Kevorkian bio film in the works

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Ben Kingsley tops the list of actors being considered to play Dr. Jack Kevorkian in a film about the U.S. assisted-suic Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple, who favors the "Ghandi" star, has not yet selected film's lead actor. The movie is to be based on an unpublished manuscript written by Michigan authors and Kevorkian friends Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

"We're at the beginning, just sort of starting to let this project seep into our souls. It will look at the life of Dr. Kevorkian and all the incredible layers of his personality. And it will look at a man who's given up so much for what he believes," Kopple said.

Kevorkian, 76, currently is imprisoned in Lapeer, Mich., serving a 10- to 25-year second-degree murder sentence for his role in the injection death of Thomas Youk, 75.

Filming is expected to begin in Michigan early next year, with a release date by late 2005.

ide advocate known as "Dr. Death."