Rumors that Danny DeVito could be the...

Rumors that Danny DeVito could be the Penguin in “Batman II” are looking good--the actor is now negotiating with producers Peter Guber and Jon Peters, according to sources. Though neither a director nor screenwriter have signed for the sequel, a Warner Bros. spokesman confirmed a fall start date in London and the signing of supporting players Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gouth and Pat Hingle, all of whom appear in the original. . . .

Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte and director Walter Hill reteam for “48 Hours II,” a sequel to the offbeat cop-convict thriller that catapulted Murphy to screen stardom. Scheduled to begin production January, 1990, in Las Vegas, the new chapter is scripted by Jeb (“Die Hard”) Stuart. Lawrence Gordon produces for Paramount. . . .

Annie Potts is negotiating to ping-pong between her “Designing Women” TV series and director Peter Bogdanovich’s “Texasville,” writer Larry McMurtry’s continuation of “The Last Picture Show,” to film in August. Potts plays Jeff Bridges’ wife, the only major new character. Cybill Shepherd, Timothy Bottoms and Randy Quaid also reprise their roles. . . .

Dabney Coleman plays a retirement-age cop who discovers he’s worth more to his family dead than alive in Fox’s “The Short Time.” The black comedy, written by Michael Berry, William Osborne and William Davies, films in Vancouver later this month with debuting director Gregg Champion. Todd Black and Mickey Borofsky produce for Gladden Entertainment. . . . “E.T.’s” Leonard Maltin gets his cuddly image contrasted with the diabolical cast of Warner Bros.’ “Gremlins II,” when he makes a cameo appearance in the currently filming sequel. Ironically, Maltin panned the original, so expect director Joe Dante to exact some artistic revenge. . . . Australian playwright David Williamson’s “Emerald City” centers on a eminent Melbourne-based writer who moves to the entertainment capital of Sydney. It’s scheduled for a fall release in the United States. Observes actor Chris Hayward, who plays a sleazy film producer who entices the writer with the promise of big bucks: “It’s really a lot like the rivalry which exists between New York and L.A.”. . . .

In a recent column Lisa Zane, who’s appearing in Trans World’s “Bad Influence,” was confused with Australian-born actress, Lisa Collins Zane. The first Lisa is actor Billy Zane’s sister; the second Lisa is his wife.

Kathleen Kinmont takes the title role in Wild Street’s “Bride of Re-animator,” produced and directed by Brian Yuzna. Director and cineast Johnny Legend (“My Breakfast With Blassie”) plays the leader of the undead in the ghoulish sequel which returns actor Jeffrey Combs as the notorious Dr. West.