The makers of the acclaimed Brazilian film City of God are facing a legal battle with a real life former drug dealer who claims that he has been unfairly portrayed in the film. Ailton Batata claims claims he is the basis for the character of Sandro Cenoura, a slum dealer dragged into a turf war. Batata is also suing Paolo Lins, the author of the fact-based book which inspired the film. Batata's lawyer said: "Both the movie and the book are selling a biography that they have no authorisation to tell or sell."

Timothy Spall, who won plaudits for his performance in Mike Leigh's All or Nothing, is the latest British character stalwart to join the Harry Potter line-up. The rumpled actor will crop up in a supporting role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, yet to go before the cameras and tentatively scheduled for a release in the summer of 2004. Spall will play Peter Pettigrew, a childhood friend of the boy wizard's father.

The Seven Samurai is to be subjected to yet another Hollywood make-over. Miramax has recruited Men of Honour writer Scott Marshall Smith to adapt Akira Kurosawa's 1954 masterpiece for the 21st century. It's not the first time that this has happened. Most notably, The Seven Samurai served as the inspiration for John Sturges' western classic, The Magnificent Seven. Rather less notably, it was the touchstone for Roger Corman's cheesy sci-fi outing Battle Beyond the Stars in 1980.

Kim Basinger is set to play a Mrs Robinson-like character in Door in the Floor, an adaptation of the John Irving novel A Widow For One Year. The LA Confidential star is currently in negotiations to play the role of a woman who seduces her husband's underage assistant and abandons her family. Jeff Bridges is already lined up to play her husband.