FILM / Rushes

Are musicals - the sort where people suddenly, and incessantly, burst into song - about to stage a comeback? Disney's little-seen Newsies and Sarafina] flopped, but the success of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and the forthcoming Aladdin, each and every one an old-fashioned, if animated, musical, has convinced studio brass that there may be profits in a revival, despite the genre's traditional expensiveness. (Besides, musicals allow the industry to be seen paying lip service to the prevailing trend of the moment, 'clean' family entertainment.)

Thus Disney is pressing ahead with their long-on-the-launch-pad Evita, while Paramount attempts, yet again, to place a director on Phantom of the Opera. Rumours that Michael Jackson was to have played the man in the mask have been denied: Michael Crawford seems a safe bet to recreate the part on celluloid. Catching the mood, Madonna is shopping for a musical project, ditto singer-choreographer Paula Abdul. Barbra Streisand is also said to be contemplating a return to the form, having dropped out of the remake of Gypsy. It's now being done on CBS television with a reportedly temperamental Bette Midler hogging the Ethel Merman part.

At the moment all eyes are on James L Brooks's risky dollars 40 million 'manic-depressive musical' I'll Do Anything. Scored by Carole King, Prince and Sinead O'Connor and starring the previously non-dancing, non-singing Nick Nolte, Albert Brooks and Joely Richardson, Columbia have given the production a December release-date after response to the trailer hinted at some resistance to the product. Research screenings are now planned to 'fine-tune' the a hard sell.

The global box-office take for the first 54 days of Jurassic Park: dollars 400 million. TV star Ted Danson's movie fee since news of his dalliance with Whoopi Goldberg broke: dollars 2 m. Tom Cruise's profit-related payment for The Firm: dollars 15m. The Firm's US gross to date: dollars 128,569,759. Amount Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss is demanding to tell her story of stars caught in flagrante delicto: dollars 1m. Rumoured amount offered to Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss not to tell her story of stars caught in flagrante delicto: dollars 3m.

Previously, those who fancied playing intergalactic marines and being stalked by the thing from Alien had to transport themselves all the way to Glasgow. There Alien War has attracted over 100,000 visitors since its April 1992 opening. Now the 'total reality' experience is heading for London, complete with long, dark corridors, flashing lights, billowing smoke and screaming sirens.

The 'event' itself opens at the Trocadero on Saturday 16 October, preceded in September by the Alien War shop and cafe (very Planet Hollywood). There is speculation that stars of the Alien trilogy will attend the opening to confer their blessings on the Alien museum. But if you cannot wait that long, the team behind what hopes to be a franchise are hunting for Sigourney Weaver and Michael Biehn 'wannabes' to take part in the show. They are looking for tall, very fit people of all ages (within reason) and both sexes, whether they are unemployed, resting actors or 'just looking for full-time employment that is a little bit different' - to put it mildly.

Interested parties should send details to: Weyland Yutani, Fury 161, Cloister Court, 22 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AU.

Reader Martin Crost offers his contribution to our on-going search for the worst movie trailer: 'One of the most enjoyed must be the one for Jean-Jacques Annaud's 1992 film. For 60 seconds two writhing, naked bodies make love, climaxing with the title The Lover. The screen fades to black and the inevitable caption appears - 'Coming Soon'. ' Further contributions to: Worst Trailer, Arts, 40 City Road London EC1Y 2DB.