Crowe to Sport Trunks, Halle to Hit TV

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/04/2003 at 01:00 PM EST

Russell Crowe and Halle Berry both have their work cut out for them.

First off, Crowe will be back in the ring with his "A Beautiful Mind" director, Ron Howard, for the 1930s boxing drama "Cinderella Man," about Jim Braddock, the real-life boxer who defeated heavyweight champ Max Baer in a 15-round bout, reports Variety.

Shooting is scheduled to begin this November, with "Mind" producer (and Howard's partner) Brian Grazer set to produce and "Mind"'s Oscar-winning screenwriter, Akiva Goldsman, warming up the keyboard to rewrite an existing script.

The project has quite a star-studded history, notes the trade paper. Originally, Billy Bob Thornton was to direct Ben Affleck in it, with Penny Marshall producing.

Then, "Cider House Rules" director Lasse Hallstrom reportedly was set to take the helm with Crowe, but Hallstrom left when Crowe went to shoot the upcoming "Master and Commander."

Meanwhile, in other casting news, Berry, 36, will star on ABC in Zora Neale Hurston's classic 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," part of the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" TV movie series, says the Hollywood Reporter.

The story revolves around the free-spirited Janie Crawford, whose search for identity and happiness in her small Florida town pushes the other locals' noses out of joint.

Shooting is set to begin this summer for an airdate next season.