Janssen Eyed for Terminator; Highlander's Paul Returns

 

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Screen bombshell Famke Janssen has already been a Bond villain and a superhero in the blockbuster X-Men, and now the former model may have a third iconic film role to call her own: Terminator.

The actress's name is being dropped by Variety's Michael Fleming as the lass most likely to become the next psychotic cyborg in the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi film franchise.

According to Fleming, the Dutch-born Janssen is the leading contender for the killing machine role, over, say, pro wrestling's Chyna.

The first two Terminators were Ahnuld himself and menacing liquid-metal guy Robert Patrick (whose steely gaze has now been co-opted by TV's X-Files). Trivia note: Janssen and Patrick shared the screen in the teen horror flick The Faculty, playing teachers who become unwitting hosts for alien invaders.

Janssen played telekinetic Jean Grey in this summer's X-Men, a role she'll repeat for the upcoming sequel, and also embodied the unforgettable thighs-of-steel Russian villain Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye.

Life Beyond Highlander Been wondering what's become of Highlander's Adrian Paul since the cult TV fave went off the air in 1997? The ponytailed one was back as the immortal Duncan MacLeod in this year's forgettable film follow-up Highlander: Endgame, but other than that, it's like he's been sucked into another dimension.

But there's always an action franchise for a guy who's so handy with a sword: Variety reports that the London-born Paul is in line for both a new feature film and a series.

The syndicated sci-fi series would star Paul as an intergalactic bounty hunter on the trail of escaped bad guys — some of whom no doubt need a good beheading. Gil Grant, who brought us syndicated shows like Relic Hunter, starring Tia Carrere, is on board the untitled series for Lions Gate.

Lions Gate Television Executive Vice President Kevin Beggs says that Paul was a natural choice, thanks to his still-strong Highlander fan base, and compared his overseas appeal to that of ex-Hercules Kevin Sorbo, now on the syndicated series Andromeda.

"[Paul]'s got the eye-candy appeal that will make women stop and tune in, and he's got the action appeal that men want," Beggs explains.

No specifics have been offered on the film deal, which is also with indie Lions Gate, and which reportedly earned Paul a low seven-figure payday. The series isn't sold yet, however. It will be shopped at the National Association of Television Programming exhibition in January.

The actor is currently in Budapest, Hungary, filming A Breed Apart with Bai Ling and Bokeem Woodbine.