TELEVISION - Nov. 7, 1991

Dalton Defects: Actor Timothy Dalton has jumped ship and will no longer play the title role in the Alexander and Ilya Salkind production of “Christopher Columbus: The Discovery,” according to a spokesman for the producers. The spokesment would not comment on rumors from the Madrid production headquarters that Willem Dafoe will succeed Dalton. Dalton’s departure is the third major one to hit the film. In pre-production, director Ridley Scott left to join a rival film, “Christopher Columbus,” which will star Gerard Depardieu. A month ago, his replacement, George P. Cosmatos, exited, to be replaced by John Glen. Until these developments, both films were expected to be on roughly the same schedule, headed for release next October, marking the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage to the Western Hemisphere.