Steve Martin is to star in the film of his first novel, Shopgirl. He also wrote the script and is to serve as executive producer on the project.

The film is a romantic comedy about an aspiring artist who sells gloves at a Beverly Hills department store.

Steve Martin explained, "I wrote a novel this year called Shopgirl and several producers came to me and wanted to turn it into a movie. And I said, 'Look, if you think you're going to take this book and change it around and Hollywood-ize it and give it a new ending... Well, that's going to cost you.' "

Muhammad Ali walked up the red carpet and shook hands with children and supporters as he attended his home town's premier of the film that chronicles his life. Ali grew up near the cinema in Louisville, Kentucky. The film, directed by Michael Mann, stars Will Smith in the title role.

The 59-year-old former boxer, who has Parkinson's syndrome, was helped out of the car by his wife and he then took a mock punch at a photographer before kissing a boy on the cheek. "It's good to be back home," he said. "It's a great movie. Will Smith did a great job."

Lauren Bacall and Nicole Kidman will star in Danish director Lars von Trier's new film Dogville. Filming is set begin on January 7 in Sweden. Trier's film company, Zentropa, are co-funding the movie with the National Danish Film Institute.