Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be frat boys

It's only a matter of time before Tom Wolfe's "I Am Charlotte Simmons" makes its way to the big screen. It's a novel even our beloved President Bush read earlier this year. (All the frat boy "hijinks" in the book must have really taken him back.)I tore through this book on a plane ride to Hawaii, amazed that a geezur like Wolfe was able to wrap his mind around modern campus life fairly accurately. (Warning: Parents of highschool or college-aged kids should probably steer clear of this one or risk countless sleepless nights worrying about what booze-induced sexual naughtiness their kids are currently engaged in.) Since I was sadly more dork than diva in college, I could readily identify with the naive, ostracized heroine, while cursing the vicious "froshtitutes" who make her life hell on earth. To read an NPR commentary on the book, click here. -- Amy

The Bunny Trail

"Miss Potter," a biopic about beloved children's author Beatrix Potter (The Tale of Peter Rabbit), will star Renee Zellweger, reports Variety. Ewan McGregor is negotiating to play Potter's publisher and beau Norman. A cursory glance at Potter's bio reveals this movie may be quite sad and therefore likely to garner another Academy Award nom for Ms. Zellweger. Out of three nominations, the perky/plucky actress has won one Oscar for her supporting role in Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain. --Kim

On The Make For Brits With Money

I'm reading an interesting nonfiction book right now called Titled Americans by Elisabeth Kehoe about three sisters from a "new money" family in New York's high society who all three manage to nab titled British husbands. One of the sisters turns out to be the mother of Winston Churchill. If you're interested at all in the life of young debs of the Victorian/Edwardian age or are a fan of Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers, this would be up your alley. -- Amy

The Lonely Doll

Romancing the Tome Reader (and style blogger extraordinaire) Lauren Cerand tipped us off to an exciting new project from Killer Films (Boys Don't Cry, Velvet Goldmine, Happiness), Number 9 Films, and artist Julian Schnabel (Before Night Falls, Basquiat). They are collaborating on a biopic about the life of model turned author Dare Wright who wrote the Lonely Dolls series. Christine Vachon (of Killer Films) optioned Jean Nathan's book The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright. IMDB.com lists the film as in pre-production and the cast appears to be undetermined as of yet. Post your casting picks in the comments section--we'd love to see them!

What's In a Gnome?

Ewan MacGregor and Kate Winslet lend their voices to "Gnomeo and Juliet" a CGI-animated musical spin on the bard's classic, "Romeo and Juliet" in which romance blooms between an indoor and an outdoor garden gnome. Tim Rice and Elton John penned the lyrics and songs for the movie, which should be released next year. -- Amy

Whereabouts: Ioan Gruffudd

Ioan Gruffudd, the strikingly handsome actor and noble seafarer Horatio in the Hornblower series, is set to play a new kind of hero in the film Amazing Grace. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that he will portray William Wilberforce, an 18th century British slavery abolitionist. Albert Finney will costar. The very busy Gruffudd is currently filming The TV Set, which satirizes the production of a TV pilot. (Gruffudd will perhaps be able to employ his own experience with the short-lived series "Century City.") David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver are also in the film. It goes without saying that it is the most fervent wish of the Romancing the Tome authors that in due time the dashing Ioan will be induced make another Hornblower film. --Kim

Prude & Prejudice

Apparently Keira Knightly got cheeky at the London premiere of the new P&P adaptation, which stars the ubiquitous Knightley as Lizzie Bennet. I don't have the exact quote but Miss Knightley apparently bragged to a reporter that if a guy brought his date to see the movie he was guaranteed to "get laid" afterwards. Minette Marrin of The Sunday Times (UK) imagines what Jane Austen would have to say about that. --Kim

More Buzz on Bee Season

Trent reports that Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal's mom Naomi Foner wrote the screenplay for Bee Season. We were excited to see that she also wrote a particular fave Running On Empty ('88) which of course featured our beloved River Phoenix. Her latest project is Grace, a Sandra Bullock vehicle about Peyton Place author Grace Metalious, which is scheduled for release in '06. (pic via Pink is the New Blog).--Kim

Forget Monopoly...

Just when I thought I was too old for board games... -- Amy

Whatever Happend To....?

Still waiting for the movie version of Rick Marin's Cad: Confessions of a Toxic Bachelor. Miramax had supposedly optioned the rights, and the author was working on a screenplay, but I've not heard any word that it's slated for production. If anyone knows definitive details, let us know. --Amy

Here's the Skinny...

Not exactly high-brow lit, but having recently read Carl Hiassen's bestseller Skinny Dip, I see that it's big-screen-bound thanks to Mike Nichols, who bought the screen rights last year and intends on directing the film. I've not found any info on who would play whom in this satiric tale of a conceited husband who throws his wife off a cruise ship. But if I was playing casting director, here's who I'd pick. -- Amy

A-hole biologist Chaz Perrone: Rob Lowe
His wife and unwitting victim, Joey Perrone: Naomi Watts
Joey's rugged-loner savior, Mick Stranahan: Harrison Ford
Corrupt businessman Red Hammernut: Albert Finney
Chaz's hairy bodyguard, Tool: Meatloaf
Chaz's indignant mistress, Rica: J.Lo

Ready to Book It

Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslett, and Halle Berry are "favourites" for roles in an adaptation of Small Island, reports Ireland On-Line. Meanwhile, The Book Standard has updates on the following book-to-film deals:

Billy Crudup will play "speed freak" Neal Cassady in Kerouac's On the Road. Scarlett Johannson and Chloë Sevigny are allegedly vying for the role of Jack's girlfriend.

Columbia Pictures owns the rights to Julie Powell's blog-turned-book chronicling her attempts to make every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Everyone is talking about Angelina Jolie's role in an animated retelling of Beowulf. Joseph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Crispin Glover, and John Malkovich are just a few of the other famous voices to be heard in this adaptation.--Kim

K-L-E-E-N-E-X

Here's the trailer for the adaptation of Myla Goldberg's Bee Season, which stars Richard Gere, Kate Bosworth, and Juliette Binoche. --Kim