Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

MOVIES

Bad Timing: John Grisham vetoed Woody Harrelson for a role in the movie version of his novel “A Time to Kill,” due to open later this month. Harrelson told USA Weekend that the novelist-lawyer rejected him because of his role as a murderer in Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers.” A friend of Grisham’s was murdered, allegedly by two teens who had just seen the violent 1994 film. Harrelson tried to contact Grisham after learning about the author’s feelings. “I called his house. I said, ‘Let’s talk about it,’ ” Harrelson said. “I wanted him to understand what was going on. . . . I never talked to him. They said he wasn’t home.”

Pinch-Hitter: Aaron Neville is filling in for Garth Brooks in the upcoming baseball-themed thriller “The Fan.” Brooks had hoped to make his movie debut by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the movie, which stars Wesley Snipes and Robert De Niro, but his touring schedule wouldn’t permit it. Brooks, though, will end up on the big screen at some point--he has a production deal with 20th Century Fox.

‘Buffalo’-ed in Toronto: David Mamet’s “American Buffalo,” starring Dustin Hoffman and “NYPD Blue’s” Dennis Franz, will have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September. The festival will also offer the North American premiere of “Bogus,” starring Whoopi Goldberg and Gerard Depardieu and directed by Norman Jewison.

ARTS

Praemium Imperiale Honorees: The Japan Art Assn. has announced the five Praemium Imperiale honorees for 1996: American Cy Twombly for painting; France’s Cesar for sculpture; Japan’s Tadao Ando for architecture; Italy’s Luciano Berio for music; and Poland’s Andrzej Wajda for theater and film. First awarded in 1989, the Praemium Imperiale was created to award extraordinary achievers in the arts not covered by the Nobel Prize. Each recipient is given 15 million yen (presently valued at approximately $150,000).

PEOPLE WATCH

Cruise’s Latest Mission: Tom Cruise turned on the heroics when he rescued a 7-year-old London boy being crushed in a crowd of fans at the London premiere of “Mission: Impossible.” Cruise, arriving with wife Nicole Kidman Thursday night, rushed to help Laurence Sadler when he saw him being pressed against a barrier. London newspapers reported Friday that Cruise hauled the boy clear and comforted him, while calling for police help. “It was scary, man. I could see the color draining from the kid’s face,” Cruise told the press. “After I pulled him out I gave him a hug and he seemed OK.” Sadler’s mother, Kim, praised the star. “At first I was worried for Laurence but he ended up having the time of his life.”

Takei’s Trek: George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu in “Star Trek,” made his first trip back Thursday to the World War II internment camp where he and his family lived for three years when he was a boy. “I’ve always had that desire to go back, that curiosity,” said the 59-year-old actor. Takei was among 275 Japanese Americans who left San Francisco and other Northern California cities by bus for a four-day pilgrimage to the Tule Lake Relocation and Segregation Center near the Oregon state line. Today there will be a service in nearby Klamath Falls, Ore., for internees who died in the camp.

‘Price’ Suit: A former “Price Is Right” model is suing host Bob Barker, claiming she was fired after 19 years for being overweight. Holly Hallstrom, who filed suit this week, is seeking unspecified damages. Barker had sued Hallstrom for libel in December, claiming she had issued “totally false” press releases saying she had been fired last year because she was fat. Barker said the 43-year-old Hallstrom had voluntarily retired.

STAGE

Taper Switch: The first and third shows for the Mark Taper Forum’s next season have switched slots. Emily Mann’s adaptation of the autobiography of African American centenarian sisters Bessie and Sadie Delany, “Having Our Say,” will now open the season, Sept. 19-Oct. 27, while Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia” will take the third slot, Jan. 16-Feb. 23. The trade was made to accommodate the schedule of “Having Our Say” director Walter Dallas, who is artistic director of Freedom Repertory Theatre in Philadelphia. “Arcadia” will be staged by Taper producing director Robert Egan.

QUICK TAKES

Elizabeth Taylor, who heads the AIDS-research support group AmFAR, is in Vancouver this weekend for a conference of AIDS researchers. Taylor spoke out at a similar AIDS conference in Amsterdam in 1992, criticizing U.S. immigration restrictions for people with HIV and AIDS. . . . Variety reports Jason Patric has the inside track in replacing Keanu Reeves in the upcoming “Speed II.”