A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : BUT WAIT . . . : And if Real Life Isn’t Good Enough

Speaking of J.F.K. projects, “Libra,” based on the Don DeLillo novel of the same name, is getting a new lease on life. Dale Pollock, president of A&M; Films, says actor John Malkovich--who has directed stage plays but not features--will direct an independently financed production early next year. No cast is set yet.

DeLillo’s novel places Lee Harvey Oswald at the center of a conspiracy to assassinate J.F.K. by anti-Castro forces. The project, which had looked like it would end up at HBO, fell apart after Stone lined up Costner for “JFK” at Warner Bros. HBO is a Time Warner subsidiary. At the time, Pollock had accused Stone of putting “roadblocks in our way,” and Stone had denied the charges.