
                  Bender/Helper Impact
                  310-477-4647
                  Deborah  Brancroft
                  Bender/Helper Impact
                  310-477-4647
Copyright 2001 Internet Wire, All rights reserved

Members of The Planet of the Apes filming crew have torn down their large circus-type tents and have packed up their 100 trucks after a month-long stay at the Trona Pinnacles. 

A press conference was held by Ray Arthur of the Ridgecrest Film Commission in which members of the movie's management attended last Thursday evening. 

"We were treated very nicely," said Ralph Winters, executive producer. "We were very happy with everything: the hotels, restaurants and people. It couldn't have gone better." 

Although the plot and particulars are still heavily guarded for secrecy, our community was highly praised by all management members. 

Marie Healy, associate location manager, was the first to arrive in the area to begin setting up for the filming crew's arrival. This included meeting with the local BLM team to prepare the Pinnacles as the principle sight for shooting, as well as local construction crews, motels and transportation authorities. 

Casting Director Sherry Aude of Millennium Casting had to make sure that 330 to 350 people showed up each day in the wee hours of the morning before filming could begin. 

Aude first met with 4,500 people before she cast approximately 450 to play extras in the movie. She expressed her gratitude to the locals cast. 

"They all showed real professionalism that became contagious," said Aude. "Their energy level remained strong and the people bonded with each other." 

Before filming began, extras cast as apes attended three days of "chimp school" to learn how to portray their parts effectively. Each individual was then asked to come in to be fitted for their costumes, which promised to be spectacular. 

"Everyone has been wonderful," said Eilene Peterson, publicity manager. "They were resilient, showed great enthusiasm and were truly dedicated." 

At 2:45 a.m. 

The local movie extras' day began by arriving at the designated parking lot in Trona starting at 2:45 a.m. Buses left the parking lot every 30 minutes until everyone was on the set and in the wardrobe tents putting on their costumes and makeup, which was a long process in itself. 

Winters estimated that approximately 1,000 were on the set at any given time. It took two caterers who began cooking the night before in order to have enough hot meals prepared and ready to be served by the following morning. 

" A lot of Ridgecrest individuals will also be seeing themselves," said Peterson as to what the public can expect to find in the film's final cut. 

In order to complete filming on schedule, the set remained in operation 24 hours a day to maximize daylight hours. 

Directed by Academy Award winning director, Tim Burton, the film will star Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Giamatti, Estella Warren, David Warner and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. 

The movie is promised not to be a remake of the older film, nor a sequel. 

"It will be Tim Burton's take on the movie," said Winters. 

Ray Arthur of the Ridgecrest Film Commission said he estimated approximately $3 million was pumped into the community generated by the filming of the movie. 

The Trona Pinnacles was the selected site for the filming only after Burton visited other locations first considered, including Chile, the Canary Islands and parts of Europe. 

However it was the unusual and beautiful landscape found at the Pinnacles that decided it for Burton. 

Our local community has much to be thankful for , especially for the scenery which has turned out to be quite a lucrative asset to the movie industry. 

And so we say goodbye to the thousands of crew members of The Planet of the Apes, just long enough to catch our breath before the next one rolls into town! 

NEW YORK (Variety) - Twentieth Century Fox is going ape over its latest summer franchise and the merchandising possibilities it's likely to spawn.

Co-chairman Tom Rothman, the film's star, Mark Wahlberg, and licensing president Steve Roth schlepped to New York City Sunday for the opening night of Toy Fair to screen footage from Tim Burton's highly secret ``Planet of the Apes'' remake, now shooting in the desert outside of L.A.

After the studio execs unveiled the ambitious marketing plan they hope will prime the pump for the picture's July 27 preem, the real show began as 10 apes, straight from the set marched out. They stormed around the theater, glowering at toy retailers and growling.

The picture's footage was raw but visceral and full of dazzling effects, and the apes were vividly realized -- a far cry from the campy horde that populated the Charlton Heston version from 1968.

Still, Wahlberg had nothing but praise for the first human to battle those ``damned dirty apes.''

Recalling the otherworldly authority with which Heston dispatched the original role, Wahlberg noted: ``Even after playing Dirk Diggler, that loin cloth is hard to fill.'' 

Coming to theaters in July 2001, is the unique vision of Planet of the Apes from acclaimed director Tim Burton and Twentieth Century Fox. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan and supermodel Estella Warren, Planet of the Apes is a compelling combination of fantasy, strong character development, non-stop action and out-of-this world costumes and make-up by five-time Academy Award winner Rick Baker. Hasbro expands the thrills of Planet of the Apes off-screen, through a highly anticipated line of action figures based on the film, that will thrill kids and collectors alike. 

PLANET OF THE APES FIGHTING FIGURES 

These collectible six-and-a-half inch figures depict the major heroes and villains from the movie including Leo, Daena, Attar, Limbo, Ari, Pericles, Krull and a Gorilla Warrior. They are highly detailed and have articulated arms, legs and head so that they can be placed in exciting action poses. Each figure also comes with different accessories such as removable helmets and weapons. 

Approximate Retail Price: $9.99
Recommended Age: Ages 8 & up
Availability: Fall 2001 

PLANET OF THE APES DELUXE THADE WITH BATTLE STEED 

Thade with Battle Steed is the Planet of the Ape’s lead villain and this deluxe figure is highly detailed to capture the battle action seen in the movie. The figure is articulated so that he can be posed on or off his battle steed for full effect in displaying and playing. 

Approximate Retail Price: $19.99
Recommended Age: Ages 8 & up
Availability: Fall 2001 

PLANET OF THE APES ULTRA ATTAR 

This 12-inch figure brings the action to life with electronic sounds from the movie. Attar is meticulously sculpted and dressed in finely detailed armor that kids and collectors will both appreciate. Simply press the button and hear Attar’s ferocious roar and more exciting sounds. 

Approximate Retail Price: $24.99
Recommended Age: Ages 8 & up
Availability: Fall 2001 

PLANET OF THE APES 12" FIGURES 

This collection of 12-inch figures includes Attar the warrior ape, Leo the astronaut hero and Daena the human heroine. Collectors will be delighted at the authentic details including rooted hair and accessories. 

Approximate Retail Price: $24.99
Recommended Age: Ages 8 & up
Availability: Fall 2001 

At the annual merchandising shindig in New York going on this week, industry retailers are absolutely bananas over a slew of new action figures, and the one line that has buyers buzzing most is based on Tim Burton's upcoming re-imagining of the sci-fi classic Planet of the Apes.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Clarke Duncan, Planet of the Apes is expected to be the 800-pound gorilla of the summer for 20th Century Fox and the toy industry.

Wasting no time in launching a wholesale media blitz for its would-be blockbuster, Fox hopes Planet (currently wrapping its five-month shoot) will follow past event flicks such as Independence Day and last year's X-Men and rake in millions in merchandising.

"We have a dream team of creative cinematic talent reinventing one of the greatest film franchises of all time," says Steve Ross, president of Fox's licensing and merchandising division. "And, our partners in the licensing arena are tops in their respective categories, which will result in a worldwide merchandising campaign for Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, that will appeal to collectors and an entire legion of new devotees alike."

Along with showcasing some prototype Planet of the Apes playthings and a trailer of the upcoming film, the studio also flew in F/X whiz Rick Baker to offer a sneak peek at Burton's simians at the Apes booth.

"It takes about three hours to do the makeup, plus beauty makeup after that," explains Baker, who admitted to coming up with hundreds of different ape faces for the upcoming film. (How many Hasbro action figures that translates into is anybody's guess.)

Other monkey businesses piling on the bandwagon include Buster Brown with a line of Apes footwear and Dark Horse Comics with a line of Apes comic books and graphic novels. There were also the standard issue posters, lunchboxes, knit caps, trading cards, T-shirts, backpacks, underwear, scooters and even inflatable furniture, all set to be ready for the Apes debut in July.

But Apes weren't the only Hollywood-related toys filling booths at the trade show.

There were action figures and toys for such anticipated summer releases as DreamWorks' animated Shrek (featuring the voices of Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers), Josie and the Pussycats and The Mummy Returns. An animatronic T-rex and lifelike dinobots were unveiled as part of Universal's big marketing push for Jurassic Park III.

Looking ahead, Hasbro showed off toys based on Disney-Pixar's upcoming Monsters Inc., the computer-generated feature from the makers of A Bug's Life starring the voices of Billy Crystal and George Wendt. And faster than you can say "Muggle," a whole slate of toys and games based on the upcoming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is on the way. Both films are set to be released around the Thanksgiving holiday, with toys in stores for Christmas.

With The Phantom Menace come and gone and Episode II not out until 2002, the usual Star Wars toy frenzy was more subdued. However, Hasbro did unveil a less brawny Han Solo ("When He-Man came along, all the action figures got puffed up, but they're moving toward being more real now," says a Hasbro rep) and a sneak peek at some of the laser-scanned faces for Episode II characters. Among the upcoming actors-turned-action figures: Christopher Lee as a sneaky politician, Hayden Christensen playing the teenage Anakin Skywalker and a bearded Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Meanwhile, for the teenyboppers, Tiger Electronics' has introduced HitClips, an MP3-like device featuring prerecorded music from such artists as 'N Sync and Britney Spears. Mattel also revealed its 'N Sync-themed Uno game.

Additionally, Tiger is launching a line of robotic toys based on Comedy Central's Battle Bots--allowing you to build your own killer toy to take over the neighborhood.

Speaking of robots, there's more than meets the eye with the return of Gen-X favorite, the Transformers, featuring a new and improved Megatron who shape-shifts into five creatures. And G.I. Joe is back in full force with special edition figures to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Finally, for you Survivor fanatics, Mattel is bringing out a new board game based on Survivor: The Australian Outback. And Survivor refugee Rudy Boesch was prowling the grounds with his very own action figure, in full Navy SEAL battle gear, due later this year.

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Tim Robbins has signed on for a supporting role opposite Thandie Newton and Mark Wahlberg in ``The Truth About Charlie,'' a romantic thriller to be directed by Jonathan Demme.

Robbins will play Mr. Bartholomew in Universal's updated version of the Stanley Donen's 1963 thriller ``Charade,'' which starred Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. The Bartholomew role was played by Walter Matthau in the original.

In ``Charlie,'' penned by Demme and Steve Schmidt, a Parisian (Newton) discovers her husband has been murdered and she is being pursued by four strange men. She's rescued by an enigmatic stranger (Wahlberg), but his motives are murky.

The film is slated to start shooting March 14 in Paris.

Robbins stars in the upcoming ``Human Nature,'' written by Charlie Kaufman, directed by Michel Gondry. The picture will be released by Fine Line Features in October. 

WHAT: Premiere of "Down to Earth"
WHO: ``Down to Earth'' cast members attending include: Chris Rock, Regina King, Chazz Palminteri, Eugene Levy, Frankie Faison, Greg Germann, Jennifer Coolidge and Wanda Sykes

Filmmakers attending include: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Sean Daniel, Jim Jacks, Michael Rotenberg and Barry Berg

From the soundtrack: Monica

Other guests attending include: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Magic Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, Steve Harvey, Coolio, Missy Elliot, Kina, Joe Torre, John Henton, Vivica A. Fox, Kenneth ``Babyface'' & Tracey Edmonds, Erika Alexander, Nia Long, Brian McKnight, Mike D, Gabrielle Union, Al B. Sure, Holly Robinson-Peete, Sinbad, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Bill Bellamy, Eddie Griffin, Elise Neal, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Luke Wilson and more to follow 

    WHEN:      MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2001 PROMPTLY AT 7:30pm
               Arrivals to begin at 6:30pm

    WHERE:     Mann Chinese Theatre
               6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood

ABOUT ``Down to Earth'':

When amateur comedian Lance Barton (Chris Rock) finds himself at Heaven's door, he is convinced there has been a mistake. Miraculously he is right. Since returning to his own body is not an option, a heavenly agent places him into the corpse of a rich Manhattan mogul who has just been bumped off by his wife -- until a more suitable replacement can be found. Ironically, it is as this strange new person that Lance ultimately discovers his true self, falls in love and improves his comedy act in the process.

Comedian Chris Rock plays Lance Barton in the romantic comedy, ``Down to Earth,'' his first starring role in a feature after establishing himself as one of today's premiere comedic performers. With multiple Emmy and Grammy awards for his concerts, CDs, television specials and HBO series, Rock brings a deft comedic touch seen already by millions in previous films such as ``Lethal Weapon 4,'' ``Nurse Betty'' and ``Dogma.''

Paramount Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures present in association with NPV Entertainment, an Alphaville and 3 Arts Entertainment production, ``Down to Earth.'' Directed by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz, and produced by Sean Daniel, Michael Rotenberg and James Jacks, the film stars Chris Rock, Regina King, Mark Addy, Eugene Levy, Frankie Faison, Greg Germann, Jennifer Coolidge and Chazz Palminteri. Chris Rock and Barry Berg are the executive producers. ``Down to Earth'' is based on the film ``Heaven Can Wait,'' screenplay by Elaine May and Warren Beatty, from a play by Harry Segall. The screenplay for ``Down to Earth'' is written by Chris Rock & Lance Crouther & Ali Le Roi & Louis CK. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., which is one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies, and a leader in the production, promotion, and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music. Village Roadshow Pictures is the Motion Picture Production division of Village Roadshow Limited, an international entertainment company whose operations also include Cinema Exhibition, Film Distribution, Radio and Theme Parks. Village Roadshow Pictures co-produces ten to twelve titles annually with major studio partners, including Paramount.

The film is MPAA rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor and some drug references 

Release Date: February 16, 2001
Directed by: Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz
Produced by: Sean Daniel, Jim Jacks, Michael Rotenberg
Executive Produced by: Barry Berg
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug references.

HOLLYWOOD -- Filmmaker Tim Burton insists he is not monkeying around with a screen classic. 

Burton is in his fourth month of working on a new version of Planet Of The Apes, which is due in theatres July 27. 

"We're trying to be completely respectful of the original, but we've added new characters and new story elements. You could say we are keeping the essence of the original, but inhabiting that world in a different way," says Burton. 

Mark Wahlberg plays air force Capt. Leo Davidson, a pilot who is AWOL from an Earth-launched space station. 

He finds himself on a topsy-turvy planet where apes, not humans, are at the top of the evolutionary ladder. 

Tim Roth's chimpanzee General Thade is the leader of the ape society. 

Burton says Roth is "definitely the villain of the piece. And a really clear-cut villain." 

Paul Giamatti, who was Martin Lawrence's sidekick in Big Momma's House, plays the orangutan Limbo, providing most of the film's comic relief. 

Canadian supermodel Estella Warren plays Wahlberg's love interest.

Petersen productions: In naming Wolfgang Petersen earlier this week to be its director of the year, ShoWest is honoring not only one of Hollywood's most successful directors of high-profile features, but an enterprising filmmaker whose companies are also developing and producing movies and TV series in the United States and making large-scale miniseries in Europe.

Petersen's films -- including "Das Boot," "In the Line of Fire," "Outbreak," "Air Force One" and last year's Warner Bros. blockbuster "The Perfect Storm" -- have grossed over $1 billion worldwide. 

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Petersen at Wolfgang Puck's Spago Beverly Hills, where Petersen is a frequent visitor, for my series of filmmaker conversations for American Movie Classics' "Behind the Screen." My segment with Petersen will air on AMC Sun., Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. in Los Angeles (7:30 p.m., EST). After that conversation, focusing on the making of "The Perfect Storm" and the influences on Petersen when he was beginning his filmmaking career, I spoke to Petersen again for today's column about his extensive production activities.

""We just did my first look deal with Warner Bros.," Petersen told me. "We are in the process of staffing the company, Radiant Prods. That is a production company that takes care of my directing projects. It is run by Sam Dickerman (recently promoted from senior VP to president of Radiant). We are in the process right now of moving over to Warner Bros.' lot and staffing to get more people in. That's a traditional first look nonexclusive deal with a major studio. It means I can also, if I want and something exciting comes up, do a film for another studio. But, of course, always the first thing, is you try to find something with Warner Bros. That's the place where I did 'Outbreak' and 'Perfect Storm.' I like these people very much there, so it would be great to find a movie there for me to direct next."

With most directors a first-look deal with a studio that's he's already delivered a blockbuster to would be the beginning and the end of the story, but in Petersen's case it's only the beginning. "In splitting my directing activities from the producing activities, (we formed) a company called Red Cliff Prods. that is a five-year deal financed by the German company Advanced Medien," he explained. "They approached me about this and I said, 'I think, maybe, it's worthwhile to do this.' They are financing my overhead for this company and (providing) quite substantial development money for us to develop material and for me and my partner in that company, Gail Katz, to produce.

"At the moment, this company is totally on its own. We might go, also, and get into kind of a first-look marriage situation with one of the major studios. But we've not decided yet if we want to do that. It could be Warner Bros., but it doesn't have to be. At the moment, we are in the situation (where) whatever we develop, we can go to all of the studios and see who makes the best offer or where we feel more comfortable. We just formed that company in November and Radiant was just done at the very end of (last) year. So it's all kind of very fresh and still sort of moving furniture and getting all excited."

Does a filmmaker have to be a businessman today as well as a filmmaker? "I think so," Petersen replied. "I always liked that a lot because I'm easily bored. These days when you make these big movies -- and I'm very much, as you know, in that kind of filmmaking -- usually, they're quite expensive big movies and take a lot of time to put them together. They're very complicated and there's a lot at stake. Normally, it takes a while for me to get my next project lined up and there's some time in between where I don't like to just stare at the wall and do nothing. The way it goes these days with directing films, there's still a lot of time for me -- especially in between directing movies -- to do something with my sort of 'bubbling creative energy.' 

"And why not producing films or developing material that later on will be directed by somebody else? I did that in the past already with films like 'Instinct,' which we developed here together again with my partner Gail Katz, 'Mighty Joe Young,' 'Bicentennial Man,' and 'Red Corner' with Richard Gere. So we had some experience doing that. With our new situation with Red Cliff, the advantage of course now is that we have our own money. We get our own overhead and especially development funds financed. So our situation is much stronger now to go our and buy material ourselves. We are now buyers and, hopefully, we'll see a big difference. It's important to get more weight as producers."

As busy as Red Cliff is likely to be, Petersen pointed out, "My absolute main focus is still what is my next picture to direct. And it should be like that. I have with Gail Katz and her team at Red Cliff a really good team. They take (on) a lot of the day to day business so that I can and have the time for my Radiant Company with Sam Dickerman and can concentrate very much also on my directing projects. It takes even longer now to decide on my directing projects. I really want to do -- and I think I will -- this year direct my next picture. It might be a little later than sooner because of the (potential) strike. But, who knows, maybe there won't be a strike. But I'm definitely looking for something to direct this year."

Petersen's activities also extend these days from directing and producing feature films to producing programming for television. "My career in Germany was basically for the first 10 years a very, very strong involvement in television," he noted. "I did some 25 films for German television -- movies-of-the-week, two-hour films and so. I always was interested at some time to come back to television and see what we can do for television and use that format. 

"There was all of a sudden here a possibility to do a deal with (network president) Les Moonves at CBS and I said, OK, let's do that. I found a great executive by the name of Rosemary Tarquinio. She runs our Radiant Television division. Again, with the help of Gail Katz and myself and the CBS people, we were quite successful and they picked up just a couple of weeks ago a series concept from us after we developed the script and now we go into production with a pilot. That is a television series concept called 'The Agency.' It is an ensemble series that takes place within the CIA and tells in a very realistic way how the CIA works. 

"It's written by Michael Beckner. Michael Beckner seems to be the specialist for CIA theme material because he wrote 'Spy Game,' the motion picture that's being shot (in London) with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt (directed by Tony Scott and produced by Douglas Wick and Marc Abraham for Universal and Beacon Pictures). We were lucky enough to get him on board to develop this series for us. CBS picked it up, paid for us to write this script. They loved it and then they gave it a go-ahead to go to pilot now. 

"The other thing we were successful with is that we got Art Buchwald's first novel. CBS bought it for us. That's a comedy called 'Stella in Heaven.' It's a beautiful totally different kind of series. It is about a middle-aged Jewish couple. Stella passes away. They were married for a long time, for some decades. Now, he's totally helpless without her. But she now, being in Heaven, had three wishes. One wish of hers, the most important, is to still stay in touch with her husband via phone. (She is) allowed to do that, so she can now talk to her husband all the time and still control his life from Heaven. He doesn't even know where the dry cleaner is! It's a wonderful novel, a beautiful, very funny and very moving story about these two (people) and their whole family -- now without Stella, but Stella is up there in Heaven controlling their lives from morning till evening. It's a wonderful concept. Art Buchwald did a great job with this. I'm very, very proud of this. That's being written by Brenda Hampton. She is the creator and writer of 'Seventh Heaven.' She has just finished the script for the pilot (for the 'Stella In Heaven' series). And now we will wait (to see) if CBS gets us into production on the pilot."

That may sound like it rounds out Petersen's extensive production activities, but it's only another piece of the puzzle. "The third (television) project we have is not with CBS," Petersen added. "That is with HBO. It's a very prestigious project, a typical HBO project. Neal Jimenez is the writer. He's a very respected motion picture writer (with credits including) 'River's Edge,' 'The Waterdance.' He's in a wheel chair (after) an accident some 10 or 15 years ago. 'The Waterdance' (released in 1992 with a cast including Eric Stoltz, Wesley Snipes and Helen Hunt) is all about his experience in a clinic right after the accident he had. He wrote and directed it. It's a beautiful, beautiful movie. We are close friends because he did, basically, the major rewrite on my film 'Outbreak.' We always wanted to do something together for TV, so he came up with the idea to do, loosely based on his own experience, a series. We call it 'Ward 7' about the life within a rehab clinic with these paraplegic people in there in wheelchairs. It's a very funny story. You would be surprised how much (it is) about the positive side of life and a lot of humor. This is not 'ER.' It's not about doctors. It's about patients and how they deal with it. It's very, very moving, but (also) a very funny series for HBO. He's writing the script for the pilot right now."

At this point, I wasn't really surprised to learn that Petersen has even more on his production plate. "In addition to that, we're right now doing a television miniseries in Europe," he explained. "That is a six hour miniseries about the famous Hotel Adlon in Berlin. The Hotel Adlon is (world famous) like the Ritz in Paris. It's the story of this hotel, but it's fictionalized. It follows the glamorous history of this hotel from 1906, when it was built, to 1945. We see the whole history of Germany and of Europe passing by outside the hotel, so to speak. It's kind of a grand hotel miniseries, shot in English and written by Ron Parker, who recently did 'Joan of Arc' for CBS and who wrote 'Nuremberg' for TNT. We plan to shoot that in the fall for an Easter release. That's a big event miniseries, quite expensive (as) you can imagine with this big hotel in Berlin. It's for European TV, but of course we're also looking when it's all done to see if we can find an outlet here in America like HBO or Showtime or TNT because it's shot in English, as well."

In addition, Petersen said, "We are doing a movie of the week called 'Wanted' for NBC," he told me. "That is a true story about a Jewish lawyer, who goes back into time to solve Nazi crimes. That's the logline. That's a very a political and very ambitious story. The writer is Robert Avrech, who wrote 'The Devil's Arithmetic' for Showtime and got a WGA nomination for adapted longform, and also wrote 'Into Thin Air: Death on Everest' for ABC."

How does Petersen feel about being so busy? "I like it a lot," he replied. "I think it's a wonderful situation -- especially if you have some down time. If you're not actually in preproduction for your own directing thing. And also if you have a great group of people. Monday morning and Wednesday morning we have our regular meetings where we all sit together and talk about all kinds of projects and what the weekend read was and throw ideas (out for discussion). They're mostly very young people here. It's creative. It's wonderful. I love that very, very much. I love to be that busy.

"It definitely might happen that through all the additional activity around Red Cliff (and the efforts) to find producing projects that at some point I find something where I say, 'Oh, my God, that is something that is almost made for. I would love to get into that and select that as my directing project.' That is absolutely possible. How do you find your next project is always an interesting question. 

"I think a lot of directors will tell you that it's amazing how many bad scripts you get that are floating around. What you can do is try to develop your own material, but that's not easy, as well, because from the first pitch or the first thought or the book you get into your hands it's quite a long ways to develop material and get it to the screen. 'In the Line of Fire' took 10 years to finally get it together. 

"My project 'Endurance,' the Antarctic project that I have with Sony, I've been involved with for six years now and, still, I think we have to do more work on the script to finally get it right. So it is very hard to really get the right material for you (to direct) because you spend, I would say, these days a year and a half of your life directing a big movie. That's roughly what it is. It's basically five months prep, five months shooting and five months post and a little bit (of meetings) before and after and a little bit going around the world on promotion. So it's a year and a half. That's a long time. 

"The importance of 'what's your next project,' the pressure and 'do I want to spend the next year and a half of my life with this?' Before you say, 'Yes, I want this' (you've got to be sure). And most of the time in the past, I must tell you, it finally came from someplace else into my lap, where I then had the feeling, 'Yes, I want to do it.' For example, with 'Perfect Storm,' when I got Sebastian Junger's book and I read it I had the feeling, 'Oh, my God! I have no idea how to do it. It's so difficult. But the world it takes place in -- the whole blue collar fishing world in Gloucester, Mass. (is interesting). I would like to do this and spend a year and a half of my life with this. I felt it. I just knew it. I think it's more or less for filmmakers to wait for that moment when you know that's what you want to do."

Petersen's made some very choices in material over the years "I've never really had that (situation where) you find out after six months (of filming that you) hate it," he said. "I don't know how that would feel when you still have a year to go. It must be awful. I'm lucky enough to say it's not (something I've had happen). The only film where I can say in the past that it was a tough thing to get through was 'Outbreak' because we had so many difficulties to get the script right. (Screenwriter) Neal Jimenez was on the set and helping out every single day because we were under so much time pressure because we had a race against a similar project at Fox called 'Crisis in the Hot Zone.' We started basically too early with the script not being ready and it haunts you. It haunts you every single day later on because you are really struggling to get the script right while you're shooting and that's very dangerous to do. 

"That's the only time where I can really remember in my career where (I had this problem). I'm not saying that I hated the process, but it was really tough to get through it and still have a movie that had a beginning, a middle and an end. That was the toughest. All the other projects, I would say, were pretty (well) prepared and the scripts were in pretty good shape and I had just a just a great time breezing through it even if it was a very difficult shoot like 'Perfect Storm.' But if it's just difficult and challenging, but you have all the tools in place to take on the challenges, that's why we are there. That's what I like about it. And then you go for it. I would say, bottom line on 'Perfect Storm,' it was really a lot of pleasure and a lot of fun."

 There is a good idea hiding somewhere deep inside James Gray's The Yards, which may account for its selection to prestigious film festivals such as Cannes and Toronto. 

The story, a film noirish descent into the murky underworld of corruption surrounding the New York subway system and its marshalling yards, seems to have substance and starts off with a bit of flair. 

The risky, anti-Hollywood film nevertheless boasts an impressive name cast led by the underrated Mark Wahlberg, rising star Joaquin Phoenix and savvy vet James Caan. 

The ensemble is rounded out by Charlize Theron (a glamour girl who is nearly unrecognizable in her dowdy guise), a rejuvenated Ellen Burstyn and even the mercurial Faye Dunaway as Caan's wacko wife. 

The filmmaker, co-writer and director Gray, has an interesting background, having done the award-winning Little Odessa in 1994 before disappearing into a sophomore slump that meant The Yards turned into a six-year ordeal. 

All that said -- and all those expectations raised -- The Yards sucks us in and then betrays us in cruel fashion. 

It unravels halfway through its convoluted plot and then finally self-destructs, ending with a ludicrous, senseless climax. 

This big sequence, which brings together all the major characters in the story and 'resolves' the plot, also leaves audiences laughing in derision. There is nothing comic about The Yards. The events are just too stupid to take seriously. 

In real life, if things occurred the way they are depicted here, dozens of police, politicians, union leaders and other people would be locked up in jail for being idiots, not to mention for committing crimes and flaunting moral decency. 

Don't blame the actors. It's the screenplay from Gray and co-writer, co-producer Matt Reeves that seems to be at fault. 

As for Gray's casting, he turned some interesting tricks. Wahlberg's own criminal background eerily mirrors the back story of the character he plays. When he returns to his family from jail, he is subdued, and obliged to make good with his mother, something Wahlberg can relate to personally. 

Given that Burstyn plays his mother in the movie -- and she is back in her prime playing these tortured yet dignified mother characters -- it makes their scenes together riveting. 

Phoenix is equally appealing as Wahlberg's morally conflicted best friend. Caan appears as Wahlberg's uncle, a businessman whose success in selling goods and services to the subway system depends on his connections and corruption. 

If all these stalwarts had been put into service on a movie that was better worked out, The Yards might have justified all the fuss made over it at film festivals. 

THE YARDS 
Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes 
Rated: AA 
Director: James Gray 
Stars: Mark Wahlberg Joaquin Phoenix 
'Yard waste' 
Sun Rating: 2 out of 5

WHAT:    The World Premiere of Columbia Pictures' "Saving Silverman"

WHEN:    Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:   Mann Village
         961 Broxton Ave.
         Westwood
          w/ a party immediately following at House of Blues

WHO:     Attending from the film will be Steve Zahn, Jack Black, Jason
         Biggs, Amanda Peet, Amanda Detmer, Neil Diamond and R. Lee
         Ermey, as well as director Dennis Dugan, writer Greg DePaul,
         producer Neil Moritz, executive producers Brad Luff, Bruce
         Berman, Peter Ziegler, Bernie Goldman and music by Mike
         Simpson.

         Other celebrities expected to attend:

         Kim Delaney        Crispin Glover        Anthony Michael Hall
         Jesse James        Eriq LaSalle          Debi Mazar
         Ryan Phillipe      Freddie Prinze Jr.    Tom Sizemore
         Leelee Sobieski    Mena Suvari           Liv Tyler
       Mark Wahlberg      Reese Witherspoon

From the director of ``Big Daddy'' and ``Happy Gilmore'' comes the hilarious comedy ``Saving Silverman.'' Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs), Wayne Lefessier (Steve Zahn) and J.D. McNugent (Jack Black) have been best friends since the fifth grade. Enter Judith (Amanda Peet), a great-looking, cold-hearted, all-around bitch that digs her claws into sweet-natured Darren. She snatches him from the friendship and even breaks up their Neil Diamond cover band. 

J.D. and Wayne try every imaginable scheme to save Darren -- and their friendship -- failing miserably. When they find out Darren has been brainwashed into marrying Judith, the dim-witted duo decides to kidnap her and reunite Darren with his long-lost love, nun-to-be Sandy Perkus (Amanda Detmer). 

Neil Diamond, in his first film in 20 years, is recruited to help save the day. 

``Saving Silverman'' is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for crude and sexual humor, language and thematic material. 

``Saving Silverman'' 

Will Be in Theatres Friday, Feb. 9