The underdog of golf

Montreal – Walt Disney Pictures has commissioned seasoned American actor Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic) to direct his sophomore motion picture, The Greatest Game Ever Played, after his successful 2002 horror directorial debut Frailty.

The US$30-million movie, shooting in and around Montreal July 26 to Sept. 6, is based on the book of the same name by Mark Frost, who shares producer credit with David Blocker (Frailty, Dark Blue) and Larry Brezner (Sorority Boys, Freddy Got Fingered).

The screenplay tells the true story of Francis Ouimet, a working-class guy, played by I, Robot’s Shia LaBeouf, who won the U.S. Open golf tournament in 1913 despite incredible odds.

‘We weren’t sure a golf movie would be a sell,’ says Brezner. ‘But we found some golf fans at Disney who had read the book and were thrilled with the tale. This isn’t so much a movie about golf as it is the story of an underdog who ultimately triumphs. This is a film as much about the human aspect involved as it is the sports victory.

‘Disney has a good track record with films of this kind.’

Brezner says that the choice of a Montreal shoot made sense, what with the city’s old district lending itself perfectly to 1913 settings.

Brezner reports that the producing team couldn’t be happier with the Quebec crew. ‘This is an amazing group of people we’ve assembled. We are extremely pleased with the cast and crew we’ve got.’ Matthew Hays

Burnett, Ullman test Mattress

Vancouver – Comedy greats Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman will star in the ABC Wonderful World of Disney MOW Once Upon a Mattress, in production in Vancouver Sept. 14 to Oct. 22.

In the new TV musical adaptation of the Princess and the Pea-inspired 1959 Broadway show, a highlight in Burnett’s legendary career, Burnett graduates from princess to evil queen.

‘I’ve had a long and loving relationship with Once Upon a Mattress, and it will be great fun to play the evil Aggravain… to Tracey’s Princess Winnifred, from the wrong side of the swamp,’ Burnett says in a release.

Tony Award-winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall (Wonderful Town) will make her directorial debut and will choreograph as well. Janet Brownell (Eloise at the Plaza) wrote the script, based on the musical by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Martin Barer.

Burnett is an executive producer with Marc E. Platt (Legally Blonde) and Marty Tudor (The Carol Burnett Show: Let’s Bump Up the Lights). Ian Edwards

More Muppet Wizardry for Vancouver

Vancouver – Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and Gonzo will reunite for Muppets Wizard of Oz in Vancouver along with the production team that did It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie here in 2002.

Veteran production manager Warren Carr is again a producer with Martin Baker. Kirk Thatcher returns as director. Brian Henson and sister Lisa, children of Muppet creator Jim Henson, are executive producers.

Production begins Sept. 13 for 30 days. At press time, no cast was set for the human roles of Dorothy, Aunty Em and The Wizard, says Carr, noting that the production is a ‘large’ TV movie. This is the first collaboration between ABC and The Jim Henson Company, he adds, since its parent Walt Disney Company purchased the Muppets’ rights earlier this year.

Muppets Wizard of Oz (written by Debra Frank and Steve Hayes) will apparently be truer to the original L. Frank Baum story than the classic 1939 film. Some reports have Miss Piggy playing a dual role as both Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West. Ian Edwards