Buscemi, Miller in remake of slain director's film

BERLIN, Feb 14 (Reuters) Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller star in a new film exploring the relationship between the media and celebrities in a re-make of a Dutch version by slain director Theo van Gogh.

Van Gogh, an outspoken critic of Islam who was murdered in 2004 by a Dutch-Moroccan militant, planned to adapt a trilogy of films for Hollywood before he was killed, of which ''Interview'' was the first.

US actor Buscemi, who also directs the new version, plays a world-weary reporter called Pierre who reluctantly accepts an assignment from his editor to interview Katya, a trashy horror film star.

The two fall out, but a twist of fate brings them back together in Katya's apartment and they go on to talk, argue, kiss and share their darkest secrets.

''First of all ... it was the films,'' Buscemi told reporters today, explaining why he had taken on the project. ''I saw all three films and I really loved them all and the fact that they were so character-driven.'' He was also attracted by the relationship between two people who seemed so different at first but turned out to be much more alike than expected.

Buscemi said he and the scriptwriter made alterations to the original, partly to make more sense in a US setting, although at least one critic has said the film is now too tame.

MIRRORING LIFE Miller, a real-life tabloid favourite in Britain and whose relationships and outfits are front page news, has plenty in common with her character in the film.

Buscemi said he had not known Miller's work when it was suggested that he cast her in ''Interview''.

''It was important for me not to have somebody who was in the tabloids just for the sake of having somebody in the tabloids,'' he said. ''They had to be a really good actor.

''It was a relief to find somebody who could handle that role and I think she did a wonderful job.'' Miller has won critical acclaim for the part, with Screen International's David D'Arcy calling it her ''breakthrough performance''.

In an earlier interview, Buscemi told Reuters how he had been surprised by the media intrusion into Miller's life.

''I think it's pretty insane what she goes through,'' he said.

''We were rehearsing in London for a week and I was just shocked when we would come out of the rehearsal space and there would be all these paparazzi, and then we'd get in the car and they would get in the car and they would follow us and we would have little chase scenes.'' The next of the Van Gogh trilogy to be remade is ''Blind Date'', by another actor-turned-director Stanley Tucci.

REUTERS KD KN1948