" 'Damien' is probably a few years away because Robin is booked through next year with other films," said Marsha Williams, the actor's wife and co-producer of "Damien." "Next year is very, very wishful thinking for a start-up date."
She said a recent announcement by the film's other producer, Walter Josten of Blue Rider Productions, through the Maui Film Office citing a possible 1997 start-up date, is not realistic.
"Robin and I are completely planning on making this film because we both love it, but I have six or seven projects in development right now and movies take an incredibly long time to pull together," she said. "Until I have a script I want to do, I won't commit to any kind of time frame."
In a recent Star-Bulletin interview, Josten said the movie would film about four months on three islands with an ideal starting date of next spring depending on the Williamses' script approval and Robin Williams' availability.
"Marsha and I totally agree that it's more important to do this picture right than to rush it," he said.
Charles Leavitt is rewriting a script based on O.A. Bushnell's novel "Molokai," he said.
The only way Marsha Williams foresees "Damien" filming next year is if other projects "fall apart," she said. "Talking about projects in development gets people all excited. Until we have a script and I have a commitment from Robin with a specific date I prefer not to say anything."
She described "Damien" as "timeless with a universal appeal because it relates to attitudes about any kind of disease whether it's AIDS or leprosy."
She doesn't see it as a harder sell to audiences than any film without "buildings blowing up or weird catastrophes."
"Initially I was told 'Mrs. Doubtfire' was going to be a tough sell," Marsha Williams said.
She declined comment on "Damien's" reported $35-million to $50-million budget. "(The budget) hasn't yet been discussed," she said.
In a salute to 30 years of the "Star Trek" franchise, the crew of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" will be united with that of the original U.S.S. Enterprise through the special effects technology used in "Forrest Gump." Two 'Treks' meet
Variety reports that in a "Deep Space" episode titled "Trials and Tribble-ations," which will air Nov. 4, Captain Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, will travel back in time with his crew to the classic "Star Trek" episode when the Enterprise was nearly overrun by tiny creatures called "tribbles." Sisko will come face-to-face with Captain Kirk (William Shatner), the original captain of the Enterprise.
Furry Boo, Donkey and their friends are coming to PBS this fall in a new series for preschoolers, "TOT TV." Beginning in October, the weekly half-hour program offers a mix of puppetry, live-action and animation to introduce children to language and learning. JUST FOR TOTS
Puppets Tom and Tiny speak English, and Tilly speaks Spanish, and the three have no trouble understanding each other. An on-line computer site for young children and the adults caring for them will be part of the "TOTS TV" package.
Kay Kasamoto of KHET's promotions department said that the local station will know in about a month if and when "TOT TV" will air for isle audiences.