The naming of Robert Iger as Disney CEO will not heal the rupture that has resulted in Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s imminent departure from the company, Iger indicated Tuesday. “Negotiating a deal that will ultimately result in us parting company in some form is the right thing at this point,” Iger said in an interview with Bloomberg News, adding, “It will end amicably and it won’t be tense and there won’t be a lot of stress” Several reports have indicated that the separation could take place as early as this week. Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that the Weinsteins intend to include a book division in their new film company, even as Miramax Books is being absorbed into Disney’s Hyperion publishing house.

Jason Lee’s Fletch Won Casting Choices: “I think a lot of the View Askew guys were rooting for Ryan Reynolds for a while,” Lee said, which was news to me. “I think there’s a lot of hardcore View Askew fans out there that would like to see yours truly in the role, but you know, the powers that be, what can I say.”

Jason Lee Thanks You For Your Support: “The View Askew fans are amazing and they’ve always supported me. I like to check in on the board every once in a while and say hi and stuff like that. That means more to me than anything in the world. I get to pay the bills and do things that I like to do. There’s a pretty solid fan base out there. That’s a good place to be, I think. So I’m plenty satisfied.”

ALAS SMITH AND MOANS

When we pointed out last year that director Kevin Smith’s movie Jersey Girl had failed to set the box-office alight, it appears we touched a nerve.

Since then he’s mentioned the so-called slur in every interview, and at this weekend’s Empire Film Awards still had the cutting in his pocket.

Kev, mate, we can only apologise. We’re genuinely sorry more people didn’t flock to see your movie, which was described by one critic as “A more unbearable film than Gigli.”

While it’s flattering to be the focus of your obsession, we think enough’s enough. Maybe it’s time you concentrated on your film career.

Otherwise, a measly Empire award is the first and last gong you’re likely to win.

ALAS SMITH AND MOANS

I’d imagine that’s supposed to be “Alias Smith and Moans.”

When we pointed out last year that director Kevin Smith’s movie Jersey Girl had failed to set the box-office alight, it appears we touched a nerve.

If that’s what Headley got out of all that – that I’m miffed about something they said about “Jersey Girl” – then she’s as dumb as she is hard to look at, and as thick in the head as she is in the ankles.

For the record: it was the “fat, bearded, Hobbit-like” bit and the “insiders say” made-up crap that I’ve always objected to.

Since then he’s mentioned the so-called slur in every interview,

Um, I believe I’ve mentioned it five times exactly in nine months: once during the intro to “Jersey Girl” at the UK premiere, once during the Prince Charles Theater Q&A back in June, once while recording the commentary track for the “Jersey Girl” dvd, once during the Criterion Theater Q&A (for inclusion on the “Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder” dvd), and once at the Empire Awards (largely because Headley was in attendance and amidst a room of folks who already can’t stand her).

and at this weekend’s Empire Film Awards still had the cutting in his pocket.

Wasn’t a clipping I had in my pocket; it was just the two quotes I read. Unlike those twats, I believe in accuracy, hence I wanted to quote their bullshit exactly as they penned it.

Kev, mate, we can only apologise. We’re genuinely sorry more people didn’t flock to see your movie, which was described by one critic as “A more unbearable film than Gigli.”

No apology necessary. As I told you the other night (after you tried to lay the blame for the “fat, bearded, Hobbit-like” quote off on your co-”columnists” instead of simply accepting the responsibility), at the end of the day, you gave me one more great story to tell in Q&A’s. And as you saw the other night, Caroline (and as you’ll see on the “Evening With Kevin Smith 2” dvd), it goes over like gangbusters with a crowd. What was especially delicious about the Empire Awards, though was that you were seated in the midst of the crowd in question… and it still went over huge. What self-respecting individual can sit in a room packed with people laughing at the mediocrity of their existence? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Caroline Headley.

While it’s flattering to be the focus of your obsession, we think enough’s enough. Maybe it’s time you concentrated on your film career.

Like many multi-faceted individuals, I can do two things at once. Yet “obsession”? Hardly. But when I’m in your backyard, it’s a no-brainer to push your snout in the mud. That material wouldn’t play across the pond because, really – who the fuck knows (or cares) what a 3am Girl is over here?

Otherwise, a measly Empire award is the first and last gong you’re likely to win

What a biting comeback. *yawn*

For the record, a few awards I’ve won in the past: at Sundance, I won the Filmmaker’s Trophy. In Cannes, I won the Prix de la Jeunesse and the International Critic’s Week Prize. At the Independent Spirit Awards, I won Best Screenplay for “Chasing Amy.” I’ve won the Defender of Democracy Award from PFAW, and a Humanitas for “Good Will Hunting.”

But, really… dismissing an Empire Award as “measly”? Not a way to get invited back to next year’s program, is it?

This proves that you can learn something new every day: apparently, there is such a thing as a “useless cunt.”

“The film is set after Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, but we’re not sure how long after. It might be real time, so three or four years on.

“There are no cameos this time around. That’s worked well in the past, but for this movie we’re trying to keep to the feel, spirit and tone of the first flick.

“We’ve also kept it mainly about Dante and Randall. Jay and Silent Bob only have very small roles in the film probably as much, if not less, screen time than in the first one.

“It’s all brand new stuff too from start to finish, it’s not like Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back where we borrowed the monkey bit from a comic book I did about them.”

Ashley Judd Will Come Early Morning

Ashley Judd will star in Come Early Morning, a coming-of-age story set in a rural small town, says Production Weekly. The project will be actress Joey Lauren Adams’ directorial debut.

The film, also written by Adams, centers on a woman in her 30s who is beginning to come to terms with her selfish and prickly relatives, her own self-worth, and her search for meaning.

Shooting will take place in Adams’ hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas at the end of April.

Wizard World, a three-day comic book and pop culture gathering, comes to the Long Beach Convention Center. The show features comic books, toys, anime, movies, magna and video games and includes scheduled appearances by Avi Arad, Chris Evans, Stan Lee, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George and more. 2-8 p.m., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 21. Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. $25 one-day pass, $45 weekend pass and $150 VIP pass. Visit www.wizarduniverse.com for ticket information.

Syndrome Recited Dogma: “Apparently, what they do is I think they took certain audio clips from movies and they listened to them and look at the drawings and figure out what goes best. And I think, according to Brad Bird, a lot of it had come from Dogma. I guess it was that sort of evilness, that kind of energy that they liked in Dogma so they applied that to the renderings of the character and thought it was a good fit and then called me and offered me the role, which was very flattering and of course I did it.”

The Syndrome/Dogma Footage is Buried: Not even Jason Lee saw Pixar’s Dogma tests. “I didn’t get a script and I didn’t interact with any of the other actors. It was just me, Brad Bird and the dialogue. And the microphones and him telling me, ‘Okay, now in this scene you’re in your big lair and it kind of looks like this. Here are some drawings.’ Go. I had no idea what the movie was going to look like.