Jessica Simpson to star as Daisy Duke in `Dukes of Hazzard' film

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Pop starlet Jessica Simpson has been cast as Daisy Duke in the film version of ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' and her husband is pretty excited about it. <br/><br/>``I was

Wednesday, September 15th 2004, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Pop starlet Jessica Simpson has been cast as Daisy Duke in the film version of ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' and her husband is pretty excited about it.

``I was a big fan of Daisy Duke. Growing up as a kid I never missed an episode of `The Dukes of Hazzard,''' Nick Lachey told reporters Tuesday, according to AP Radio. ``We watched it every Friday night. It's going to be cool to kind of live it all over again as she goes and does this movie.''

Lachey said Simpson really wanted the role and lobbied hard for the job.

Meanwhile, Lachey said he's been doing some episodes of ``Charmed'' on the WB, and the couple are filming another ABC variety special that will air at Christmastime.

``Between the two of us, we're doing some acting stuff now, between `Charmed' and `Dukes of Hazzard.' I did something for `Bewitched,' so it's an exciting time in our house to be a thespian,'' Lachey said.

Seann William Scott will star as Bo Duke and Johnny Knoxville will play Luke Duke in the movie.

The TV series aired from 1979-1985. Tom Wopat played Luke and John Schneider was Bo. Catherine Bach, who wore short-shorts that became her character's trademark, was Daisy.

Fans loved to watch Bo and Luke outrun Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and his deputies by jumping their orange 1969 Dodge Charger _ dubbed the General Lee _ across creeks and off dirt ramps. They were the good guys, outwitting the corrupt Boss Hogg.