Two movies starring JOHNNY DEPP and PENELOPE CRUZ have become the latest
casualties of the Hollywood writers' strike.

Depp was due to have started filming director Mira Nair's Shantaram in
February (08), but the production start date has now been called off.

And Cruz was to have teamed up with reported boyfriend Javier Bardem, Sophia
Loren, Marion Cotillard and director Rob Marshall for Nine, which has had its
start date postponed from March (08).

Members of the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) began their industrial action
on 5 November (07) after failing to negotiate a better financial deal for
royalties from DVD and internet sales with producers and movie executives.

(GES/DV/KL)