Looking beyond ‘Eucalyptus’

LOS ANGELES: Nicole Kidman is on the verge of severing ties with her stalled Australian movie ‘Eucalyptus’ after entering into negotiations to play the role of photographer Diane Arbus in her tragic biopic ‘Fur’. The Australian actress was earlier awaiting a reworked schedule for ‘Eucalyptus’, which was halted due to apparent script problems last month, reported the Internet Media Database.

But with the film also set to star Russell Crowe — which could delay the project — Kidman is now looking towards the Arbus biopic, where she’s set to star with Robert Downey Jr British actress Samantha Morton was originally attached to the project on Arbus, who was known for her disturbing photographs but committed suicide in 1971. — HNS

Connery counter-sues:

LOS ANGELES: Sean Connery has filed a counter-suit against his New York neighbour after the townhouse resident sued the 74-year-old Scottish legend for being a “rude, foul-mouthed, fat old man”. Last month ophthalmologist Burton Sultan filed a $30-million lawsuit against the former James Bond star, claiming that renovations the Connerys were carrying out since September 2001 were a source of constant noise, foul fumes, water leaks and rat infestation. In a counter-suit Connery alleges that Sultan “has embarked on a campaign of harassing” the star’s family. “It’s clear that the condominium cannot function if it is run by defendant, Burton Sultan, out of his office... in Old Westbury as a tyrant.” Connery’s spokesperson had earlier argued that the actor spends most of his time in the Bahamas. — HNS