Ron Howard Still Mum on 'The Da Vinci Code'

Ron Howard keeps playing it close to the vest when it comes to specifics about his May release feature adaptation of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" starring Tom Hanks. Trailers of the flick have been sparking excitement among moviegoers, even as the novel's proposition that Jesus was not divine continues to generate anger, debate and condemnation.
 
Why do it? "Creatively and thematically, it was such an interesting challenge I couldn't say no," answers Howard, admitting that he was prepared for controversy "given the subject matter and the response to the book."
 
We caught up with the one-time child star-turned-director/Hollywood power player at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles Tea Party the other day at the Park Hyatt Los Angeles hotel. His "Cinderella Man" Russell Crowe starrer is among the 2005 features in contention for BAFTA honors.
 
"That's really rewarding, especially since Brian Grazer and I thought that it might be overlooked because of its early release last year," comments Ron, referring to his Imagine Entertainment partner.
 
You've got to give Howard credit for bravery, if nothing else, considering he went from working with the notoriously surly Crowe on the inspiring "Cinderella" tale of boxer Jim Braddock -- to his current situation.
 
"Well, whether it's working with Russell or doing 'The Da Vinci Code,' it's all about whether you're taking on something for the right reason," says Ron. And that is? "That you think you can create something audiences find worth their time."
 
FROM THE INSIDER LOOKING OUT:

"I am trying to find a writing project I feel as passionate about as 'Capote,' but I have not so far," admits Dan Futterman, who's being approached by lots of producers interested in obtaining his writing services these days. The actor of "Judging Amy" and "The Birdcage" fame was thanked Monday night by Golden Globe winner Philip Seymour Hoffman for his phenomenal "Capote" screenplay -- Futterman's first. As far as future writing offers, he says he has "a stack of things to work through. I don't want to overstate it." One thing he won't be doing is writing a script for himself. "For some reason, that doesn't interest me," he says. "They feel like two different endeavors. In acting, you have to willfully put on blinders and see things just from one character's viewpoint and emotional life. In writing, you have to have a wide view. I don't want to marry the two. It would almost feel dizzying."
 
UP AND COMER:

For 25-year-old Zachary Levi, working with Martin Lawrence on "Big Momma's House 2" -- premiering Jan. 27 -- proved to be a real eye opener. "The biggest thing I learned is that there is a lot of responsibility and lot of burdens once you get to that level of celebrity," claims Levi, who got his start on the sitcom "Less Than Perfect." "He had 10 people on set with him at all times working for him, whether it was hair and makeup or his assistants. When you're making $20 million a picture, it's a lot to carry around. I could sense that when you get to that level, it's no longer fun and games -- it's really serious."
 
However, when it came to meeting Lawrence for the first time, the Louisiana native couldn't help but laugh. "The first day that I met him we were doing the camera test for the fat suit he has to wear. He came out in it, so I didn't even meet him as Martin. Out of this old fat woman, I get, 'Hey, how you doing, man?' in his deep Martin voice. It was ridiculous," says Levi with a laugh. "And not only did he have a fat suit, but his stunt double and stand-in wore one, so we had three guys running around in fat suits."
 
KEEPING THE ACTION GOING:

With his "New Year's Rockin' Eve" return to the cameras still fresh in people's minds, Dick Clark is already well into business for this new year -- including moving forward on his planned paintball-themed movie with fellow exec producer Beaux Carson. Carson tells us that the script is just now being finalized for the yet-untitled romp. According to writer Darby Connor, the flick will be aimed at 8 to 17-year-olds and have "a lot of cute boys and some cute girls in it, and a lot of action. It's very humorous and light."
 
DICKENS OF A TIME:

It's a long -- long -- way from "X Files" to "Bleak House," but Gillian Anderson handles portraying the cool, secret-harboring Lady Dedlock brilliantly in the Charles Dickens drama. At least, she does in the opinion of esteemed British actor/director Charles Dance. "She looks like Rosetti's muse, with the long jaw line -- wonderful," he says.  PBS will begin airing the saga of love, murder and the quest for a mystery-man's identity in six parts Jan. 22. As for Dance, he plays the merciless lawyer Mr. Tulkinghorn, who is, he says cheerfully, "one of the nastiest villains ever written, with not a redeeming quality about him. Completely vile. You love to hate him."

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)

The Beck/Smith syndicated newspaper column includes exclusive in-depth, behind-the-scenes reports on the stars, on the business of television and movie-making, and on the recording, publishing and media beats.

©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.