MORE RAIN, MAN

Are you ready for Rain Man 2? Well, Dustin Hoffman may be. Sources tell us that Hoffman has expressed interest in reprising the role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1988. In the original film, Hoffman played Raymond Babbitt, the autistic older brother of Tom Cruise's fast-talking money-hungry Charlie.

We also hear that both Barry Morrow, cowriter of Rain Mans Oscar-winning screenplay, and playwright Murray Schisgal, a longtime Hoffman pal, are already working on the sequel's story.

Still, according to a source close to Hoffman, the actor's involvement "has yet to go beyond the discussion stage." A spokesperson for Cruise says the actor "knows nothing" about the development of a Rain Man sequel, but speculates that Cruise would certainly be made aware of the project "if the process moves further along."

WHO'S THE BEST BET FOR CASINO?

Now that director Martin Scorsese has signed Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as co-stars of Casino, his forthcoming film about the Mafia's ties to Las Vegas during the '70s, Scorsese has turned his attention to casting the female lead.

Who's in the running for the part? Sharon Stone, for one. Her rep says Stone "has been approached" about the role. We hear, however, that Stone will be facing stiff competition from the likes of Nicole Kidman and Melanie Griffith. A source tells us that each of the three actresses will meet with Scorsese soon in New York City. The film begins shooting in late July.

DIALING FOR DOHERTY

Beverly Hills, 90210 executive producer Aaron Spelling, the man who earlier this year decided not to renew Shannen Doherty's contract for next season, was not at all pleased with a recent Los Angeles Fox-TV phone poll that asked viewers whether Shannen should return to the show next season.

A source at the station tells us that soon after the poll aired on the local 10 o'clock news, "a totally steamed" Spelling was on the phone complaining to the newscast's executive producer. According to one of Spelling's assistants, Spelling thought the poll "was unfair because it left the impression that [Doherty] still may come back"—something Spelling is not planning on.

For the record, the poll results were overwhelmingly in favor of Doherty's returning. At the final count, the breakdown was 3,762 yeas to 814 nays.

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