Today's Film News: Nair Flies The Friendly Skies

By Katey Rich

It's late in the day, but for what it's worth, here are today's big film headlines.

Mira Nair has jumped in to replace Philip Noyce as the director of Amelia, a biopic starring Hilary Swank as the famed aviator Amelia Earhart. Noyce had done several months of development work on the project before dropping out late last year, for undetermined reasons. Nair was planning to begin production on Shantaram with Johnny Depp, but the project was put on hold due to the writers strike. Avalon Pictures is financing the film, set to begin filming in April.

Martin Scorsese just can't stay away from the musicians. Just after the Berlin premiere of his Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light, he's announced that he will direct an untitled documentary about Bob Marley, the famed reggae singer. International film sales agent Fortissimo Films will help with financing. Marty is also looking to direct a documentary about ex-Beatle George Harrison.

Amanda Seyfried, soon to star in the summer musical Mamma Mia! and previously seen in Mean Girls, will take the co-starring role in Jennifer's Body, the next film written by Diablo Cody. The Hollywood Reporter says that Seyfried, who also appears on TV's "Big Love," will play a girl who must take drastic measures to help her friend (Megan Fox), a cheerleader who turns into a demon and starts killing boys all over town. Karyn Kusama (Girlfight) directs.

Jumping into the cast for Charles Shyer's adaptation of the children's book Eloise in Paris is Uma Thurman, who will play the titular tot's nanny. Shyer said that he wrote the role with Thurman in mind; he penned the screenplay with his daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, and Larry Spencer. The main role has not yet been cast, but filming is set to begin in June.

OK, say it with me now: awwwwww. James McAvoy and his wife, Anne-Marie Duff, will team up in the Irish caper comedy Perrier's Bounty, as part of a trio fugitives on the run from a mean ol' gangster. TV director Ian Fitzgibbon will be in charge of the venture, with a script from Mark O'Rowe.