‘Sorcerer’s Stone’ May Get Spielberg’s Magic Touch

Is J.K. Rowling’s young wizard Harry Potter about to have a close encounter with the wizardry of Steven Spielberg? And if the first Potter adventure, “The Sorcerer’s Stone,” is the mega-successful director’s next movie--a strong likelihood at this point--what does that mean for the half-dozen or so other pending projects to which his name is attached?

Ever since he finished “Saving Private Ryan,” more than two years ago, Spielberg’s name has been linked to some of Hollywood’s highest-profile titles at various studios around town, including the Fox/DreamWorks thriller “Minority Report,” starring Tom Cruise, Sony’s adaptation of the bestseller “Memoirs of a Geisha” and the late Stanley Kubrick’s dream project “AI” for Warner Bros.

So when is Spielberg going to make another movie? And what will it be? The answer to the first question, according to Spielberg’s representative Marvin Levy, is “very soon and it’ll probably be more than one movie. Steven is eager to get back to directing.”

The answer to the second is “he hasn’t decided yet,” Levy says. And virtually every studio in town would like to know what that film will be because even having the chance of Spielberg direct their movie is worth delaying any project.

“He’s the most successful director in the medium working at the height of his talents,” says screenwriter Ron Bass, who is adapting “Geisha” and a second possible Spielberg project, “If Only It Were True.”

“It’s not news that everyone wants him; what’s news is: Who’s going to get him?”

*

A final decision is imminent and right now the buzz is that Spielberg’s next project will be a Harry Potter film for Warner Bros., which is set for the studio’s summer 2001 schedule. Despite press reports that he has already decided on Potter, Spielberg’s office issued a statement saying that there is no firm agreement yet.

But Harry Potter would be a logical choice. After two adult dramas in a row, “Amistad” and “Saving Private Ryan,” Potter would be a welcome return to mainstream family fare, an area in which Spielberg has no peer. Having Spielberg’s name attached to the immensely popular British children’s book would be the equivalent of the Disney imprimatur on an animated movie--guaranteed through-the-roof box-office potential.

Further, it could be the beginning of yet another valuable franchise similar to “Jurassic Park” (a third film in the series will be directed by Joe Johnston and produced by Spielberg) and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (a fourth installment has been in development, though not necessarily to be directed by Spielberg).

Spielberg had been considered out of the running on Potter because of “Minority Report” and Warner Bros.’ commitment to having the family film ready for summer 2001. But when “Minority” got delayed, that changed. A first draft of Potter by screenwriter Steve Kloves (“The Fabulous Baker Boys”) was delivered in early December and Warner production head Lorenzo di Bonaventura says “it was an incredibly good first draft. All of us felt we were within shouting distance, including J.K. Rowling. We felt we’d cleared a major hurdle.”

The script is about to undergo further revisions. And conceptualization of the computer-graphic effects in the movie is also imminent. Di Bonaventura says the film has a long production schedule, which means it would have to start by midyear to be ready by the next summer.

If Potter is next up for Spielberg, it could be followed by “AI” (Artificial Intelligence), also from Warner Bros., a sci-fi thriller originally to be directed by Kubrick. According to Levy, Spielberg would write the script (though probably not alone) since “he and Stanley had a lot of phone conversations about it over an eight-year period.”

“It’s been in Steven’s head and he has lots of notes and lots of thoughts,” Levy says. “Whatever happens, Steven will be true to Kubrick’s memory and vision.”

Spielberg’s last film, “Saving Private Ryan,” a DreamWorks/Paramount co-production, grossed more than $450 million worldwide and brought home a bunch of Oscars as well, including a best director statuette for Spielberg. His two “Jurassic Park” films for Universal brought in more than $2 billion in revenue.

Since directing “The Lost World,” “Amistad” and “Ryan” without a break, the director announced he was taking some time off to spend with his family, though Levy notes he has been far from inactive. In addition to developing at least six already announced projects to direct, he has overseen a host of other film, television and interactive productions at DreamWorks; Spielberg is a founding co-owner of the young studio along with David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

*

For a time it appeared that Spielberg would next direct “Minority Report,” with Cruise, which is based on a short story by sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick (“Blade Runner”). There has been great anticipation about a pairing of the superstar director and actor. But the film, which is in pre-production, has been beset by script problems--the latest draft, by Scott Frank (“Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight”), was delivered earlier this month--and been pushed back more than once.

Originally slotted for this summer, “Minority” was shuffled back to Fox’s year-end crop of movies. But it’s now completely off the 2000 schedule. And though Cruise remains committed to the project, he’s begun looking elsewhere. Last week he announced interest in an original screenplay by writer William Nicholson (the upcoming “Gladiator”) titled “Fertig,” a World War II action film.

Though Cruise has not definitely set his next project, according to his press representative Jennifer Allen, he has the pick of all the best new material in town, as well as his own development pool at Paramount, where he has a production deal. If he moves on, scheduling problems for Spielberg and Cruise could delay “Minority Report” indefinitely. (Fox refused to comment for the story.)

Then there’s “Geisha,” a project that has been gestating for the last few years since Sony first acquired the property for Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, who run the Red Wagon production company. Fisher, a former senior executive at Sony, says that “we’re still in active conversation and development” on “Geisha.”

Screenwriter Bass says he’s heard that the project may go through another writer since he’s busy adapting another film for Spielberg and rewriting the sequel to Sony’s “Bad Boys” for Martin Lawrence. But he thinks that’s a good sign because it means Spielberg is still “interested in the project and trying different things with it,” Bass says.

Sony has been willing to move on to another director, say sources at the studio, but Spielberg has remained committed to doing the project and has already decided on several major cast members. Spielberg chose newcomer Rika Okamoto for the lead role of Sayuri.

Should he direct Potter and “AI” at Warner Bros., where does that leave DreamWorks? Over the last five years Spielberg has directed only two films for the company, the disappointing “Amistad” and the Paramount co-production “Ryan.” Though DreamWorks representatives say they never comment on Spielberg’s projects, insiders say that of the projects he will next direct, the company would somehow be involved in each of the films, though not necessarily in a co-production capacity. According to other industry sources, however, any participation on Harry Potter is highly unlikely, though DreamWorks could be involved in “AI.”

Down the road Spielberg is committed to directing “Lindbergh” for DreamWorks, based on A. Scott Berg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. Originally assigned to writer Paul Attanasio, “Lindbergh” has moved on to frequent Spielberg collaborator and rewrite man Menno Meyjes (“The Color Purple”). DreamWorks also spent $2 million to purchase the recent French novel “If Only It Were True” for Spielberg, which Bass is currently adapting.

Spielberg has not ruled out directing “If Only,” which would be the only love story he’s ever tackled in his career apart from “Always.”

Any decision by Spielberg will come soon, Levy promises.

“I hope for Steven’s sake it does,” Bass says. “I know how frustrated he’s been by the delays. He wants to get back on the floor. He really wants to direct again.”