Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe MEG RYAN DIDN'T WANT TO DO LATEST FILM Despite the fact that many critics love it, actress Meg Ryan says she didn't want to do the movie "Kate & Leopold" when she first heard about the project. She tells Knight-Ridder she didn't even want to read the script at first. Advertisement Eventually, though, she met with the film's director and co-writer James Mangold. She says she loved one of his previous films, "Girl, Interrupted," and found out that Mangold was passionate in his plea for her to do his latest project. Ryan says that many women of her type are seen as threats by many men. "The gender wars are still raging," she says. But she feels that attitudes are also changing. Many modern-day women actually like it when a man opens the door for them. DENNIS LEARY COMEDY TO RETURN Advertisement The critically acclaimed TV sitcom "The Job" will be returning to the ABC network line up in the coming month. The network confirms that the show, starring Dennis Leary, has been put back into the rotation. ABC has given the broadcast a great lead-in. It will follow "The Drew Carey Show." The return of "The Job" will be on Jan 16. The sitcom began as a midseason replacement in April of this year. Only six episodes were commissioned during the show's initial run. The reincarnation of the comedy will have 13 new episodes. Leary plays a New York City policeman who has a hard time walking the straight and narrow. CLASSIC ACTOR NIGEL HAWTHORNE DIES The actor known for his portrayal of Sir Humphrey in the British TV series "Yes, Minister," has died. Published reports indicate that Nigel Hawthorne died of a heart attack at his residence on the north side of London. His publicist confirms that he had recently undergone chemotherapy for cancer. Hawthorne was born in England, but spent much of his early life in South Africa. He became an "overnight sensation" in the British theater in the 1950s, expanding his acting range in the '60s and finally gaining international acclaim in the "Minister" series. Advertisement At one time, friends of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said that "Yes, Minister" was her favorite TV series. Nigel Hawthorne was 72. 'LORD OF RINGS' DOMINATING BOX OFFICE The initial "Lord of the Rings" movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," is a runaway success at the box office. Initial reports from the trackers of tickets show that the movie took in about $67.4 million in the first five days of its holiday opening. The movie became the third-highest-grossing film to be released on a Wednesday. Another major film that opened in the past few days, "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," took in an estimated $20 million in the first five days of its run. That puts it in third place behind "Ocean's 11," which opened earlier and has an all-star cast. One disappointment has been the release of the new Jim Carrey film, "The Majestic." It's the story of a man who returns to his hometown roots. It took in a dismal $7.8 million. By the way, "Monsters, Inc.," now in its eighth week, is hanging tough. It's taken in more than $224 million. Advertisement And, oh yes, the Harry Potter movie continues to do its magic. It is still the sixth-highest-grossing film on the charts and has sold more than $263 million in tickets in just six weeks. MATT SCHULZE SIGNS FOR NEW MOVIE Popular actor Matt Schulze has inked a deal to star with Jason Statham in a new fast-moving feature called "The Transporter." The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Schulze will soon begin filming the project in France. The movie, according to the publication, marks the English-language directorial debut of Hong Kong-based moviemaker Corey Yuen. The plot centers on a man who is asked to deliver packages without asking any questions. The film is budgeted at about $20 million.
