Manson playing against type

Will Marilyn Manson play Jesus?

The shock rocker — whose controversial lyrics and stage antics have made him the target of some Christian groups — is being tapped to play Christ in an upcoming film. “Diamond Dead” is a far cry from “The Passion of the Christ.” It’s a dark comedy about a rock band that makes a deal with the devil and — according to an excerpt of the script posted on line — in the film, Jesus smokes pot. “Diamond Dead” will be directed by George Romero, who also did “Night of the Living Dead,” and music was written by Richard Hartley, who composed for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“The idea of Marilyn Manson in the role of Jesus Christ is getting all sorts of reactions,” according to the “Diamond Dead” web site. “Someone emailed me saying that it’s a horrible and anti-Christian idea, but nevertheless they are praying for us.”

When called by the Scoop, Manson’s rep had no comment.

Is it true Love?

Is Courtney Love going to star in a reality TV show?

That’s what the grunge goddess — or someone pretending to be her — claims in a long, rambling, barely literate posting on a web site. “I also wanna say im so embarassed about this tabloid s--- thats happening,” she writes. (The Scoop is printing the excerpts from posting as they ran, without fixing up the grammar.) “So YES i am going to do a [expletive] REALITY show. Im sorry i have to.”

Love also makes an unkind comment on her late husband, Kurt Cobain: “my Dead Husband is the biggest pain in the a—sometimes.”

And she discusses her unrequited crush on John Cusack. “im practically in LOVE with John Cusack. he wont even TALK to me.”

The posting, made at Suicide Girls, also addresses Love’s financial woes and child custody issues. The bizarre ramblings are being discussed and analyzed by Courtney fans, and many who have read it say they believe that it was indeed written by Love.

“It sure sounds like her,” comments one fan, “if not, someone sure did his homework.” Love’s rep didn’t return calls and emails for comment.

Notes from all over

Britney Spears is seeing hypnotist Paul McKenna to help her quit smoking, according to Heat magazine, which says she started the habit because she liked the way it made her voice sound.  . . .  Madonna is doing a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in her upcoming concert tour.  . . . “Jersey Girl” director Kevin Smith is pretty bummed about how the Ben Affleck movie fared. “So the movie under-performed, and I’ve been moping around about it for the last few weeks,” he wrote on ViewAskew.com. “I’m over it now. F--- it — at least we weren’t “Gigli.”

Jeannette Walls delivers the Scoop Monday through Thursday on MSNBC.com.

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