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Abrams: 'Captain Kirk, Spock like brothers'

Star Trek director JJ Abrams has suggested that the relationship between Captain Kirk and Spock is the "spine" of the sci-fi franchise.

Speaking at the UK press conference for the upcoming blockbuster, Abrams admitted that he had approached the movie as "almost a story of two brothers".

"The thing about Kirk and Spock is that they are each, separately full of great potential, but it's not until they come together as a team that they accomplish almost anything," he explained.

"To me, the key to the movie is that friendship. My approach to the movie was almost a story of two brothers. I just thought that it was their relationship that was the spine of the film."

Star Trek, which features Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Heroes' Zachary Quinto as Spock, arrives in cinemas on May 8.

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Parker talks Noth, Marini in 'SATC 2'

Sarah Jessica Parker has dismissed speculation that Chris Noth has yet to sign up for the sequel to Sex And The City: The Movie.

The actress, who plays Carrie Bradshaw, told E! News that Noth (Mr Big) would definitely be reprising his role in the highly-anticipated movie.

Discussing reports that Gilles Marini was hoping to return as Samantha Jones's neighbour Dante, she said: "I don't have a clue [if he will]. I don't know anything specific about a story for him, but it's very possible."

Last year's summer blockbuster saw Carrie and Mr Big finally tie the knot, although Parker again refused to disclose what might be in store for their relationship this time around.

Filming on Sex And The City 2 is scheduled to begin this summer for a May 28, 2010 release date.

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Brand cast on 'Drop Dead Fred' remake

Russell Brand will star in a remake of Drop Dead Fred for Universal.

The comic will play the imaginary friend of a woman who loses her job and husband over the course of her lunch break, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates in the lead role and Rik Mayall as the friend.

Dennis McNicholas (Land Of The Lost) is working on the script for the remake, which will be similar in tone to Beetlejuice.

Brand is currently filming Get Him To The Greek for Universal, a comedy featuring his Forgetting Sarah Marshall character Aldous Snow.

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Milner: 'I wasn't in awe of Caine'

Bill Milner has said that he wasn't in awe of Michael Caine when working with him on new drama Is Anybody There?.

Speaking to DS, the Son Of Rambow lead admitted that the legendary star treated him "just like any other actor".

"He was just very lovely and we had a really good relationship. He's so nice and he treated me just like any other actor," Milner said of Caine.

"I watched quite a few of his films so I was aware of how good he was, but I wouldn't say I was in awe or excited or nervous," he added. "I was just really happy to be working with such a brilliant actor."

Is Anybody There?, about a young boy who befriends a magician residing in his parents' retirement home, is out in cinemas this Friday.

Click 'play' below to watch our chat with Bill Milner.

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Amanda Peet lands 'Gulliver's' role

Amanda Peet has been cast as Jack Black's love interest in the Gulliver's Travels remake.

Peet will play the editor who dispatches Black's travel writer Lemuel Gulliver on an assignment that leads him to discover the secret island of Lilliput, reports the The Hollywood Reporter.

Rob Letterman (Monsters Vs. Aliens) is directing the movie, based on Jonathan Swift's satirical novel, from a script by Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman.

Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Catherine Tate and Chris O'Dowd are also among the cast for the movie, which is currently filming in the UK.

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Johnson joins Sandler porn comedy

Don Johnson has joined the cast of Adam Sandler's porn comedy Born To Be A Star, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Johnson joins Christina Ricci, Stephen Dorff and Nick Swardson in the cast.

The film will tell the story of a small-town nerd (Swardson), who discovers his parents were successful porn stars in the '70s. He then leaves Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps.

Ricci plays the innocent girlfriend, while Dorff is cast as adult star Dick Shadow. Johnson will star as a "down-on-his-luck director" who gives Swardson his first break.

Sandler is producing the project through his Happy Madison company.

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Quinto praises Nimoy support on 'Star Trek'

Zachary Quinto has praised the support that he received from original Spock actor Leonard Nimoy in helping him bring the iconic Star Trek character back to the big screen.

The Heroes star portrays the character as a young man in JJ Abrams upcoming blockbuster, while Nimoy reprises his legendary role for a brief cameo at the beginning of the prequel.

Speaking at the film's UK press conference, Quinto said: "I had the great advantage of working closely with him during this process. From the very beginning he was so available to me and supportive and welcoming. He gave me such creative freedom that I didn't feel any sense of expectation or pressure from him.

"Also, just to have the personal experience of the impact that this character had on his life and the impact that his life had on this character."

Quinto added that having Nimoy on set during filming had been "reassuring", saying: "It removed any anxiety or pressure that I might have otherwise had, by having him available and involved and clearly supportive and excited.

"It was a very profound experience for me because I don't think Leonard ever expected to play this character again, and I think for him it was a good opportunity, not only to play the character again, but to be intimately involved in the passage of the mantle, which for me was an incredible honour and certainly one that I will cherish for years."

Star Trek arrives in cinemas on May 8.

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Portman launches behind-the-scenes website

Natalie Portman has started a new website aimed at giving film fans a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made.

According to WENN, she created Making Of along with co-founder Christine Aylward after several friends expressed an interest in the filmmaking process.

The Star Wars actress enlisted director Marc Foster and actor Jason Bateman to explain all aspects of movie making in layman’s terms for the general public.

The site includes conversations with the pair alongside the likes of Billy Bob Thornton and Ron Howard. It also explores the duties of film crew such as cinematographers, makeup artists and casting directors.

"Every time a friend of mine came to visit [on set] I was sort of reminded of how exciting a place it is to work and I was reminded how little we all know when you're just a moviegoer about all the different aspects that go into making a film," Portman said.

She unveiled her website at a press conference for the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

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Ridley Scott to make 'Alien' prequel?

20th Century Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman has hinted that Ridley Scott may revive the Alien franchise.

Speaking to IESB.net at Wolverine's US premiere, Rothman appeared to confirm rumours that Scott, who helmed the first Alien movie in 1979, is considering making a prequel.

"There's been some talk," said Rothman. "Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he's toying with the idea and that would be great for us.

"I mean, it's always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I've got my fingers crossed, all of them."

Alien spawned three sequels before leading into crossover series Alien Vs. Predator. The films have taken more than $850 million at the worldwide box office.

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Douglas in talks for 'Wall Street' sequel

Michael Douglas has said that he is in "serious discussions" to reprise his role as Gordon Gekko in a sequel to 1987's Wall Street.

"We're probably going to do a 'Wall Street 2' - maybe towards the end of the summer," the actor told Access Hollywood.

"It's probably about a week away from announcing it with the elements coming together."

Edward Pressman, the producer of the original Wall Street, has reportedly signed on to produce the sequel. Allan Loeb, who worked on 21, is writing the script.

"It would be cool. Good timing for it," Douglas said.

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Pegg 'needed toilet in front of Nimoy'

Simon Pegg has confessed that he was overcome with excitement when filming Star Trek scenes with Leonard Nimoy.

The British actor, who takes on the role of Enterprise engineer Scotty in J.J. Abrams's franchise reboot, said that appearing in the film was "extraordinary".

"To become part of it, as a nerd, which is what I am, is extraordinary," Pegg said at the film's UK press conference. "When Chris [Pine] and I were doing our scene with Leonard Nimoy it was kind of weird because he was talking to me as the man I've known since I was 9, and it's not a man from this planet it's a man from Vulcan with pointed ears.

"It's kind of odd to have Leonard look at me say lines and [not] become very excited and need to go to the toilet. So for me the joy of being part of this story is on a daily basis. I wake up and pinch myself, it's fantastic."

Pegg also likened the bond shared by the cast to the "spirit of togetherness" present in the original series: "When I came on board it felt so right, and in a weird kind of hippie-ish way it felt like we already knew each other and it immediately clicked. It was a great feeling and I think that kind of spirit of togetherness that pervades Star Trek was very much there on the set."

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Jackman almost quit making 'X-Men' films

Hugh Jackman has admitted that he almost walked away from the the role of Wolverine.

The actor revealed that he grew frustrated with his character’s progress in the X-Men franchise.

Jackman said that he feared his mutant superhero had gotten too "soft" after X-Men: The Last Stand and considered abandoning the role for future projects.

"It felt like Wolverine had got a little soft by X-Men 3 and I wanted to take it back to that bad ass quality," he is quoted as saying. "He's tough, he's gruff, he's not politically correct - he doesn't say the right things."

Jackman added that the return of his character’s "berserker rage" persuaded him to return for spinoff X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

"There has to be complexity to this character. He's very tough but there's a lot of pain, history to his life that you find out about. It's not pretty," he said.

"He's a flawed character. That's what I like about it, that's why I'm doing it for the fourth time or else I wouldn't."

X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens in UK cinemas on April 29.

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Stone, LaBeouf for 'Wall Street 2'

Oliver Stone has agreed to direct a follow-up to his 1987 drama Wall Street.

Shia LaBeouf is also in talks to join the cast of the sequel, which will see Michael Douglas reprise his role as ruthless stockbroker Gordon Gecko, reports Variety.

Wall Street 2 will centre on a young trader who is taken under Gecko's wing. Charlie Sheen's character Bud Fox played a similar role in the previous movie.

Allan Loeb (21) has been commissioned to pen the script, which will use the recession as inspiration for its storyline.

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Bale: We can prove 'Batman' doubters wrong

Christian Bale has admitted that he is determined to make his next Batman movie better than The Dark Knight.

The actor told Total Film that he believes the next instalment can be more successful than The Dark Knight, which broke box office records and was widely praised by critics on its release last summer.

"I would like it if people say, 'You'll never make a good third movie'. I say, 'OK, let's make a third movie in that case, let's prove them wrong. But that's just me," he said.

Bale revealed that he is contractually obliged to appear in another Batman, even if director Christopher Nolan doesn't return.

He commented: "The fact is, I have to! I've signed up! Chris doesn't. So I'm in a bit of a fix if he says he doesn't want to! Will we do a third movie? It's got to be the right story. You can't make something like The Dark Knight and then come out with something disappointing."

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McG: 'I'm bigger than Michael Bay'

Terminator Salvation helmer McG has continued his war of words with Transformers director Michael Bay, claiming that he has a bigger penis than his rival.

The Hollywood directors have previously clashed over their competing summer blockbusters, with Bay accusing McG of stealing ideas from his robot film. McG later said Bay relied on "breakdancing", "backspins" and unrealistic action scenes for his Transformers movies.

Now McG has challenged Bay to a penis measuring contest outside Universal Studios.

"Michael Bay has a big c**k. But I'd like to believe mine is bigger," he told Men.Style.com. "If he's up for it, we can both reveal ourselves on the Spartacus steps at Universal and put the question to rest."

Terminator Salvation opens in UK cinemas on June 3, while Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen arrives later in the month on June 24.

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Furious' retains Aus box office lead

Fast & Furious has held its position at the top of the Australian box office.

The top four movies remain unchanged from last week, while World War II drama The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas rises ten places to number five as it opens in more cinemas across the country.

Fox comedy Fired Up is the only other new chart entry, landing at number seven on its first weekend on release.

The box office top ten in full (figures in Australian dollars):

1. (1) Fast & Furious - $3,030,528
2. (2) Monsters Vs. Aliens - $1,737,457
3. (3) 17 Again - $1,436,511
4. (4) Race To Witch Mountain - $887,266
5. (15) The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas - $794,602
6. (5) The Boat That Rocked - $724,443
7. (-) Fired Up - $590,480
8. (6) Knowing - $355,945
9. (8) The Pink Panther 2 - $238,558
10. (7) Dragonball Evolution - $237,289

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Huston cast as Poseidon in 'Titans'

Danny Huston will play god of the sea Poseidon in Warner Bros's Clash Of The Titans.

The Wolverine star will join Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Sam Worthington, Mads Mikkelsen and Gemma Arterton in the cast of the big-budget remake, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Production on the mythological epic commenced in the UK this week under the direction of Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk).

The original 1981 Titans starred Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith and Ursula Andress. The movie marked the retirement of renowned stop-motion effects animator Ray Harryhausen.

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'State Of Play' lands at UK number one

Russell Crowe thriller State Of Play has gone straight to number one at the UK box office.

Universal's remake of the BBC miniseries takes in £1.5 million to pip Monsters Vs. Aliens to the chart summit on its opening weekend.

Fast & Furious, 17 Again and I Love You, Man all drop a place, while In The Loop climbs to number six.

Elsewhere, teen horror The Uninvited and Seth Rogen comedy Observe And Report land at numbers seven and eight respectively.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (-) State Of Play - £1,513,951
2. (1) Monsters Vs. Aliens - £1,078,617
3. (2) Fast & Furious - £1,052,533
4. (3) 17 Again - £1,025,332
5. (4) I Love You, Man - £708,071
6. (8) In The Loop - £348,998
7. (-) The Uninvited - £343,378
8. (-) Observe And Report - £326,749
9. (7) Race To Witch Mountain - £250,250
10. (6) The Boat That Rocked - £249,823

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Abrams 'walked tightrope' for 'Trek' fans

J.J. Abrams has revealed that he strived to make a Star Trek movie to please fans of the original series and audiences unfamiliar with the science fiction franchise.

Speaking at the UK press conference to promote the movie, the director said that he doesn't see Star Trek as being a "sacred text".

"The risk there obviously was alienating fans of Star Trek," he said. "I didn't want to do that but I also felt that if we did follow-up on our job and made a movie that was entertaining, that would include Star Trek fans."

Abrams admitted that he is prepared to accept criticism from long-time Trek followers who aren't happy with his interpretation.

"There's always going to be someone who's going to feel like it's sacrilege to change this or make this adjustment," he commented. "I couldn't approach this film from the point of view of that one particular fan, we had to look at the film and try and put blinders on, and not listen to the noise of that kind of nitpicking stuff."

However, the filmmaker added that he is grateful to the fans who kept Star Trek "alive for so many years", likening the making of the movie to "walking a tightrope" in order to keep them happy.

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Gervais's 'Flanimals' to become 3-D movie

A 3-D animated movie based on Ricky Gervais's Flanimals will be made by Illumination Entertainment.

The firm, housed at Universal, has picked up the feature rights to the illustrated books and tasked The Simpsons writer Matt Selman with penning a script for the project.

Gervais's four-book Flanimals series, with art by Rob Sheen, centres on imaginary animals such as Honk, Grundit and Puddloflaj. The Office creator will voice a purple creature who embarks on a world-changing mission.

"It will be great to play a short, fat, sweaty loser for a change," Gervais joked to Variety. "A real stretch."

Illumination pair Chris Meledandri and Courtney Pledger will produce the film, while Gervais is serving in an executive producer capacity.

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