the dish
'Captain Ron Sails Again'? Sylvester Stallone is issuing an apology of sorts for failing to secure Kurt Russell for "The Expendables." Writing to the fan site Stallone Zone, he says: "I know that many people on the site have asked for Kurt Russell. I asked for him too. ... I put the request in a letter and sent it to his agent. ... He said Russell is not interested in 'ensemble acting' at this time. So, people, I came, I saw, I failed." C'mon, Kurt, what big part are you holding out for?
The final reel The Oscars will be moved to March 7 next year to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics. ... Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Affleck star in the downsizing drama "The Company Men." ... Bond will have to wait another day: Freida Pinto has been signed to play the title role in "Miral," directed by Julian Schnabel ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"). ... Vanessa Redgrave is submerging her grief in work, agreeing to play Queen Eleanor of Aquitane in Ridley Scott's "Nottingham." ... Anthony Hopkins will be Ernest Hemingway in a film directed by Andy Garcia, with Annette Bening in talks to play Hemingway's wife, Mary.
CYNTHIA DICKISON
