Sean Penn plays an Irish-American undercover cop...

Sean Penn plays an Irish-American undercover cop trying to infiltrate the Irish gangs of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen in Orion’s “State of Grace,” shooting on location in June. Gary Oldman is a gang member who befriends Penn in the Dennis McIntire screenplay. Michael Hausman produces and Phil Joanou directs. . . .

Susan Sarandon nabs the colorful role of an uneducated, foul-mouthed waitress in Universal’s “The White Palace,” based on the novel by Glenn Savan. Scheduled to film in St. Louis next August, the story centers on a proper young ad exec whose life goes into a tailspin following the tragic death of his wife--and his subsequent improbable romance with the slovenly waitress. Luis Mandoki directs for producers Mark Rosenberg, Griffin Dunne and Amy Robinson. . . . Patrick Swayze is a rodeo professional who returns home to care for and resolve a strained relationship with his father in Tri-Star’s “Homegrown.” Based on an original idea by Swayze, production is targeted for the end of 1989. Martin Poll produces with Swayze, Lisa Niemi and Lois Zetter . . . .

John Malkovich, Joe Mantegna, Elizabeth Perkins and Linda Fiorentino are the initial group of friends cast in New Vision’s “Queens Logic,” filming in the NYC borough in July. Tony Spiridakis’ screenplay centers around the bond between pals who organize a neighborhood reunion. Steve Rash directs for producers Stuart Oken and Russell Smith. . . .

Marriage and politics collide when James Belushi runs for office in NYC in producers Mario and Vittorio Cecchi Gori’s “Forget Palermo,” which shoots in Italy and the Big Apple later this month. Belushi’s honeymoon with Mimi Rogers to the land of his ancestors turns into a political football in the script by Gore Vidal and Tonino Guerra. Francesco Rosi directs and Vittorio Gassman and Philippe Noiret co-star. . . .

Helen Shaver plays a ‘60s movie bombshell involved in an illicit affair with a political comer in “Body Politics,” filming locally in May. Craig Sheffer portrays the Kennedy-esque figure in the directorial debut of Alan R. Howard who also wrote the screenplay. Joel Castleberg and Peter Jameson produce. . . .

Partners in Grime: Fred Ward and Kevin Bacon star in Universal’s “Tremors,” which goes before the cameras early next month in Northern California. The duo play garbagemen who become inadvertent heroes when a small town is beset by creatures that rise from the Earth. Brent Maddox and S.S. Wilson produce and wrote the monster movie homage in which Finn Carter is the distressed damsel and Victor Wong runs the general store. Ron Underwood directs. . . .

Rod Steiger is off to Italy next month to co-star as Ugo Tognazzi’s brother in “A Question of Life.” Based on the novel “The Italian Brother,” it centers on the two mens’ dilemma arising from the political activities of their daughters. Luciano Manuzzi directs and wrote the screenplay for Numero Uno productions. . . .

Helen Slater discovers she’s pregnant shortly after the untimely death of her lover in “The Unborn,” a chiller set in Seattle. Judd Nelson plays a young doctor perplexed by the odd results from her X-Rays in the Arnold Orgolini production set to film in late May. Richard Sarafian directs from the script by Virginia Hegge. . . . Mercedes Ruehl, Paul Reiser and J. T. Walsh are harried ad execs in Paramount’s “Crazy People,” filming in Virginia. John Malkovich stars in the truth-in-advertising comedy written and directed by Mitch Markowitz. . . . Penelope Ann Miller is rookie cop Anthony Edwards’ girlfriend in Fox’s “Downtown.” Richard Benjamin directs the thriller next month in L.A. . . . Former VH-1 Vidjockey Roger Rose leads the motley crew of Trans World’s “Ski Patrol” on the slopes of Utah next month. Paul Maslansky produces the saga of a fight to stop contractors from plowing down a quaint lodge. . . .

Matt Adler plays a competition diver in Creative Edge’s “Diving In.” The “Rocky”-like saga of competition gets under way next month under the direction of Strath Hamilton. Jeff Newman produces and Eric Edson wrote the screenplay. . . .

Bo Hopkins and Red West play police detectives on the trail of a pair of robbing, murdering scoundrels who cut a deadly path through the Southwest in Dunson Film’s “Empty Screams.” Burt Kennedy directs next month for producer Mark Boulbol . . . .

Charlie Sheen narrates his original poetry in writer-director Adam Rifkin’s forthcoming “A Tale of Two Sisters.” Rifkin illustrated Sheen’s volume of verses “A Peace of My Mind,” when it was published last year.