By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

BBC News Online's Tom Bourton catches up with all the Welsh stars making the news around the globe.

There has been bad news and good news from Anthony Hopkins recently, with one project seemingly doomed never to see the light of day and another seeing him fathering a superhero.

Speaking to Sci Fi Wire, the Port Talbot-born star revealed that a film based on a supernatural short story would never be completed after the producers ran out of cash.

Jennifer Love Hewitt was to play the devil in the film

Filming on the adaptation of a Stephen Vincent Benet short story, called The Devil and Daniel Webster, had finished in March 2001.

Hopkins played a lawyer, Daniel Webster, who represented a writer (Alec Baldwin) who sold his soul to the devil, played by Heartbreakers star Jennifer Love Hewitt.

But if Hopkins is disappointed, co-star Baldwin had even more to lose - the film was to mark his directorial debut.

Despite the financial hiccup though, Hopkins had nothing but praise for Baldwin's off-camera skills, describing him as "good to work with" and "a fine director".

On a more positive note, Hopkins has also been quoted as saying he would love to play Superman's father in a new version of the man of steel.

After months of studio speculation, it appears that Brett Ratner will helm the latest episode about the Kryptonite-fearing hero.

Ratner has just directed Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Red Dragon and the two look set to team up again.

Catherine Zeta Jones is a big Dylan Thomas fan

After Ratner told Latino Review he was definitely involved, he revealed he would love Hopkins to play Superman's father.

Wasting no time, Latino Review asked Hopkins himself, who said: "Yeah I'm going to do it. I'd love to do it."

Elsewhere, Heat magazine has found out that Catherine Zeta Jones was keen to commemorate her Swansea roots by having a Dylan Thomas poem etched onto a glass table at her Bermuda home.

Sadly, though, sculptor Paul Clifford lost his concentration and accidentally etched the words "burning cophers" instead of "burning ciphers".

But Mr Clifford did not seem too concerned about the slip-up, and said: "Catherine seemed happy. I don't think she noticed."

Writing skills

Moving on to another Welsh star who has made it big in the US, the clock is ticking down to the release of Tom Jones' latest album.

The Treforest singer has been collaborating with Fugees star Wyclef Jean, and has announced he is to release his first single, called Tom Jones International, on 21 October.

The album, under the V2 label, is set to follow on 4 November, but is yet to be named.

Wyclef Jean: Big influence on Tom Jones

For the first time in his career, Jones has been involved in the writing process, and said he is very proud of the 12 tracks on the album.

He is also delighted with his new musical accomplices Wyclef and producer Jerry Duplesis, who he said have "a wide knowledge and appreciation of all styles of music".

Also making a return are Newport band Feeder, who have announced details about their comeback single, called Come Back Around.

The track has been given a release date of 30 September, and will be followed by the band's new Comfort in Sound album in October, then by a UK tour early in 2003.

New songs Bullet, Feel It Again and Opaque will also appear on the single, along with a video and an acoustic version of Come Back Around.