OK FG, I feel an Ozy midweek coming on........ Failte, Wilkommen, Bienvenuee and Welcome AICNers to a Euro AICN midweek (well we've gotten into the habit so let's keep the ball rolling shall we?!?!?!) First off Ananova.com has a few morsels of interest:

Sean Connery is to play the Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in a new film.

The former James Bond star made the announcement in Athens.

He said the idea had come from his friend the composer Vangelis, who will also write the music for the film.

A director for the project was not named.

Connery was in Athens for the opening of an exhibition of the work of his wife Michelin.

And:

Jeremy Irons will be confronting Robin Williams and Renee Zellweger in a new film about the theft of the Mona Lisa.

The £40 million romantic comedy is being directed and written by Jeremy Leven.

Filming will get under way in the spring with Antonio Banderas playing a naïve Louvre carpenter who helps the duo get away with the masterpiece.

Irons has been drafted in to play the French detective who goes on the trail of the con artist trio.

But he won't be playing the sleuth in the style of the Pink Panther's Inspector Clouseau.

A source on the movie told Ananova: "The part is very straight as a foil against Williams.

"The tempation might be to camp it up but that would upset the balance of the script."

Jeremy has been on the look out for a comedy for a long time."

I haven't heard this one before - honorary Irishman David Gray (we spotted him first Yanks! Hands off!!!) is getting the chance to write for the new John Cusack movie:

David Gray is in talks to provide a soundtrack for John Cusack's new film Serendipity.

It should see the light of day before Christmas.

The track Sail Away from his album White Ladder has also been chosen for the soundtrack to the new Robert De Niro movie15 Minutes which is out in the UK later this year.

Gray said of his work for Serendipity: "It's just finished, and for temporary purposes they had taken a couple of songs from my Lost Songs album and put them in the film, and they want me to do more.

"They work so well in this particular film that I'm hoping it comes off."

In the film, Cusack plays a man who meets up with an old flame, played by Kate Beckinsale, when each are on the verge of marriage.

"I'd really like to write some new songs for the film, and that could happen," Gray says.

"But you know what movies are like; it's a haphazard, political game. Once the record companies come in and someone buys the rights to the soundtrack, you don't know what's going to happen. But I think it could be a great thing to do."

The UK revival continues:

Film-making in the UK enjoyed a record year thanks to movies such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

The Film Council reported that movie production in Britain was up by a third for 2000 with around £540 million being invested.

The Harry Potter film and other high budget productions such as 51st State and Tomb Raider pushed the levels of cash pouring into the industry to record levels.

Steve Norris, the British Film Commissioner, said: "We are delighted to see such a vast increase in revenue for the British film community in the UK and proud to see such a strong indication of the growing international awareness of British film-making talent found here."

Film Minister Janet Anderson said: "The Government wants Britain to become a hive of film making activity and a centre for expertise and excellence."

She added that the introduction of tax incentives in 1997 had helped secure large levels of inward investment for the film production industry.

Mr Norris warned against complacency: "Without doubt the combination of the weaker pound against the dollar and fiscal breaks have proven to be major incentives in continuing to attract foreign productions to our shores.

"However, we are highly aware of the increase in global competition for this business and without the continued support from Government in the form of tax breaks the incredible success we have seen from this year may be short-lived."

As for Anthony Hopkins playing the befezzed comedian......?!?!?!?!?!:

Sir Anthony Hopkins could play Tommy Cooper in a TV movie about the comic's life.

The Sunday Mirror reported an unnamed source as saying he is very keen. It's a matter of finding time.

Alan Ayckbourn is set to direct a new play about the comedian's last performance in the West End this autumn.

And finally from Ananova.com:

Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle are set to team up as rivals for the love of Queen Mary.

They will star in a new £14 million mini-epic based on the life of the young queen and her many suitors.

Douglas Henshall and Jude Law are also being sought for major support roles.

Sean Connery's production company Fountainbridge is co-producing the story with BBC backing.

He is not likely to make more than a cameo appearance in the film, however.

The script is by writer Jimmy McGovern, who created Cracker and Hillsborough.

McGregor, soon to be seen in Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman, appeared with Carlyle in Trainspotting.

A source close to the production told Ananova: "Sean wants to gather the cream of Scottish talent together for this one.

"He feels Scottish history should be told by the Scots whenever possible."

In my part of the world the Irish Film and Television Net has the latest on the productions going on here right now:

Production News 17-Jan-01

It's a quiet time of the year for everyone in film. Plenty of action on the development front however, shows that for most of you the holidays are well and truly over, and the fax machines are humming once again.

Campbell Productions are hard at work in postproduction with The Crooked Mile whilst developing two features, Human and The Garden of Delight, neither of which have shooting dates yet. They are also producing a documentary, The Ballroom of Dreams, which goes into production during late February or early March. Grand Pictures are on schedule with their two projects. They plan to start shooting Mapmaker this summer and Waiting for Godofsky in October.

Subotica Films continue to make inroads with their documentary on The Abbey Theatre. Funded by RTE, the three hour-long episodes directed by John Lynch are due for delivery in 2004 - in time for the theatre's centenary.

Almost finished postproduction, are Parallel's Beckett on film project and Temple Film's Disco Pigs, both of which are in the final stages as we go to press. Paradox Picture's How Harry Became a Tree is nearing completion in Italian post facilities and elsewhere.

Postproduction continues in Amsterdam on Samson Films' Morlang but they return to Ardmore Sound for mixing soon. The Abduction Club is also in the last stages of its fine cut and Samson tell us that Bachelor's Walk is still on track to go into pre-production later this year.

At Ardmore studios, Reign of Fire will be in residence until the end of June using all except B stage. Shooting is due to begin in mid February. Meanwhile, a huge construction crew and art department continue to work on completing the sets. B stage is currently free until March, when Ballykissangel returns with BallyK7 for six months ending in September. All other stages are free from July, and the studio's managing director, Kevin Moriarty is currently in negotiation with a number of potential productions to fill the available space.

Finally, shorts currently looking good to go include Pegasus Picture's Janey, which they hope to shoot this summer. Writer John McElroy, and director Richard Larkin are aiming to bring it to Cannes 2001 as well as Cork and festivals in the US.

- Nick Wilkinson

Peoplenews.com has this one on yet another Guy Ritchie project!!!! Why is he bothering ot get out of bed?!?!?!?!:

Joanne Whalley is being strongly tipped to replace Madonna in a new made-for-TV film about the life of singer Dusty Springfield. Guy Ritchie was thought to be planning to cast his wife as the 1960s pop star, who died from cancer in 1999. But he is understood to be having second thoughts and believes he needs a British actress to bring authenticity to the role. Dusty was a gay alcoholic who tried to keep her sex life a secret. The film will focus on the star's rise to fame as a member of the Springfields pop group in the early 1960s. An associate of Ritchie's told Ananova: 'He has no doubts about Madonna's ability, especially in the singing department. But he feels Dusty should be played by a true Brit and they could use some of her original recordings if need be - though the word is Joanne can handle the singing.' Whalley played Christine Keeler in Scandal and was married to actor Val Kilmer. She is now permanently based in America.

That's it for midweek Euro AICN as usual if you have schtorieeees for us mail either Edgard in Paris at euroaicn@yahoo.com or me here in Dublin at ozymandias@dublin.com Talk to ya next Monday! L8r, Ozymandias Ain't It Cool News - Ireland/UK Office, Penthouse Suite, Ozymandias Towers, Dublin, Ireland.