The bad guys and good guys are...

The bad guys and good guys are finally rounding into shape for “Die Hard II.” Returning cast members, along with previously announced Bruce Willis, are Bonnie Bedelia as his wife and William Atherton as the arrogant newscaster. Newcomers include Franco Nero--who plays a Noriega-like Latin official-cum-drug dealer--Billy Sadler, John Amos, Tony Ganios and Art Evans. This time Willis’ supercop must foil a terrorist takeover of an airport. . . . Directing the sequel is Renny Harlin, who just completed the action comedy “Ford Fairlane,” also for Silver Pictures. Harlin will have two films opening next June: “Ford Fairlane” gets a June 8 release while “Die Hard II” is set to open June 29. . . .

Speaking of hot directors, a young man named Patrick Johnson is about to explode on the scene. Recently, Steven Spielberg caught a screening of “Martians!!!” his low budget sci-fi comedy starring veteran actor Royal Dano and Ariana Richards (“Prancer”). The story concerns some not-too-bright Martians who land here on Halloween so everyone takes them for trick-or-treaters. Spielberg loved the film, brought it to the attention of the Disney brain trust, who immediately bought it. The film is set for a Feb. 16 release, Disney is already talking sequel, and Spielberg’s Amblin and Disney are negotiating a directing deal with Johnson. . . .

Disney is also romancing actor Jim Belushi. This week he goes before director Arthur Hiller’s camera for “Filofax,” opposite Charles Grodin and newcomer Loryn Locklin, the first production for Disney’s new Hollywood Pictures. The comedy, written by Jill Mazursky and Jeffrey Abrams, concerns an escaping convict, who finds a business executive’s appointment book in a phone booth and assumes his identity. When the film wraps in January, Belushi immediately goes into Hollywood Pictures’ “Mr. Destiny,” beginning in February. Belushi will play an ordinary guy whose life took a turn for the worst when he struck out in a high school baseball tournament. A mysterious stranger offers him a chance to see what how his life would have turned out had he won the game. James Orr, co-writer of “Three Men and a Baby,” writes and directs. . . .

Ten years ago, Ken Wahl and Tony Ganios played members of the same youth gang in “The Wanderers.” Now these best of pals face off in “The Taking of Beverly Hills,” where Wahl’s the hero and Ganios plays a heavy. Which heavy is still undetermined as the script is undergoing rewrites, but Ganios may be cast as Megadeath, chief henchman of the terrorists who take Rodeo Drive hostage. . . .

Meanwhile, Silver Pictures has landed the new Ridley Scott film, “Isobar,” which Joel Silver will produce for Carolco. It’s an action-adventure science-fiction project in the tradition of Scott’s “Alien”. . . .

Daniel J. Travanti joins the previously announced cast of Billy Zane, Kristin Cloke and Grace Zabriskie in “Megaville.” Travanti will play a political leader in this futuristic action drama about a repressive society. German Peter Lehner directs for Heritage Entertainment/White Noise Prods. . . .