spratt89

Woody Allen re-casts Nicole Kidman role

Woody Allen has reportedly re-casted Nicole Kidman's role in his latest project with actress Lucy Punch.

According to Variety, Kidman recently dropped out of Allen's third UK-set film allegedly for opting to work and produce on The Rabbit Hole with director John Cameron Mitchell instead.

Punch will join an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Freida Pinto.

Shooting on the as-yet-untitled film begins this July in London.


Source

spratt89

'Up' opens to $68.2 million to lead weekend box office

Is there any topic Pixar can't turn into a hit? The studio has now transformed its geriatric fantasy adventure Up into its third highest grossing opening ever, behind The Incredibles ($70 million) and Finding Nemo ($70.2 million). It's surely been aided by the 1500 3-D screens that cost a premium ticket price. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian grabbed the number two slot, holding incredibly well considering the competition was stiff for the family audience this weekend. The Ben Stiller-starrer dropped a mild 53% to $25.5 million for the frame. But despite the solid turnout from the family audiences this weekend, the box office couldn't match last year at this time when Sex and the City opened to $56.8 million and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull had a giant $44.5 million second weekend. (The top 12 movies were down just under 1% from last year.)

Despite the dour year-over-year comparisons, individual films are still holding their own. In third place, the well-reviewed Sam Raimi-directed horror film Drag Me to Hell opened to $16.6 million, just beating Terminator Salvation's three-day take of $16.1 million. The Christian Bale-starrer dropped 62% from its opening frame. The film's 11-day cume stands at $90 million, far beneath what Terminator 3 had grossed in its first 11 days in theaters back in 2003. Fifth place belonged to the stalwart Star Trek which continues to earn despite already being in theaters for a month. The J.J. Abrams-directed movie has now crossed the $200 million mark -- dropping only 44% this frame, it proves it's still got more earning power left.


Source

spratt89

Shannon linked to Jett biopic 'Runaways'

Michael Shannon is in talks to join the cast of Joan Jett biopic The Runaways, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Shannon, who was nominated for an Oscar for Revolutionary Road, will play Kim Fowley, the record producer and manager who was later accused of verbal, emotional and sexual abuse by Jett's all-girl group The Runaways.

The movie will follow the short career of the rock act, with Kristen Stewart playing Jett and Dakota Fanning portraying lead singer Cheri Currie.

The Runaways's songs include 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Queens Of Noise'. After they split in 1979, Jett went on to form the Blackhearts and score hits with 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' and 'Bad Reputation'.

Italian music video helmer Floria Sigismondi will direct the movie, her first feature, from a script she wrote.


Source

spratt89

Six join Rob Reiner's 'Flipped'

Aidan Quinn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Mahoney, Anthony Edwards, Rebecca De Mornay and Kevin Weisman are all negotiating to star in Flipped.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Rob Reiner is close to signing up the sextet for his adaptation of Wendelin Van Draanen's young-adult novel.

Taking place between 1957 and 1963, it focuses on a boy and a girl who, despite not seeing eye-to-eye, eventually share a kiss in their teens.

Edwards and De Mornay have been cast as the boy's parents, while Mohaney will play his grandfather. Quinn and Miller have been lined up for the girl's parents and Weisman the part of her mentally challenged uncle.

Reiner is the director of This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally and the recent Bucket List. He wrote the Flipped script alongside Andy Scheinman.


Source

spratt89

Scott: 'New Alien film to be prequel'

Tony Scott has revealed that the proposed new Alien film will be a prequel.

The producer of the upcoming movie said that he expects the franchise reboot to begin filming "hopefully [by] the end of the year" but was unsure if it would be on the calendar as a summer 2011 release.

Scott also confirmed that Carl Rinsch would take over directorial duties from his brother Ridley, who directed the original film in 1979 and will oversee the current project.

He told Collider: "Yes, Carl Rinsch is going to do the prequel to Alien. He’s one of our directors at our company."

There is speculation as to whether the prequel will focus on the events leading up to the first film, with a spaceship loaded with alien eggs crash landing on a remote planet, to be discovered by the crew of the Nostromo.

The Alien franchise has made $850 million at the worldwide box office.

Source

spratt89

Brittany Murphy axed from 'Expendables'

Brittany Murphy has been axed from Sylvester Stallone's upcoming action film The Expendables.

According to the movie's official production blog, Murphy's character was "deleted" from the script after it underwent a rewrite. The Sin City actress was to have played the girlfriend of Mickey Rourke's arms dealer Tool.

Liam Hemsworth's character has also been removed from the film, reports say.

Written, directed by and starring Stallone, The Expendables follows a group of mercenaries tasked with overthrowing a South American dictator. Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Charisma Carpenter and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also among the cast.


Source

spratt89

Ferrell's 'Sherlock' delayed by Guy Ritchie

Will Ferrell has admitted that Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes movie has sidelined his own comedy project involving the Baker Street sleuth.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Ferrell were signed up by Columbia Pictures to star as Holmes and his sidekick last year, but their spoof slant on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation will have to wait until after Ritchie's action-orientated opens for Warner Bros.

"I think everyone just wants to see...[Ritchie's Holmes is] probably going to be a hit franchise," Ferrell told HitFix. "Would it just inform the audience to allow for us to do a comedy version or would it feel like we're just trying to copy them, even though I think we wrote our script before they did?"

He added: "I just met with Sacha, like, three weeks ago. We're talking about it some more."

Judd Apatow is attached to produce the Cohen/Ferrell project, which Tropic Thunder's Etan Cohen is scripting.


Source

spratt89

Reynolds 'intimately involved with Deadpool'

Ryan Reynolds has said that he is part of the creative process for the Deadpool spinoff film.

The X-Men Origins: Wolverine actor revealed that he is "intimately involved" in the movie's production, Hit Fix reports.

He said: "We're just trying to break a story right now and figure out who the villain is going to be and all that stuff. But it's going to be just like the comic books."

Reynolds said that the new film's plotline will take place after his character, Wade Wilson, was disfigured in the popular franchise's last instalment.

He added: "I'm going to have a messed up face and you may see some flashbacks of Wade earlier in his life, but primarily what you see is what you get in the comics and that's the goal."

Meanwhile, the Definitely, Maybe star will appear in rom-com The Proposal, arriving in UK cinemas on August 7.


Source

spratt89

Lautner: 'I don't want to stay big'

Taylor Lautner has revealed that he plans to slim down after filming the Twilight sequels.

Speaking to People, the New Moon star said that he is preparing to work out at the gym once shooting is complete.

"Jacob's character is continually growing throughout the series," Lautner said. "So I got about eight weeks off before I go back again for Eclipse and I'm going to be hitting the gym.

"When we're done with the Twilight films I'll definitely bulk down and just get lean again because I don't want to stay big and bulky."

Co-star Ashley Greene said of Lautner's new build: "It's insane! I was going through my phone and looking at all the pictures, and there's one from the wrap party that we did here after the first one and it's incredible.

"I was like, 'Taylor, did you see this?' He was like, 'Oh my gosh'. He gained 30 lbs. He's not a little kid anymore."

New Moon is scheduled for release in November.


Source

spratt89

Efron 'would cross-dress for movie role'

Zac Efron has joked that he would cross-dress to star alongside girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens.

The High School Musical actor told E! Online that he would consider playing a woman for a part in upcoming film Sucker Punch.

"I think it's an all-girl movie," he said. "But if there's any way to be in that film, I'd do it. I'd play a girl if I had to."

Meanwhile, Hudgens revealed that she is excited about filming her new role.

"I'm so stoked about it," she said. "I kept telling everyone, 'I want to do an action film'. But they were like, 'Maybe in a few years'. So I'm like, 'Ha, in your face. I am doing one now!'"

Last month, it was reported that Efron had encouraged his girlfriend to strip off for a movie.

Source

spratt89

Universal to make 'Where's Wally?'

niversal has picked up the movie rights to children's book series Where's Wally? from Classic Media.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Meledandri's Illumination Entertainment will produce the live-action family movie, with Classic's Eric Ellenbogen serving as executive producer.

Illustrator Martin Handford's creation, renamed Waldo in the US, wears a red-and-white shirt, glasses and carries a walking stick. In the books, the character is hidden among a crowd and readers are asked to find him. Later stories feature him travelling through time and facing his nemesis Odlaw.

Paramount previously held the big screen rights to Wally? and planned to make a movie which would have seen the character activate a faulty time machine.


Source

spratt89

Diversity, Flawless cast in UK dance film

Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity have been cast in Vertigo's 3D film StreetDance, reports ScreenDaily.

The dance troupe's rivals Flawless will also appear in the movie, which begins production this August and will be the first British film to be shot in 3D. Last year's BGT winner George Sampson is also expected to star in the project.

Vertigo co-founder James Richardson said that he was alerted to the dance acts after seeing them perform at the UK Street Dance Championships last July.

"When I saw Flawless and Diversity last summer I immediately started talking to them about being in the film as I felt they represented the very best of British streetdance," he said.

The plot will see them forced to share training space with ballet dancers from the Royal Dance School. They reluctantly team up and take part in the Street Dance Championships.

Ad and music video helmers Max and Dania will direct the project from a script by Jane English. Vertigo, who produced Danny Dyer vehicles The Football Factory and The Business, will distribute the movie the UK.


Source

spratt89

Anthony Head slams 'Buffy' movie plans

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Anthony Head has suggested that the movie remake could be "a bit like watching a car wreck".

Director Fran Rubel Kuzui, who helmed the 1992 film, has confirmed plans to bring the heroine back to the big screen without the help of series creator and writer Joss Whedon.

Speaking to USA Weekend, he said: "I wouldn’t want to see it, no. The Kuzuis didn’t do a great job on the movie the first time around.

"It was Joss’s script at the age of 19, but they changed a lot of it. They said, 'Look, we know best and we know how to make this movie', and it became quite schlocky and high camp."

Head, who played Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) mentor Rupert Giles in the cult series inspired by the original movie, added that "it was madness" to consider a film without the involvement of Whedon.

"The bottom line is if a movie was ever to be made, it should be made with Joss Whedon, whether it’s a retrospective or not," he said.

"[The Kuzuis] have the rights to because they have the rights to the original movie, but it should be interesting to see. It may be a bit like watching a car wreck."


Source

spratt89

Alyssa Milano to star in 'Boyfriend'

Charmed actress Alyssa Milano will star in and produce rom-com My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Hotel Babylon star Michael Landes, Ugly Betty's Christopher Gorham, Carol Kane and Beau Bridges have also signed up for the indie project.

Milano's character is a confident, outgoing woman who meets two dream men - a struggling novelist (Gorham) and a wealthy ad executive (Landes) - and is forced to choose between them.

American Mormon's Daryn Tufts scripted and will direct the movie. Shooting begins this summer.


Source

spratt89

50 Cent gets 'Caught In The Crossfire'

50 Cent has signed up to star in police corruption drama Caught In The Crossfire.

The rapper, real name Curtis Jackson, will appear opposite Chris Klein, Adam Rodriguez and Richard T. Jones as a "gang-banger who becomes a reluctant informant", says Variety.

The drama, to be written and directed by first-timer Brian Miller, will revolve around two detectives who get caught between a gang homicide and corrupt cops.

Caught In The Crossfire will film in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

50 Cent recently signed up to appear in Abel Ferrara's Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde retelling with Forest Whitaker.


Source

spratt89

Stiller's Pals Deny MTV Snub

Ben Stiller's Hollywood pals Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson and Dustin Hoffman have all denied they snubbed the star at the recent MTV Movie Awards - after none of them were available to present the actor with his lifetime achievement prize.

Stiller was honoured with the MTV Generation Award at the Los Angeles ceremony on Sunday and was handed the trophy by an odd trio - 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, Zac Efron and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

Internet gossips have questioned the choice of presenters, as none of Stiller's close friends in the acting community were on stage to give him the coveted prize.

But a spokesman for Stiller insists he was happy with the final line-up: "24 is Ben's favourite show, he loves Triumph, and Zac is the MTV demographic."

And reps for De Niro, Wilson and Hoffman have all apologised for them not being there to witness Stiller's big moment, blaming their hectic schedules for their absence.

A spokesman for De Niro tells New York Post gossip column PageSix, "Of course, (De Niro) would have loved to be there, but he's filming in Chicago," while Wilson's claims the actor "would have been there if he wasn't working." Hoffman's rep adds, "(He) is out of the country. (But) he would have loved to present to Ben at the MTV Movie Awards."


Source

spratt89

Hathaway joins Maguire on 'Suckerpunch'

Anne Hathaway has signed on to star in Tokyo Suckerpunch, reports say.

The actress, who will play an editor opposite Tobey Maguire’s writer character Billy Chaka, will serve as the film's love interest, according to Empire.

The movie is being adapted from an Isaac Adamson novel by screenwriter Ed Solomon, who wrote the scripts for Men In Black and Charlie’s Angels.

"It's a romantic comedy," Solomon said of the project, "It's got a lot of action, but it's mostly a comedy set in Tokyo, about a guy who thinks he's in love with one woman."

Gary Ross, who directed the Spider-Man star in Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, is attached to helm the project. No start date has been given.

Hathaway recently signed up for Judy Garland biopic Get Happy.

Source

spratt89

Bale 'was not in charge on Terminator 4'

Anton Yelchin has denied claims that Christian Bale's on-set rant showed that the star was in charge on the set of Terminator Salvation.

The actor, who plays Kyle Reese in the movie, told The Guardian: "The person running things is always the director. It's a shame that it got out, because people let that colour their vision of Christian, which is an inaccurate vision - he's a wonderful person to be around on set, very passionate."

He added: "When a person is disrupting the process of film-making and not being professional, they disrespect everyone on set - not just the actor, not just the person they are directly involved with, but everyone.

"We all show up at the crack of dawn and we all learn to do our jobs. Everyone is expected to be professional and when they're not that means they don't give a s**t about what they're doing and they shouldn't be there."

Bale has previously said that the leaked recording of the expletive-laden outburst violated the privacy needed on a film set for people to experiment.


Source

spratt89

'Museum' clings on to UK BO top spot

Night At The Museum 2 has narrowly edged out Drag Me To Hell to retain the UK box office crown.

The Ben Stiller-led comedy's £2 million in ticket sales is just £100,000 more than Hell's weekend haul.

Angels & Demons, Star Trek and new entry 12 Rounds complete the top five.

Elsewhere, Beyoncé thriller Obsessed and Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience make disappointing debuts, landing at number nine and ten respectively.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (1) Night At The Museum 2 - £2,054,769

2. (-) Drag Me To Hell - £1,907,731

3. (2) Angels & Demons - £1,048,014

4. (3) Star Trek - £866,293

5. (-) 12 Rounds - £326,804

6. (5) Coraline - £326,804

7. (6) Hannah Montana: The Movie - £252,230

8. (4) X-Men Origins: Wolverine - £219,999

9. (-) Obsessed - £219,999

10. (-) Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience - £117,060


Source

spratt89

Arquettes boarding new 'Scream' trilogy?

Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette are reportedly in discussions to return to the Scream series.

According to Entertainment Weekly, original writer Kevin Williamson has approached the pair to star in a Scream reboot, scheduled to film this autumn. Williamson is hoping that the horror movie will revitalise the franchise, leading to a new trilogy.

Several characters from the original Scream films are expected to return, though it is unclear if Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott will be back.

Former Friends star Cox Arquette portrayed reporter Gale Weathers in Wes Craven's self-referential horror movies, while her husband Arquette played police officer Dwight 'Dewey' Riley.

Cox Arquette's TV schedule may prove a stumbling block, however, as her ABC pilot Cougar Town has been picked up for series.

Rumours first emerged about a new Scream at the start of the year, with director Craven later hinting that he may return to helm a fourth instalment.


Source