Hollywood

By CATHY BOOTH/LOS ANGELES

Rumors of the demise of Michael Ovitz's power in Tinseltown, it appears, are premature. Two weeks ago, speculation abounded--in the pages of this magazine, among others--that the former superagent might be having trouble making deals, because he had not sold the movie rights for MICHAEL CRICHTON'S new novel, Timeline, due out next month. Ovitz put such talk to rest last week when Paramount signed on for the film. It will be directed by a big name to boot: RICHARD DONNER (Lethal Weapons 1, 2, 3 and 4). Folks at Paramount weren't talking, but the film, which is said to be a Jurassic Park-esque tale of time travel and technological marvels, is slated for release in summer 2001.

--By Cathy Booth/Los Angeles