RYDER OUT OF RUNNING IN STORY OF SLAIN IRISH JOURNALIST.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Winona Ryder is out of the big-screen story of slain Irish journalist Veronica Guerin.

Guerin was the Irish investigative reporter whose fearless exposes of Dublin underworld crime figures led to her shooting death last year. Ryder was attached to play the 33-year-old Guerin, who was collaborating on the screenplay with writer and director Mick Sheridan before her death.

``At first, the script was about a thinly disguised Veronica Guerin. The name was changed, and she was portrayed as a single woman,'' reveals Patrick Bergin, who's still attached to the project. ``But since her death, the producers felt the emotional content required her to be portrayed as the mother and wife that she was in reality.''

The script rewrites that were done were not in keeping with Ryder's vision of the role, says executive producer Peter Newman. ``Winona had really seen her as the kind of person who kicks down doors, which isn't what Veronica's story is about.''

The script now includes Guerin's horrendous shooting after being waylaid by two motorcyclists last year - and the impact her death had on the community.

``Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin after her funeral to protest the criminal element and march in support of ridding them from their city,'' says Newman.

He expects to have a new leading lady signed in the next couple of weeks and to begin shooting early next year.

Done deal

Marcel Montecino's gripping new ``Sacred Heart'' murder-suspense novel has been picked up by producer Denise Di Novi for a Warner Bros. feature, and already, there's talk of getting George Clooney and Matthew McConaughey to star in the tale of a mobster who goes into hiding by putting on a priest's vestments. Exciting as it all sounds, Montecino knows better than to count his movies before they're hatched. His ``Big Time'' book was purchased for $1 million as a Tom Cruise vehicle back in 1990. ``A script was written. Tom didn't like it. And I think that's dead in the water,'' says the author. Then, there was his ``The Crosskiller'' book, which also was bought by Hollywood - and remains unfilmed.

Real deal

Kenny Loggins says the only thing that scares him about his A&E ``Live by Request'' special that airs Wednesday night is that ``people are bound to call in and ask for songs that I don't know how to play.'' Still, he's told the ``Request'' team not to worry too much about screening calls ``because this is live TV. If you start cheating, it screws up the intention of the show.''

Kenny has amassed a wealth of letters through the years from fans who've told him about falling in love or getting through hard times with the assistance of such Loggins tunes as ``Whenever I Call You `Friend' '' and ``This Is It.'' He's also been notified that his classic ``Return to Pooh Corner'' has been played to help tots in intensive-care units and inspired autistic children to speak for the first time. ``I'd love it if some of those people would call,'' admits Kenny, who's been rehearsing for the ``Request'' TV gig for a week and a half.

The ``Live by Request'' series began last year with Tony Bennett.

Surreal deal

``We're supposed to be upset, but it was hard to keep from laughing working with crazy Shawn and his brother Marlon,'' says En Vogue singer Maxine Jones about the group's guesting on ``The Wayans Bros.'' sitcom Wednesday. In the segment, Marlon's picture is snapped with En Vogue while he's kissing one of the ladies. They end up suing him after the photo runs in a tabloid with a story titled ``I Was En Vogue's Love Slave.'' ``They have a ball on that set. I'm surprised they get the show done,'' says Jones.

Tripping the light fantastic

Michael Hurst, who plays Kevin Sorbo's sidekick, Iolaus, on ``Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,'' has previously directed episodes of that show as well as ``Xena: Warrior Princess.'' Still, he says helming the special segment airing the week of Nov. 17 was, well, a herculean effort.

The episode, titled ``And Fancy Free,'' is like an homage to ``Strictly Ballroom,'' with Hercules et al. dancing - instead of fighting - to save the heroine.

``Dancing takes up such a lot of time to film,'' says Hurst. ``Also, we did a big production number and spent three days just on that sequence.''

Hurst is also playing Twanky, Hercules' dance teacher, in the episode. ``My makeup was a big deal, so I had to be there two hours before shooting, plus directing. ... It was exhausting, but exhilarating!''

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) Winona Ryder

Different take on character

(2) Kenny Loggins

He takes requests

(3) George Clooney

``Sacred Heart'' rumors