QUICK CUTS

RUN FRANKA RUN

Following in the long tradition of European stars such as Greta Garbo, Sophia Loren and Juliette Binoche, German actress Franka Potente, who sprinted to art-house fame last year in “Run Lola Run,” has crossed over and will star opposite Matt Damon in Universal’s “The Bourne Identity.” “Lola,” with a North American gross of more than $7 million, was one of the top-grossing foreign-language films last year and earned Potente a shot at Hollywood stardom. In addition to “Bourne,” which will be directed by Doug Liman (“Go”), she will be appear in Ted Demme’s “Blow” for New Line. Staying true to her Teutonic roots, she will also reteam with “Lola” director Tom Tykwer in “The Princess and the Warrior,” from Sony Pictures Classics.

STRANGER DANGER

Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige will direct Joseph Fiennes and Heather Graham in the erotic thriller “Killing Me Softly.” Based on Nicci French’s novel, the story involves a woman who is attracted to a mysterious stranger she meets on the street. The two form an obsessive bond, and the woman risks everything to be with the secretive man. Chen previously directed “Farewell, My Concubine,” “Temptress Moon” and “The Emperor and the Assassin.” Filming begins Oct. 30 in London and is planned for release late next year by MGM.

GIELGUD’S FINALE

The final film performance of John Gielgud, who died in May at age 96, is an adaptation of the short Samuel Beckett play “Catastrophe.” Gielgud co-stars with Harold Pinter and Rebecca Pidgeon, and was directed by David Mamet. The short was made as part of a BBC project to film playwright Beckett’s works, including “Krapp’s Last Tape,” “Not I” and “Play.” The films are making the rounds of fall festivals, including Toronto and Belfast, and will possibly receive theatrical distribution in various combinations before running on British television. Other filmmakers involved in the project are Atom Egoyan, Neil Jordan and Anthony Minghella.