April 28, 1998

In an interview with Tom Snyder a few weeks ago, Barry Sonnenfeld said that Wild, Wild West would be released in the summer of 1999. Sonnenfeld also said that this film will have more effects in it than either Men in Black or The Addams Family.

Jaqui Lopez, ILM visual effects supervisor, said in a lecture at Copenhagen that there will be a lot of digital stuntmen for this movie.

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April 1998

Kenneth Branagh tells BBC Radio that his upcoming role as the antagonist in The Wild Wild West is new but exciting territory for him. "There are a few surprises in store," Branagh reveals. "My assistants are very interesting and, of course, I have a lot of wonderful equipment in my lair. Having just seen Austin Powers recently I'm looking forward to playing this. It'll be great fun, I think. We've done some rehearsing stuff. It's a smashing part - I was very glad to be asked".

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April 21, 1998

In the May 1998 issue of TRAINS magazine, on page 19 is a picture with caption titled "A walk on the Wild side" which goes on to say:

One of the B&O Railroad Museum's prizes, B&O 4-4-0 No. 25 'William Mason' (Mason Machine Works, 1856), is loaded on a low-boy trailer February 26 for shipment to the Strasburg Rail Road, where it will be overhauled for use in the movie "The Wild, Wild West." The engine returns in September to the Baltimore museum, where it will be available for future movies and occasional operations on the grounds.

The picture shows the engine being loaded onto the low-boy but doesn't give a good view of the engine.

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April 18, 1998

In Sundays issue of Aftonbladet I read something about the Wild Wild West. 27 year old Sofia Eng is going to play one of the bad guys: Miss Lippleider, a german specialist on lipp-reading. Dr. Loveless (Kenneth Branagh) has four female spies, and she´s one of them. She´s in for most of the script and has a fightscene with Kevin Kline. The filming begins 22 april and ends in october. It´s a small role, but its very well paid.

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April 17, 1998

Vander ventures to 'Wild West' She'll play villain Branagh's henchwoman

By ERIC OLSON, April 17, 1998 Variety

Musetta Vander, last seen as Queen Sindel in New Line Cinema’s “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,” has joined the cast of in “The Wild, Wild West” at Warner Bros.

In the film starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline, which is inspired by the hit TV series of the 1960s, Vander will play the henchwoman of the villain, Kenneth Branagh. Salma Hayek also stars.

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who also produces along with Jon Peters, pic is skedded to begin shooting in L.A. in May.

The film is scripted by Jeffrey Price and Peter Seaman and exec produced by Bill Todman Jr., Joel Simon, Kim Le Masters, Tracy Glaser and Barry Josephson. Graham Place co-produces.

Vander is onscreen now in Periscope Pictures’ “Gunshy” and appears in MGM’s upcoming “Molly.” Credits include “Under the Hula Moon” and two films for HBO — “Edge of Darkness” and “Monolith.”

Vander has made guest appearances in the television shows “The Sentinel,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Highlander,” “Soldier of Fortune” and “Murder, She Wrote.”

Vander’s deal was brokered by Gary Rado of the Agency for the Performing Arts and her manager, Richard Kerner of Doxon Entertainment.

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April 15, 1998

Hayek tames 'Wild West' Joins Will Smith, Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh

By ANDREW HINDES, April 9, 1998 Variety

Salma Hayek has landed the female lead in Warner Bros.’ “The Wild Wild West” opposite Will Smith, Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh.

She plays Rita Escobar, a woman caught in a love triangle between government agents James West (Smith) and Artemus Gordon (Kline). Shooting is skedded to start April 22.

Barry Sonnenfeld helms the feature based loosely on the off-beat Western TV series, which ran on CBS from 1965-1970. Jon Peters and Barry Josephson produce.

Jeffrey Price and Peter Seaman are the screenwriters. Exec producers are Bill Todman Jr., Joel Simon, Kim LeMasters and Tracy Glaser.

Hayek is now shooting Kevin Smith’s supernatural comedy “Dogma” with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino and Chris Rock for Miramax.

She will be seen this summer in Miramax’s “54,” in which she plays an aspiring singer and coat-check girl. Also upcoming for Hayek is director Dan Ireland’s indie feature “The Velocity of Gary.”