ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

MOVIES & TV

Competing at Cannes: David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive,” Sean Penn’s “The Pledge,” Joel and Ethan Coen’s “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and DreamWorks’ animated film “Shrek” (directed by Andrew Adamson and Victoria Jenson) make up the American contingent joining the already announced opening-night film, Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge,” in competition at the May 9-20 Cannes Film Festival. Also included in the competition are four films from France, three from Japan, two each from Italy and Taiwan, and single offerings from Russia, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Iran, and--in the first-ever entry from the country--Bosnia (director Danis Tanovic’s “No Man’s Land”). Norwegian actress-director Liv Ullmann is heading this year’s jury. Last year the top Palme d’Or prize went to Danish director Lars von Trier for “Dancer in the Dark.”

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Another Barrymore Generation?: While most media outlets are still wondering whether actors Drew Barrymore and Tom Green are really married, the comedian--out promoting his new movie “Freddy Got Fingered”--has thrown a baby into the mix. Green--who is known for courting publicity by playing public pranks regarding his relationship with Barrymore--told Jay Leno on Wednesday’s “Tonight Show” that Barrymore is pregnant. Green said Barrymore, who was with him at the show’s taping, whispered the news to him right before he went on the NBC stage.

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Tube Notes: Rosie O’Donnell, who has been absent from her talk show due to a hand injury, will resume her hosting duties on Monday’s program, a show spokeswoman said Thursday. O’Donnell also makes a surprise walk-on appearance on today’s show, which is guest-hosted by Barbara Walters. . . . Showtime has acquired “The Believer,” winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s 2001 Grand Jury Prize, and will premiere the film on the cable network in September. . . . Cable’s BET will air “Suge Knight: The BET Interview,” featuring the jailed Death Row Records CEO in his first full on-camera, behind-bars interview, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

THEATER

Leaving London’s National: Director Trevor Nunn (“Cats,” “Les Miserables”) will step down as director of Britain’s National Theatre when his contract expires in September 2002, making his five-year tenure the shortest in the London theater’s history. “Trevor Nunn has his own plans for the next stage in his career,” a theater spokeswoman said, noting that Nunn had agreed to stay on, however, until his successor is found. The Times of London reported that the front-runner is Nicholas Hytner (“The Madness of King George”), 44, who has three major productions coming up at the National. Critics had faulted Nunn, 61, for abandoning the National’s usual adventurous programming in favor of guaranteed hits, such as his recent sell-out production of “My Fair Lady,” featuring a soap star in the lead role.

POP/ROCK

No Slam Dunk: Laker star Kobe Bryant’s well-publicized Columbia Records deal has officially been scrapped, leaving the fate of Bryant’s debut album hanging in the air. A Columbia spokeswoman called it “an amicable agreement to go separate ways,” but label insiders say delays and poor studio work nixed the project months ago and Columbia has been trying in vain to sell the property. Bryant did release the single “k.o.b.e.” last year, but the album has lagged far beyond its target release date of last August. “He’s not even sure if he’s going to release it now,” said Jerrod Washington, chief executive of Heads High Entertainment, Bryant’s music company. “Some of the material is kind of old, and with the season going on, he’s looking at other things. He may come back and do some fresh material later.” Bryant will have to make quite a comeback to rival fellow Laker Shaquille O’Neal in the music world--Shaq already has four albums under his belt that have sold a combined 1.5 million U.S. copies, and his latest, “Shaquille O’Neal Presents His Superfriends,” is due in stores July 24.

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Comeback Roadblock?: Michael Jackson and the management company the Firm--which guided the careers of such top-selling acts as the Backstreet Boys and Limp Bizkit--have parted ways. Jackson had been working with the company for more than a year while preparing for a forthcoming album, his first planned release since 1997’s “Blood on the Dance Floor,” a poor-selling album of remixed hits. The singer’s spokesman confirmed the split, but said only: “It just didn’t work out, and Michael Jackson thanked them for all their hard work on his behalf.” An industry Web site, https://hitsdailydouble.com, reported that the Firm had dropped Jackson because it was not notified of his plans for an all-star concert at Madison Square Garden, which was announced earlier this week. Jackson’s new album--considered crucial to his career--is expected to be released in the fall.