No, not “The Pooh.” The beloved, Oscar-winning Dreamgirls song-stomper Jennifer Hudson is going to play Winnie Mandela, wife of Nelson, in a new film titled Winnie. One problem: she’s not nearly as adorable a public figure as either her husband or Hudson, having gotten herself into more than her share of controversy – adultery, being accused of having hits taken out on informers – in the fight against apartheid. Director Darrell J. Roodt (Cry, the Beloved Country and Sarafina!) reportedly has every intention of covering the good and bad side of Mrs. Mandela when the film shoots in 2010. And that also means new territory for J-Hud, whose acting career to date has been one long hug-fest with the audience. Time to turn up that Effie White grouchiness to 11 for this one.

How did it take this long to get a major feature film off the ground about the historic Civil Rights Movement marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.? And while the answer to that one may never be forthcoming, Selma definitely is. Paul Webb, screenwriter of Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming Lincoln, is penning the project; Slumdog Millionaire producer Christian Colson is on board, and Lee Daniels, gay director of Precious, is close to signing on as director. The film will cover the three attempts that culminated in a final march across Alabama led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1965. A spring 2010 start date is already in place. Now all the movie needs is some actors. Think any of them will want to jump on board something with possible Oscar nominations built into its very subject matter?

Now that the experimental (read: cheapskate) first season is over and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a certifiable audience-pleasing cable TV hit, the second season – coming to Logo next February – will see a more fitting environment for a queen. One studded with stars. To that end, even more homo-liking celebs than last season will fill the guest judge seat. Get ready for Kathy Griffin, Debbie Reynolds, Cloris Leachman and Henry Rollins to pick apart the finer points of lip-syncing, wig placement and the package-minimizing tuck. The contestants will have their hands particularly full with Griffin, who, as hetero queen of all things gay, will come equipped with gown-shredding commentary and her own supply of high-quality fake hair. Romeo is also taking bets on how many minutes into the Rollins episode one of the contestants will attempt to make out with him.

Did you think no one bought vinyl records anymore? Then the fact that $57 million worth of them were sold in 2008 might shock you. Seems that the record-buying audience never went away and has grown each year since its lowest point in 1990. And if anyone can tap into the market for a truly odd release, then bestselling gay author David Sedaris can. The humorist’s live spoken-word recordings are big sellers on CD, so a special vinyl version of David Sedaris: Live For Your Listening Pleasure ( “in stereophonic sound,” of course) complete with retro 1960s cover art, is being prepared to drop in January. The cost? A somewhat pricy $24.98 – at 31 minutes, more cool object than genuine party album – that will also come with a code allowing purchasers to download the entire digital release. Now go dust off that turntable.

Former “Cheers” and “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer has never been very secret about his conservative politics. He votes Republican and he co-starred in the little-seen right-wing comedy An American Carol, in which a Michael Moore-style director is portrayed as an unpatriotic Scrooge. So what to make of the announcement that Grammer will play the gay lead in the very gay Broadway revival of the extremely gay La Cage Aux Folles? Is he one of those fiscal/war conservatives with a socially liberal bent? Or is he simply an actor who likes to work, regardless of the role? And how much does it matter, anyway? The man is funny, after all, and “Frasier” wasn’t exactly a Rush Limbaugh-style sitcom. See how complicated show business can get? In the end, gay ticket-buyers with a strong opinion can vote with their wallets when the show opens next spring.

If you’ve never heard of Namrata Singh Gujral, then it’s probably because you never watched the Bollywood film Kaante or the crazy soap “Passions,” where she played a nurse. But the Indian-American actress will soon make her mark as a director with 1 a Minute, a docu-drama she’s making while undergoing radical breast cancer treatment. Made with the intention to further spread the message of breast cancer awareness, the project will also feature a host of committed women. Scheduled to co-star are fellow cancer survivors and activists Melissa Etheridge, Olivia Newton-John, Jaclyn Smith, Diahann Carroll, Morgan Brittany and Bollywood actresses Priya Dutt and Mumtaz. Lesbian actress Kelly McGillis will narrate the film, which is in production now and slated for release sometime in 2010. Now stop being scared and go schedule that mammogram.

Gus Van Sant’s latest indie project used to be called Restless. But now the drama about a teenage couple sharing an obsession with death is currently untitled while it attracts some names with plenty of connective tissue between them. First-time screenwriter Jason Lew, film school colleague of actress Bryce Dallas Howard, has penned the script. She, in turn, alongside her father Ron Howard and his production partner Brian Grazer, will co-produce the film. Mia Wasikowska (you’ll soon know her as “Alice” when Tim Burton’s wild vision of Wonderland hits screens) will star alongside Dennis Hopper’s actor son Henry as the young morbids in love. Meanwhile, Sissy Spacek’s actress daughter Schuyler Fisk will take on a role in the film, too. It’s scheduled to shoot in Portland, but you can call this one a classic case of how who you know in Hollywood can make all the difference.

The Lady may be quitting and moving her production powerhouse to Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean she’s slowing down. First up? A show for her in-house home makeover man Nate Berkus, the out gay guy millions of female viewers have a crush on. After that comes the edgy stuff, producing a scripted drama for HBO – as yet untitled – about a dissatisfied woman who leaves her husband and children for a solo life in Los Angeles, one where she indulges in what press releases are calling “secret fantasies and desires” (translation: making out with hot chicks in L.A. nightclubs). Erin Cressida Wilson, who also penned 2002’s Secretary (another story about a woman exploring taboo sexual impulses), will write the pilot. Is American TV ready for a bad mommy who dumps her kids for a life of self-fulfillment? Even if Oprah agrees to star as the newly hedonistic parent? OK, yes, that probably won’t happen. Fun to think about though, right?