CONTINUED CLOUDY

Artistic storms continue to clutter UA’s “Rainman” horizon (we recently reported Dustin Hoffman’s unhappiness with the script): Director Martin Brest and producer Roger Birnbaum are declining comment--but Hoffman attorney Bert Fields confirmed rumors that Brest has left the project (which co-stars Tom Cruise).

Sources close to Brest told us that he felt it impossible to control the material and the direction of the picture. At press time, the producers were seeking a replacement.

Meanwhile, reports that “Rainman’s” original screenwriter, Barry Morrow, was back on the job doing rewrites have proved premature. Michael Bortman (“Who Will Love the Children?”) is aboard instead. (See related letter from writer Ron Bass, Page 99.)

According to Fields, the production could still meet its proposed Aug. 17 start date: “There are a couple of imponderables to be worked out. But Dustin’s working very hard on making that date work.”