The show big report: random acts of muscle in celebrity-land

Flex, May, 2003 by Greg Merritt

Reel Muscle

* Lord of the Rings trilogy star Orlando Bloom won the role of Paris, the warrior who prompts the battle between Achilles (Brad Pitt) and Hector (Eric Bana) in the sword-and sandal epic Troy, based on Homer's The Iliad. Scheduled for release in 2004, Troy is being filmed in London, Malta and Morocco.

* Although it grossed less than $100,000 and was given just a brief art-house run, Roger Ebert chose the historical strongman movie Invincible as the seventh-best film of 2002.

* Easier than bench presses: Ben Affleck's leather Daredevil costume includes extra pec padding.

Cramp Champ

Looking to revive his nearly KO'd career, Sylvester Stalloe (who turns 57 this year) is planning to write, produce and star in Rocky VI, a low-budget matchup that would once again drag the Italian Stallion out of retirement, although presumably not out of a retirement home. Put in your teeth and come out fighting!

Quick Reps

* You can preview the Terminator 3 trailer at www.terminator3.com. The futuristic Web site also features a wealth of making-of material, desktop downloads and a message board.

* In his younger days, King of Queens star Kevin James worked as a personal trainer. James' fondness for his bodybuilding youth is one reason Lou Ferrigno is a recurring guest on King.

* In a seeming mismatch, E! network's Star Dates set up Dustin Diamond, formerly uber-nerd Screech on TV's Saved by the Bell, with 185-pound bodybuilder! strongwoman Robin Coleman. Romance bloomed at Gold's Gym, Venice, of all places, where the pair was trained by top NPC super heavyweight Alan "Cupid" Grimes.

Barbarian Beat

* The swords swung by Conan and his father in Conan the Barbarian will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The museum appraised the value of Conan's weapon at more than $500,000 and his dad's at nearly $350,000. Holy Crom!

* Alarm spread quickly when it was reported that Conan's copyright owners might scrap the King Conan: Crown of Iron project, with John Milius writing and directing and Arnold Schwarzenegger starring, in favor of a more kid-friendly film. In protest, a popular Web petition was launched. Conan Properties Inc. has since backpedaled enough for us to think their wavering may be simply a financial ploy. As of early 2003, King Conan is the only Cimmerian project marching forward.

* Milius recently told ThernoldFans.com that his first choice to star as Conan's son, Kon, in his proposed King Conan is neither Vin Diesel nor the Rock. It's July 2002 FLEX cover model Triple H.

Tube-Time Trivia

* Bill Grant, 1974 IFBB Mr. World, appeared on NBC's Chico and the Man in the episode "Gregory Peck Is a Rooster" (March 18, 1977).

* The year after The Incredible Hulk ended, Lou Ferrigno costarred in another TV series, this time in a speaking role and wearing a shirt and shoes. Lou played paramedic John Six on Trauma Center (1983). This precursor to E.R. stayed alive for only 10 weeks before ABC pulled the plug.

* Six-time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson acted on ABC's Lois & Clark as Amazon Woman #1 in the episode "Wall of Sound" (September 25, 1994).