The Bulletin: Streep, Hoffman in 'Doubt'

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman will star in "Doubt," an adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's illustrious stage play about suspicion and moral certainty in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, reports Variety. Shanley wrote the script and will direct, and Scott Rudin ("The Truman Show") will produce. Streep will star as the accusatory Sister Aloysius, and Hoffman, as the suspicious Father Flynn. Production will begin in New York City in December.

Fox Aboard 'Speed Racer'
Matthew Fox (TV’s “Lost”) will star as Rex Racer (a.k.a. Racer X), the mysterious rival of Speed, in Andy and Larry Wachowski’s “Speed Racer” (May 9, 2008), an adaptation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s cult anime of the 1960s, for Warner Bros. Pictures, reports Variety. Fox joins Christina Ricci as Trixie, Speed’s loyal and courageous girlfriend; Emile Hirsch as Speed; and Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as Mom and Pops Racer. Andy and Larry Wachowski wrote the script, and Joel Silver (“The Matrix”) will produce.

Howard Might Update 'Colossus'
Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment will develop an update of "Colossus: The Forbin Project" (1970), in which a sentient supercomputer assumes complete control of the government, for Ron Howard to possibly direct, reports Variety. Jason Rothenberg will write the script, and Brian Grazer will produce. The original was an adaptation of D.F. Jones' novel.

James in 'One Nation Under Bob'
Kevin James ("I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry") will star in "One Nation Under Bob," a comedy in which an American inherits a sovereign nation, reports The Hollywood Reporter. John Scott Sheperd wrote the script, and Tom Shadyac and Michael Bostick will produce for Universal Pictures. No word yet on a director.

Columbus Steals 'Lightning Thief'
Chris Columbus ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") will direct "The Lightning Thief," an adaptation of the initial novel in Rick Riodan's series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" about the modern descendant of a mythic god on a quest to yield Zeus' iconic bolt of lightning, reports Variety. Greg Mooradian, Karen Rosenfelt and Columbus will produce at 20th Century Fox.

Willis Joins 'Assassination'
Bruce Willis will star as principal and Gulf War veteran John T. Kirkpatrick in "Assassination of a High School President," a labyrinthine comedic homage to Roman Polanski's classic noir "Chinatown" (1974), reports The Los Angeles Times. Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski wrote the script, in which a sophomore investigates the theft of SAT exams for St. Dominick's newspaper. Brett Simon, a director of music videos and commercials, will direct.

Mark Your Calendar
"The Host" will be available for rental and purchase July 24; "Reno 911!: Miami," June 19 (From June 26); and "Pride," with Terrence Howard, June 26.