With Romero at the helm, `Dead' franchise lives again

George Romero is set to direct "Land of the Dead," a horror film that picks up on the zombie saga he hatched with "Night of the Living Dead" and continued with "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead."

In the new movie, described as "Night of the Living Dead" meets "The Road Warrior," zombies have taken over the world and anarchy rules the streets, with the wealthy insulated and living in fortified skyscrapers. The drama revolves around a group of scavengers who must thwart an attempt to overthrow the city while the dead are evolving from brainless, slow-moving creatures into more advanced creatures.

AUSTEN ADAPTATION: Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Judi Dench, and Penelope Wilton have joined the cast of the upcoming adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Sutherland and Blethyn will play Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, the parents of the story's romantic heroine, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). Dench will take a cameo as the snobbish aunt of the hero, Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen).

The movie will be directed by Joe Wright; other cast members include Tom Hollender, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, and Simon Woods. LUCAS JOINS THE TEAM: Josh Lucas is poised to replace the departed Ben Affleck as Don Haskins in "Glory Road," the story of the Texas Western basketball coach who made NCAA history when his all-black lineup of players won the championship in 1966. Affleck is said to have opted out of the picture because of scheduling conflicts.`RAPUNZEL' SPEAKS: Reese Witherspoon and Kristin Chenoweth are in negotiations to voice roles in the computer-animated "Rapunzel Unbraided." The movie is described as a new version of the classic fairy tale, with a twist. The writers are Sarah Parriott and Josie McGibbon.

Witherspoon will next appear in "Vanity Fair," due for release Sept. 1. Chenoweth is currently filming "The Pink Panther" and is also starring in "Asphalt Beach."

FROM WIRE REPORTS