Foster Fills in for Kidman in Panic

February 5, 2001 -- The year is young, but Jodie Foster has already disappointed two film festivals. The actress-director, who withdrew a film from the Sundance Film Festival, had to pass on serving as president of the Cannes International Film Festival jury.

Foster said Sunday she had a "heavy heart" over passing up the Cannes honor, but it's a heavy wallet that's to blame for her decision.

She's accepted $12 million to take over for an injured Nicole Kidman in David Fincher's next film, The Panic Room, according to Variety. A knee injury two weeks into filming forced Kidman to withdraw, leaving Columbia execs in a panic of their own to find a new leading lady.

They first turned to Angelina Jolie, who's now free due to the shelving of Beyond Borders. Jolie decided instead to do Life, or Something Like It for New Regency. The project is now out to A-list directors, Variety reports.

The French film festival, which is held in May, must now find a new president for its 12-member jury. Cannes president Gilles Jacob issued a statement Sunday that read, "The embarrassment and regret she expressed are equaled by our disappointment, but anyone can understand that for an actress, her profession comes first."

As for Foster, she said, "I hope with all my heart that it is only a postponement and that, if the festival honors me with another request, I will one day become president of a festival to which I owe so much, and this time for good."

In The Panic Room, Foster will play a woman whose home is broken into by three thieves (played by Jared Leto, Forest Whitaker, and Dwight Yoakam) on the trail of her late husband's fortune.