Articles - 40 Days And 40 Nights

Showbiz people briefs (Yahoo)

Mon Feb 25, 1:33 AM ET

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Miramax had just debuted "40 Days and 40 Nights," but scribe Robert Perez and helmer Michael Lehmann were already thinking about possible sequels Wednesday.

"How about he gives up clothing, or electricity," offered Perez, who was inspired to write the story after once taking a vow to abstain from sex himself. "Those are probably the only two things more difficult for a human being to give up than sex."

"Or, what if he vows to have sex every 40 minutes for 40 days," quipped Lehmann.

Star Josh Hartnett, who told Daily Variety that for research purposes he tried to adapt the vow to his own life, probably would not be opposed to Lehmann's proposal, considering he could not follow through. "I lasted 2-1/2 weeks, and it was one of the stupidest things I ever did, " he said.

Joining star Hartnett, Perez and Lehmann at the Mann Festival unspooling and Westwood Brewing Co. after-party were cast members Paulo Costanzo, Vinessa Shaw, Monet Mazur, Adam Trese and Stanley Anderson; and guests Jon Voight, Tara Lipinski (news - web sites), Dave Holmes and Sophie B. Hawkins.

Will Hartnett Abstain?

Josh Hartnett ('The Faculty', 'The Virgin Suicides') is in talks to star in the celibate comedy '40 Days And 40 Nights'. If he signs up he would play a man who after a serious relationship failure, decides to give up the fairer sex for Lent. The trouble is halfway through he meets the girl of his dreams but cannot do anything about it. Ashton Kutcher ('Down To You') had been originally lined up for the role, but he had to pull out due to commitments on the television programme 'That 70's Show'. Hartnett became available while the script was going through a touch-up session. It remains to be seen whether Katie Holmes is to play his dream girl. She is due to star but, like Kutcher, may find her ties with 'Dawson's Creek' getting in the way of the schedule.
Hartnett is currently working on the action/drama flick 'Pearl Harbor', which unsurprisingly is rumoured to have gone way over its $135m budget.
He is also rumoured to be the leading candidate to play the Vampire Lestat in 'Queen Of The Damned'.

-Popcorn.co.uk