Forget the skyscraper-smashing gorilla. Forget the sinking behemoth. Forget those Jurassic thugs. You ain't seen nothin' until you catch a peek at Hollywood's latest and greatest anomaly -- a Boy George look-alike. |

The extravagant Culture Club icon is currently brainstorming for actors brave and bold enough to play him in a big-screen adaptation of his autobiography, titled Take It Like A Man. George announced the BBC Films project, which will cost approximately $8 million, on Tuesday during the Cannes Film Festival.

American co-producer Ethan Silverman spoke to JAMTV on Thursday from London, where he and his partner/wife Erica are meeting with potential financial partners. Silverman said the film is scheduled to begin production by the end of the year under director Kfir Yefet, who won a British Oscar for Best Short Film of 1996 with It's Not Unusual.

Carefully monitoring his public image, George worked with screenwriter Rikki Beadle-Blair on the big screen adaptation of his life story. The 36-year-old androgynous singer will also take the soundtrack reins, helping to compile a musical chronology of his career that begins with David Bowie and ends with several new songs. The highlight of the disc may be a fresh tune titled "Take It Like A Man" that George plans to compose for the film, Silverman said.

Though he has not yet hand-picked a mimic, George reportedly wants his former lover and Culture Club drummer Jon Moss to be played by the 26-year-old British actor Ben Chaplin, who turned heads with Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman in The Truth About Cats and Dogs.

Insiders could not pin down a release date for the film, but it will likely hit international theaters well after the "Karma Chameleon" flaunts his colors on stage once again this summer.

As previously reported on JAMTV, Culture Club is scheduled to embark on a reunion tour this July 23 in Atlanta's Chastain Park. This will mark the first time in more than 13 years that the original group -- George (vocals), Moss (drums), Roy Hay (guitar) and Mikey Craig (bass) -- will tour together.

As of now, the tour will hit 18 cities in parts of the Northeast and Midwest, but more dates will be announced soon. Howard Jones and Human League will also appear on the bill.

In connection with the tour, Culture Club will also release a double-CD. The first disc will feature the band's greatest hits, including "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" and "Church of the Poison Mind." The second one will consist of a VH1 "Storytellers" performance by that band, which is set to air on June 14 at 7 p.m. (EST) and will feature interviews with the band members in addition to the performances. (Anni Layne)