Dueling 'Poseidon Adventure' projects

LOS ANGELES, March 18 (UPI) -- A battle is shaping up in Hollywood between two remakes of the 1972 disaster epic "The Poseidon Adventure."

Director Wolfgang Petersen and Warner Bros. are preparing a big-budget version for a summer 2006 theatrical release. Now, NBC has acquired a TV movie version from Emmy-winning producer Robert Halmi, Daily Variety reported Friday.

Plans originally called for the Hallmark Channel to televise Halmi's production -- starring Steve Guttenberg, Peter Weller, Rutger Hauer, Bryan Brown and Adam Baldwin.

Variety said NBC's acquisition of the property poses a challenge for Warner Bros. and Peterson.

NBC is likely to promote the movie more heavily than Hallmark would have, but Warner Bros. and Peterson will likely spend five times as much to promote the theatrical feature.