· Adam Sandler and Kevin James will bravely mine the previously unexplored comic territory of domestic partner insurance benefits in
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, about two heterosexual firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple Although with a script by Alexander Payne and James Taylor, there's hope it will be more than a processsion of "look at how uncomfortable it is when two straight dudes have to pretend to kiss!" jokes. Bonus callback section: Sandler will take on the project after he wraps 9/11 Reign O'er Me with noted director Mike Binger. [Variety]
· Ethan Hawke Presents An Ethan Hawke Film Starring Ethan Hawke: Taking the concept of vanity project to an exciting new level, Ethan Hawke will direct Mark Webber, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Michelle Williams, Laura Linney, and himself in The Hottest State, the film adaptation of his own novel. We don't even want to think about the casting couch self-abuse he had to endure to land himself a role in the picture. [THR]
· Fox's decline in film division revenue can't stop COO Peter Chernin, who's clearly never tried to sit through Fantastic Four, from "feeling really good about the movie biz." [Variety]
· Rob Corddry lands the lead role in the Fox comedy pilot Becoming Glen; coupled with brother Nathan's recent casting in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, we may all have to confront the sad reality of a Corddry-less The Daily Show this Fall. [THR]
· The red-hot Terrence Howard seems to be content with taking over Samuel L. Jackson's career, as he's in final negotiations to star in Coach Carter-y feeling Lionsgate drama P.D.R., based on true story of an inner city swim coach. [Variety]

Celebrity Clemency-Seeking Month continues with this report of Ethan Hawke sending an impassioned e-mail to acting Gov. Richard J. Codey of New Jersey to commute the sentence of a friend of his family who shot a police officer boyfriend to death in 1986, allegedly in self-defense: