It's part of MGM's strategy to repackage last generation's movies for this generation now that the Internet, DVDs and countless movie channels have made it impossible to see the originals. A new "Fame" opens Sept. 25. "Red Dawn," "RoboCop," "Poltergeist" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" are also in development.

Thanks to CGI, "Red Dawn" now will be even redder.

Jack Nicholson may return to

the screen for his pal James L. Brooks ("Terms of Endearment," "As Good as It Gets") in Brooks' softball-based rom-com starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.

Director Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight," "Thirteen") is attached to direct an updated version of "Hamlet," to star Emile Hirsch, who helped develop the idea.

Although Shakespeare thought of it first.

Ron Nyswaner ("Philadelphia") will re-write the script - because the first one kind of stunk - which will be based in present-day America.

(Maybe the Wayans family could spoof "Hamlet" and call it "Dane Flick.")

Producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ("Milk") said their "goal is to present the story as a suspense thriller. We want to make it exciting and accessible for an audience today."

Uh, "Hamlet" is accessible for an audience today. And it already is a suspense thriller.

Speaking of making old-timey stories accessible, A-list screenwriter Jeff Nathanson will adapt and direct William Kalush and Larry Sloman's Harry Houdini biography "The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero."

Hoping to launch a franchise, the movie plans to turn the famed magician/escape artist/spiritual debunker's life into an action-adventure.

Ooh, maybe he'll fly or become invisible.

Busy Brian Grazer ("Angels & Demons") will be a producer of "Stretch Armstrong," another Hollywood attempt to create a three-dimensional character out of a plastic toy action figure.

Universal has slotted "Armstrong" for release April 15, 2011, making it the first movie to be given the green light under the studio and toy company's six-year partnership.

Can't wait to see what they come up with for the Baby Alive Go Bye-Bye doll.

Tattbits

* Whitney Houston's come-

back will commence Sept. 1 with the release of her first new album in seven years.