Latest Production Rumours

• Sean Connery has dealt a huge blow to the Scottish film industry by closing down his Los Angeles-based production company. Connery's Fountainbridge Films was a major supporter of Scottish movie projects and with its closing plans for a film about the life of Mary Queen Of Scots have been put on hold. Hollywood sources claimed Sir Sean's shock decision followed disputes with his business partner Rhona Tollefson. Fountainbridge Films was behind the hit flick Entrapment, which starred Sir Sean and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Connery's agent says, "Sean took the decision to shut down Fountainbridge Films because he just wants to concentrate on acting." Tollefson would only say, "Sean and I are no longer in business together." (IMDB)
  
• Sean Connery and Michael Caine are being tipped to play on screen rivals in the thriller Kolymsky Heights. Julianne Moore and Edward Norton are also expected to star in the movie based on Lionel Davidson's bestseller. Jon Amiel will direct the drama, which is set against the backdrop of a remote community in post-Cold War Russia.Connery and Caine last starred together in a movie in the Rudyard Kipling tale The Man Who Would Be King in 1975. A senior source told Ananova: "Sean and Michael have been talking for years about working together. "Now it looks as though it is finally about to happen." 20th Century Fox is backing the movie, which is scripted by Anthony Peckham and due to go into production in spring next year. (Ananova 070202)

• 'Star Trek X: Nemisis "This information comes from a scooper who has had contact with another individual that works inside Paramount. Our scooper also said that the rumors about Sean Connery being considered for the part of Shinzon were never true; instead, the Trek producers were thinking of Connery playing a smaller part, that of the leader of the Romulan Senate. This character would only be seen at the beginning of the movie, setting up the story arc between the Romulans and the Federation." (August 10th, 2001 SFX)

• Sean Connery’s production outfit Fountainbridge Films is set to board the lavish period epic 'Mary, Queen Of Scots', which is set up with co-financiers BBC Films and Intermedia. Intermedia already has a production pact with Fountainbridge. Acclaimed British writer Jimmy McGovern, who has completed a first draft, said that Fountainbridge is to co-produce with Gill Parry and Catherine Aitken from Scotland's Raging Star Films, who originally set the project up with McGovern. McGovern said that he was delighted by Connery’s involvement, which he hoped would help to create the kind of epic drama to rival Elizabeth, the acclaimed period movie which starred Cate Blanchett.

  At this stage, there are no plans for Connery to appear in the $20m project - although the film-makers are not ruling it out. An action-packed tale of lust, power, and murder, the film focusses on the early life and loves of the young queen. It opens when she leaves France, still a virgin at 19-years-old despite having a marriage behind her. It ends after she marries her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell. Two bloody murders will dominate the movie: that of her much-loved private secretary, David Rizzio, ordered by her second husband Lord Darnley; and that of the womanising Lord Darnley himself. The BBC's David Thompson and Robert Cooper are executive producing, along with Intermedia's Guy East and Nigel Sinclair. (BBC News 11/01/01)

• Sean Connery is set to star with Paul Newman in a movie version of Clive Barker's novel Damnation Game. Warner Bros is backing the £40 million action thriller. Connery may also co-produce the movie, which is due to be made later this year. John Heffernan is adapting the book, and Barker will be producing the film through his company Seraphim Films. An associate told Ananova: "There has been a lot of financial wrangling to get Newman and Connery at a cut rate with a share of the profits to come." Ed Harris, Kim Basinger and Dame Maggie Smith are understood to be considering support roles in the adventure, which will be shot in New York and Connecticut. (Ananova 7/6/01)

• Connery 'to star in cycling hero movie' Sean Connery is being lined up to star in a film about cyclist Graeme Obree. The former James Bond actor is said to be very excited by the project. Ex-world record holder Obree built his own bike, which included parts from a washing machine. Connery would play his mentor in The Flying Scotsman, according to the Daily Record. Producer Peter Broughan said: "Talks are ongoing and we're hopeful that Sir Sean will agree to take the part. He has been a big fan of cycling and particularly Graeme Obree. "The film, I would say, is The Full Monty meets Chariots of Fire in lycra." Shooting could start in the autumn. Trainspotting star Jonny Lee Miller is favourite to play Obree. Obree said he would be honoured if Connery took part in the film. (Ananova 28/05/01)

• Sean Connery could be set to produce and star in a remake of The Ghost And Mrs Muir. Vanessa Redgrave is also being tipped for the new version of the 1947 comedy. Connery has been in negotiations with writer-director Jonathan Lynn about the project. Rex Harrison played the part of the ghost - Captain Daniel Craig - in the Joe Mankiewicz original, with Gene Tierney as the lady with an unexpected 'lodger'. A senior source told Ananova: "Sean really likes the way Lynn's script has shaped up and feels the time is right for him to get involved in light comedy again. "It's a lovely vehicle but the female lead must be right." . Mr. Connery owns the rights to make the film, which would be done by his own production company, with him cast as Captain Gregg, The movie's director Randa Haines has been quoted in "Marilyn Beck's Hollywood" column as saying she'll be making an update of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with Sean Connery "as soon as we get a script." (24/04/01)

• Sean Connery to star in new hit-man comedy, Sir Sean Connery looks set to star in a new film from Ghostbuster's director Harold Ramis. Connery is believed to be the producer's choice to star in Rule £3 which Ramis has just agreed to direct. The film is believed to be about an arrogant billionaire firearms tycoon who bullies a man he assumes is just an average Joe. But the man turns out to be an ingenious hit man who decides to teach the tycoon a lesson. According to the Hollywood Reporter filming on the project is unlikely to begin before the proposed actors' strike later this summer. (Feb 27th 2001

• Sean Connery to play Socrates. Sean Connery is to play the Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in a new film. The former James Bond star made the announcement in Athens. He said the idea had come from his friend the composer Vangelis, who will also write the music for the film. A director for the project was not named. Connery was in Athens for the opening of an exhibition of the work of his wife Micheline. (Jan 23rd 2001)

• Sean has been approached to play Austin Power's father in the next installment of the Mike Myers film series. (Buzztracks 11/01/01)

• "The newly knighted Sean Connery is to star in an adaptation of a Graham Greene novel, "The Quiet American" which is set in Viet-Nam in the1950s. The story, about an American idealist and an English journalist, was made into a film in 1955, starring Audie Murphy and Micahael Redgrave but this was not regarded as a success - especially by the author. This latest version has been adapted by Christopher Hampton who won an Oscar for "Dangerous Liaisons." The new film is still in its early stages "

• An Empire Online spy, reporting from the set of Unconditional Love, which has been filming recently in Weobley, Herefordshire, has turned up an interesting fact – the cast has been joined by none other than Sean Connery.The movie, which is directed by PG Hogan – the man responsible for Muriel’s Wedding and My Best Friend’s Wedding, has a confirmed cast which includes Jonathan Pryce, Kathy Bates and Rupert Everett. Pryce plays popstar Victor Fox whose humble Welsh background didn’t get in the way of becoming a huge star in the States. When Fox meets a bizarre death in Chicago, his body is returned to Wales for the funeral. It’s here that the coffin is opened, revealing Fox resplendent in a pink negligee and tiara – a revelation that leads in turn to the discovery that Rupert Everett was Fox’s lover.It’s not known what role Connery has taken in the movie, which is being produced by Jerry Zucker, but our spy tells us that he’s been involved in the scenes which were filmed on location in Chicago.This looks like being a busy year for Mr Connery. Yesterday Dark Horizons reported that his US based film company, Fountainbridge Films have put a golf comedy into production with Connery slated to star. (31/3/00 Thanks Sue) Upandcomingmovies

• Macbeth - 1999, Sean plays the Narrator, due for release on 6th June 1999, also stars Daniel Rosenboom as Macbeth and Sean Anderson.

• Sean Connery has signed on to a post-Cold War espionage thriller film project called End Game. The film, which will be produced through Mandalay Pictures, tells the story of an old school CIA agent (Connery) who joins a special undercover mission only to learn that he’s being used as a pawn in a larger scheme where he is ultimately framed. Connery’s character teams up with a younger but honest new-school spook who attempts to aid the man in clearing himself and exposing the real culprits. According to Variety, the film will be produced by Jorge Saralegui from a script by Adi Hassock and Stuart Kelban. Pending the hiring of a helmer and co-stars, plans are to start production in early 2000. (Cinescape 6/10/99)
  Latest End Game News

• Sean Connery is set to play the Scottish naturalist John ("Father of Conservation") Muir in the Paramount biopic "Dominion. based on the life of the Scottish-born American naturalist who founded the Sierra Club. "Michael Apted will direct the film scripted by "A River Runs Through It"director Richard Friendenberg and based on a screenplay originally penned by Alan Duncan Ross and Maryedith Burrell Connery will also co-produce. (Cinescape)

• Sean Connery may return to the role of 007 for a millenium remake of Thunderball!! Called Dimension 2000, or Doomsday 2000.

• Sean Connery and Rhonda Tollefson's Fountainbridge Films has struck a three-picture deal with Intermedia. Connery is likely to star in all three projects. The first pic will be "Do Not Go Gentle," a drama to be produced by Tollefson, Connery and Juliet Blake from a screenplay by David and Peter Griffiths. The other two are "The Patriot" and "Mount Weather." "Patriot" is a period drama written by Mark Rosenthal, which Louise Krakower will produce with Connery and Tollefson. "Weather" is an action adventure pic.
  Intermedia will arrange the financing and worldwide distribution for all three films, with the company's principals Guy East and Nigel Sinclair taking the executive producer credit.
  "Sean Connery has enthralled the world with his movies for 30 years," East said. "We are excited and proud to help Sean and Rhonda put these three films together." (Sherrie E, Cinescape)

• Tipped to reprise his role in Indiana Jones as Dad, whenever the next movie gets off the ground!
  George Lucas, speaking at the Screen Producers’ Association of Australia conference, revealed that the script for Indiana Jones 4 is finished and waiting for its director and star. "It really is a matter of Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford’s time frames." Both men currently have a variety of projects on their slate and, while making public comments that they’d enjoy filming another chapter, a start date has yet to be determined. Spielberg has confirmed that the script also calls for Sean Connery to return as Indy’s father.(Cinescape)

• Commissioned a script about the Lockerbie Disaster, and discussing a role as Chief investigating Officer in the film about the terrorist bombing of a US aeroplane, crashing into a small scottish village.

• The Scottish Daily Record is reporting that Sean Connery has been cast in the starring role of Saladin, "the Muslim who led the 12th-century fight against the Crusaders in Jerusalem." Mustafa al Aqqad will direct the film which is reported to have a budget in the range of $100M

• There are rumours about a Jackie Chan movie project with Sean Connery. This project was called "Unwanted" and the story is about a british police officer, whos driver from Hong Kong is murdered and he asks this officer before he dies to look after his son. Jackie was interested in this project and he even
  wants to film it between the end of the making of "Shanghai Noon" and the beginning of the making of"Giants".( Jackie Chan Site, thanks Tania!)

Return To Sean Homepage