WEEK AHEAD: Justin Ready for His Close-Up

By Serena Kappes

10/22/2004 at 03:00 PM EDT

Justin Timberlake is heading back to the big screen. PEOPLE has the scoop on his next movie, plus other big events to watch for in the coming week:

SATURDAY, OCT. 23: As New York Yankees fans mourn what could have been, Boston Red Sox faithful (yes, that includes you, Ben Affleck) are still reveling in the possibility of finally banishing "The Curse." The Sox haven't won a World Series since 1918, the last series Babe Ruth played with the team before being traded to the Yankees. After a drought of almost 90 years, that could all change now that the Sox are going head-to-head with the St. Louis Cardinals. If the Sox prevail, expect a ton of Beantown residents take post-partying sick days.

MONDAY, OCT. 25: These days, it seems Justin Timberlake is paying more attention to making movies than music. After finishing filming Edison, in which he plays a journalist investigating police corruption (Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey costar), Timberlake will begin shooting his second film, Alpha Dog. In the movie based on a true story, Timberlake plays the best friend of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer (played by Emile Hirsch) who became one of the youngest men to land on the FBI's most-wanted list. Once again, Timberlake will be in good company: Sharon Stone also costars in the Nick Cassavetes-directed film.

He coulda been a reality-show contender, but alas, Mark Cuban didn't have it in him. The last episode of the billionaire businessman's show, The Benefactor, in which contestants compete for $1 million after doing a variety of tasks, will air its last episode after being cancelled because of poor ratings. Donald Trump is certainly gloating about the show's demise: The two moguls have been feuding since Trump accused Cuban of trying to rip off The Apprentice. "When I initially called you to congratulate you on The Benefactor – little did you or I realize how disastrous and embarrassing it would be for you," Trump wrote in a fax to Cuban, which he made public in New York's Daily News. Cuban's emailed response? "Donald truly is a TV star and a legend in his own mind. For that he deserves credit. The same can't be said of his business skills." We smell a new hit show on our hands: When Businessmen Attack.

FRIDAY, OCT. 29: Christopher Reeve will be remembered in a private memorial service at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he graduated before being cast as Superman in the 1977 movie. About 900 people have been invited to celebrate the life of the 52-year-old actor, who died Oct. 10 after complications from an infection. Reeve is survived by wife Dana, their son Will, 12, and two children from a previous relationship: Matthew, 24, and Alexandra, 20. Left a quadriplegic after a May 1995 horse riding accident, Reeve became a tireless activist for stem-cell research. Reeve's wife Dana expressed her support for Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry (a longtime Reeve friend) during a campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday. Kerry has called to expand federally funded stem-cell research and innovation.

Also on Friday, the man accused of stalking Mel Gibson and his family will return to court to schedule a preliminary hearing. Zack Sinclair, a 34-year-old drifter, was arrested Sept. 20 after allegedly making two visits to the gate of Gibson's estate and asking to pray with the Passion of the Christ director. Sinclair has pleaded not guilty to felony stalking charges after he allegedly defied a restraining order to stay away from Gibson.