'True Grit' remake proceeds apace

Look like all those rumors about a remake of True Grit... aren't just rumors. According to the showbiz trade paper Variety, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (Oscar winners for No Country for Old Men) are scheduled to start production next March -- for a late 2010 release -- with Jeff Bridges filling in for John Wayne as grizzled lawman Rooster Cogburn. Matt Damon reportedly is "in talks" to co-star as the Texas Ranger played by Glen Campbell in the original 1969 film -- which, like the remake, was based on a novel by Charles Portis. And Josh Brolin may sign on to play the chief villain of the piece. No word yet on who will portray the feisty young woman played in the '69 original by Kim Darby. But the Coens insist their version will be “more faithful” to Portis’ novel than the film that helped The Duke win his one and only Academy Award. Maybe it will. But, dang, talk about having a tough act to follow…

Celebrating the John Wayne Centennial on DVD

Warner Home Video (WHV) and Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) will join forces on an unprecedented initiative to honor John Wayne on May 22 -- just four days before what would have been The Duke’ 100th birthday.

The companies will pool their DVD sales and marketing resources, digging into their vast libraries for a total of 48 Wayne films. The lead titles in the promotion are Rio Bravo in both a Two-Disc Special Edition and Ultimate Collectors Edition; The Cowboys as a Deluxe Edition; and True Grit as a Special Collector’s Edition.

WHV also will debut the John Wayne Film Collection, a six-disc set (also available individually) featuring six films never before on DVD: Allegheny Uprising, Reunion in France, Tycoon, Without Reservations, Trouble Along the Way and Big Jim McLain. Counting titles already in release, there will be a total of 34 Wayne films available from WHV.

PHE has a total of 14 Wayne titles on DVD, highlighted by the all-new Special Collector’s Edition of True Grit along with three DVD collections: the John Wayne Century Collection which features 14 films including The High and the Mighty Special Collector’s Edition, Island in the Sky Special Collector’s Edition, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist and Big Jake; the John Wayne Western Collection which features nine films including Hondo Special Collector’s Edition, McLintock! Special Collector’s Edition, El Dorado and Rio Lobo; and the John Wayne Adventure Collection which features five films including The High and the Mighty Special Collector’s Edition, Island in the Sky Special Collector’s Edition and In Harm’s Way.

But wait, there's more: Turner Classic Movies will celebrate John Wayne throughout May by airing several of The Duke's biggest hits. And don't worry, pilgrim: We'll run the complete list of titles as soon as they're available.