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'Into You' heads US box office



Jennifer Aniston's He's Just Not That Into You has topped the US box office on its first weekend on release.

The ensemble comedy's $27 million haul was enough to hold off competition from Liam Neeson's Taken, which slips to number two.

The box office also sees new entries from Henry Selick's 3-D stop motion Coraline at three, Steve Martin comedy sequel The Pink Panther 2 at four, and superhero drama Push in sixth place.

The US top ten in full:

1. (-) He's Just Not That Into You - $27,465,000
2. (1) Taken - $20,300,000
3. (-) Coraline - $16,335,000
4. (-) The Pink Panther 2 - $12,000,000
5. (2) Paul Blart: Mall Cop
6. (-) Push
7. (5) Gran Torino
8. (6) Slumdog Millionaire
9. (3) The Uninvited
10. (4) Hotel For Dogs

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Mangold to helm legal thriller



James Mangold will direct an untitled legal thriller for Bold Films, according to Variety.

The story revolves around two lawyers who take on one of the world's largest oil companies by representing the families of workers killed when an oil rig sinks in the South China Sea.

Grind producer Casey La Scala has penned the script alongside actor-turned-writer Sasha Jenson.

No cast or production dates have been announced yet.

Mangold previously directed Walk The Line and 3:10 To Yuma.

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Blanchett for 'Nottingham' Maid Marian?



Mark Strong has hinted that Cate Blanchett will star as Maid Marian in Ridley Scott's Nottingham.

Strong, who has signed up to play Sir Guy of Gisbourne in the production, revealed the casting news at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards.

"I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part," he told The Telegraph. "She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it."

Sienna Miller, who was originally going to play Marian, quit the heavily-delayed project earlier this year amid rumours that she fell out with Russell Crowe, who is playing both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Nottingham is scheduled to begin shooting in March.

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Ratner to helm 'Youngblood' adaptation



Brett Ratner has closed a deal with Reliance Big Entertainment to direct an adaptation of Rob Liefeld's comic Youngblood.

The flagship book for Image Comics, Youngblood centres on a team of superheroes who are sanctioned and overseen by the government. Indian firm Reliance paid six figures to secure the movie rights.

Speaking to Variety, Ratner described Youngblood as one of the best comic books that has not been turned into a feature film.

"Most of the great graphic novels are gone, and Youngblood is one of the few comic books left with tentpole potential," he said.

"It was a real personal passion project for me, and a lot of people wanted [it], but the amazing thing about the guys at Reliance is the speed with which they're able to move."

Ratner has previously directed X-Men: The Last Stand and the Rush Hour movies.

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Besson to remake French hit 'Tell No One'



Luc Besson's production company is close to a deal to remake the French thriller Tell No One.

According to Variety, EuropaCorp, the firm Besson runs with Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, is nearing an agreement with two major US studios to have an English-language remake in production by the end of the year.

Tell No One, which was adapted from Harlan Coben's novel by French filmmaker Guillaume Canet in 2006, stars François Cluzet as a doctor who discovers that his wife, thought to be murdered eight years ago, may still be alive.

The movie grossed more than $17 million in its first month on release in France and recently crossed the $6 million mark in the US. Tell No One was also a hit when it was released in the UK in summer 2007.

EuropaCorp is also in negotiations with a US studio to remake action movie District B13, about a cop and ex-crook attempting to diffuse a neutron bomb in Paris.

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Watson 'nervous' about Potter kiss



Emma Watson has admitted that she is feeling nervous about her upcoming screen kiss with Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint.

The British actress, who stars as Hermione Granger in the hit movies, will have to lock lips with Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

"Well I've never had to do it before so I can't say I have any techniques. I've never had to kiss anyone on screen so it is all new to me," she told the Daily Telegraph at last night's BAFTA awards.

"Of course I am nervous about it. But, apparently it gets quite boring after a couple of takes, that's what Dan [Radcliffe] said to me anyway."

Last month, Grint revealed that he was also dreading the impending kiss, saying: "As I've known Emma for so long, I reckon it will be ten times worse."

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'Underworld' scribes adapt 'ZMD' comic

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans scribes Dirk Blackman and Howard McCain have been hired to adapt Red 5's comic ZMD: Zombies Of Mass Destruction for Benderspink.

The story revolves around a group of elite soliders who are sent to a hostile territory in the Middle East, where they encounter a government-created army of zombies, claims The Hollywood Reporter.

Benderspink's Jake Weiner and Josh Feldman will oversee the project, based on the original comic by Underworld creator Kevin Grevioux.

Blackman and McCain previously worked together on 2008's Outlander.

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Terry Gilliam: 'Ledger was a genius'



Terry Gilliam has described the late Heath Ledger as a "genius" who deserved greater recognition when he was alive.

The director was speaking after being named the winner of the Academy Fellowship at last night's BAFTA ceremony.

Gilliam said: "It would have been nice if Heath had won more awards when he was alive.

"Heath was a genius, I think there was nothing he could not do."

He added that despite the praise given to the star's performances, people could not imagine how good he would have been in the future.

Ledger, who won a posthumous award for Best Supporting Actor for his part in The Dark Knight, died during the filming of Gilliam's upcoming movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Gilliam has previously described Ledger as "fearless" and the "best actor of his generation".

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Cyrus to preview new film at White House



Miley Cyrus has been invited to preview her new movie at the White House.

Speaking to The Insider, the teenager revealed that she had been asked to stage a special screening of Hannah Montana: The Movie for President Obama's two young daughters.

When asked how the invite had arisen, she replied: "When I was doing the inauguration obviously. They want me to come show them my new movie so hopefully I would like to do that."

Discussing the opportunity to visit the White House, she said: "[It's] totally cool, so I'm stoked."

Hannah Montana: The Movie will be released in the UK on May 1.

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'Pride And Prejudice' takes on zombies



Jane Austen's celebrated novel Pride And Prejudice is to be reworked as a zombie movie, reports The Sunday Times.

Hollywood studios are reportedly bidding for the opportunity to adapt Seth Grahame-Smith's forthcoming parody novel Pride And Prejudice And Zombies into a major motion picture.

"It quickly became obvious that Jane [Austen] had laid down the blueprint for a zombie novel," said Grahame-Smith.

"Why else in the original should a regiment arrive on Lizzie Bennet’s doorstep when they should have been off fighting Napoleon? It was to protect the family from an invasion of brain-eaters, obviously.”

The storyline sees the five Bennet sisters recast as zombie slayers, with Mr. Darcy taking on the role of a ninja expert as they battle against a force of cannabalistic predators.

"About 85% is the original Jane Austen text," said Grahame-Smith. "I hated her when I was forced to read Austen in school, but when I started rereading I realised she was a brutal, but very funny, satirist. I can only aspire to be as mean-spirited as she could be."

Pride And Prejudice And Zombies will be published through Quirk Books in April.

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Dench eager for Q, Moneypenny return



Judi Dench has called for former James Bond regulars Q and Moneypenny to return to the series.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the actress joined Daniel Craig in asking producers to bring the characters, franchise staples until 2006's Casino Royale, back into the Bond adventures.

"That would be good if it was thought right to bring back those characters," she remarked, adding that she would like to see Samantha Bond and John Cleese reprise their roles as MI6's secretary and gadget expert respectively.

Bond played Moneypenny during Pierce Brosnan's 007 reign, following Caroline Bliss and Lois Maxwell in the role. Cleese succeeded Desmond Llewelyn as Q in 2002's Die Another Day.

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Rourke makes racy BAFTA speech



Mickey Rourke's acceptance speech for his Best Actor BAFTA reportedly raised a few eyebrows at Sunday's awards ceremony.

Rourke credited The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky for rescuing his reputation by giving him the role of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson.

Rourke said: "Darren Aronofsky gave me a second chance after I f**ked up my career for 15 years.

"I want to thank my publicist Paula for having the hardest job in showbiz - telling me where to go, what to do, when to do it. What to eat, what to dress, what to f**k. It's such a pleasure to be here and back out of the darkness.

"Marisa Tomei for putting up with me - she's a hell of a talent and was very brave for taking her clothes off all the time. I enjoyed looking at her!"

Rourke dedicated the win to the late actor and his "great friend" Richard Harris, who died of cancer in 2002.

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Zellweger, Franco handed Hasty Puddings



Renée Zellweger and James Franco have been unveiled as this year's Hasty Pudding winners.

The honours are handed out by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest undergraduate drama group in the US, for a "lasting contribution to the world of entertainment".

Zellweger collected the Hasty Pudding Woman Of The Year prize at a ceremony last Thursday after leading students in a parade through Harvard Square.

"This is the nicest doorstop I've ever had," she said. "I have always had great faith that no matter the state of the union, that America's future was sound so long as Harvard continued to deliver us her brightest and best.

"And after what I have experienced and witnessed today, I can tell you that I'm going to really have to re-think all that."

Spider-Man star Franco, who is currently appearing alongside Sean Penn in the biopic Milk, will pick up his Man Of The Year award later this week.

Previous recipients include Scarlett Johansson, Julia Roberts, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise.

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Arterton is kidnap victim 'Alice Creed'



Gemma Arterton will play a kidnap victim in J Blakeson's thriller The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The Quantum Of Solace actress will star opposite Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston in the movie, which shows how two men's plot to abduct a rich girl gradually falls apart.

The movie is Blakeson's first feature film as a director. He has previously helmed short film The Appointment and co-wrote upcoming horror sequel The Descent: Part 2.

Production on the British-funded Alice Creed began yesterday in the Isle of Man.

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Green blasts "pretentious" method actors



Casino Royale star Eva Green has blasted method actors, calling them "pretentious".

Speaking to GQ, the actress confessed that she does not understand why stars such as Daniel Day-Lewis refuse to break character away from the movie set.

She said: "It is a bit pretentious to come home and remain in character. Can you imagine? It must be pretty hard to live with.

"I'm sure Daniel Day-Lewis is very sweet but if he takes some of those roles home with him then it must be quite tense. I wouldn't want to be his wife."

Day-Lewis used a wheelchair for several weeks to prepare for his part as a disabled man in 1989's My Left Foot.

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Pena, Dourif round out Herzog's 'Son' cast



Werner Herzog has cast Michael Pena, Brad Dourif and Bill Cobbs in his psychological thriller My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done.

The project, which Herzog is slated to direct and David Lynch executive produce, will recount the true story of a San Diego man who experiences a string of bizarre events which lead him to kill his mother with a sword, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe and Chloe Sevigny have already been cast in the movie.

Pena has previously appeared in Lions For Lambs, World Trade Centre and Crash.

Dourif has more than 120 credits to his name, making his breakthrough in 1975's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, while Cobbs has featured in Night At The Museum and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

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Portman, Christensen 'worst on screen duo'



Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen have been named the worst on screen couple for their roles in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones.

A Total Film list of the most dreadful screen couplings saw Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou taking second place in The Da Vinci Code.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett came third for their partnership in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, followed by Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton in Dante's Peak.

The poll of online Total Film readers and Twitter users was carried out ahead of Valentine's Day.

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Creator: 'Veronica Mars' movie is close'



Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas has revealed that a big screen version of the show is "close" to being completed.

The series, which starred Kristen Bell as a student who moonlights as a private investigator, ran from 2004 until 2007.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Thomas said that he had almost finished writing the project, saying: "It's close. A few key details left to solve.

"I'm preparing the pitch now - literally now. I hope to go in and talk to [executive producer] Joel Silver and [Warner Bros.] in the next week or two to see if they're interested."

However, he stressed that this did not mean that the movie was a done deal. "I'm going to give it my best shot and let the chips fall where they may...It's entirely possible I won't have an answer at the end of the pitch.

"They will want to consider [the pitch], look at some numbers - whatever it is people on the business side do - and then they'll give me some sort of response. Then, if they want to move forward, there's the deal-making that'll need to go on."

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Sturgess, Rush recruited for 'Guardians'



Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rush, Rachael Taylor and David Wenhem have been added to the voice cast of Zack Snyder's animated movie Guardians Of Ga'Hoole.

The quartet join Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten, who have already agreed to lend their vocal talents to the children's tale.

Based on Kathryn Lasky's novel, the movie revolves around a barn owl and his friends as they join forces with the eponymous guardians to protect their kingdom.

Snyder, whose next film is superhero drama Watchmen, will direct from a script by John Collee (Happy Feet) and John Orloff (A Mighty Heart).

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Kudrow: 'Friends' movie would be tricky'



Lisa Kudrow has said that adapting Friends into a movie would be "tricky".

The actress, who starred as Phoebe Buffay in the sitcom from 1994 until 2004, told the Daily Mail that a big screen version might not be successful.

"I think [the cast] are all of the opinion that it would depend on the script, but I've always felt that if everyone else was going to do a movie, then I wouldn't want to be the person who refused and then had to be replaced - that wouldn't be fair," she said.

"So I would do it, but I've no idea how the show would translate to a movie...It's not like Sex And The City. Friends was a multi-camera show filmed in front of an audience, so it has a very different feel.

"It would be tricky to pull off, sure, but if it could be done, that would be great."

Earlier this week, former co-star Jennifer Aniston said that she would be interested in doing a "one-off" episode of the show.

Kudrow's latest movie, Hotel For Dogs, is released in the UK on February 13.

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