DUELING STORYLINES
While Walt Disney Productions prepares to film “Ruthless People,†with Madonna as a kidnaped Beverly Hills housewife whose hubby isn’t eager to get her back, a project based on a 1977 Elmore Leonard novel with a near-carbon-copy plot has quietly been abandoned by 20th Century Fox.
“Mickey,†based on the novel “The Switch,†is in turnaround (which means its up for grabs by other studios)--to the relief of Dale Launer, who scripted “Ruthless People.â€
He said he was polishing up his script when he first heard of “Mickey.†Said Launer, “At first, I thought someone had stolen the idea from me.†He’s never read the book or the script adaptation (“I’ve avoided ‘Mickey’ like the plagueâ€). He added, “We got the jump on them, and I’m glad. I don’t think there’s a real big market for kidnap movies where the hostage winds up liking the kidnapers.â€
Leonard’s literary agent, Ben Kamsler, said he wasn’t aware of the similar properties. “If one project is subsequent to the book, well, I don’t know. . . . Let’s just say we’ll be anxious to see the first film.â€
In the interim, “Mickey†is one of six Leonard projects currently optioned to studios, he said.
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