Cutting Chops

The latest 2-fer-1 post...

Variety has news as two "Bergs" are about to collide...

Mark Wahlberg (pictured) is set to star in Peter Berg's as yet untitled film based on the life of international drug dealer Jon Roberts

The documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" chronicled the same story. Wahlberg will play Roberts, who eventually was turned in by a cohort and served a decade in jail for his crimes.

A writer will be set once the strike ends.

Meantime-Wahlberg is really busy: He is currently filming "The Lovely Bones" for Peter Jackson. After that, Wahlberg jumps into the ring for Darren Aronofsky's The Fighter."

The role could prove quite the challenge for Wahlberg--Thankfully though, he's got the stuff to make it work....

The Hollywood Reporter has the skinny on director Richard Linklater's latest project:

Linklater's going to adapt "Me and Orson Welles". The period coming-of-age novel by Robert Kaplow set in 1937 revolves around a high school student (Zac Efron pictured) who, while aimlessly walking the streets of New York, happens upon the yet-to-open Mercury Theatre and is noticed by its founder, Welles.




Relative newcomer Christian McKay is going to play Welles.

Holly Gent Palmo and Vince Palmo wrote the script of the independently financed flick.

Efron, who is currently recovering from appendicitis will return to shooting the dramady "Seventeen" in short order before production on 'Welles' begins in late February.

This is quite a get for the "tween sensation" It will be interesting to see whether Efron can step it up a notch for the project.