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50 Cent inspired by Bale's weight loss

50 Cent has revealed that Tom Hanks, Christian Bale and Robert De Niro inspired him to transform his body for his role in Things Fall Apart.

The rapper-turned-actor, who lost 54lbs in only nine weeks to prepare for the film, has admitted that he got strength from other actors who had famously lost weight for their own projects.

De Niro shed 35Ibs for his role in the 1976 classic Taxi Driver and Hanks lost the same amount of weight for the 1993 drama Philadelphia, while Bale dropped a reported 63Ibs over several months in 2004 to play his character in The Machinist.

50 Cent told The AP: "I actually got on the computer. When it started getting difficult, I was looking to see what their experience was like and I got a chance to see all of the interviews they had at different time periods when they were doing promotion for the projects."

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Van Peebles: '50 Cent a dream to direct'

Mario Van Peebles has said that 50 Cent was a dream to direct in Things Fall Apart.

The director and actor has revealed that the rapper's dedication to the role as an American football player who is diagnosed with cancer impressed him tremendously.

Speaking to Vibe, Van Peebles said: "50 was not at all what I expected. 50 is a really focused, bright, disciplined, affable cat. In terms of directing him, he’s a dream. He had to lose a lot of weight for this role. So we shot the first part where he weighs 214 pounds and then he got down to 160 pounds."

As for the drama's potential reception, he added: "It’s an independent film but I think it’s going to have a big African-American audience. It’s also a story that’s going to interest all backgrounds... It’s a heavy film."

Things Fall Apart is expected to be released early in 2011.

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Iron Man won't return until 'Avengers'

Director Jon Favreau has revealed that Iron Man will not reappear before the Avengers movie.

He said that Robert Downey Jr will not reprise his role in a cameo in any of the intervening Marvel Studios films.

"[Downey's] not in Thor, he's not in [Captain America: The First Avenger] which are the two movies for next summer," the Iron Man 2 director said in an interview on radio station KROQ.

"I'm not sure where The Avengers goes. There is no shooting draft written yet. It's going to be a big undertaking for Marvel to actually incorporate what happened in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America and The Hulk.

"All that has to inform one unified vision in The Avengers. It's a very exciting prospect. And certainly, Tony Stark is not going to be involved in any of the movies until that one."

Avengers will be released in 2012.

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Tom Cruise reprises 'Thunder' character

Tom Cruise has reprised his Tropic Thunder character for the MTV Movie Awards.

The actor can be seen in promos for the upcoming ceremony as irate film producer Les Grossman, the character he played in the 2008 comedy directed by Ben Stiller.

In the clips, Grossman takes on the role of producer of the awards show and gives career advice to Twilight's Robert Pattinson. He also directs himself (as Tom Cruise) in a scene from Risky Business.

The MTV Movie Awards airs June 6 on MTV. The promos can be seen on the event's official site.

Sandra Bullock is expected to make her first public appearance in months at the ceremony.

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'Community' star wants 'Spider-Man' role

Community star Donald Glover has launched a Twitter campaign to land the role of Spider-Man.

According to SlashFilm, the actor is asking followers to retweet the hash tag #donald4spiderman to help him get an audition for Sony's upcoming Spider-Man reboot movie.

A Facebook fan page dedicated to the cause has also been created.

Marc Webb will direct the upcoming 3D superhero movie, which is expected to begin production later this year.

Jamie Bell, Andrew Garfield , Frank Dillane, Josh Hutcherson and Alden Ehrenreich are reportedly among the candidates to play the Marvel Comics character.

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Del Toro quits as 'Hobbit' director

Guillermo Del Toro has announced that he will no longer direct the upcoming movie adaptation of The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.

The Mexican director blamed the "ongoing delays" of filming the novel but called the decision the "hardest" of his life.

"After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures," he told fan website The One Ring.

"The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time-slot originally allocated for the project.

"Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck."

Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson, who is producing The Hobbit, added that he was sad to see Del Toro leave.

Jackson said: "The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn’t feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years.

"Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I’ve ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him."

Del Toro recently revealed that the movie still did not have a start date.

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Jackson: 'I would direct The Hobbit'

Peter Jackson has said that he would consider taking over The Hobbit from Guillermo del Toro, who recently relinquished his spot as the film's director.

In an interview with New Zealand's Dominion Post, the 48-year-old revealed that he is currently exploring options to save the film even though it may put his other projects at risk.

"If that's what I have to do to protect Warner Bros' investment, then obviously that's one angle which I'll explore," Jackson said.

"The other studios may not let me out of the contracts."

Del Toro earlier admitted that departing the film was one of "the hardest decisions" he has ever made.

"It was simply longer than anyone expected, the fans and the filmmakers. It was more a factor of the other commitments asking for a start [date] than The Hobbit needing a date to start."

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'Captain America' costume details emerge

Details of an approved costume test from Captain America: The First Avenger have been posted online.

According to the website JoBlo, the superhero will don two outfits in the upcoming Marvel Comics adaptation.

Steve Rogers and his alter ego will appear in a primary costume inspired by the original comic books for his USO appearances, but later switch to an active duty suit that is more appropriate for combat.

"The suit actually has a practical WWII military look to it with some of the obvious Captain America flourishes that we would expect," read the site's description.

"It's hard to really pass judgement on a costume until you see it properly lit, in motion and doing what it's meant to do. But based on what I saw, I'm pretty impressed with how they were able to adapt the costume for the film."

The report went on to say that the final costume has a white base with two red utility belts acting as stripes, and includes a traditional army helmet rather than a cowl. The 'A' on the forehead remains and the Shield is true to the original design.

Directed by Joe Johnston, Captain America: The First Avenger is slated for release on July 22, 2011.

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Warner releases 'Green Lantern' synopsis

Warner Bros has released an official synopsis for its upcoming comic adaptation Green Lantern, Comic Book Movie reports.

According to the information, the villain Parallax will feature in the film.

"In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers," read the movie's premise.

"But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan."

The synopsis went on to say that Jordan - who is played by Ryan Reynolds - must master his new powers in order to ward off the threat from the intergalactic villain.

It is thought that the inclusion of Parallax could mean that Mark Strong's Sinestro may not become an antagonist until future installments in the series.

Directed by Martin Campbell, Green Lantern arrives in theaters on June 17, 2011.

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Johansson: 'Downey Jr work was a gift'

Scarlett Johansson has revealed that Robert Downey Jr was a "gift" to work with.

The actress, who stars as the Black Widow in Iron Man 2 alongside Downey Jr, said that she loved working with him because he constantly helped her develop her character.

Johansson told Bang Showbiz: "Robert was incredibly supportive, so enthusiastic for my character and the work that we were doing. He's completely centred and present. To work with somebody that's present like that is such a gift."

Other co-star Gwyneth Paltrow recently said of Johansson: "I adore Scarlett. She is really funny. She swears a lot. She has a dirty sense of humour! She loves to cook. She's a girl after my own heart."

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Daniel Radcliffe 'wanted Spider-Man role'

Daniel Radcliffe has said that he wanted to play Spider-Man.

According to the Daily Star, the Harry Potter actor wanted to be cast as the Marvel Comics superhero and his alter ego Peter Parker.

“I was always unbelievably jealous of Tobey Maguire playing Spidey,” the 20-year-old revealed.

The actor, who is wrapping up his role in the final Potter films this week, previously said that he was "devastated" to be ending his run on the popular series.

Jamie Bell, Andrew Garfield, Frank Dillane, Josh Hutcherson and Alden Ehrenreich are reportedly among the candidates to play Spider-Man in director Marc Webb's upcoming reboot movie.

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Renée Zellweger to produce 'Pillage'

Renée Zellweger has reportedly optioned the feature film rights to Brantly Martin's novel Pillage.

According to Variety, the Chicago star will co-produce the picture with screenwriter John Krokidas directing.

The story centres on a group of friends searching for the perfect party in Downtown Manhattan.

Production is scheduled to begin early next year in New York.

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Brad Pitt to produce 'The Imperfectionists'

Brad Pitt will produce a movie version of Tom Rachman's book The Imperfectionists, says Deadline.

Pitt and his Plan B production firm partner Dede Gardner recently secured the screen rights to Rachman's debut novel, which is set at an international newspaper in Italy and interweaves eleven different storylines.

The characters include a work-shy obituaries writer, an editor-in-chief experiencing a romantic crisis and an obsessive reader trying to finish every edition of the paper.

Rachman is a former Associated Press journalist who has worked in New York, India and Sri Lanka.

Pitt has recently been linked to the lead role in David Fincher's remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

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Katia Winter boards thriller 'Deathgames'

Swedish actress Katia Winter has signed to star in upcoming thriller Deathgames.

The 26-year-old joins Kellan Lutz and Samuel L. Jackson in the action film directed by former Hollywood visual effects supervisor Jonah Loop, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Daniel Dae Kim and Nina Dobrev have also joined the cast.

The plot centres on a man (Lutz) who is kidnapped and forced to compete in a modern gladiator arena. Winter's character, billed as "a duplicitous succubus," lures potential fighters to the arena for Jackson's villain.

Production is now underway in Louisiana.

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Noel Clarke: "I'm drawn to strong women"

Noel Clarke has revealed that he was inspired to pen 4.3.2.1 when he was told that he did not write well for women.

The Kidulthood director told The Independent that the movie was "quite a unique film" and admitted that he was scared by the idea of trying something different to his previous work.

Clarke said: "The idea of writing for girls came because I had a meeting with a guy and he told me I didn't write women too well, so, I sat there, then I went home and wrote for girls.

"I wanted to show I could do it really. In this country, it's like, once you're doing something in film then that's what you do. I don't get that."

He added: "I'm one of those guys who likes women. I like women as I was raised by my mum who managed on her own. I've seen what women go through and I respect them for that.

"I read The Vagina Monologues when my friends were still laughing at the word 'vagina'. I told them to read that. I'm drawn to strong women, like my mum, people that have their wits about them.

"That's what I think comes across in the film. It was never about exploiting women - yeah, there are moments for the boys, but without being overtly misogynistic or sexist."

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Hope Davis joins 'Real Steel' cast

Hope Davis has signed to co-star in upcoming sci-fi film Real Steel.

The In Treatment actress joins Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo and Anthony Mackie in the movie, which is directed by Shawn Levy, reports Variety.

The film features Jackman as a fight promoter who backs a robot boxer in the ring with the help of his estranged 13-year-old son.

James Rebhorn and Olga Fonda have also joined the cast.

Real Steel is scheduled to open November 18 in US cinemas.

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Adam Beach boards 'Cowboys and Aliens'

Adam Beach has joined the cast of upcoming action film Cowboys and Aliens.

The Big Love actor will play a character named Nat Colorado, a half-Apache who works for Harrison Ford's Colonel Woodrow, according to Variety.

Beach joins Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Noah Ringer in the movie directed by Iron Man helmer Jon Favreau.

The film, based on a graphic novel, depicts the battle that occurs after aliens invade an Old West settlement in mid-1800s Arizona.

Production is scheduled to begin in June.

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By KAORI SHOJI
When Robert Louis Stevenson wrote that life got better after 50, he could have been prophesying about John Travolta. His career has been one of peaks and plunges, punctuated by some of cinema's most interesting fashion moments ("Saturday Night Fever" and "Battlefield Earth" come to mind). Ever since he hit 50 five years ago, however, Travolta seems ensconced in a mode of cinematic go-to-hell gleefulness.

From Paris With Love        Rating: (3 out of 5)
   

The odd couple: John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers star as Charlie Wax and James Reece, two U.S. agents, in Pierre Morel's "From Paris with Love." © 2009 EUROPACORP — M6 FILMS — GRIVE PRODUCTIONS - APIPOULAI PROD
Director: Pierre Morel
Running time: 92 minutes
Language: English, a little French
Opens May 15, 2010
[See Japan Times movie listing]
While he single-handedly boosted the morale of the otherwise sleepily pedestrian "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" remake with the unforgettable line, "Lick my bunghole!," and dabbled in embarrassing music videos with daughter Ella Bleu ("Every Little Step"), for "From Paris With Love" he pulled out all the stops to go for total, undiluted obnoxiousness. Filthy, foul-mouthed racism: check. Stinking, offensive chauvinism: check. Unforgivable wardrobe and shining bald head accented with a classic gold hoop earring: jackpot. Travolta's jiving, crotch-bumping, bazooka-wielding Charlie Wax makes Bruce Willis' "Die Hard" protagonist John McClane look like a mild-mannered, salt-of-the-earth type.

"From Paris With Love" operates on the classic "odd couple" formula, pairing a smooth, suave and handsome guy with a greasy, off-color punk to create blockbuster gold. It's a formula that works across national borders and language barriers, and French filmmaker Pierre Morel (best known for the mean action thriller "Taken") takes the driver's seat, steering the film with enough gusto to confidently mow over any bumps or holes the plot may have. It kinda restores your faith in action movies.

Playing the other half of this duo is Jonathan Rhys Meyers as James Reece, a personal assistant to the U.S. ambassador in France, who is being secretly groomed for a future CIA career.

James is living it up in Paris. He dons stylish silk suits, has a gorgeous French girlfriend (Kasia Smutniak) and lives in a quaint Parisian apartment. James' pretty boy looks and odd-sounding American accent, however, belie his supposed history as a poor boy from the Bronx. This discrepancy could have led to an interesting twist in the film (does he have a hidden identity? false passport?), but Morel ignores such distractions and instead paints the character as a desk jockey looking to get his hands dirty with a little action. Charlie Wax — brought in from the United States to counter a terrorist attack — is happy to indulge him.

After gunning down what appears to be most of the population in Chinatown in the 13th Arrondisement, Wax soothes the guilt-ridden Reece with: "How many more of them do you think there are? Last census, about a billion!" And why stop at Chinatown? Wax guns his way through the "paki" and "raghead" slums to the sound of screaming babies and sobbing women, shrugging off the body count in the name of serving his country.

That, combined with Wax's reputation as America's best antiterrorism agent (with "unorthodox methods" of course), puts "Paris" comfortably into a screwball groove. The trailer may tout this as serious and soulful fare, but make no mistake, Morel is out to entertain with a hysteria-inducing film that pays no heed to the word "cringeworthy." From Wax's infamous self-descriptive quip "Wax on, Wax off" — delivered whenever he's about to do something brutal — to the all-too-familiar plot involving a suicide bomber at an Aid For Africa summit, Morel descends to below-sea level depths with astonishing determination.

Morel is, however, a disciple of director-producer Luc Besson, who coproduced this movie and appears to enjoy exposing a different side to French filmmaking (the "Taxi" movies he wrote became a franchise that bulldozed over the French film industry with its slapstick vigor). Not surprisingly, however, despite the location, the premise and the producer, no one speaks Francais in "From Paris with Love." In fact, if it weren't for Wax demanding to have breakfast on top of the Eiffel Tower (how classically American) you wouldn't even know it's Paris. But then, as Wax so crudely puts it: "Doesn't f--king matter!" We'll have to take his word for it.

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Tom Selleck has confirmed that Disney is working on a second sequel to Three Men And A Baby.

Speaking to MTV, the actor admitted that he is keen to continue the comedy series with co-stars Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg.

He said: "It is true that Disney checked my availability. And I know they checked Ted's and Steve's, and then had a script written, I think tentatively called Three Men And A Bride, which kind of says it all [about the story]."

Selleck, who can next be seen opposite Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl in Killers, added of the proposed film: "I hope it's a good script, and if it is a good script I hope they do it, because it would be really fun to get back with Ted and Steve. The strongest of the two movies, I think, is the first one. It had more heart, and that's what I hope this third one would have if we do it."

Three Men And A Baby and its sequel Three Men And A Little Lady centred on three bachelors raising Mary, the daughter of one of the trio's former flames.

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Exclusive: Curtis "excited" by Spielberg collaboration

Richard Curtis has revealed that he is enjoying a "brilliant" and "exciting" collaboration with Steven Spielberg on War Horse.

Curtis, whose movie work includes Notting Hill and Love Actually, is working on the screenplay for Spielberg's next directorial project, an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's World War I novel and its subsequent stage spinoff.

He told DS: "When you're a writer one of the problems is getting locked into doing similar things. At the moment I'm not, I'm just doing War Horse with Steven Spielberg, which is very unlike anything I've ever done before. It's fun to be adventurous."

Describing his working relationship with Spielberg, Curtis added: "I'm having a lot of fun with [it] and Steven Spielberg is absolutely brilliant. What's happening now is he's taking my script and then saying, 'Oh no, we don't need those two pages of boring dialogue because I can do this one brilliant visual thing that does everything'. That's very exciting to watch."

A Curtis-penned episode of Doctor Who, 'Vincent And The Doctor', will air on BBC One on Saturday.

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