While numerous names have been thrown around, dancer-singer Willa Ford has nabbed the role of Anna Nicole Smith in an indie biopic that will begin shooting next week.

The film, "Anna Nicole," is produced by Jack and Joseph Nasser with Elie Samaha executive producing and Keoni Waxman directing, according to Variety reports.

A judge in the Bahamas is close to resolving a legal issue that has prevented the progress in Daniel Smith’s death investigation. The judge told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the inquest should resume soon.

Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez said he expects to rule in a closed session today (Thursday) on a motion filed by the estate of the former Playboy Playmate. The undisclosed issue prompted a delay in picking a jury for the inquest into the Sept. 10 death of Daniel Smith.

Two diaries containing Anna Nicole Smith's private thoughts on "sex, partying and her dead cat" have been sold to the highest bidder for more than $500,000, an auction house official said.

According to AP reports, "the buyer of both diaries, who wished to remain anonymous, was a German businessman who planned to sell the information in the diary to various media outlets and then probably will resell them by the end of the year," said Thomas Riccio of Universal Rarities, the auction house that handled the sale.