JUDITH CAMPBELL EXNER PROJECT GETTING BACK ON TRACK.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

The saga of Judith Campbell Exner, storied lover of John F. Kennedy, may well make it before the cameras next year. We've learned several major actresses have already expressed interest in playing the '60s beauty, who passed away Sept. 24 after a long cancer battle, in Showtime's ``Beauty and Power.''

This film-for-cable is by no means one of those projects that a producer only feels free to do after a famous personality dies. In fact, Exner provided interviews and background materials about her dramatic history, her longtime affair with JFK, her relationship with mobster Sam Giancana, and her role as go-between for the two men.

``Beauty and Power'' was initially expected to roll early this year. Then, because of a research snag, ``there was a kibosh put on it, and for a while, it looked as if it had fallen apart,'' says director Mick Garris. He also says, however, that prior to Exner's death, the movie was getting back on track.

Now, it'll have to wait for Garris. He's filming ``The Others,'' a midseason NBC series from DreamWorks, dreamed up by none other than Steven Spielberg. Spielberg tapped Garris (whose numerous credits include ``The Stand'' miniseries) to shepherd the series, featuring characters with paranormal powers. With his producing, directing and writing commitments to the show, Garris won't be available until the first half-season of ``The Others'' is in the can next year.

Length is everything

``Magnolia,'' Paul Thomas Anderson's much-anticipated follow-up to ``Boogie Nights,'' is in the editing room, where it will be trimmed to less than three hours. But just barely. We get word that New Line has determined that to avoid having the picture bare the onus of being over three hours - which could limit its audience - the Tom Cruise/William H. Macy/Julianne Moore/Jason Robards starrer will be pared down to two hours and 59 minutes. Would we kid you about a thing like that?

Selena on stage

Though Tejano singer Selena's life was cut tragically short by her murder, her legacy endures - and endures. Now on the way is ``Selena Forever,'' the stage musical, by Edward Gallardo.

Plans are being laid for a 30-week national tour, with auditions to start at month's end in both New York and L.A. They'll be looking for talent to play Selena's family members, and singer/actresses to play Selena herself - as a child and as a young woman. The 1997 big-screen ``Selena,'' of course, proved a star-making vehicle for Jennifer Lopez.

Baseball moment

Alec Baldwin, William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and David Paymer - in Boston for filming of ``State and Main'' - got treated to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game Sunday by George Steinbrenner.

The actors spent the whole time they were at the stadium, we're told, chatting with fans, signing autographs, being offered beers, and basically, interacting with the crowd. That's despite the fact that they were in attendance as Yankees fans in Sox territory. When the scene started getting ugly, with trash being hurled on the field and catcalls ringing out, the group took off - as did many other attendees.

Now that's Petty

Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton, Phil Everly, Jenna Elfman, George Thorogood and Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac were among the luminaries on hand to catch Tom Petty's final show on his ``Echo'' tour at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend.

Now, Petty turns his attention to the Nov. 9 home video and DVD release, ``High Grass Dogs Live From the Fillmore'' of concert footage from his dates at San Francisco's legendary auditorium earlier this year.

Painful lesson

Fox Sports Net commentator Chris Myers says his recent knee surgery has ``given me a new appreciation not only for the physical pain the players endure, but for the frustration injured players must go through when they can't get out and do what they love most. At least with me, I was able to prop up my leg and keep going.''

Myers was out playing touch football with a bunch of pals a few months back, ran over a sprinkler head, fell, and wound up needing major reconstructive surgery on his right knee - surgery he underwent in late September.

``The injury kind of made me slow down a little bit, which was good, because sometimes, you have to pull back and take an overview, set priorities,'' admits Myers, who recently hit the big 4-0. He'd been in a whirlwind of work, ``having made the transition from ESPN to Fox, then, starting on the NFL show, the `Goin' Deep' show ... well, I try to do them all well, but it takes time.''

With reports by Stephanie DuBois.

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4 Photos

Photo: (1) EXNER

(2) MOORE

(3) BALDWIN

(4) PETTY