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Penn, Watts close in on 'Fair Game'



Sean Penn may join Naomi Watts in a film about outed CIA spy Valerie Plame, says Variety.

The Oscar-winning Milk star is in discussions to portray Plame's husband Joseph Wilson in Doug Liman's movie. The director had previously sought Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe for the two lead roles.

The movie is based on Plame's memoir Fair Game: My Life As A Spy, My Betrayal By The White House.

Former politician Wilson saw his wife Plame (Watts) dismissed from the CIA after 20 years of service when she accused the Bush administration of lying about weapons of mass destruction in her Washington Post column.

The pair filed a civil suit against former Vice President Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and ex-chief of staff Lewis Libby when her covert status was compromised. Rove and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage later admitted that they leaked her CIA links to journalists.

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Hudgens: 'I'm interested in 'New Moon' role'



Vanessa Hudgens has admitted that she would be "interested" in landing a role in New Moon.

The High School Musical 3 star was reported to have auditioned for the part of werewolf Leah Clearwater in the Twilight follow-up earlier this year.

Speaking to Extra, she said: "It's still a rumour. I'm really interested, I think it's a great project but nothing's happened as of now."

She added: "I love it. My sister has read all the books too."

Last month, the film's writer Melissa Rosenberg played down reports that Hudgens would join the cast, insisting that "at the moment, the part of Leah doesn't happen until the third movie".

New Moon is scheduled to begin filming in March with a slated November 2009 release date.

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Pinto, Watts added to Woody Allen movie

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto has been cast in Woody Allen's latest London-set movie, according to Variety.

The Indian-born actress will follow in the footsteps of Diane Keaton and Scarlett Johansson, both of whom have portrayed ingenues for Allen. The US director has previously used London as the setting for Match Point and Scoop.

Naomi Watts has also boarded the untitled project, which added Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins to its cast earlier this month.

Allen's latest movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona won Penelope Cruz a supporting actress Oscar on Sunday and is in cinemas now. His next movie, Whatever Works, will arrive later this year.

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Cusack, Corddry leap into 'Hot Tub'



John Cusack and Rob Corddry have joined the cast of MGM's Hot Tub Time Machine, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The comedy revolves around a group of grown men who find themselves transported back to 1987 to relive their glory days after getting into a hot tub.

Office star Craig Robinson and Clark Duke are also in talks to join the movie. Cusack, Corddry and Robinson will play the time-travelling friends, with Duke in line to play Cusack's younger brother.

Steve Pink, a co-producer on Cusack's High Fidelity, will direct the movie and rewrite Josh Heald's original script.

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'Twilight' director considering 'If I Stay'



Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke is reportedly in negotiations to helm a new book adaptation for Summit Entertainment.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Hardwicke has been tapped to direct a big screen version of If I Stay, which revolves around a 17-year-old girl having to make the choice whether to live or die following a car crash.

The novel, by Sisters In Sanity author Gayle Forman, is not scheduled for release until April but Summit reportedly bought the screen rights last month.

Last year, Hardwicke pulled out of directing New Moon, the second instalment in the Twilight franchise, citing scheduling difficulties.

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Rourke: 'Penn deserved to win Oscar'



Mickey Rourke has congratulated his rival Sean Penn for beating him to the best actor Oscar at this year's ceremony.

Speaking to The Mirror, the Wrestler star revealed that he was "pleased" that Penn had been honoured for his work in the biopic Milk.

"He's a great actor and a great friend of mine," he said. "He deserved it."

Rourke has previously credited Penn for helping him turn his life around when he was "down and out", saying: "He got hold of me and told me exactly what to do and not to do."

The pair dismissed reports of a feud between them earlier this month after they were spotted enjoying drinks together at the Sunset Tower in Hollywood.

Referencing the death of his pet Chihuahua last week, Rourke said: "To be honest I'd rather have my dog Loki back than an award."

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Kate Winslet: 'Oscar has a nice bottom'



Kate Winslet has admitted that she has been obsessed with her Academy Award statuette since winning the best actress prize at the weekend.

The Reader star told US talkshow host Oprah Winfrey that she cannot stop looking at the award.

She said: "I keep looking at him and going, 'Oooh wow'. Looking at every little piece - very nice little bottom.

"It really is an out-of-body experience - you just think: 'This can't be happening'.

"I felt for sure this was going to be Meryl Streep's. I honestly did not think for one second that it was going to be me."

Earlier this week, Winslet and her mother both revealed that they feared Streep would win the best actress gong for her part in Doubt.

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Greene: 'New Moon' script better than 'Twilight'



Twilight star Ashley Greene has described the script for New Moon as "really good".

The actress, who plays Alice Cullen in the vampire franchise, told Extra that she thought the screenplay for the upcoming film was "better than" its predecessor.

"I'm so excited. I finally, finally got the script and it's good," she said. "It's really good... I'm really excited to work with [director] Chris [Weitz]. I finally spoke to him the other day."

She continued: "I like it better than the first one. I might be biased because I have a bigger part."

Discussing the overwhelming attention that the movies have attracted, she said: "It's nice for me because... a lot of people don't recognise me because my hair is longer and everything is a little different.

"Versus poor Rob Pattinson (Edward), who went from nobody knowing him to everything being documented."

New Moon is scheduled to begin filming in Washington next month with a slated November 2009 release date.

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'Inglourious Basterds' teaser posters

If the recent trailer and these two teaser posters are anything to go by, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds promises to be as action-packed and bloodthirsty as his two-part martial arts epic Kill Bill. Inglourious Basterds, about a group of US soldiers wreaking havoc in Nazi-occupied France, will be released in UK cinemas on August 21.


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Howard: 'Arrested' movie is going ahead



Ron Howard has confirmed that a movie adaptation of Arrested Development is "going ahead" as planned.

The feature film version of the Fox TV show was announced last year but fans were left concerned about its status after star Michael Cera described the project as "hypothetical".

Speaking to MTV News at Sunday night's Oscars, the sitcom's executive producer insisted that the movie is still happening and is gaining momentum.

"I had a great meeting with [series creator] Mitch [Hurwitz]. Things are going really well. He's writing," said Howard.

Discussing speculation that Cera (George Michael Bluth) is "holding out" on reprising his role, he added: "We've been asked to no longer divulge anything or get into the game of who's in, who's out. People are going to have to see."

Arrested Development aired on Fox from 2003 until 2006.

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Pattinson: 'Oscars experience was insane'



Robert Pattinson has described his experience at this year's Oscars as "insane".

Speaking to MTV News, the Twilight star admitted that walking the red carpet was one of the "weirdest" moments of his life.

"When [the Academy] first told us about [my invitation to present an award], I was like, 'No, no, no. You're joking!" he explained.

"[I] thought I was going to have to do something really stupid, like get gunged!"

The British actor took to the stage alongside Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried on Sunday night to introduce a montage of romantic moments from 2008 films.

His Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart was rumoured to have declined the opportunity to present, with her father telling Access Hollywood that she will accept the honour when she had made "a great movie, not just one that makes a lot of money".

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Blunt: 'Victoria' crown dented my head



Emily Blunt has revealed that she was left with a "dented head" after filming period drama The Young Victoria, reports PA.

The actress, who stars as the youthful monarch in the forthcoming film, admitted that the heavy crown she donned during the coronation scene had a lasting impact on her skull.

"The crown has left a dent in my head which they just cover with makeup so I don't look frightening to you... It's remarkably heavy," she said.

She added that she was also unimpressed at having to wear the "painful" corsets that were fashionable during the Queen's reign.

"I hate the corset. Over it. So over it. Every day I [had] to wear it. They put it on me in the morning then they loosen it off for lunch, and then it's painful to get back into it again after a big meal," she explained.

The Young Victoria is released in the UK on March 6.

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'Juno' writer Cody to produce 'Breathers'



Juno writer Diablo Cody has signed up for Breathers: A Zombie's Lament, according to Variety.

The project will be the third time Cody has worked with Fox Searchlight, following Juno and upcoming Megan Fox vehicle Jennifer's Body.

Cody will produce Breathers, which is based on a soon-to-be-published book by S.G. Browne.

Budding screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe is penning the script, which follows the story of a deceased man who has trouble adjusting to his new zombie status. However, he quickly makes friends when he joins the group Undead Anonymous.

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Verbinski tapped for Universal's 'Clue'



Gore Verbinski has been tapped to helm Universal's live-action adaptation of the popular board game Clue, reports Variety.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean director will also produce under his Universal-based Blink Wink banner alongside Hasbro's Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir.

Discussing the movie, Blink Wink's senior vice president Jonathan Krauss described it as a "global thriller and transmedia event that uses deductive reasoning as its storytelling engine".

A film version of Clue, known as Cluedo in the UK, was released in 1985 and starred Tim Curry.

The latest movie is the result of a deal inked between Universal and Hasbro last year, with the studio aspiring to develop at least four projects based on brands including Monopoly, Magic and Stretch Armstrong.

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Gondry to direct 'The Green Hornet'



Michel Gondry has been announced as the new director of Seth Rogen's project The Green Hornet.

The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind auteur will replace original director Stephen Chow, who decided against helming the film due to time constraints.

Rogen told MTV News: "It's f***ing crazy! "Me and [co-writer] Evan [Goldberg] have always been gigantic fans of [Gondry].

"We just like anyone who thinks outside the box, and there's really nobody who thinks more outside the box then he does. He's really a magician in a lot of ways.

"The Green Hornet will be a great combination of both of our movies, of both of our styles."

He added that it would combine his and Goldberg's conversational tone and attempts at action sequences with Gondry's "wild, visual imagination" and "funny awkward sensibility".

Rogen recently denied claims that the film had been axed by Sony when Chow left the production, while Adam Sandler has been tipped for a cameo role in the movie.

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Vinnie Jones 'signs up for two films'



Vinnie Jones has signed up to play criminals in two new films, it has emerged.

Jones will join Dave Annable and Katharine McPhee to play a Croatian mobster in Rob Hedden's Wedlocked, Hollywood Reporter says.

He will also play an assassin in the direct-to-DVD prequel from Universal, Smokin' Aces: Blowback.

The film will be directed by P.J. Pesce, and also stars Tom Berenger, Clayne Crawford, Tommy Flanagan and Maury Sterling.

Last year, reports emerged that Jones had become involved in a brawl in a South Dakota bar over a comment made about his role in X-Men: The Last Stand.

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Ferrell, Wahlberg suit up for 'B Team'



Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg will reportedly join forces for the upcoming action comedy B Team.

According to Variety, the pair have been tipped to star as mismatched cops in the Adam McKay-helmed project.

Chris Henchy has been slated to write the script but no details of the storyline have been released yet.

McKay is currently directing Ferrell in the Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush, while Henchy recently penned the upcoming Ferrell film Land Of The Lost and is the co-executive producer of HBO's Entourage alongside Wahlberg.

Studios have reportedly begun bidding on the project, and it is expected to have found a buyer by the end of the week.

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Damon to discover 'The Adjustment Bureau'



Matt Damon has been tipped to star in forthcoming science fiction tale The Adjustment Bureau, reports Variety.

Based on a 1954 short story by Philip K. Dick, the plot revolves around a man who discovers that he is living in a manufactured reality which is being controlled by mysterious guardians.

The Bourne Ultimatum scribe George Nolfi has been slated to pen the script and will make his directorial debut on the project, which is scheduled to begin production this summer.

The package has been pitched to studios by Media Rights Capital and is expected to have found a buyer by the end of the week.

Other Dick works to have been adapted for the big screen include Minority Report, Blade Runner, Total Recall and Paycheck.

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'Spider-Man' musical handed release date



The highly-anticipated Broadway musical based on the Spider-Man comics has been handed a release date.

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark will debut at New York's Hilton Theatre on February 18, 2010, with preview performances beginning on January 16.

The $40 million production, which is thought to be the most expensive in Broadway history, will feature songs and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge.

"Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an original story both recognisable and unexpected - yielding new characters as well as familiar faces - until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey," said the producers in a statement.

Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor, who was responsible for the successful theatre run of The Lion King, will helm the show.

The Wrestler star Evan Rachel Wood has confirmed that she will play Spider-Man's love interest Mary-Jane Watson but no other casting decisions have been announced yet.

Workshops are scheduled to begin in the summer with full rehearsals slated to start in the autumn.

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'Slumdog' child stars given free houses



Two of the child stars from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire are to be rehoused from the Mumbai slums.

Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismali, who played younger versions of two main characters, are to be moved to more secure, free homes as a reward for bringing "laurels to the country".

"Since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses," local housing association chairman Amarjeet Singh Manhas told The Times Of India.

The youngsters currently live in shacks in the Garib Nagar slum, where they were plucked from obscurity to star in Danny Boyle's film.

Movie bosses have repeatedly denied accusations that the production's child actors were exploited, insisting that trust funds were set up in their names, education provided and adequate salaries paid.

Both children's families have expressed their delight at the move, with Ali's father saying: "Our house was demolished a couple of times by the authorities, the last time being three months ago. We are happy that we will have a permanent roof over our head."

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