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Stewart Praises Star Trek Movie

Former Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Patrick Stewart has praised director Jj Abrams for successfully resurrecting the franchise - insisting he "loved" the new movie.

Abrams brought the sci-fi franchise back to cinemas this year with Star Trek, a prequel to the original 1960s TV show, featuring a new cast of young actors.

Stewart played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series for seven years and brought his character to the big screen in four spin-off films, including 2002's Star Trek Nemesis.

And the British star insists he is delighted the original show has been resurrected once again and is full of praise for Chris Pine, who portrays a young Captain James T. Kirk in the new movie.

He says, "He's brilliant, charming, funny and utterly delightful."

And Stewart is adamant he is not bitter about movie bosses' decision to leave him out of the new movie, adding, "I loved it. It was a very odd experience to be in the cinema watching a Star Trek movie that I wasn't in. With the exception of Leonard Nimoy, I didn't know any of the cast but it's still Star Trek. I got a great kick out of it."


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Producer discusses new Potter 'darkness'

The producer of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince has insisted that the movie is no darker than the previous wizard offerings.

Speaking to Showcase Cinemas, David Heyman played down speculation that the sixth instalment in the magical franchise would be aimed at a more mature audience.

"I don't think that it's any darker than the fifth [Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix]. I think it's on a par with that," he said.

"Everybody obsesses with the darkness but I think that ultimately it is very accessible, very moving and exciting."

He went on to say that Half-Blood Prince was a "real step forward", explaining: "With each film we try and push the boundaries a little bit. It's a very different film and we're exploring many different characters from Slughorn, to Malfoy, to Harry.

"There's lots of romance, some adventure and great relationships."

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince is released in the US on July 15 and the UK on July 17.


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DiCaprio sought for 'Spawn' film

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio is his first choice to play the lead in the franchise's upcoming film reboot.

McFarlane - who is helming the project - revealed that an unnamed character who tracks Spawn will be the movie's protagonist, and believes that the Revolutionary Road actor would be ideal for the part.

"The main character isn't Spawn, per se, it's the guy chasing Spawn. And I've always had Leonardo in the back of my mind," he said.

"It's a big wish, but his dad was a big fan of underground comic books and he came from that. It's not a big special effects movie, it's a character movie, so I could shoot it in 40 to 50 days and you don't have to budget that much time."

Spawn was first introduced by Image Comics in the early 1990s. The series follows former CIA agent Al Simmons, who is betrayed by his employers and is assassinated. Desperate to see his wife and child again, Simmons strikes a bargain with the devil and returns to earth as a Hell Spawn.

The comic was originally adapted for the big screen in 1997, starring Michael Jai White as Spawn. The reboot is currently in pre-production.


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Tim Curry joins 'Brütal Legend' cast

Double Fine Productions has signed up actor Tim Curry to appear in its upcoming third-person action game Brütal Legend.

According to Blabbermouth.net, The Rocky Horror Picture Show star will take on the role previously assigned to heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio.

No specific reason is currently known for the change.

It was confirmed earlier this month that Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne will also feature in the game as the Guardian of Metal.

Jack Black has leant his voice and likeness for the lead role of roadie Eddie Riggs, while Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Motorhead frontman Lemmy will also make appearances.

Brütal Legend will be released in Europe for Xbox 360 and PS3 on October 16.


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Crawford auditioned for 'Footloose' shirtless

Footloose director Kenny Ortega has revealed that Chace Crawford was shirtless when he auditioned for the film.

The Gossip Girl star wowed Ortega with his dedication to secure the role, MTV reports.

"And I mean he was just jumping into everything. When I said, 'OK, let's dance', you know the normal would be you'd see a little bit of a head bop, right?" he told FemaleFirst. "And he just said, 'OK, where?' 'Face the mirror, man'. And he was there.

"He took off his shirt, he was in his T-shirt and jeans, and hit it. And that's the kind of man I wanted for this role."

Crawford recently admitted that Kevin Bacon, star of the original movie in 1984, "gave him his blessing" to take on the role of Ren McCormack.

Footloose is scheduled to begin production in March 2010.


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Ward: 'Female actors should strip off'

Rachel Ward has said that female actors should not be coy about appearing naked in their movies.

The actress and filmmaker told the Australian Sunday Telegraph that she should have done more nude scenes herself when she was in front of the camera.

Ward said: "If you're going to be an actress in film, you can't be coy. Breasts are sexy. I want to see them and audiences want to see them.

"I've certainly had to do my fair share of it. If you're going to be an actress or a model, it's usually part of the package."

She added: "Men don't have to worry about the issue though because, well, their privates don't make pleasant viewing. We don't want to see willies because they're ugly. We want to see breasts because they're beautiful.

"I was just a prudish English girl and I wish I had been less prudish about it really. I don't think we have a hell of a lot to be serious about at this point."


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Twilight' dominates Teen Choice nominations

Vampire romance Twilight has dominated the nominations for this year's Teen Choice Awards.

The blockbuster movie has been recognised in twelve categories, including Choice Movie: Romance and Choice Movie: Drama, while several of its young cast members have also been named in the acting categories.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are nominated in the leading actor honours, while Cam Gigandet has been included in the Choice Movie Villain list. Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Taylor Lautner are all featured in the Fresh Faces categories.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year picked up ten nominations, including Choice Movie: Music/Dance and acting nods for Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu.

Efron has also been recognised for his role in 17 Again, while Hannah Montana: The Movie also nabbed ten nominations, including Choice Movie: Music/Dance and Choice Movie Actress: Music/Dance for star Miley Cyrus.

Other stars and shows to be nominated at this year's awards, which cover movies, music, television and sports, include David Beckham, Taylor Swift, American Idol, Gossip Girl and The Hills.

The 75 prizes, which come in the form of surfboards, will be handed out at a ceremony hosted by the Jonas Brothers on August 10.


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'Friday The 13th' sequel details emerge

Producer Brad Fuller has revealed details about the possible sequel to Friday The 13th.

The follow-up was reported to have begun development earlier this year, with screenwriters Mark Swift and Damian Shannon attached to work on the script.

According to Hit Fix, Fuller, who is also overseeing the updated version of A Nightmare On Elm Street, said that the key to the second instalment's success lies in the way hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees dispatches his victims.

He said: "If we're vulnerable on [the first film], it's that people thought our kills weren't clever enough, so whatever we need to do to make those kills seem clever in the second film is what we're going to do."

He added that he would "love" for the sequel to utilise 3D - if they can fit the added cost into their budget.

"I suspect it will not be in 3D, although we'd love to make a 3D horror movie. We'd love to do it; they just don't throw that money our way."

The proposed project is yet to be officially greenlit, however Fuller expects production to begin later this year, with a tentative August 13, 2010 release date.

The Platinum Dunes relaunch of the Friday The 13th franchise made $42 million during its opening weekend in the US.


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Kyle MacLachlan rules out 'SATC' return

Kyle MacLachlan has ruled out a return to the Sex And The City franchise.

The actor, who currently stars as Orson Hodge in Desperate Housewives, told DS that he is happier playing Orson than he was playing Trey MacDougal in SATC.

"[The two shows are] quite a bit different," he said. "I enjoy working on Desperate Housewives and I enjoy the character of Orson a lot.

"In some ways, Trey, the character I played in Sex And The City, was kind of the butt of the joke sometimes because he was such an odd guy with a lot of problems and people laughed at him.

"In a way with Orson, he's smarter than that and the comedy he creates along with Marcia [Cross], he has more control of it rather than being at the mercy of it."

Asked if he was ever approached to appear in either of the Sex And The City movies, he added: "No, I wasn't!"

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DiCaprio to star in online casino movie

Leonardo DiCaprio has signed up for the lead role in Paramount's upcoming drama about online casinos.

The currently untitled project will be based in Costa Rica and is being produced by DiCaprio's Appian Way company, reports Variety.

Brian Koppelman and David Levien, whose credits include Rounders and Ocean's Thirteen, will pen the script.

The duo are currently working on thriller Beat The Reaper, which will also star DiCaprio.


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Bay: 'I started a fire on my first movie'

Transformers helmer Michael Bay has revealed that he started a fire making his first movie as a child.

Speaking at the UK press conference for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Bay said that he was led into filmmaking by a love of toy trains.

"I was actually very into train sets," he commented. "I would create my own little worlds there and build my towns. I made my first Super 8 movie by stealing my mom's camera where I set glue fires on some of the models."

The director explained that his first effort resembled his later explosion-laden Hollywood films.

"The [toy trains] actually caught the drapes in the bedroom on fire," he said, adding that the fire department was called in to extinguish the blaze.


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Sheen To Play Bond Baddie Blofeld?

British actor Michael Sheen is set to sign up to the next James Bond movie - to play legendary villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, according to U.K. reports.

The Queen star is said to be in negotiations with 007 bosses to join Daniel Craig in the 23rd instalment in the superspy franchise, which is slated for release in 2011.

And Sheen will be taking on the role of bad guy Blofeld - the recurring character seen in six Bond films including From Russia with Love, You Only Live Twice and For Your Eyes Only.

The super-villain has been played by actors including late Kojak star Telly Savalas, who appeared in 1969's On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

A source tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "Michael is hot property right now and it's felt he's the right man to bring Blofeld back to life. Michael was a Bond fan in his youth so this would be a dream role for him."


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Chenoweth, Curtis join Disney comedy

Kristen Chenoweth and Jamie Lee Curtis have joined the cast of Disney comedy You Again.

Odette Yustman and Betty White are also new additions to the Andy Fickman-helmed project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

You Again revolves around a young woman (Kristen Bell) who discovers that her brother is planning to marry the girl who bullied her throughout high school, forcing her to try to prove the bride-to-be's true colours.

Curtis and Victor Garber will play Bell's parents, while White is cast as her grandmother. Chenoweth is a "wedding extraordinator" and Yustman plays the former school bully.

Sigourney Weaver will play Bell's wealthy Aunt Ramona


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Natalie Portman attached to 'Black Swan'

Natalie Portman has signed up for Darren Aronofsky's supernatural thriller Black Swan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project, which has been under development at Universal since 2007, is based in the world of New York City ballet.

Portman's character is a veteran ballerina who finds herself involved in an increasingly dangerous battle with a rival dancer ahead of a big competition. However, it is not clear if her enemy's strange behaviour is based on supernatural powers or if it is all in the imagination of the protagonist.

The script, which has been reworked by Mark Heyman, has been compared to Nicole Kidman's The Others.

Black Swan could begin shooting later this year, depending on Aronofsky's commitments with MGM's Robocop reboot.


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'Karate Kid' nabs 'Happyness' writer Conrad

Steven Conrad has been hired to pen the new Karate Kid film, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The '80s franchise update, which is expected to be released under the name Kung Fu Kid, will star Jaden Smith as martial arts fighter Dre, Taraji P Henson as his mother and Jackie Chan as mentor Mr Han.

Will Smith and James Lassiter are producing the movie, with Harald Zwart on board to direct. Kung Fu Kid is scheduled to begin production next month in Beijing.

Conrad previously worked with Will and Jaden Smith on The Pursuit Of Happyness. His other credits include The Weather Man and The Promotion.


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Beattie to direct war film 'Tomorrow'

Screenwriter Stuart Beattie will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Tomorrow, When The War Began.

The John Marsden young adult novel series, published in seven parts between 1994 and 1999, centres on Australian teens battling off an invasion of their homeland. Beattie, who penned Australia and Collateral, said that Tomorrow will explore "coming of age in a war zone".

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Beattie noted that his movie would be different from the similarly-themed Red Dawn, the 1984 film that will be remade with Thor star Chris Hemsworth.

"I don't want to make Red Dawn," Beattie commented. "Do you remember when The Full Monty and Striptease were coming out together? They came out within months as the exact same premise - the parent strips for money so they can see their kid.

"One was all flash and rockin' body, and the other was completely the opposite, of total insecurity about getting up on stage. We're more like the Full Monty version."


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Fox: 'Jolie comparisons are a compliment'

Megan Fox has described her comparisons to Angelina Jolie as a "huge compliment".

The Transformers actress denied that she did not want to be associated with Jolie and admitted that she would make the perfect girlfriend.

"She's actually someone who I admire and look up to. She's my favourite actress in Hollywood," she told Heat.

"I just love that she's incredibly honest, and I feel that she's not afraid to be herself. She's not afraid of being offensive.

"She doesn't play into everybody approving of her lifestyle. I like that about her. She tells you exactly what's on her mind.

"Every time a relationship ends, I say: 'If I could just be Angelina's girlfriend, I would be so happy!'"

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen opens in the UK on June 19 and in the US on June 24.


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LaBeouf: Spielberg has cracked 'Indy 5'

Shia LaBeouf has revealed that Steven Spielberg has "cracked the story" for Indiana Jones 5.

LaBeouf, who played the son of Harrison Ford's whip-wielding adventurer in last summer's Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, told the BBC that he expects a fifth franchise instalment to move forward soon.

"Steven just said that he cracked the story on it and I think they're gearing that up," he said, while promoting the release of Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen in the UK.

The actor also spoke about the differences between working with Money Never Sleeps helmer Oliver Stone and his previous directors Spielberg and Michael Bay.

"Oliver Stone is a different filmmaker than I've experienced," he said. "He's a bit more rebellious than Steven, has a different edge than Mike. It's fun to get to work with your superheroes, these guys are Batman and Robin to me."

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull made over $780 million at the worldwide box office, helping Harrison Ford claim the title of Hollywood's highest paid actor last year.


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Publisher denies Harry Potter plagiarism

The publisher of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels has denied accusations that she copied story ideas from another book.

The Scottish writer has been accused of taking plotlines for 2000's Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire from a 1987 book called Willy The Wizard, written by Adrian Jacobs.

In a statement, publishers Bloomsbury said: "The allegations of plagiarism... are unfounded, unsubstantiated and untrue. This claim is without merit and will be defended vigourously."

Jacobs's estate has claimed that his finished manuscript was rejected by the man who later went on to represent Rowling. The allegedly stolen ideas are said to include the idea of a wizard tournament.

However, Bloomsbury has described Willy The Wizard as a "very insubstantial booklet... which had very limited distribution", adding: "[He] is not a young wizard and the book does not revolve around a wizard school."

Rowling's Harry Potter books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and spawned a multi-billion pound movie franchise.

Jacobs died in 1997 and the claim, first brought in 2004, is being spearheaded by his son. His estate is asking for an injunction against further sales of Goblet, alongside damages or a share in profits.


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Bay reveals royal 'Transformers' fan

Michael Bay has revealed that the King of Jordan is a "big fan" of Transformers.

Speaking at the sequel's UK press conference, the director admitted that he was given the monarch's blessing to film certain scenes for the blockbuster in the historic site of Petra.

"The King was a fan of Transformers so he helped us," he said, explaining that it took 36 helicopter trips to transport the necessary equipment to Petra.

He added: "Dr Hawass, who runs the Antiquities in Egypt, was also a fan and he thought that it would be particularly good for tourism, so he allowed us to do some aerial shots around the pyramids and shoot there."

When asked about the experience of filming near historic monuments, he joked: "We were extremely careful!"

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen is released on June 19.


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