Kidman Gets $16m for 'Invasion'

This is from last week but it has a fresh spin to it. When I first saw that Nicole Kidman would be in a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I thought it was a joke. I shrugged. It would only confirm that her work schedule consists of back to back projects: a divisive art house project that would do paltry numbers at the box office but would have done less if someone else were the name attached; the other would be a mainstream, big budget misfire consisting of an all-star cast and veteran director.

So she films Fur for the director of Secretary and costarring Robert Downey, Jr. She has no immediate plans upon production finishing and will take a break till her next scheduled film, Wong Kar Wai's The Lady From Shanghai, begins production. Then, Invasion was announced last week to begin filming in October. It was said to be a remake but now apparently is an original concept. It will be for German director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall, Das Experiment) and producer Joel Silver - thought it won't be a Dark Castle production. (Dark Castle's next film, The Reaping, it set to also begin production in the fall with Oscar-winner Hilary Swank and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Anna Sophia Robb starring.) Kidman will receive her record paycheck of $16 million for the thriller about a psychiatrist who suspects conspiracy when a behavior altering epidemic sweeps through a small town.

Rumors are also circulating that Kidman has agreed to gain 15lbs. Not for a role. Just so people will get off her back. Her very thin, see-the-spine-through-the-skin back.

Best of luck to her on both projects.