Movie update!

Fox 2000 has announced via Daily Variety that Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson will star in the movie version of "Marley and Me".

Churchillians know that M and Me is based on a book written by former Churchillian John Grogan.

The news isn't on the Variety web site yet, but Mr. Grogan reprinted it on his web site. Here it is:


Two wag dog tale

BYLINE: MICHAEL FLEMING

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 226 words

Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston will star in "Marley & Me," the Fox 2000 adaptation of John Grogan's bestselling memoir about an incorrigible Labrador retriever.

David Frankel, who last directed "The Devil Wears Prada" for the studio, will helm; Scott Frank is working on the latest draft of the script.

Plan is to begin production next year. Gil Netter and Karen Rosenfelt are producing.

Marley is the yellow lab adopted by Grogan, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and his wife. Their idea was to give them a taste of parenthood, but the dog proved to be a hyperactive handful. He wreaks havoc, gets kicked out of obedience school and gets even worse when the children begin to arrive, yet becomes an indispensable part of the family.

Fox 2000's Elizabeth Gabler and Rodney Ferrell have been trying for weeks to pull the cast together in this frenzied climate ahead of a possible strike, and deals are in final negotiations. Pic should shoot early next year.

Wilson will next be seen in the Wes Anderson-directed "The Darjeeling Limited," recently wrapped "Drillbit Taylor" and is filming "Tropic Thunder" for director Ben Stiller.

Aniston recently committed to the Sidney Kimmel Entertainment-financed Stephen Belber-directed "Management," and she is reportedly in talks to play a small role in the ensemble of "He's Just Not That Into You" for New Line.