CNN - The Hollywood Minute

The Hollywood Minute

June 19, 1996
Web posted at: 10:15 p.m. EDT

From Correspondent Dennis Michael

The crew of the TV show "Babylon Five" will again soar through space. The Warner Brothers action series has been given the green light for a fourth year. The series follows a single story line, which will climax in the fifth season. Bruce Boxleitner leads the cast.

Babylon 5

The networks are scrambling to a get a piece of "The Rock." The Hollywood Reporter says network bids for first broadcast rights are hovering around $20 million. That's about the same price ABC paid for "Mission: Impossible."

The Rock

"Jumanji" is on top of Billboard magazine's video sales chart. Disney's "The Aristocats" has moved back into second place followed by "Waiting to Exhale," a reprised version of "Mortal Kombat," and "Babe."

Jumanji

Hail to the chief. Video renters have voted "The American President" the number one video in America, according to Billboard magazine's weekly rental chart. "Seven" is number two, followed by "Jumanji," "Goldeneye" and "Braveheart."

Movie lovers in the United Kingdom are flocking to see "Up Close and Personal." "The Birdcage" is tops in Germany, Japanese audiences are lining up for "Heat," and "Twister" is blowing them away in Australia. In Italy, "A Goofy Movie" is number one.

Arnold Schwarzenegger may be getting ready to play "Mr. Freeze" in the upcoming "Batman" movie, but his contract is anything but cold. Daily Variety reports the actor is getting between $20 million and $25 million for his six-week role in the action thriller. Schwarzenegger also will earn money from the film's box office take and merchandising.

There will be no debut of "Mad Max." Daily Variety says plans by Warner Brothers domestic television to create a syndicated action series based on the "Mad Max" movies have been canceled.

Madonna will talk to Rosie first. According to USA Today, the pregnant singer has promised the first interview after she gives birth to talk show host Rosie O'Donnell. That should happen some time in September.

Rosie O'Donnell

Actress Anne Bancroft has joined the cast of "Great Expectations," a remake of the Charles Dickens classic for Fox 2000 pictures. Daily Variety reports the film's cast will include Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert DeNiro. Shooting starts in July.

Previous Hollywood Minutes

June 18: Toni Braxton returns to the music scene
June 17: Eastwood saddles up to direct "Absolute Power"
June 14: "Kiss" reunites for summer tour
June 13: Spielberg and Allen, how about that? Will Dreamworks produce "The Cat in the Hat"?
June 12: Bergen steps aside for Emmys
June 11: Courtney Love one of Time's 25 most influential people in America
June 10: No "Double"-takes for Travolta
June 7: Kevin Costner will soon return to the silver screen
June 6: Uncertainty if Travolta will be in "The Double"
June 5: "Twister" sets box office record in Australia
June 4: Jodie Foster may be leaving "The Game"
June 3: Actor Andy Griffith reaches a landmark
May 31: Angela Lansbury heads north
May 30: Tina Turner to appear in hosiery ads

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