Moore fires up plans for a ‘Fahrenheit’ follow-up

Michael Moore plans a follow-up to “Fahrenheit 9/11,” his hit documentary that assails President Bush over the handling of the Sept. 11 attacks and the war on terrorism.

Moore told Daily Variety columnist Army Archerd that he and Harvey Weinstein, the Miramax boss who produced the film, hope to have “Fahrenheit 9/11 1/2 “ ready in two to three years.

“Fifty-one percent of the American people lacked information [in this election] and we want to educate and enlighten them,” Moore was quoted in Thursday’s edition of the Hollywood trade paper. “They weren’t told the truth. We’re communicators and it’s up to us to start doing it now.”

The issues for the follow-up film will remain the same: Iraq and terrorism, Moore said.

“The official mourning period is over today and there is a silver lining: George W. Bush is prohibited by law from running again,” Moore said.

A spokesman for Fellowship Adventure Group, formed by Weinstein and his brother Bob to help distribute “Fahrenheit 9/11,” did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

“Fahrenheit 9/11,” which won top honors at last May’s Cannes film festival, became the first documentary to top $100 million at the domestic box office. Moore, who won the documentary Academy Award for “Bowling for Columbine,” is pushing “Fahrenheit 9/11” in the best picture category for the upcoming Oscars.

Alluding to the controversy that erupted when he criticized Bush while accepting an Oscar for “Bowling for Columbine” in 2003, Moore told Archerd, “I don’t know if people want to see me on the stage of the Kodak [Theatre] again. However, since my wife [Kathleen] was the producer, if I win -- she speaks!”