Bates joins Coogan's movie

Kathy Bates has joined the cast of Steve Coogan's first Hollywood movie, Around The World In 80 Days.

The Oscar-winner will play Queen Victoria in the latest adaptation of the Jules Verne novel, reports Variety.

Jackie Chan, Jim Broadbent and Johnny Knoxville are also starring in the movie, which started filming in Thailand a fortnight ago. The shoot will move to Germany next month and wrap in June.

This new version makes changes to Verne's original story - switching the focus from adventurer Phileas Fogg (Coogan) to his valet, Passepartout (Chan) who is now a thief who has stolen a jade Buddha.

Published: 31 Mar 2003