WIRELESS FLASH BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WIRELESS FLASH BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) -- Talk about a career switch: Scandinavian actress Pernilla August -- who played Darth Vader's mother in "The Phantom Menace" -- will be now be getting maternal with Jesus. August will portray the Virgin Mary in an NBC-TV movie titled "Mary, Mother of Jesus" that will air November 14. "Velvet Goldmine" star Christian Bale has the role of Jesus. -- NASHVILLE -- Put this in your pipe and smoke it. The Nashville- based rock band Bonepony has just released a CD, "Traveler's Companion," that is the first album to be packaged entirely in hemp. -- ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- Houston Rockets rookie guard Steve Francis is the odds-on favorite to rocket to stardom this year. The Intertops.com website is giving 5-2 odds that Francis will be the NBA Rookie of the Year. Other rookies scoring points include L.A. Clippers forward Lamar Odom and Chicago Bulls forward Elton Brand. -- LOS ANGELES -- Most guys would love to be chased by thousands of gorgeous gals -- but not Chris O'Donnell. O'Donnell tells "E! Online" that he got more pooped out running away from thousands of extras outfitted as brides in his new comedy "The Bachelor" than he did doing stunts in action flicks like "Batman & Robin."