"The Pink Panther" is sliding toward Steve Martin. The actor has emerged as MGM's top choice to play Inspector Jacques Clouseau in a redo of the 1964 feature. A studio spokesman confirmed that MGM is in talks with Martin about toplining the project, and sources said that he read the project over the weekend and is expected to make a decision shortly. The original "Pink Panther" starred Peter Sellers as the bumbling French detective on the trail of a slippery jewel thief. Sellers kept the franchise going in four subsequent features, while Roger Moore and Alan Arkin also took turns in Clouseau's trench coat. Ivan Reitman and his Montecito Picture Co. are producing the remake with Reitman attached to helm. MGM's Toby Jaffe is overseeing the project for production topper Michael Nathanson. Martin is repped by ICM. He next stars in 20th Century Fox's "Cheaper by the Dozen" in December. (Chris Gardner)

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Edgar Bronfman Jr. and a group of financial partners are considering a play for AOL Time Warner's Warner Music Group, industry insiders said. A spokeswoman for AOL TW declined comment, and representatives for Bronfman couldn't be reached. However, sources say Bronfman, after losing the bidding showdown for Vivendi Universal Entertainment to NBC, is indeed kicking the tires and mulling a potential music deal even though he hasn't started any formal due diligence. Bronfman's possible involvement comes at a time when WMG, Bertelsmann AG's BMG music unit and the EMI Group are all discussing possible link-ups. (Georg Szalai)