The Bulletin: Field Joins Spielberg's 'Lincoln'

Sally Field will star as Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, in Steven Spielberg's "Abraham Lincoln," an adaptation of Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," reports Variety. Liam Neeson will co-star as Lincoln. The 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth is February 12, 2009.

Ratner, Tucker Claim 'Mr. S'
Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour 3") will direct "Mr. S," an adaptation of George Jacobs and William Stadiem's tell-all "Mr. S: My Life With Frank Sinatra," a glimpse into the Rat Pack order, reports Variety. Chris Tucker will star as Sinatra's valet Jacobs. Stadiem, a Hollywood chronicler, will write a script to insert anecdotes about Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, the Kennedys, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Mia Farrow, Elvis Presley, Swifty Lazar and Marlene Dietrich. Jay Stern, Adam Fields and Ratner will produce.

Washington, Scott Back for 'Pelham'
Denzel Washington will star in an update of Joseph Sargent's "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974), about a police lieutenant in a rush to impede a subway car with hijackers aboard, reports Entertainment Weekly. Tony Scott ("Crimson Tide," "Man on Fire") will direct.

Bateman in 'State of Play'
Jason Bateman ("The Kingdom," December's "Juno") will join Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in "State of Play," an adaptation of Paul Abbott and David Yates' BBC miniseries, reports Variety. Norton will star as a congressman under suspicion in the murder of a mistress; Pitt, a political journalist in a breach of ethics; and Bateman, as a reporter. Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") will direct for Universal. Matthew Michael Carnahan (November's "Lions for Lambs") wrote the script. Andrew Hauptman will produce with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Abbott will executive produce. Production will start in November.

Eastwood, Damon in Mandela Project
Warner Bros. is in talks to finance "The Human Factor," an adaptation of John Carlin's book "The Human Factor: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Changed the World," with Morgan Freeman to star as the former president of South Africa, reports Variety. Clint Eastwood is in talks to direct and Matt Damon to star. Lori McCreary and Freeman will produce with Mace Neufeld. Anthony Peckham ("Don't Say a Word") wrote the script, in which South Africa is chosen to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup a year subsequent the fall of apartheid.

Biel in Talks for 'Justice League'
Jessica Biel ("Next") is in talks to star as Wonder Woman in "Justice League of America," an adaptation of DC Comics' property in which an all-star cabal — Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, the Flash and Aquaman — tag-team for justice, reports Variety. George Miller ("Happy Feet," "Mad Max") will direct. Kieran and Michele Mulroney wrote the script for Warner Bros.

Mark Your Calendar
In a sprint to avert collision with a potential strike in Hollywood, a sequel to Michael Bay's "Transformers" is in fast development for June 26, 2009 at Paramount Pictures. The involvement of Bay, Steven Spielberg or the original cast is uncertain. On DVD, "Interview," with Steve Bushemi and Sienna Miller, will be available for rental and purchase Dec. 11; "Rush Hour 3" (D), Dec. 26; "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (F), Nov. 6; and "Underdog," Dec. 18.