NO, STEVEN SPIELBERG is not making a movie about the Crusades in order to spite Mel Gibson, despite a report that has been circulating on the Internet. The story is refuted in this Toronto Star piece: "Passion play."

Shockingly, the spam lied. Spielberg's people came out last week denouncing and denying. (The urban legend clearinghouse snopes.com has a solid account of the drama.) Indiana Jones fans � eager for a fourth instalment � breathe a collective sigh of relief. The director insists that show will go on.

Then there's this:

Turns out, however, a Crusades film, Kingdom Of Heaven, is already in production in Morocco and Spain � helmed by Gladiator director Ridley Scott.

Great. Richard the Lionheart meets the Alien.