HOLLYWOOD -- 'Forrest Gump' has earned more than $100 million at the box office, boosting sales of its eclectic sound track with more than a million units being shipped to record stores. Paramount Pictures announced the Epic Sountrax release made its debut on Billboard's top 100 pop album chart at No. 34 and moved up to No. 7 the second week. By way of explaining its popularity, a Paramount spokesman said, 'It brings together a broad array of artists: Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkle, The Byrds, and The Mamas and the Papas among others.
NEWLN:Arnold cast
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -- On the strength of his strong comic performance as Arnold Schwarzenegger's sidekick in 'True Lies,' Tom Arnold has been signed to star in 'Nine Months.' Under Chris Columbus' direction, Arnold will co-star with Hugh Grant for Clean Break Productions at 20th Century Fox. Arnold will play a car salesman and the brother-in-law to a playboy artist in a story dealing with a man and his girlfriend going through the ups and downs of a pregnancy. NEWLN:Kidman scores
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -- Nicole Kidman, Mrs. Tom Cruise in private life, will next be seen on the screen as the love interest in 'Batman Forever.' She will replace Rene Russo who was dropped from the cast after Michael Keaton decided against reprising the role of Batman for a third time. When the producers replaced Keaton with Val Kilmer, it was decided the film needed a younger leading lady and settled for Kidman. A Russo spokesperson said the actress dropped out because of a schedule conflict with her new film, 'Outbreak,' which already is in production. NEWLN:Title change
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -- The title of the comedy 'Rupert and Murdoch' has been changed to 'Cat and Mouse,' which director Joe Dante will helm for TriStar Pictures. 'Cat and Mouse' will combine live action with animated characters and backgrounds. Dante's credits include such off-beat films as 'Gremlins' and 'The 'burbs.' Scheduled to begin filming in October, 'Cat and Mouse' is the story of Tom and Jerry-like critters raising havoc in the real world. NEWLN:Heckerling directors
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -- Paramount Pictures has picked up director Amy Heckerling's high school comedy 'I was a Teenage Teenager,' which had been in development at 20th Century Fox. Described as being 'Fast Times at Beverly High,' the story was written by Heckerling who will also direct. Heckerling directed 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.' Paramount won out over Columbia and Universal Pictures in bidding for the property which is scheduled to begin filming later this year on a budget of $12 million.
