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Witherspoon Studied Willis Movies For Monster Role

Reese Witherspoon had an unlikely tutor for her role in new animated movie Monsters Vs. Aliens - action star Bruce Willis.

The blonde beauty is the voice of a female giant in the new 3D family film, which hits cinemas this weekend, and Witherspoon admits she had to study-up on the Die Hard hero's action classics after producers told her they wanted her to sound like Willis' John McClane.

She says, "They wanted to make me sound more like an action hero, like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone... They had to take me out of the (sound) booth and show me Bruce Willis movies."

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Quaid, Moore cast as the Clintons

Dennis Quaid will star as Bill Clinton in Peter Morgan's third Tony Blair film The Special Relationship, reports Variety.

Michael Sheen is reprising his role as Blair in the HBO movie, with Julianne Moore and Helen McCrory (The Queen) also joining the cast as Hilary Clinton and Cherie Blair respectively.

The movie will centre on the political relationship Blair forged with Clinton during his early years as Prime Minister.

Morgan, whose new film The Damned United opens this Friday, is making his directorial debut with The Special Relationship.

HBO is in discussions with the BBC to board the project as a co-producer.

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Tom Hanks to star as 'Major Matt Mason'

Tom Hanks has been lined up to star in Universal's live-action feature Major Matt Mason, according to Variety.

Speed and Band Of Brothers writer Graham Yost is scripting the project, based on the popular vintage Mattel action figure.

The Matt Mason toy line originated in 1966, with the character leading a team of astronauts on a space station based on the moon. The toy proved popular in the run up the first moon landing but was pulled from shops in the 1970s.

Hanks and Gary Goetzman's Playtone will produce the picture.

Universal's upcoming toy-based movies include Monopoly, Stretch Armstrong and Candy Land.

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Efron linked to 'Charlie St. Cloud' film

Zac Efron is in negotiations to star in The Death And Life Of Charlie St. Cloud, reports Variety.

The adaptation of Ben Sherwood's novel, will be directed by Efron's 17 Again director Burr Steers.

Charlie St. Cloud told the story of a caretaker who manages to have weekly meetings with a younger sibling whose accidental deal he feels was his responsibility.

Steers is finishing a script, based on drafts from Craig Pearce, James Schamus and Lewis Colick.

The film is expected to be Efron's next project after he finishes promoting 17 Again, which is released on April 10.

The High School Musical actor pulled out of Paramount's Footloose remake earlier this week, allegedly over fears that he may he typecast as a musical actor.

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Mad Men' star Hamm joins 'Howl'

Mad Men star Jon Hamm has joined the cast of indie project Howl, according to Variety.

The project is based on the obscenity trial surrounding Allen Ginsberg's famed poem. Hamm will play defence attorney Jake Ehrlich, who was the inspiration for TV crime drama Perry Mason.

James Franco, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, David Strathairn and Jeff Daniels are also signed up for the cast.

Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman scripted the project and will direct.

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Cameron: I'll pay to see new 'Terminator'

James Cameron has said that he will pay to see the fourth Terminator instalment when it opens in cinemas this summer.

Cameron, who masterminded the first two sci-fi blockbusters, admitted that he will still see the movie despite quitting the series when producers hatched plans to make Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines.

"I kind of turned my back on the Terminator world when there was early talk about a third film," Cameron wrote in a Wired article. "I'd evolved beyond it. I don't regret that, but I have to live with the consequence, which is that I keep seeing it resurrected."

He continued: "I'm not involved in Terminator Salvation. I've never read the script. I'm sure I'll be paying 10 bucks to see it like everybody else."

Terminator Salvation director McG earlier admitted that he unsuccessfully sought Cameron's endorsement for the new movie.

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50 Cent drops out of 'Expendables'

50 Cent's representatives have issued a statement explaining why he has pulled out of new Sylvester Stallone film The Expendables.

The gangsta rapper had originally been chosen to replace Forest Whitaker, who left the project because of other commitments.

His representative told MTV News: "50 Cent was offered the role of Hale Caesar in The Expendables.

"However, as he is currently in the process of completing his forthcoming album Before I Self Destruct with Dr Dre and Eminem, he was unfortunately not able to commit to the project."

50 Cent is reportedly planning to put out two albums in 2009, but only after the release of Eminem's comeback LP.

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Cyrus: 'Montana' movie is not the end

Miley Cyrus has denied that the upcoming Hannah Montana movie signals the end for the TV show.

Speaking to Billboard, the actress insisted that she would continue playing the high school student who moonlights as a popstar for as long as Disney deemed viable.

"This movie was never meant to be the end of Hannah Montana," she said. "The thing is, a lot of people put where the show's future lays in my hands and it's not up to me. It's up to Disney and whether they want more episodes...we hope that they do."

However, the 16-year-old admitted that she could not play the character forever, saying: "I have to have something after this. I can't do this when I'm 30."

She added: "It's just an honour for people to be able to relate to me and my music and not so much the character anymore."

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

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'Transformers 3' gets the green light

The Autobots and Decepticons will be returning for a second Transformers sequel.

A third Transformers movie has been given the green light and a release date of July 1, 2011.

Although the first sequel, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, isn’t slated to hit the big screen until June 24, Paramount and DreamWorks have already confirmed that the third film in the series is in the planning stages, Movie Jungle.com is reporting.

The involvement of stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox is yet to be determined, as well as that of director Michael Bay.

No writers are attached to the project, but DreamWorks and Paramount reportedly wanted to lock in the release date to get ahead of competing studios during the coveted summer blockbuster months.

The first Transformers movie made $319.2 million in the US and $389 million in international ticket sales.

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Penn, Carrey And Del Toro To Take On The Three Stooges

Sean Penn, Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro have been lined up to star in a new movie based on 1930s comedy icons The Three Stooges.

Director siblings the Farrelly Brothers are behind the new project, about the slapstick antics of Moe and Curly Howard and Larry Fine.

Oscar winner Penn is expected to play Larry, with Carrey and Del Toro taking on the roles of Curly and Moe, respectively, reports Daily Variety.

The project marks 48-year-old Penn's first comedy movie since 1989's We're No Angels.

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Hanks Spaces Out For New Film

Tom Hanks is heading back to outer space for a live-action film based on a vintage astronaut action figure.

The actor will portray Major Matt Mason in the currently untitled movie, based on the popular 1966 Mattel action man.

The Buzz Lightyear-like toy was all the rage in the two years leading up to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk, but the action figure was retired by Mattel bosses in the early 1970s.

The Mattel character was the leader of an astronaut team that worked on the moon and lived in a space station.

Space fan Hanks previously starred in Apollo 13 and hosted TV mini-series From the Earth to the Moon in the late 1990s.

Hanks will co-produce the film with production partner Gary Goetzman and Mattel executives Tim Kilpin and Barry Waldo, reports Daily Variety.

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Robert Pattinson denies head injury

Robert Pattinson has denied suffering a head injury on the set of the Twilight sequel New Moon.

Pattinson called the rumours of him suffering any type of head trauma while shooting the highly anticipated sequel in Vancouver, Canada “completely false,” WENN reports.

Details of the alleged accident stated that Pattinson was injured when a wind gust dislodged a metal advertising sign. The sign was then hurled through the air, reportedly striking the actor in the head.

A spokesperson for Pattinson also denied any such accident occurred.

“This story is completely false. Robert has not been injured in any way and no version of the story ever occurred,” his representative said.

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'Slumdog's Beaufoy writing 'Wolverine 2'

Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy will reportedly pen the script for Wolverine 2, says Ain't It Cool News.

Speaking at the Bradford International Film Festival, Beaufoy revealed that 20th Century Fox has contracted him to pen a follow-up to the forthcoming superhero prequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Beaufoy allegedly admitted that he wasn't familiar with Marvel's Wolverine character when offered the job, but accepted it at the behest of his agent.

The British writer's other credits include The Full Monty and Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which sees Hugh Jackman reprise his role as the adamantium-clawed anti-hero, will open in UK cinemas on April 29.

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Vaughn eyes Millar's 'American Jesus'

Matthew Vaughn is in talks to reunite with comic writer Mark Millar for a big screen adaptation of his American Jesus series, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Vaughn, who collaborated with Millar on upcoming superhero film Kick-Ass, is eyeing the religious-themed comic as his next directing project. The story involves the return of Christ in the modern day, signalling a battle with the Antichrist to save humanity.

The comic started as a three-issue miniseries under the name Chosen in 2004. Millar later retitled the series American Jesus and plans to release a second instalment, The Resurrection, later this year.

The American Jesus movie is being targeted for a summer start date.

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Cruise, Diaz targeted for Fox rom-com

20th Century Fox is aiming to pair up Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise for a new romantic comedy.

Walk The Line's James Mangold is signed up to direct the project, which has previously had working titles Wichita and Trouble Man.

The film will tell the story of a woman who had terrible luck with men who finds her life intertwined with a mysterious handsome man, according to Variety. Scott Frank is currently working on a script.

Diaz and Cruise, who last worked together on 2001's Vanilla Sky, have not officially signed up yet, but Cruise is apparently considering the project as his next starring vehicle.

Chris Tucker and Eva Mendes were previously lined up for the two-hander, but that incarnation fell apart last year.

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Kidman 'joins cast of Allen movie'

Nicole Kidman is the latest star to be cast in Woody Allen's upcoming movie, it has emerged.

The To Die For actress joins Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins in the as-yet-untitled film, Variety reports.

The film is being funded by Mediapro, the firm that financed Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

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Orlando Bloom to play 'Main Street' cop

Orlando Bloom is in talks to star in Horton Foote's final movie Main Street, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The plot revolves around residents of a small US town who find their lives disrupted when a stranger arrives. Bloom will play a local police officer.

Andrew McCarthy has also boarded the ensemble cast, which includes Ellen Burstyn, Patricia Clarkson and Colin Firth.

Award-winning British theatre director John Doyle is making his feature film debut with Main Street.

Foote, a playwright whose film work includes To Kill A Mockingbird, Hurry Sundown and Tender Mercies, passed away earlier this month.

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Oscars moved to avoid Olympic clash

Next year's Oscars ceremony has been postponed until March to avoid a clash with the 2010 Winter Olympics.

A spokesperson for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that the 82nd annual awards have been moved from the end of February to March 7 in order to avoid coinciding with the sports event.

The Oscars have been held in February since 2004, before which they were staged at the end of March. The Olympics are scheduled to take place in Vancouver from February 12 until February 28, meaning that the movie awards could have faced stiff competition in viewer ratings.

Speaking to AP, Academy representative Leslie Unger said: "It has been [held] in February since [2004], except for one year, in 2006, where the circumstances were the same as next year, to not coincide with the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics."

She explained that nominations ballots would be mailed to members on December 28, with polls closing on January 23 and nominations being announced on February 2.

"In terms of the nominating process, that puts another week in the schedule for members to see movies."

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Howard for 'Adventures Of H.P. Lovecraft'

Ron Howard is eyeing the director's chair for comic book adaptation The Strange Adventures Of H.P. Lovecraft, reports Variety.

Based on Mac Carter and Jeff Blitz's Image Comics graphic novel, the story centres on influential horror writer Lovecraft as his creations spring to life in the real world. The comic also explores the family tragedies and bouts of mental illness that plagued Lovecraft.

Carter will write the screenplay and executive produce for Howard's Imagine Entertainment and Universal. The studio snapped up the rights to the project because it bears similarities to its back catalogue of monster movies, including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Wolf Man.

Howard's next movie Angels & Demons opens on May 14.

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Emily Blunt joins Brand's 'Greek'

Emily Blunt has been cast opposite Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall spin-off Get Him To The Greek.

The Young Victoria actress will portray a pop singer who is lined up to duet with Brand's rock star character.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald about the project, Brand said: "I play Aldous Snow again, but Aldous Snow back on drugs.

"It's a two-hander with Jonah Hill. Jonah's character has to get Aldous from London to Los Angeles to perform a gig. Aldous is a crazed drug addict and a handful."

Blunt recently signed up to star in Fox's Gulliver's Travels with Jack Black.

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