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Jolie 'Cleopatra' casting sparks race row

The producers of the forthcoming Cleopatra film have been criticised for casting Angelina Jolie in the title role.

An article by Shirea L. Carroll on website Essence.com blasted Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin and the makers of the historical epic for selecting Jolie to play an African queen.

She wrote: "Honestly, I don't care how full Angelina Jolie's lips are, how many African children she adopts, or how bronzed her skin will become for the film, I firmly believe this role should have gone to a Black woman."

Carroll suggested that Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry and Thandie Newton would have been better choices for the part, and lambasted Hollywood for previously casting white women Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor as the Egyptian queen.

Stacy Schiff, author of the biography Queen Of The Nile, Cleopatra: A Life on which the movie will be based, previously endorsed Jolie, saying that she had "the perfect look" for the role. Schiff has also suggested Jolie's partner Brad Pitt to play Cleopatra's lover Marc Anthony.

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Brand wants to play transvestite Bond villain

Russell Brand has tipped himself for a part in a James Bond film as a cross-dresser.

The 35-year-old comic ruled himself out of ever playing Bond, revealing that he would instead suit a "psychophatic transvestite".

"No-one would ever believe it [if I was cast as Bond]. I've not got that energy," he told Metro. "I could be the villain. I could be a psychopathic transvestite but I wouldn't want to contribute to negative stereotypes against transvestites.

"So maybe a sympathic (sic) one - a decent human who is flawed but essentially just a great guy or guy in girl's gear with great taste in women's lingerie and frocks."

Brand's latest film Get Him To The Greek is out in UK cinemas on June 25.

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Daniel Kaluuya for 'Johnny English 2'

Actor Daniel Kaluuya has joined the cast of the upcoming Johnny English 2, reports Deadline.

The movie is a follow-up to Rowan Atkinson's 2003 comedy in which the star plays an inept British agent.

Director Oliver Parker (St, Trinian's) is helming the sequel, which finds Atkinson investigating traitors in Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Kaluuya will play Atkinson's fellow agent in the picture, which begins filming in September.

He has appeared in the BBC's Psychoville and Channel 4's Skins.

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Bradley Cooper attached to baseball film

Bradley Cooper is reportedly attached to star in an upcoming baseball dramedy.

The A-Team actor is in line to play the lead in the untitled Disney project from Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps writer Allan Loeb, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie centres on a major league player forced to re-enter the minors after an injury. He moves into a home for senior citizens and meets a retired baseball guru who helps him get his game back.

The film has been described as being similar in tone to Scent of a Woman and Disney's The Rookie.

Loeb also wrote Ron Howard and Vince Vaughn's upcoming comedy Cheaters.

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Cheadle, Pinto for 'Rise of the Apes'?

Don Cheadle and Freida Pinto have reportedly been offered roles in upcoming Planet of the Apes prequel Rise of the Apes.

The actors could join James Franco in the picture, according to Bloody Disgusting.

Franco will play a scientist who intervenes in a war between humans and apes. Details about Cheadle and Pinto's potential roles have not been reported.

The Rupert Wyatt-directed picture will reportedly take place in modern day San Francisco.

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rickman

There has been a lot of informed opinion lately suggesting that the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan has already become a "new Vietnam."

Hearts and Minds        Rating: (4 out of 5)
   

Collateral damage: Refugees flee bombing in Vietnam in "Hearts and Minds" © "HEARTS AND MINDS"
Director: Peter Davis
Running time: 112 minutes
Language: English, Vietnamese
Opens June 19, 2010
[See Japan Times movie listing]
That's a debatable point. For all the similarities of fighting elusive insurgents and trying to prop up a corrupt puppet regime, there are considerable differences as well. The first question, though, is really: What do people mean by this comparison?

"Vietnam" has become synonymous with a military quagmire and political defeat despite the application of overwhelming force. In a word: failure. So when the left talks of the "new Vietnam," it's a code word for futility, a blanket caution against any imperialistic military action. Similarly, the right's reaction is a knee-jerk dismissal, a blind belief that lightning won't strike twice.

"Do you think we've learned anything from this?" asks an interviewer in "Hearts and Minds," the Oscar-winning 1974 documentary on the Vietnam conflict.

"I think we're trying not to," says the interviewee, a disillusioned airman. "I think we're all trying very hard to escape what we've learned in Vietnam."

"Hearts and Minds," which sees a timely revival on the big screen this month, seeks to remind us of some of those lessons. Such as: Make sure your president isn't lying to you about the reasons for a war; torture is never a good idea; and don't assume you'll win over a country's populace — the proverbial "hearts and minds" of the people — by turning their country into a free-fire zone. My, how times change.

rickman

'Iron Man' will leave your ears ringing; Cyrus passes test in big-screen debut 'Last Song'

There's an old piece of industry wisdom that says, when casting your leads, the audience has to either want to be them or sleep with them. (Actually, they use a coarser term, but my editors do so hate it when I lead off with an f-bomb.)

Iron Man 2        Rating: (2 out of 5)
   

Iron-clad stars: Robert Downey Jr. takes a breather in "Iron Man 2" © 2010 MVLFFLLC. LLC & SUBS.
Director: Jon Favreau
Running time: 124 minutes
Language: English
Opens June 11, 2010
[See Japan Times movie listing]
This doesn't solve the inexplicable mystery known as Shia LaBeouf's career — my theory is he's a low-wattage avatar that doesn't distract from his films' real stars, the digital effects — but it's true more often than not.

Just take a look at two films on release this week, "Iron Man 2," with Robert Downey Jr. back as the armor-clad superhero, and "The Last Song," with tween idol Miley Cyrus in her first "grown-up" role.

"Iron Man 2" knows its main demographic is boys, particularly fanboys, so the casting of Downey Jr. is especially savvy. Theoretically, any warm body in battle-armor who can fly through the air and blow up robots and cool stuff like that has you covered on the "I want to be him!" aspect with the fanboys; where Downey Jr. excels is in his fearless, utterly self-confident way in dealing with women.

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Hutcherson confirms 'Spider-Man' chances

Josh Hutcherson has confirmed that he is a candidate for the role of Spider-Man.

The Red Dawn actor said that he was in the shortlist to star in the Sony reboot.

"It'd be an amazing role, I think," he told Movieline. "I grew up loving the movies, so we'll see. It'd be an amazing movie to be a part of."

He said the casting process was taking so long because Sony is "trying to figure out who exactly it is and what they want it to be, and lock that down".

Other candidates rumoured to be in the running include Jamie Bell, Andrew Garfield and Frank Dillane.

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Neill Blomkamp tipped to helm 'The Hobbit'

Neill Blomkamp has been linked to the director's chair for The Hobbit.

According to J.R.R. Tolkien fan site TheOneRing, the District 9 director is being targeted to helm the fantasy prequels should co-financiers MGM and Warner Bros be unable to convince Lord Of The Rings's Peter Jackson to return.

Jackson is allegedly reluctant to come back to direct The Hobbit, fearing that he will not be able to match the standards set by his earlier Rings trilogy. Blomkamp, who worked with Jackson on the Oscar-nominated District 9, joins David Yates, Brett Ratner and David Dobkin as rumoured Hobbit directors.

Guillermo del Toro had previously been attached to make the Tolkien adaptation, but dropped out of helming the film last month due to the financial uncertainty surrounding MGM.

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Anderson, Jaffe join 'Scream 4' cast

Anthony Anderson and Marielle Jaffe have been added to the cast of Wes Craven's Scream 4, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The pair, whose roles have not been disclosed, will join franchise newcomers Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Lake Bell, Nico Tortorella and Lauren Graham alongside returning cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

Original Scream writer Kevin Williamson has penned Scream 4, the first in a new trilogy for the slasher series.

Production is due to begin later this month in Michigan for an April 15, 2011 release date.

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spratt89

Fox planning to make 'Glee' movies?

Fox is reportedly thinking about making a series of Glee movies.

According to Hollywood Life, the network included a clause in the casts' contracts signing them up for three potential films.

The stars, including Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, allegedly all agreed to deals including the words: "[The actor] hereby grants Fox three exclusive, irrevocable options to engage [the actor] in up to, respectively, three feature-length motion pictures."

The actors signed the contracts in 2008 before beginning work on the pilot for the hit television series.

The news does not mean that any Glee movies are currently in the works but suggests that they could be made at a later date.

The show was recently renewed for a third season even though the second run has not yet been filmed.

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Vanessa Hudgens turns down 'Buffy' role?

Vanessa Hudgens has reportedly turned down a role in a proposed Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot movie.

The High School Musical star decided against joining the project, which would have co-starred Buffy TV actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, reports Showbiz Spy.

"She felt that with Twilight still so massive, Buffy would not be the best option right now," a source said.

"The idea was to have Sarah back but with Vanessa as a fresh, new character. The project has been shelved for now."

The Hollywood Reporter said last year that producer Fran Rubel Kuzui, who holds the rights to the franchise, was developing a new version of Buffy for the big screen without the involvement of creator Joss Whedon.

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Demi Moore joins thriller 'Margin Call'

Demi Moore has signed to co-star in upcoming indie thriller Margin Call.

The 47-year-old joins Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Simon Baker and Zachary Quinto in the picture, reports Deadline.

The movie follows the employees of an investment bank on the eve of the recent financial crisis.

Screenwriter J.C. Chandor is directing with Quinto producing.

Penn Badgley and Stanley Tucci have also agreed to co-star in the project.

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Megan Fox: 'I would want Gen 13 role'

Megan Fox has revealed that she would like to play the role of Sarah Rainmaker if comic Gen 13 was made into a film.

The character is a lesbian superhero and activist who can control the weather and movement of water with her thoughts.

The actress, who is a big fan of comic books, told Fox News that she is sure that she would be perfect for the part if given the opportunity.

“I don’t want people to protest this, but I would like to be Rainmaker," she said.

“She’s a Native American and I have a little bit of that blood in me. It would be a bit of a stretch - but if Jake Gyllenhaal can be the Prince of Persia, I think that I can do that.”

Fox can currently be seen in Jonah Hex.

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spratt89

Ryan Murphy has dismissed rumours that there are plans to make a Glee movie.

The speculation began earlier this week when it emerged that each cast member agreed to be available for three films when they signed their contracts.

However, Murphy explained that he wants to focus on making the second season of the show.

"There will be no Glee movie in the foreseeable future," he told Entertainment Weekly. "Despite overtures, I and the studio [Fox] have decided we want to put our energy into the second season with no distractions for the cast."

Glee has already been renewed for a third season even though the second has not yet been filmed.

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Paltrow, Willis eye Shyamalan's latest

Gwyneth Paltrow, Bruce Willis and Bradley Cooper are lining up to star in the next M. Night Shyamalan movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trio are "loosely attached" to the filmmaker's next venture. Plot details are being kept under wraps, with Shyamalan only allowing Hollywood executives to read his script in the presence of one of his assistants.

Willis previously teamed up with Shyamalan on The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, while Paltrow and Cooper have yet to work with the director.

Shyamalan's The Last Airbender, an adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon series, opens on July 1 in the US and August 13 in the UK.

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Kristen Bell in talks for 'Whales' role

Kristen Bell is reportedly in talks to join upcoming drama Whales.

The When In Rome star could join Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski in the Working Title/Universal project, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie tells the true story of the release of three California grey whales that were found trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle in 1988.

The attempt to rescue the whales attracted journalists and environmentalists converging on the town of Barrow, Alaska.

Bell is eyeing the role of a Los Angeles reporter who thinks her looks are her greatest asset.

Ken Kwapis is directing the picture, which is based on the book Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event by Tom Rose.

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Shue happy with 'Karate Kid' remake

Elizabeth Shue has said that she is pleased with the new Karate Kid movie.

The actress co-starred in the original 1984 Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita.

According to the Boston Herald, the Leaving Las Vegas star said that she plans to take her young son to see the remake, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

"I was happy it was being remade. I like the fact they made it differently with a different cast and different concept," Shue said.

She added: "I think it's a good idea they did it, but it does make me feel old, of course. I definitely will take my little boy, who is 12, to see it."

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Writers tapped for Marvel's 'Dr. Strange'

Marvel Studios has reportedly hired two writers to pen its upcoming Dr. Strange feature film.

According to Deadline, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, the duo behind the new Conan movie, have been tapped to adapt the comic book for the big screen.

The screenwriting partners are also adapting video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and have penned a draft of Cowboys and Aliens for director Jon Favreau.

Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created the character of Dr. Strange in 1963.

The film will mark the first Marvel Studios movie distributed by Disney.

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Patrick Dempsey eyes 'Dr. Strange' role

Patrick Dempsey has allegedly expressed interest in Marvel Studios' Dr. Strange adaptation.

According to Bleeding Cool, the Grey's Anatomy star has been linked to the title role in the superhero project.

Hollywood-based comic artist Arne Starr has pledged his support to the actor's bid for the part, providing an illustration of him in the role to attract the studio's attention.

It was previously reported that Conan scribes Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer are on board to develop a screenplay for the movie.

A potential release window for Dr. Strange is yet to be announced.

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