Husband and wife actors Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly will play Charles Darwin and his wife Emma Darwin in the upcoming feature Creation for Oscar-winning UK producer Jeremy Thomas.

Jon Amiel will direct, and the cast will also feature Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The film is not described as a traditional biopic, instead as “part ghost story, part psychological thriller, part heart-wrenching love story.” The story focuses on Darwin’s years as a young man whose adored 10-year-old daughter Annie helps him battle his demons and reconnect with his family.

The young actress playing Annie will be announced soon.

The film, formerly known by the working title of Nature, will be directed by Amiel (Entrapment) from a screenplay by John Collee (Master And Commander) based on Randal Keynes’ book Annie’s Box.

Thomas’ Recorded Picture Company will produce and sister company HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales. The project was co-developed with BBC Films and the UK Film Council. Icon Film Distribution has already come on board for UK and Australian theatrical rights.

Shooting starts Sept 28 on locations including Darwin’s own home, Down House. The film is being readied for a 2009 release to coincide with the bi-centennial of Darwin’s birth.

The Origin Of The Species author’s life is seen as a collage of scenes from past and present, laced with images of exotic animals and the dark dreams of Darwin’s troubled mind.

“John Collee’s compelling script tells the remarkable story behind Darwin’s revolutionary theory and the foundation of a book that changed the world. We think of Darwin as an old man with a grey beard, the reality of our story is very different,” said Thomas.

Jamie Laurenson, executive producer, BBC Films, added: "BBC Films are delighted that such a great cast is in place to bring to life John Collee’s fantastic script. We are very pleased to be working with Jon Amiel and Jeremy Thomas’ RPC on what we are sure will be an emotionally powerful and important film.”

HanWay’s slate also includes TIFF titles Genova and Of Time And The City, plus Sam Taylor Wood’s forthcoming John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and Gerald McMorrow’s Franklyn.

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Director Scott Derrickson dazzled Con-goers on Thursday with three clips from his remake of Robert Wise's 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. The first clip was an extension of the interrogation scene from the recently launched trailer to the film. The scene starts with a barefooted Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) being wheeled into an interrogation room bound to a wheelchair. He is being escorted by several Feds. He is hooked up to the lie detector and the Feds leave. Alone with the interrogator, Klaatu is asked a few 'control' questions. When asked if he is aware of an impending attack on the US, he responds "You should let me go... now."

After a brief pause, the interrogator reaches for the machine and is greeted by a shot of energy that moves from Klaatu, through the lie detector wires and into the interrogator. The jolt is so violent it seems to fuse the interrogator's legs to the underside of the table while forcing his head and shoulders back. The table has been turned at this point and Klaatu beings to ask the questions. Among them – "Is there a way out of here?" "Is there a code word." and "What size is that suit?"

The Feds in the hallway were also incapacitated by the 'energy' from Klaatu... who emerges from the facility unimpeded wearing the interrogator's suit.

Clip 2 shows Klaatu and Jacob (Jaden Smith) riding in the bed of a pick-up truck. Leaning back against the cab, the boy tells Klaatu that he is 'not so scary' and that he 'doesn't even look like an alien.' After a pause, the boy admits he told his step-mom (Jennifer Connelly) that they should kill Klaatu... adding that he 'didn't mean it though.'

"You didn't?" asks Klaatu. "Not anymore," said Jacob.

Jacob then asked, "So what's going to happen now?"

"I was just wondering the same thing," Klaatu answers.

The final clip was a speedy montage of some of the action scenes in the film, including good shots of the spherical space ships in the movie, which resemble huge marbles.

Derrickson also confirmed that Gort IS in the film, despite early rumors.

"It wouldn't be 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' without him," he said.

Derrickson said that the design group went through a lot of images and ideas in order to get a good grasp on how best to update Gort for 2008.

"We ended up not far from the original," said Derrickson.

He added that he is still working with Weta Workshop on the details of Gort as well as other elements of the movie.

The Day the Earth Stood Still opens on December 12.

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Director Scott Derrickson told the Comic Con press on Thursday that it was important that his 'update' of Robert Wise's 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still had the same 'soul' as the original about an alien coming to the planet to observe the human species. The 2008 version stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu and Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Helen Benson.

"It was important to get that right," said Derrickson. "Both films are about how humanity can't help but destroy itself."

Derrickson confessed he 'checked in' to the 1951 original periodically during filming, as did the cast in order to preserve the feel of the 57-year-old film.

Producer Erwin Stoff said that the 'update' is loyal on many levels including its screen presence and presentation.

"The original film was unbelievable eye candy for its time," said Stoff. "It was big, kick-ass entertainment. Our movie is the same thing, just updated."

Derrickson said his team was going for a good mix of action and character-driven moments in the film, and were not doing a remake just for the sake of a remake.

"This film still has moments of great intimacy," he said. "If someone remade 'Casablanca,' I'd be upset. If someone remade 'The Wizard of Oz,' I wouldn't understand it. There were really good reasons to remake this film."

Derrickson referred to the messages of the original and how humanity is facing similar issues now.

Many of the character moments come between Connelly and Jaden Smith, who plays her step-son Jacob. There is big conflict there, according to Connelly and the viewer gets to see them struggle to resolve their differences against a backdrop of the first encounter.

"My character is a bit of a departure," said Connelly. "Helen is evolved from the original. We spent a lot of time working on the relationship between Helen and Jacob."

The Day the Earth Stood Still is due in theaters December 12th.

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Jennifer Connelly has been announced as the new face of the Revlon makeup brand.

“Jennifer Connelly is a modern, dynamic and intelligent woman. She is an accomplished wife, mother and actress and her successes complement the spirit of the Revlon brand,” said David Kennedy, Revlon’s President and CEO. “We are elated to have Jennifer join the Revlon family.”

The 37-year-old actress joins the star-studded lineup of Revlon women including Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry, actress Jessica Alba, actress Beau Garrett and newly signed supermodel and entrepreneur Elle Macpherson .

“I am honored to be joining the Revlon Family,” said Jennifer. “Revlon is one of the great iconic brands of today and I am thrilled to be part of a company that has done so much for women around the world.”

SOURCE (Thanks to Tessa for sending this in!)