Hannibal : After Jodie Foster refused to come back for Hannibal the film's fate was at stake. Now according to the Hollywood Reporter, Universal and MGM studios are still discussing what the eventual film’s budget will be and who will distribute the film and where. Meanwhile, the search continues to replace Jodie Foster for the film’s female lead role and it is rerported that the short list now includes Angelina Jolie and Julianna Moore.

Steven Spielberg : It is reported that Steven Spielberg underwent surgery to have a kidney removed after his doctor found an "irregularity" on the organ. The 53-year-old filmmaker is at home recuperating and it is not clear what effect the procedure will have on his work schedule. "He is kind of back to work now, at home. He's reading scripts," said Marvin Levy, the filmmaker's spokesman. "A complete recovery is promised and no follow-up treatment is necessary." Levy said he is due back to work on Monday.

 Update : February 8th,2000

Heartswap : Tom Cruise and Paramount Pictures have bought the screen rights of a novel named Heartswap for his wife Nicole Kidman, to star in. The novel concerns two beautiful best friends in their late 20s who in a drunken celebration, agrees to attempt a seduction of the other's marriage partner. The boys fail the fidelity test and complications arise. A writer will be hired to adapt the screenplay and Kidman will play one of the central female roles.

Trailer Awards : Hollywood.com held its second annual Trailer Awards ceremony at the Writers' Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The Matrix took the awards in four of the eigth categories including best action, best use of music, best teaser, tied with The Blair Witch Project and best overall. The other winners are Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (The funniest) Notting Hill (most romantic) and The Sixth Sense (most stylish). Eyes Wide Shut won the award in the steamiest trailer category. The winners were selected online by users of the Hollywood.com site.

The Palace Thief : Kevin Kline will make his feature directing debut in The Palace Thief. The film centers around a prep school teacher's musings over his past 50 years and, after an unhappy reunion with a former student, his revelation of how little control he's exercised during crucial moments of life. Kline, who won a supporting actor Oscar in1988's A Fish Called Wanda was last seen opposite Will Smith in Wild Wild West.

 Update : February 7th,2000

Weekend Box Office : As expected, highly anticipated Scream 3 took the first place easily this weekend with breaking some records. These include, the biggest February debut (beating the $22M of The Empire Strikes Back - Special Edition in 1997) and the largest company opening for Miramax. By comparison, Scream 2 launched in December 1997 with $32.9M. Every other movie in the top ten grossed under $5 million.

#	Title	This weekend	Last weekend	Theaters	Weeks	Total
1	Scream 3	$ 35,200,000		3,467	1	$ 35,200,000
2	The Hurricane	4,900,000	5,701,085	2,148	6	37,519,000
3	Stuart Little	4,800,000	4,778,048	2,702	8	128,724,000
4	Next Friday	4,300,000	5,752,715	1,420	4	45,477,000
5	Eye of the Beholder	4,040,000	5,959,447	1,751	2	11,840,000
6	The Green Mile	4,000,000	4,022,589	2,335	9	120,386,000
7	Galaxy Quest	3,300,000	3,402,102	1,939	7	62,828,000
8	Down To You	2,900,000	4,019,014	2,003	3	16,713,000
9	Girl, Interrupted	2,600,000	3,254,074	1,863	7	24,950,000
10	The Talented Mr. Ripley	2,500,000	2,780,431	1,819	7	75,622,000