`ISLAND' OF MOVIEMAKING MISERY.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

With more and more tales of outlandishness emerging about the production of Marlon Brando's ``The Island of Dr. Moreau,'' it sounds as if the making of the movie was almost as weird as the original H.G. Wells tale dealing with half-human, half-animal creatures. Come to think of it, such a description just might apply behind the scenes.

We get word that on ``Moreau,'' Val Kilmer added to his growing reputation for unpleasantness - and worse. At one point, according to setsiders, it looked like he was going to squash out a cigarette on a technician's face. With one thing and another, we're told, he pretty much became The Man to Avoid, to the point where he wound up sitting alone on meal breaks.

And then there's Brando, whose Dr. Moreau will be a different Dr. Moreau - seen with a flowing robe, Kate Hepburn-style scarf and hat, and bright purple lipstick. Castmate David Thewlis recently revealed in Entertainment Weekly that Brando was being fed his lines over an earpiece - and ended up repeating police calls instead when they interfered with his hidden radio.

The picture has been moved out of its Oct. 11 release slot - a fairly good fall placement - and given a release in late August, which is not considered a prime time for a summer release.

The big-screen scene: Dustin Hoffman could be mighty busy in late summer and fall - or not. The actor is expected to begin work on New Line's ``Legalese'' July 27 (a date we understand may be pushed back). And there are reports that he will follow ``Legalese'' with Barry Levinson's adaptation of Michael Crichton's ``Sphere'' sci-fi book about a supposedly alien ship. However, Hoffman's office informs us no deal is set yet for either feature - and given the frequency of Hollywood projects that fall apart at the 11th hour (Hoffman certainly has had some), nothing should be considered final.

``Legalese,'' scripted over a year ago, is said to contain eerie similarities to the O.J. trial. It would have Hoffman playing a super-intelligent, extremely famous L.A. attorney who recruits a young up-and-coming lawyer to front for him in a high-profile murder case. The frosh attorney soon realizes he's in way over his head - with Hoffman's character even feeding him lines to recite to the media - and that he's in jeopardy of violating his own ethical code. The younger lawyer is being cast now.

The videoland view: Super producer Dick Wolf is getting downright tired of ``people thinking of me as the executioner'' when it comes to the many cast changes on ``Law & Order'' - including the imminent departure of Jill Hennessy.

``The press has put a lot of emphasis on the `revolving door' angle,'' noted Wolf, who's seen George Dzundza, Paul Sorvino, Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks and Chris Noth come and go. He wants us to know he doesn't deserve blame for that door. ``The bulk of actors who have left did so at their own behest,'' he said - including Jill.

``She's leaving the show to hopefully become a movie star. She wants to spread her wings. We're all massively disappointed she's decided to do this,'' he said, ``but we wish her the best.''

``Law & Order'' breaks its rigid stick-to-business format for the first time in six years on Wednesday - showing viewers the personal lives of the series' attorneys and cops after they witness an execution. Wolf said, ``We're going to prove we can do this, then back to business; we're not going to do any more of this type of show.''

The episode also marks Hennessy's farewell. Wolf said she will definitely be replaced. ``We're just starting the search.''

Here 'n' there: If things went according to plan, Bridget Fonda spent the weekend in the Bahamas, swimming with wild dolphins in the seas off of Freeport for Turner's ``TOPX'' documentary series that bows in August.

Distinguished character actor Morgan Freeman gets intimate with a blond bordello beauty in a haystack in MGM/UA's ``Moll Flanders'' romantic adventure flick. How does he feel playing a sex symbol after so many years? ``I've been a sex symbol all my life,'' he retorted. ``It's just that it's never been in the movies.''