It can be a challenge just to work with people you clash heads with, but imagine going back to work after a big lawsuit? Back in April of 2007, John Goodman started off the Pope Joan plague by backing out of the project and getting sued. Then there were those director kerfuffles, and then star Franka Potente had to back out because the film was taking too damned long to come together. But now at least one drama is righting itself.

Variety reports that the case between Goodman and Constantin films has been settled, and he is once again starring in the film as Pope Sergius. But that's not all. David Wenham has also signed on to the film and will play Gerold, "a kind knight who becomes Joan's greatest love" as she disguises herself as a man and takes the papal throne. Too bad he's not playing a creepy guy again. He was excellent as Eden Fletcher in The Proposition.

With the cast now in place, the film is finally schedule to begin production next month in Germany and Morocco.

Next time Terry Gilliam gets down about his bad luck, he should talk to Constantin Film about Pope Joan. In October of 2006, Franka Potente signed on. In April 2007, John Goodman got sued for backing out of the feature. That made production stop. Then director Volker Schlöndorff was fired over comments he made to a paper. Last we heard, there was a new director, Sönke Wortmann, but that was last August.

And I just had to go and say: "How funny would it be if she could no longer do it? Also disappointing, since I'd love to see her really command a period piece." The Hollywood Reporter posts that due to scheduling conflicts from the rampant delays, Franka is out and German actress Johanna Wokalek is in as Pope Joan. That news just, well, sucks. It would've been a great opportunity for Franka, and Wokalek isn't well-known stateside, which could affect the production further.

But here's where things get weird. It seems that although he was sued and left eons ago, "Constantin said Wednesday that it remains in talks with Goodman and that the actor could still join the cast." That would certainly help foreign cred, but is he really still around? Is this just due to the lawsuit? The whole production just seems like a mess.

Should I even bother saying that principle photography is now set for August, with the film's release set for 2009? Will this come to fruition, or are more problems on the way?

One might see a bunch of huge snags as a good reason to re-think the making of a film, but not Constantin Films -- and let's hope that's because they've got a real keeper. Back in April, John Goodman was sued for backing out of the production of Pope Joan. Soon after, production was halted. As if that wasn't enough, July brought about the firing of the film's director -- Volker Schlöndorff. He had criticized the company's habit of making extended versions of their films for television (they plan to do just that with Joan). Undeterred, Variety has reported that Constantin Film has selected The Miracle of Bern and Deutschland. A Summer Fairytale helmer Sönke Wortmann to take over the directorial chair.

With the director in place, they're now hoping to get production going early next year, with Franka Potente still tapped to star. (How funny would it be if she could no longer do it? Also disappointing, since I'd love to see her really command a period piece.) The film is an adaptation of Donna Woolfolk Cross' bestseller Pope Joan, which tells the legend of a ninth-century woman who disguised herself as a man and ascended the papal throne -- but was later found out when she had a baby during a procession from St. Peter's. Oops. I have to say -- having the sex when you're not only the Pope, but a female one at that, is pretty risky. Assuming the production hits no more snags, we should be able to see it for ourselves in a year or two.

It is now anybody's guess when Pope Joan will go into production. You may remember that the adaptation of Donna Cross's novel hit a snag back in April because John Goodman abruptly departed the film. He was subsequently sued, and production of the film, which was supposed to start shooting in May, was put on hold. Now, the film has also lost its director, Volker Schlöndorff (The Tin Drum), who has been fired. Constantin Films gave Schlöndorff the pink slip following the filmmaker's remarks to a newspaper about his problems with Constantin's practice of simultaneously making extended versions of its films for play on television (ooh, does that mean there's a longer cut of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer out there for my enjoyment?). I'm not sure what his stated problems were, whether he feels the practice makes audiences more patient to wait for films to hit their TV sets or if he simply has a problem with his work being out of his control and released in a cut that isn't his own.

The film will (eventually) star Franka Potente (The Bourne Identity) as the title character, a woman who pretends she's a man and manages to become Pope for two years in the 9th century. Although this film is based on a recent novel, Pope Joan is a legendary figure in history, and may have actually existed. She was previously portrayed by Liv Ullman in a 1972 film from director Michael Anderson. It should be a monumental role for Potente, who follows such Oscar-winning, cross-dressing actresses as Hilary Swank, Gwyneth Paltrow and Linda Hunt (plus cross-dressing/cross-gendering nominees Felicity Huffman, Julie Andrews and Ingrid Bergman). Pope Joan had been re-set to begin shooting in six weeks (they must have finally replaced Goodman), but it will probably be delayed again while Constantin searches for a new director. Meanwhile, Schlöndorff will just have to look forward to screening his latest, Ulzhan, at Toronto this fall.

Hallelujah, it's the weekend! But there is still news to share:

• I am now 100% convinced that Peter O'Toole passed away, and some sort of robot took over his career. That is the only thing that makes sense considering the ever-growing number of projects that actor is involving himself with. Then again, maybe he just has a death wish and fittingly figures he should work himself into the grave by never stopping to catch a breath. Variety has reported that he and Sam Neill will be starring in a Canadian miniseries called Iron Road. Taking place during the final building moments of the Canadian Pacific Railway, it follows a poor Chinese girl who falls for a rich tycoon. Sources say his character is named "Relic." Sounds more like a Kung Fu role to me, but we'll see.
• Wonders never, ever cease. The latest words to be put together -- Mike. Tyson. Bollywood. Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? According to the CBC, the ear-hungry fighter will join the cast of Fool and Final for a pop music video by Indian singer Himesh Reshammiya. The movie is about some sort of boxer who helps to foil a diamond heist. Sure, the boxing ties into the attention for Tyson, but that still seems like a huge jump to make. Could this be Tyson's re-imagining? Will he start donning colorful clothes and become a Bollywood dance star? Maybe not, but I can dream.
• Fie John Goodman. As Jessica Barnes shared a few days ago, he is being sued for backing out of the upcoming film Pope Joan. Now Constantin Film has officially stopped production. Is this really necessary? Can't they follow through with the suit while getting one of the many other men in the world to play the part of Pope Sergius? I really don't care what the particulars are. Get back into production, cast someone else and get me my Franka Potente!

Maybe it was the lure of appearing alongside Susan Sarandon in Speed Racer that landed actor John Goodman in some legal troubles. Variety reports that German film company Constantin Film have filed a $3 million lawsuit against the actor over his failure to commit to the film version of the medieval legend of Pope Joan. The film has already cast Franka Potente as the lead in the story of a woman who managed to hide the fact she was female long enough to become Pope sometime in the 850's. Supposedly, she was found out when she gave birth during a procession from St. Peter's -- now that must have been an awkward walk home.

According to Constantin Film's lawsuit, Goodman had made a verbal agreement to play Pope Serguis. Goodman's legal representation has dismissed the lawsuit as "frivolous," and that even though Goodman had entered talks over the project, he added that "no agreement had ever been reached." According to the suit, Goodman's reps had contacted the filmmakers in March, but I guess it was not enough time since Constantin is suing for what they say are "significant sums" as a result of the delays of recasting. Constantin claims that Goodman had agreed to accept $500,000 for his role in the film, it makes you wonder what the Wachowski Brothers were offering.

Odds and ends from Friday:

• Sure, she had the difficult challenge of playing Matt Damon's girlfriend in The Bourne Supremacy, but now Franka Potente is set to take her career to a higher level. The actress has signed on to star as Johanna von Ingdelheim in Pope Joan, based off the best-selling novel. Story centers around a 9th century woman who disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks. Now if that doesn't sound like Oscar material, I don't know what is. In fact, I'm surprised Hilary Swank's name hasn't been mentioned.
• Patricia Clarkson has hopped onboard the cast of Lars and the Real Girl, joining Ryan Gosling and Emily Mortimer. For a story that sounds a bit cheesy, they certainly managed to acquire a decent cast, huh? Pic revolves around some dude who becomes obsessed with a woman he meets on the internet ... only to later find out she's not real and is, in fact, a doll. Commence Mannequin 3 jokes ... now.
• While we're still not sure whether Indiana Jones 4 will actually happen, George Lucas is definitely moving forward on his plans to bring both a live action and an animated Star Wars series to the small screen. The man himself recently spoke about the latter saying that it could air as soon as next year, though a network has not picked it up yet. Clone Wars will be a CGI follow-up to the traditionally-animated series from 2003 and is supposed to feature all of your favorite characters from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. However, none of the film's original actors are involved. Drats!