Michelle Pfeiffer had quite a 2007 with the box office success of "Hairspray" domestically and "Stardust" overseas (almost triple the U.S. take with $96 million). Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, she's teaming up with her "Dangerous Liaisons" director, Stephen Frears, on another period drama, "Cheri." Kathy Bates and relative newcomer Rupert Friend will also play major roles in the new Miramax production.

An adaptation of French author Colette's '20s novel, the film chronicles a six-year romance between a middle-aged lady (Pfeiffer) and a wealthy young man (Friend) that ends when he's forced to marry a younger woman. Unfortunately, he can't get over his past lover and retreats into a fantasy world (perfect material for Frears). Bates will play the young man's mother.

Friend is best known to American audiences for playing the morally corrupt Mr. Wickham in Joe Wright's "Pride & Prejudice." However, soon he'll be found courting Emily Blunt as Prince Albert in "The Young Victoria" (it seems Hollywood can't get enough queens on the big screen).

Like Pfeiffer last year, Bates appears to be making something of a comeback herself. Besides reprising her iconic role of the psychopath Annie from "Misery" in a cute, new DirecTV commercial, she has a prominent part in Sam Mendes' new drama "Revolutionary Road," alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, which will debut this December. She'll also appear in Fox's remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," opposite Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, a film that will also release at the holidays. Currently, Bates is filming Tyler Perry's new drama, "The Family That Preys," with arguably his most accomplished cast to date: Jennifer Hudson, Alfre Woodard and Taraji P. Henson ("Hustle & Flow"). And, coincidentally (or not), Pfeiffer and Bates recently finished shooting the romance "Personal Effects" with Ashton Kutcher.

As for "Cheri," production is expected to begin sometime this summer.

Next column: Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum try to avoid "Stop-Loss"; and more.

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