- guardian.co.uk, Friday 16 April 1999 16.40 BST
Benn there, done that
Devoted Hush Hush readers may recall our breaking news some time ago that Mr Benn would be making the big leap from daytime kiddies cartoon to silver screen icon. John Hannah was set to play the role of the intrepid businessman encountering adventures in Ben Kingsley's shop-cum-super travel agents. But Film Unlimited is sad to report that the entrepreneurial investment scheme behind the project, UK Films Group, has collapsed from - you guessed it - insufficient funding. Despite significant contributions from businesses and members of the public, the £4m share target was not reached before the prescribed deadline.
But all is not lost. Mr Benn will not be defeated. Alternative finance has apparently been secured and filming will go ahead as planned. The group's other project, starring Saintly popsters Melanie Blatt and Natalie and Nicole Appleton, has allegedly also been saved from the British film scrap heap. Praise be.
Love it
Not satisfied with being Kurt Cobain's caustic widow, songster Courtney Love is making another foray into the fickle world of film, this time uncharacteristically behind the scenes. Ms Love has recently established Epitome Productions with muso manager Janet Billig. "The goal of Epitome is to make original, high-quality films," announced Hole's lead singer. And her debut project? Sing it! 'I Think We're Alone Now', apparently not a musical based on eighties popster Tiffany's greatest hits, is simply billed as a teen romantic comedy, which, we're assured, Love herself will not be starring in.
Casting Couch
Stop press! Kate Winslet to play a maid! Yes, the Hideous Titanic star is set to sign for the part of notorious pornographer Marquis de Sade's cunning maid, Madeleine, in Philip Kaufman's planned version of the Douglas Wright play. Geoffrey Rush is up for the lead role in Quills. Production company Fox Searchlight is currently chasing Joaquin 'Return to Paradise' Phoenix for the part of "an attractive young priest" who has designs on our Kate.
