Matt Damon has been trying to get the documentary “The People Speak” onto the small screen for 10 years and through multiple networks.

This year, it will finally air on the History Channel, which Damon says is “the right channel for us.”

“The People Speak,” a film inspired by Howard Zinn’s 2004 book of the same name and his popular “A People’s History of the United States,” features dramatic readings of historical documents such as letters and diaries by celebrities like Damon, Marisa Tomei, Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, Kerry Washington and many more.

The film will air later this year.

Its purpose is to explore the concept of democracy, through the lives, experiences and words of ordinary Americans who changed the course of history.

The film will also feature musical performances by Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and John Legend, among others.

“I grew up next door to Howard [Zinn] and had one of the first copies of [’A People’s History’]. It had a huge impact on my life and that’s why I stayed involved with the project for so long,” Damon, who also executive-produced the film, told members of the Television Critics Association yesterday.

The project morphed in form as both Fox and HBO mulled it over, before it landed at History, “and its third incarnation is the most sensible way of doing it because it’s using the actual words [of historical figures], which makes it so much more powerful,” said Damon. “Everything that’s being read has quotations around it.”

Tomei says that during the actual stage readings, which were recorded for the film, audiences rose to their feet by the end because they were so moved by what was being said.

“There’s this heart swell,” she said. “People feel empowered. It’s ordinary people getting activated. Sometimes in protests and things that I’ve been involved with on any level, after a while it’s like, ‘I’m tired of this. Isn’t this battle over?’ But what this film is talking about is that it’s our right and our duty to engage, as Howard says, in an antagonistic discussion with the powers that be.”

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Something we’ve all known for years!  Marisa has been listed on Maxim’s annual list of the world’s hottest 100 women.  She’s listed as #97 for 2009.  You can view the full list here.

Marisa Tomei and Liv Tyler will topline indie psychological thriller “10A/10B,” produced and financed through Christopher Mallick’s Oxymoron Entertainment.

South Korean director Chul-soo Park will helm the adapted script of his original 1995 film “301/302.”

Film will explore the relationship and consequences that result when a culinary perfectionist, portrayed by Tyler, and an actress with a failing career, played by Tomei, become neighbors in a loft apartment building.

Mallick and Intl. Production Co.’s Dan Frisch and Philip Waley will produce along with Floyd Byars and Unjoo Byars.

Filming will begin in Los Angeles on June 1.

Fox has issued an early alert for ‘My Cousin Vinny,’ telling retailers it will be bringing the smash comedy to Blu-ray in early-August.

The sleeper hit of 1992 that snagged a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for star Marisa Tomei, the courtroom comedy will make its Blu-ray debut on August 4.

Tech specs will see 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video with a DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track.

There’s now word yet on bonus features, but watch for the full details in the coming weeks.

Don’t forget that The Wrestler is now available on DVD and BluRay.