Variety reported today that Steven Spielberg is working on yet another film. Besides his upcoming The Rivals, War of The Worlds and Indiana Jones 4 film projects, he's also working on a film about the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy.

In 1972, 6 Arab terrorists climbed the fence surrounding the Munich Olympic village and storm the apartments housing the Israeli contingent, killing two athletes and holding 9 others hostage. The incident ended with a shootout at the Munich airport where the 9 hostages, 5 of the terrorists and 1 policeman were killed.

The film has been scripted by Eric Roth (The Insider, Forrest Gump) and will move forward with a June production start. Casting has already commenced with actor Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List) in the lead. The film will shoot in Europe, although the filming locations have yet to be revealed. The film will be a Universal/DreamWorks co-production.

Spielberg will follow this project by directing the drama The Rivals written by Robin Swicord. Then he will reunite with Tom Cruise in a adaptation of the H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which David Koepp is currently writing.
And it's currently a mistery when Spielberg will be doing Indiana Jones IV but that's no reason to give up all hopes on the fourth Indiana Jones film yet! Work is continuing on the final version of the Indiana Jones IV screenplay, and once all parties have signed off on the script, shooting will begin. Spielberg promised us it'll happen!

Thanks to Empire Online and Sander for letting us know.

TheForce.net has received the news that Quentin Tarantino mentions George Lucas and Indiana Jones on his Kill Bill DVD. Here's the original report:

Jedi Duritz sends in the following Lucas reference from the Kill Bill DVD:
I just got done watching the Making of Kill Bill on the Kill Bill DVD and Tarantino talks about George Lucas and how Lucas was inspired by the movie genre of the 30’s and 40’s when creating Indiana Jones, just as Tarantino was inspired by old Kung Fu movies for Kill Bill.

IndianaJones.com has been updated with a new article: Indy's read-along adventures.

"This is the story of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You can read along with me in your book. You will know when it's time to turn the page when you hear the bullwhip crack like this... Let's begin now."

Head over to IndianaJones.com to read the new article that tells you everything about the Indiana Jones read-along adventures!

Visitor Semola Mariott has informed me that this morning Steven Spielberg has been insigned by President of Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi with the title of "Cavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" (Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic). This is a great merit because it's so difficult for a non-Italian to get this title.

Tonight (Italian time) Steven Spielberg will appear as a special guest at David di Donatello 2004, the Awards for Italian Movies, to collect the Special David award he won last year and Spielberg will be accompanied by actor/director Roberto Benigni.

Many thanks to Semola Mariott for the news.

StarWarsShop.com, the official online store from Lucasfilm, has just opened its virtual doors. The online store features an extensive selection of Star Wars collectibles and memorabilia, including a record number of exclusive treasures that only Lucasfilm can offer.
And for the Indiana Jones fans, the online store also offers the Adventure Kermit figure by Palisades Toys! The famous frog dressed up as Indy is currently the only Indiana Jones related item available at StarWarsShop.com.

I asked Paul Ens, director of Lucas Online, if there are any plans to sell more Indiana Jones merchandise at StarWarsShop.com in the near future. Paul Ens responded with "We're definitely looking in to working with Disney on their Indy stuff. Other than that, there isn't much happening immediately in the world of new IJ merchandise. If and when Indy IV begins, I expect that all to change."

Enjoy shopping at StarWarsShop.com!

The official Lucasfilm website got a new design & content! And the new look fits Lucas' company perfectly. The new site got everything to fall in love with Lucasfilm, if you weren't already...

Just check it out! www.lucasfilm.com

Film site CHUD has posted a list of the 100 most underrated movies of all time. Although this list only concerns films from the 80's and 90's. But the interesting part for us Indiana Jones fans is the film that made #41 on the list: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!

Temple of Doom: Nothing could top the near-flawless Raiders, but this sudden diversion into violent strangeness is a more than worthy follow-up. Enough with the deliberately contrary hating.

Click here to check out the full list.

I have some very sad news. Peter Diamond, stunt co-ordinator of the original Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark, has died. He passed away on Saturday 27th March 2004, at Pindefields Hospital in Wakefield, South Yorkshire. Peter had experienced a severe stroke six days earlier, whilst driving home from the set of Heartbeat.

Peter spent more than fifty years working in film and television as a stunt arranger, performer, actor and director, accruing over 1,000 industry credits on the way. Condensing his extensive career into a short appreciation like this is extremely difficult. Many people will be familiar with his Star Wars connections. Peter choreographed the action in the original trilogy of films and appeared on screen in several different guises, most notably as the infamous, stick-wielding Tusken Raider. He was Stunt Co-ordinator on Raiders Of The Lost Ark as well as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the first Highlander film - in which he once again appeared on screen, as the Immortal called 'Fasil'.

More information about Peter Diamond and his career can be found on his website: PeterDiamond.co.uk.

Thanks to Ronald de Boer for letting us know.