Shakespeareans in Love

Top Headlines
Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck will costar as lovers, despite
their real-life breakup. Plus, Madonna and R.E.M. team up on a
soundtrack, Neve Campbell will leave 'Party of Five,' and
Britney Spears announces her summer tour .

by Josh Wolk
EW daily news
April 9, 1999, 10:00 a.m.



CASTING A little breakup isn't getting in the way of Ben Affleck
and Gwyneth Paltrow working together. The amicable exes will
costar in writer/director Don Roos' (''The Opposite of Sex'')
new film, ''Bounce.'' Their characters fall in love in a
complicated plot that involves an airline crash that kills
Paltrow's character's husband.... Will Smith may team with
Nicolas Cage, but they won't be kicking ass: they'll be getting
married. They're considering pairing for ''I Now Pronounce You
Joe and Benny,'' a comedy about two firefighters who get married
to share insurance benefits. The gags won't be subtle, if the
behind-the-scenes talent is any indication: The script was
written by Barry Fanaro, cowriter of ''Kingpin,'' and Tom
Shadyac (''Liar Liar'') may direct.... Freddie Prinze Jr. has
joined Claire Danes in ''Head Over Heels,'' and for once he's
not playing a high school student. Prinze is the object of
Danes' affection -- even though she suspects he's a murderer....
Michelle Williams (''Dawson's Creek'') is joining the cast of
the ongoing Broadway play ''Killer Joe,'' about a dysfunctional
trailer-park family. She starts April 20 and will be joined by
Lori Petty (''Tank Girl'').... Jeremy Piven and Daniel Stern
have taken the leads in Barry Sonnenfeld's (''Men in Black'')
new TV pilot, ''Partners,'' a quirky detective/buddy show.