"Newlywed pop star Britney Spears is busy learning lines for her second movie role, which begins filming later this month. The songstress is set to play door-to-door saleswoman Drew Heart alongside Cher, Tim Allen & Bette midler in comedy "In the Pink". A friend enthuses, "Britney really wanted this part - it's a good script and she's determined to prove to her doubters that she can be funny"..." (full details)

One Race Films is partnering with Blur Studio to make a CGI feature based on the indie toon house's short "Rockfish." Vin Diesel will voice a lead character in the sci-fi actioner, which will likely be aimed at a more mature audience than most studio-produced digitally animated pics. "Rockfish" short is about a man on an alien planet trying to catch a giant "rock fish" that lives underground and disrupts the planet's miners. One Race is now seeking independent financing for the production, which it hopes to bring in for under $30 million. Tim Miller, who wrote and directed the short, will helm the feature..." (full details)

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" producer Mike Fleiss is partnering with helmer Eli Roth on the horror pic "Hostel" at Screen Gems. Jay Hernandez ("Friday Night Lights") is in final talks to topline. Shooting starts this month. Pic's plot is being kept under tight wraps, but Hernandez will star as a traveler abroad. Roth directed, produced and co-wrote "Cabin Fever" for Lions Gate..." (full details)

Thanks to 'KC'