Paging Dr. Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola has given a character in his upcoming "Tetro" what he calls a "sex change operation," rewriting the role that was to be played by Javier Bardem for Carmen Maura ("Volver"). Coppola said he altered the pivotal part after deciding the character would be "far more intriguing" as a woman. Other reports have it, though, that he made the switch only after Bardem dropped out.

Cruise out of control Tom Cruise might have put his delicate detente with Paramount honcho Sumner Redstone in jeopardy with a pointed cameo in the Ben Stiller action comedy "Tropic Thunder." Cruise appears as a fat, bald, hairy-chested, foulmouthed movie mogul who cans actors when their popularity plummets -- much like Redstone severed ties with the strident Scientologist after Oprah's couch, the tirade against Matt Lauer and other eccentricities. The two recently had been spotted having a cordial lunch, leading to reports of a rapprochement.

The final reel It gets worse for Cruise: His World War II drama "Valkyrie" has been moved out of the prime Oscar period to the prime President's Day period, from Oct. 3 to Feb. 13. ... Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover chases Johnny Depp's John Dillinger in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies." ... Jake Gyllenhaal reportedly has been offered the title role in the adventure trilogy "The Prince of Persia." ... He'd have to put on a shirt, albeit a Hawaiian one: Matthew McConaughey reportedly will be "Magnum, P.I." in a big-screen adaptation. ... "Speed Racer" will close the Tribeca Film Festival May 3; it opens in theaters on May 9. ... More on "W": Thandie Newton is Condoleezza Rice and Ioan Gruffudd is Tony Blair.

CYNTHIA DICKISON