Snarkerati - Entertainment News and Celebrity Gossip

Lily Collins To Star In "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"

kanderson — Thu, 02 May 13 11:14:58 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20525" align="aligncenter" width="424" caption="Lily Collins dares to take on "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.""][/caption] After being unable to hold onto a director or cast a female lead, the adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" seemed dead. How silly to think that. Like the zombies in the title, it has apparently staggered back to life. Variety reports that Burr Steers now will direct, with Lily Collins taking the lead role of Elizabeth Bennett in the Seth Grahame-Smith riff on Jane Austen's classic novel. As you can guess from the title, the book takes the famous romantic troubles of Austen's early 19th century characters and gives them another set of problems to deal with as well: zombies. The success of Grahame-Smith's book led him to write "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," which was made into a not very successful movie last year. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was bought long ago by Natalie Portman's production company with plans for her to star in it. She eventually decided to stay on just as a producer, but no one could seem to get the project going. Directors and writers including David O. Russell and Mike White, cycled through. The role of Elizabeth Bennett--which would seem to be a highly desirable one--was turned down by a number of name actresses including (I think) Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, maybe Jessica Chastain. Blake Lively's name may also have been in the mix, but as always, it's not clear whether she actually was a contender or whether it was just her PR machine. Anyway, Steers's arrival seems to have put things back on track, allowing them to lock in Collins. She'll be seen this summer in "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," and we'll see if this zombie project really is indestructible.

Bradley Cooper Leaves "Jane Got a Gun"

kanderson — Thu, 02 May 13 11:08:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20522" align="aligncenter" width="419" caption="Bradley Cooper adds to the tangled "Jane Got a Gun" soap."][/caption] I used to work in customer service for a mail order company.Sometimes we'd get orders where we clearly messed up--leaving a product out of the box, putting in the wrong color item, things like that. In other cases, the customer messed up, maybe leaving something off their address that made the package come back or sometimes insisting that they'd ordered one thing when we could clearly see on the order that they'd put in something else. In either case, we'd do what we could to just get everything fixed as quickly as possible. Sometimes, though, we'd get this order where nothing went well. The package would arrive damaged, the item would be broken, then by the time we'd try to reship it, it would be out of stock, then we'd reship to the customer's old address. We would do everything we could to try to correct it but no matter how good our intentions, everything would go wrong. I thought of this when I read Deadline's headline about Bradley Cooper exiting "Jane Got a Gun," just a few weeks after taking the key bad guy role. Just to get you up to date, Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, and Joel Edgerton were originally set to star with acclaimed indie director Lynne Ramsay in charge. Fassbender left, and Edgerton moved into his role, with Jude Law taking the villain role that was originally supposed to be played by Edgerton. Disputes between Ramsay and the producers (there's still too much he said/she said going on to get into exactly what the problems were) led to Ramsay announcing she was quitting by simply not showing up on the first day of production. As the producers scrambled to find a director to come out to New Mexico to take over the shoot, Law announced he was leaving, as he had taken the role specifically to work with Ramsay. Gavin O'Connor agreed to come in and direct, and after a quick search, Bradley Cooper took the role. Now he's leaving, due to conflicts with his schedule. Cooper told Deadline: "Regretfully, due to date conflicts between the film I an currently shooting for David O Russell and Jane Got A Gun, I am unable to join Natalie, Joel, Noah and Gavin on this truly exciting project. I was really looking forward to being a part of it and hope to work with each and every one in the future.” Reportedly the character's scenes don't shoot until June, so they don't have to stop work or anything. The short list of names they're pursuing supposedly includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hiddleston. Well, that sounds like that would be anyone's short list. Wouldn't it be great if after all this, the movie turned out to be really good?

Michael Mann Goes To Battle With "Agincourt"

kanderson — Thu, 02 May 13 11:00:35 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20518" align="aligncenter" width="530" caption="Michael Mann goes to 15th century France."][/caption] Deadline reports that Michael Mann's next film will be an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's novel "Agincourt." Stuart Hazeldine is directing. Agincourt was the 15th century battle where a small, worn down British force won a major victory over a much larger, better equipped (and arrogant) French army during the Hundred Years War. It's a story that's immortalized in Shakespeare's "Henry V," which remains an astonishingly entertaining (not to mention cinematic) play. Here's the description of Cornwell's novel: "Young Nicholas Hook is dogged by a cursed past--haunted by what he has failed to do and banished for what he has done. A wanted man in England, he is driven to fight as a mercenary archer in France, where he finds two things he can love: his instincts as a fighting man, and a girl in trouble. Together they survive the notorious massacre at Soissons, an event that shocks all Christendom. With no options left, Hook heads home to England, where his capture means certain death. Instead he is discovered by the young King of England--Henry V himself--and by royal command he takes up the longbow again and dons the cross of Saint George. Hook returns to France as part of the superb army Henry leads in his quest to claim the French crown. But after the English campaign suffers devastating early losses, it becomes clear that Hook and his fellow archers are their king's last resort in a desperate fight against an enemy more daunting than they could ever have imagined. One of the most dramatic victories in British history, the battle of Agincourt--immortalized by Shakespeare in Henry V--pitted undermanned and overwhelmed English forces against a French army determined to keep their crown out of Henry's hands. Here Bernard Cornwell resurrects the legend of the battle and the "band of brothers" who fought it on October 25, 1415. An epic of redemption, Agincourt follows a commoner, a king, and a nation's entire army on an improbable mission to test the will of God and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. From the disasters at the siege of Harfleur to the horrors of the field of Agincourt, this exhilarating story of survival and slaughter is at once a brilliant work of history and a triumph of imagination—Bernard Cornwell at his best." If you want a really good, very readable nonfiction account of the battle, I recommend "Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England" by Juliet Barker. Mann seems to have been attached to a lot of projects lately that don't seem to be really moving forward, so I wish for better things for this one. Mann found successin period dramas before with "Last of the Mohicans," so that seems like this should be a good fit. If it happens.

Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Are Getting Serious

Misty — Wed, 01 May 13 09:28:15 +0000

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were spotted holding hands at a secret Rolling Stones gig this past weekend and according to reports, things are getting serious between the pair. A source revealed, "Johnny and Amber began dating pretty soon after he split with Vanessa. At first, Amber was a little apprehensive, because she didn't want to be seen as the mistress. But Johnny won her over with his generosity and he was constantly giving her gifts." The source went on to say, "On a weekly basis, Johnny would send her fresh flowers wherever she was. He also bought her tons of custom-designed jewelry that would cost him up tens of thousands of dollars. He made Amber feel giddy by showing how much he felt for her and, in the end, she slowly fell in love with him." The spy added, "They were spending a significant amount of time together in San Diego in the fall and also at his home in the Bahamas, so they wouldn’t have to deal with paparazzi and could keep their relationship for under wraps as long as possible." We're not shocked that they have been keeping things so hush hush. Perhaps Johnny still has some respect for the mother of his children?

Kanye West Whisks Kim Kardashian Off To Paris

Misty — Wed, 01 May 13 09:24:10 +0000

Reality star Kim Kardashian was not enjoying her vacation in Greece, because it was really for her reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She was said to be all sweaty and miserable because her boyfriend Kanye West was there. Khloe was also complaining that she missed her hubby, but does anyone really listen to Khloe?!? (Really, that's not a rhetorical question, we really want to know the answer to this one...) Still, Kanye apparently heard the famewhoring call of the pregnant beast and summarily sent a plane to pick her up. He whisked her off to where he has been holing up recording his latest album -- Paris. Can we ask that the wonderful Parisian folks keep Ms. Kardashian? Would that be too much to ask? Si vous plait? While they're at it, they can keep Kanye's arrogant self, too. Merci!

Lindsay Lohan Hits The Bar & DOESN'T Drink

Misty — Wed, 01 May 13 09:19:51 +0000

It's a sad, sad day when you make headlines for hitting the bar and acting like a normal person. Just ask Lindsay Lohan. Just four days before she's scheduled to enroll into a rehab center for treatment, she went to a bar called The Bitter End. The kicker? She only drank soda! Can you believe that? TMZ has the latest:

Sources at the bar tell us ... Lohan rolled in to the place with 9 or 10 friends to watch some of her pals perform at a "Jam Fest" event. We're told Lindsay sat quietly at her table for roughly 3 hours and didn't suck down one drop of alcohol -- just soda. One source inside the bar tells us Lohan was so "very well behaved" ... people in the joint barely even noticed the actress.

She should just hang it up already. We already know that she doesn't think she has a problem, so after her treatment is over with, don't buy her BS that she's all better.

Jason Aldean Warned Mistress Brittany Kerr About Divorce Filing

Misty — Wed, 01 May 13 09:17:21 +0000

He may not have given his wife the heads up about his divorce filing, but country singer Jason Aldean sure let his mistress, Brittany Kerr, know what was cookin'! What a loser! Jason announced last Friday that he and his wife Jessica Ussery were calling it quits. Afterward, it was revealed that he had actually filed the divorce documents that day. Apparently he gave Brittany the heads up so that she would know that the media was about to gain a sudden interest in her. Jason called Brittany himself last week and warned her that he was ending his marriage with his wife. She has since shut down her social media profiles and is pretty much laying low. We have yet to hear if Brittany and Jason will take things to the next level, but we're guessing that she would love to hitch herself to his wagon. What do you think?

Andy Dick & Sharna Burgess Eliminated From Dancing With The Stars

Misty — Wed, 01 May 13 08:58:37 +0000

After receiving the lowest possible score on Monday night's performance episode of Dancing With The Stars, there was really no saving Andy Dick and his professional dance partner Sharna Burgess. Country singer Kellie Pickler and her dance partner Derek Hough were saved from elimination after receiving immunity for garnering the highest score of the night. Since when did the show ever have "immunity"? Is the show officially jumping the shark? Seriously. We were thinking that it was all completely up to the voting public, but the judges have the ability to save someone by scoring them high? Still, we weren't exactly surprised that it was Andy's time to get shuffling from the ballroom floor. Even though he has a great personality, he just can't seem to dance to save his life. What do you think?

Natalie Portman Joins Michael Fassbender in "Macbeth"

kanderson — Tue, 30 Apr 13 19:49:37 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20511" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="Natalie Portman will go power-mad in Scotland."][/caption] It seems like just yesterday that we heard Michael Fassbender would play the title role in "Macbeth," in a new version of Shakespeare's play to be directed by Justin Kurzel. Why, as a matter of fact, it WAS just yesterday! That announcement stated that they were talking to a well-known actress about playing Lady Macbeth, and now that actress has been named--Screen Daily reports that Natalie Portman will take the role. Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff are adapting the script. They will keep the 11th century setting of the play and use Shakespeare's words, so you won't miss out on any of those famous Macbeth quotes like, "[Life] It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing," "Out, damn spot!" and of course, "Double, double, toil and trouble." My response to Portman's casting is "Could be worse." As I noted earlier in the Michael Fassbender post, you can cast the Macbeth couple at a variety of ages and it will make sense; in this case they're going early-mid thirties. If they were going a little older, I'd say Cate Blanchett (who has undoubtedly played the role onstage). Otherwise I'd love to see Rachel Weisz take a crack at it (and you know, a production starring her and her husband Daniel Craig would be pretty interesting). Another choice is Rebecca Hall, who probably has more Shakespeare experience than any other Hollywood actress in her age range. Nevertheless, Portman is always hard-working and well-prepared. Portman and Fassbender worked together on the "Untitled Terrence Malick Project," and were supposed to co-star in "Jane Got a Gun," but Fassbender dropped out. Considering the trouble they've had getting that one going, he looks pretty smart.

Lily James Is "Cinderella"

kanderson — Tue, 30 Apr 13 17:54:30 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20507" align="aligncenter" width="560" caption="Lily James gets the glass slipper."][/caption] Apparently Lily James has a taste for fragile footwear. After an interminably long process, Deadline reports that Lily James will play the title role in Disney's new live version of "Cinderella." Kenneth Branagh will direct and Cate Blanchett will play the wicked stepmother. James was seen on the big screen in "Wrath of the Titans," but has worked more on TV, appearing in series like "Just William" and "The Secret Diary of a Call Girl." Most famously, she was on season 3 of "Downton Abbey," playing the incredibly annoying Cousin Rose. Good luck to her--she doesn't have much chance of holding her own against the imposing Ms. Blanchett. Hopefully it will take less time to cast Prince Charming. There were rumors that Disney was interested in Richard Madden--Robb Stark from "Game of Thrones." Well, he's got the charming part down.

Martha Stewart Is Looking For Love At 71; Using Match.com

Misty — Tue, 30 Apr 13 15:06:42 +0000

Martha Stewart appears on the cover of the latest issue of New You magazine and inside, she touches on the topic of aging. What's better than that, however, is her interview with Matt Lauer on Today. On a side note, Martha looks good for being a 71-year-old woman, doesn't she? When speaking with Matt Lauer yesterday, he asked her about how her love life is going. It's basically non-existent, according to Martha and she is definitely looking. She told the talk show host, "I haven't found the next Mr. Right. I'd like to have breakfast with somebody. I'd like to go to bed with somebody. Sleep with somebody. I'm always looking. Are you kidding? All women are always looking." In addition, she said that she would be signing up for Match.com in order to find her next main squeeze. At Matt's suggestion, though, she said that she would use an alias. We can't say that we would blame her for that, it's got to be hard to be so famous and single and not know who's out for you or your money.

Rob Kardashian Isn't Doing Too Well With His Sock Empire

Misty — Tue, 30 Apr 13 14:57:50 +0000

Robert Kardashian isn't doing so hot in the area of selling his crazy looking "Arthur George" sock line for Neiman Marcus. They're hideously ugly, pretentious and overpriced at $30. We're guessing that part of being a Kardashian is selling something -- anything, so Rob has his sights set on socks. A source at the Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus store revealed, "Rob’s socks sold around the Christmas holiday, but since then no one has been really buying them. We actually had to ship a bunch out to other stores because they weren’t moving at all. To be honest, a lot of customers bought them more as a gag gift. At this point it doesn’t look like we’re going order anymore." Neiman Marcus has subsequently issued a statement about the infamous sock line. They said, "It is common practice to send inventory above projected demand to a store in advance of a personal appearance. We then redistribute the excess to other stores after the appearance. The Arthur George by Robert Kardashian sock line has proven to be very popular with our customers." He should just go away now and spend the rest of his time trying to figure out why his penis is so small.

Lindsay Lohan Is Trying To Postpone Her Rehab Start Date?

Misty — Tue, 30 Apr 13 14:43:33 +0000

Is Lindsay Lohan really trying to put off checking into rehab as ordered on May 2nd? We wouldn't put anything past her at this point, considering that she has already put it off in order to attend Coachella. A source close to the situation said, "The judge told Lindsay that she had to be enrolled in the rehab by May 2, but it's possible that her defense attorney might try and say that she is 'enrolled' with her actual check-in date later than that day." Sneaky! The source went on to say, "She could say that she is scheduled to go to rehab at a future date and has everything arranged with a rehab place, but she might not physically be there on May 2." The source added, "Lindsay is now saying that she wants to go to rehab in California and she's looking for a treatment center, and she thinks that this might help her buy some more time, too." She should just get it started and over with already. Don't you think?

Pink Is Reclaiming The Word Slut; Has Dated Joey Fatone

Misty — Tue, 30 Apr 13 14:35:45 +0000

Pink covers the latest issue of Glamour magazine. Inside, she talks about how she's taking back the word slut, dating Joey Fatone and why she gave her daughter the name Willow Sage. On the word slut, she said, "I'm a reformed slut...It’s my very unsophisticated way of taking the power back. I’ve always had an issue with [the idea that] ‘OK, we’ve both decided to do this. Why am I a slut and you’re the player? You didn’t get anything from me that I didn’t get from you.’" About that whole 'N Sync and 98 degrees thing, she said, "It was Beatlemania for those boys… I got in trouble for toilet-papering 98 Degrees’ bus. Joey Fatone was in love with me. He took me to Friendly’s on a date, and he bought me an ice cream. Such a sweetheart. He asked my dad’s permission." On the topic of giving her daughter the name Willow Sage, she added, "I love the idea that a willow tree cannot be snapped or broken. And we burn sage all the time. It clears bad energy." Does she have a point about the whole slut thing? Is that a battle that women are really fighting these days? What do you think?

Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Want Donations In Lieu Of Baby Gifts

Misty — Tue, 30 Apr 13 14:29:25 +0000

In a shocking revelation, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are asking friends to donate money to a children's hospital, as opposed to purchasing gifts for their impending addition. The normally famewhoring duo announced that they wanted donations to go to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago instead of any gifts for their baby. Now, a rep for the hospital is commenting on the gesture. The rep said, "Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for their thoughtfulness and support of the hospital. Funds donated on behalf of Kardashian and West will be directed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund which will help care for the most critically ill babies and their families. We wish them all the best in the upcoming arrival of their baby." Famewhoring for positive press, we get it now.

Michael Fassbender To Star In "Macbeth"

kanderson — Tue, 30 Apr 13 11:10:06 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20503" align="aligncenter" width="464" caption="Michael Fassbender is going to Scotland."][/caption] Actors don't like to say the title "Macbeth" in a theater, but they love being in the Scottish Play. There aren't any superstitions about saying the play's title on a sound stage, or location shoot, though, as far as I know, but nevertheless, there haven't been many film adaptations of the play, despite it being one of Shakespeare's greatest and most popular.The best known one may be Orson Welles's 1948 version. But wait, there was a point to all that! And that is that there IS going to be a new movie version. Screen Daily says that Michael Fassbender will play the title role in "Macbeth," with Justin Kurzel directing. Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff are adapting the script. And no, adapting it does not mean rewriting it in today's language; it will still be awesome Shakespeare (which technically is modern English, by the way). No contemporary setting, though--it will still be set in 11th century Scotland. Word is that the project will take "a visceral approach to the story including significant battle scenes." That may sound cool, but it actually sounds to me like they're adding stuff that sounds cool but will really just bring the action to a dead halt (and Mr. Louiso and Mr. Koskoff--please, have mercy on us and leave out the long, tedious witch scenes that we all know Shakespeare didn't write). They are reportedly in talks with a prominent "Hollywood actress" to play the plum role of power-hungry Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is an interesting role because you can cast it on the younger side, portraying the character as an ambitious rising careerist who is pushing for that next promotion, all the way to the top, or you can do it as an older man, who thinks he's gone as far as he can, is settled in his place, but then thinks he's being offered that one last shot. Obviously with Fassbender they're going young. Fassbender will be seen later this year in "Twelve Years a Slave" for his frequent collaborator Steve McQueen, "The Counselor," for Ridley Scott, and the small comedy "Frank," alongside Domnhall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Scoot McNairy. He's currently filming "X-Men: Days of Future Past." We should note that his co-star in that film, James McAvoy, was just nominated for an Olivier award for his performance in a production of "Macbeth" on the London stage.

Olga Kurylenko Takes On "Vampire Academy"

kanderson — Tue, 30 Apr 13 10:36:59 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20499" align="aligncenter" width="417" caption="Olga Kurylenko is put in charge of the vampires."][/caption] Would you put Olga Kurylenko in charge of a school? You would if it was a Vampire Academy. Or a modeling school. Both of those would work. However, we're only talking about the former. Deadline reports that Kurylenko will star in "Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters," an adaptation of the series of novels by Richelle Mead. Mark Waters is directing a script by Daniel Waters. Here's what Amazon says about the book:

"St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever."

Kurylenko will play Kirova, the school's headmistress. Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry will play lead characters Rose and Lissa alongside Russian star Danila Kozlovski. Kurylenko was last seen on screen in the solidly performing "Oblivion" with Tom Cruise. She also has appeared in the STARZ TV series "Magic City."

Jamie Foxx Up For "Annie"

kanderson — Tue, 30 Apr 13 10:20:04 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20495" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Jamie Foxx will play a rich guy in "Annie.""][/caption] It took a long time to get this project together, but now it looks like it's moving quickly. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jamie Foxx is in talks to star in "Annie," the new adaptation of the classic musical. Quvenzhane Wallis is set to play the title role. Will Gluck is directing; he did a rewrite of a script by Emma Thompson and Aline Brosh McKenna. Jay-Z and Will Smith lead the typically massive group of producers. Foxx would play a role based on the character of Daddy Warbucks, the millionaire who takes in spunky Depression-era orphan Annie. It's no longer set in the Depression, and Daddy Warbucks will be renamed Benjamin Stacks. Yes, you can read that as "stacks of one hundred dollar bills." If the deal is sealed with Foxx, the next big role to be cast would be Miss Hannigan, the evil head of the orphanage who hates kids. By the way, we should note that Thomas Meehan wrote the original book for the musical, Charles Strouse wrote the music, and Martin Charnin wrote the lyrics. I'm not sure if they're planning to use many of the songs from the show or if they'll be doing new material. Foxx was, of course, last seen on screen in "Django Unchained." He has been busy filming "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," in which he plays the villain Electro. He'll be seen this summer in "White House Down."

Ron Moore's project Outlander moves forward inch by inch

Angela — Mon, 29 Apr 13 20:28:16 +0000

Diana Gabaldon's bestselling book series "Outlander" has taken another tiny step forward at Starz with a writing room being opened. "Battlestar Galactica" God Ron Moore is at the forefront of the project, along with "Battlestar Galactica" alumna Tony Graphia and veteran show runner Ira Behr. "Outlander" is an immense series that is essentially multi-genre, spanning history, romance, science-fiction and adventure. All the romance sounds a bit schmaltzy, but some of the other aspects of the story sound epic and with Starz behind it, one can only imagine it will be quite edgy if it ever makes it into production, so that's positive at least.

The Big C's Gabourey Sidibe joins American Horror Story: Coven

Angela — Mon, 29 Apr 13 20:24:52 +0000

Actress Gabourey Sidibe has nabbed a new TV gig, this time on the third season of hit series "American Horror Story". Creator Ryan Murphy made the announcement on Twitter stating "Thrilled to announce Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe is joining the cast of American Horror Story: Coven". Sidibe will join Oscar winner Kathy Bates, along with returning cast members Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Taissa Farmiga. A bit of TV trivia for you, Taissa Farmiga is younger sister - by 21 years! - of actress Vera Farmiga who exquisitely plays Norma Bates in "Bates Motel". There's no word on the character Sidibe will play.

Geri Halliwell replaces Mel B on Australia's Got Talent

Angela — Mon, 29 Apr 13 20:22:39 +0000

After all that Mel B fiasco throwing things up in the air for Australian talent series "Australia's Got Talent" the new judge has been found and it's another Spice Girl. Yes the red-headed firecracker Geri Halliwell is now the 'spice' on the judging panel. This comes after Mel B was prevented from being a judge due to legal issues with Network Seven. Halliwell joins Dawn French, Kyle Sandilands and Timomatic on the "Australia's Got Talent" judging panel, yeah, that does say Dawn French. The actress is headed down under for a two month stint. French just married boyfriend Mark Bignell and apparently he's not headed down under with her.

Prisoner re-imagining Wentworth sold to Channel 5 UK

Angela — Mon, 29 Apr 13 20:17:27 +0000

With "Wentworth" set to start on Aussie screens tomorrow (Wednesday local time) looks like Channel 5 UK have swooped in on the UK side of things before there's any news on ratings downunder. Channel 5's Head of Acquisitions stated: “Wentworth will be a great addition to Channel 5?s drama output this autumn. This compelling cast of female characters packs an emotional punch and will appeal to the Channel 5 viewers who love our range of crime output from dramas to factual series”. Initial reviews of "Wentworth" seem to suggest they should have left the "Prisoner" tie-in behind and released it as merely a new prison series. Sounds like they've changed the characters so much they should have perhaps left the names we know and love behind also. Oh well, not long before Aussies weigh in on how it is and UK fans will no doubt get it later in the year.

Jason Aldean Is Divorcing Wife Jessica Ussery

Misty — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:37:14 +0000

After announcing his separation from wife Jessica Ussery on Friday, April 26th, country singer Jason Aldean has officially filed for divorce. His rep stated that he and Jessica were having problems, but made no mention of the divorce filing. Despite that, it was the very same day of which he called it quits on his eleven year marriage. Back in September, it was Jason who was photographed at a club on the Sunset Strip making out with former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr. He had since apologized for his poor judgment and tried to patch things up with his wife. Apparently his efforts were in vain and they have split for good. TMZ reports that Jason has cited irreconcilable differences in the divorce filing. Jason and Jessica have two children together. Stay classy Jason and Brittany....

Jeremy Irvine and Phoebe Fox Join "The Woman in Black: Angel of Death"

kanderson — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:33:56 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20491" align="aligncenter" width="589" caption="Jeremy Irvine gets to meet "The Woman in Black.""][/caption] "The Woman in Black" was a surprise hit last year, a nifty little horror film that initially sold itself on Daniel Radcliffe's name, then won fans because it actually was pretty good. Needless to say, when a movie that doesn't cost a lot makes earns a lot, a sequel is in order--even if the main character played by the movie's star is, well, no longer eligible to return for a sequel (sorry, I refuse to say that's a spoiler--the movie's been out for a year and the novel by Susan Hill and play have been around for decades). That is no deterrence to those in pursuit of commerce, though. The sequel, titled "The Woman in Black: Angel of Death" will take place forty years later and feature two new stars--Jeremy Irvine and Phoebe Fox. Tom Harper will direct. Jon Croker wrote the screenplay, which Deadline says is "set during World War II after the government has seized the eerie Eel Marsh House and a group of evacuated children arrives to awaken its scary tenant." That would be the Woman in Black. Irvine is probably best known for starring in the film version of "War Horse." He'll be seen in the upcoming "The Railway Man" with Nicole Kidman. Fox has done a lot of work on British TV, most notably the supernatural themed series "Switch."

Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth Are Not Broken Up

Misty — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:33:19 +0000

There have been reports stating that Liam Hemsworth has called time on his relationship with Miley Cyrus. It would've appeared as if he had chosen January Jones over Miley and has been hooking up with her ever since. Apparently that's not the case at all. Miley appears on the latest cover of Elle magazine and inside, she talks about her engagement to Liam and her much needed privacy. With regard to her engagement, she revealed, "We have a house together and dogs. It just seems right to be wearing this ring and to be committed. But we keep our relationship low-key and don't talk about it any more." About her privacy, she added, "We were too nice to the world and gave them too much insight -- into my life and my puppies and my house - and I just don't feel they get that privilege any more. Like on my Twitter, I'm much more....not conservative, but you don't see a picture of my dogs. You don't get that personal stuff any more." Do you think she's just trying to save face about Liam or are they legitimately still together? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Henry Cavill Talks Playing Superman & The Suit In GQ

Misty — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:24:38 +0000

Henry Cavill is playing Superman in the new movie Man Of Steel and my goodness, does he make a hot Superman or what? His royal hotness is featured on the cover of the latest issue of GQ and he talks about the role of Clark Kent and the Superman suit, among other things. With regard to the suit, he revealed, "I don't know what kind of material it is. It's a very compressed, sort of elastic-y type of material." When speaking of how he prepared for Superman, he said, "My goodness, a lot of preparation went into this role! I chose which material I wanted to draw from and that was basically the source material, the comic books." He went on to say, "I didn't want to draw from previous TV shows or movies because those are other filmmaker's interpretations of this character. There's an honesty to Superman and the want and will to do the right thing - that's all I tried to portray. I just thought - go to the source material, read some stuff in time for the screen test and provide an honest, straightforward, humble character." He added, "There’s the opportunity to feel a lot of pressure, but I try and avoid that because the one lesson I’ve learned is I’ve done all the work now. There’s no need to do anything but just work hard and strive towards victory. If I let pressure play a factor, it would be a detriment to my work and my personality." He's hot, right?

Kim & Khloe Kardashian Are Miserable In Greece Without Their Men

Misty — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:15:10 +0000

Kim and Khloe Kardashian are on a super ritzy vacation in Greece with their entire family -- minus their significant others. This has made their vacation in the beautiful area miserable, according to the latest gossip. Kim is really missing Kanye West and Khloe is feeling miserable without her husband Lamar Odom. So basically they can't just enjoy their family vacation? It's not like they're paying for any of it -- Ryan Seacrest's production team is footing the entire bill. A source said, "They were contractually obligated to go but they're miserable." The snitch continued, "Kanye politely declined the invitation, citing work. Lamar, would have gone but he is currently in the NBA playoffs for the Los Angeles Clippers. Kim and Khloe miss their men! Khloe had wanted to go to Memphis to watch the Clippers play the Grizzlies. This is the most important time of the year for Lamar, and she wanted to be there to support him. She plans on being back in Los Angeles for the next game on Tuesday." The source said, "And Kim is just so over being pregnant. She is complaining about the humidity in Greece, and just wants to finish filming so she can nest with Kanye. The family always takes a lavish vacation which is featured on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and that Ryan Seacrest‘s production company pays for. Kim wasn’t surprised that Kanye declined to join the family in Greece, she is really frustrated that her life is controlled by the reality show commitments." So ungrateful for what they have! What do you think?

Colin Firth Up For "The Secret Service"

kanderson — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:13:05 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20488" align="aligncenter" width="554" caption="Colin Firth may join "The Secret Service.""][/caption] A little movie called "Iron Man 3" is racking up millions overseas in advance of opening this week. Meanwhile, in other comic book adaptation news, The Hollywood Reporter says that Colin Firth is in talks to star in "The Secret Service," Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of the comic series he created with Mark Miller and artist Dave Gibbons. Vaughn and Jane Goldman wrote the screenplay. As you might remember, Vaughn had some success with Miller's "Kick-Ass." "Secret Service" focuses on "a ruffian from the rough neighborhoods of London who gets recruited by his uncle into a British spy school of the sort that churns out suave, sophisticated gentlemen-agent types in the 007 mold." Firth would, of course, play the uncle. Aaron Johnson, Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" star, was reportedly Vaughn's choice for the younger lead, but is unavailable. Well, there are plenty of eligible young British actors around, so there shouldn't be any difficulty finding someone. Firth's "Arthur Newman" opened very quietly on the art house circuit last weekend. He has "Gambit," "The Railway Man," and "Devil's Knot" finished and ready to go, and is filming "Before I Go To Sleep," He has a few other projects that look to be in development, but "The Secret Service" looks like it's more ready to happen. We wish them all better luck than poor Arthur had over the weekend.

Farrah Abraham Sells Her Sex Tape For Less Than A Million Dollars

Misty — Mon, 29 Apr 13 14:10:07 +0000

Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham didn't get the two million dollars that she wanted for her sex tape, but she will be sitting pretty from the proceeds! According to reports, Farrah sold the tape of which stars James Deen for almost a cool million dollars. She took her father and daughter to Vivid Entertainment's offices where she negotiated the deal with head honcho Steven Hirsch. She got almost a million dollars -- a figure high in the six figures, according to TMZ:

Not only that, we've learned the 70-minute-long skin flick will be titled: "Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom."

It's a scary thought to think that this broad is that marketable that her faked sex tape is worth more money than you or I will ever see. It's a sad world we live in, folks.

Art House Box Office: Good Starts For "Mud," "Kon-Tiki"

kanderson — Sun, 28 Apr 13 20:02:07 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20485" align="aligncenter" width="355" caption="A late arrival from 2012, the Year of Matthew McComaughey, has a good start."][/caption] While the multiplex box office underwhelmed with "Pain & Gain" and the big flop "The Big Wedding," things were slightly more solid at the box office, where "Mud" and Norwegian Oscar nominee got off to solid starts. "Mud," which played well at Cannes last year, had the advantage of stars like Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon (and for the discerning audience member, director Jeff Nichols) to help boost notice. That allowed distributor Roadside Attractions to skip the traditional art house strategy of opening in a single digit theater count to build buzz and instead open in 363 theaters, where the movie earned a $6,022 per screen average. Roadside exec Howard Cohen told Deadline (and presumably others) “Throughout the South, Midwest and Southwest, the film often had the #1 or #2-ranked gross in commercial theaters, ahead of wide release films. The film had a terrific 53% increase from Friday to Saturday, indicating strong word of mouth.” We love that strong word of mouth... ...which apparently didn't occur for Colin Firth's "Arthur Newman." I saw virtually no publicity for this movie, and the box office shows that. Like "Mud," it started in an ambitious 248 theaters, but came out with a horrifying $435 per screen average. Oh dear. No one wants responsibility for that. Norway's "Kon-Tiki," went the small route, opening in just one theater in NY and LA, for a $11,167 per screen average. "At Any Price," the Zac Efron-Dennis Quaid racing and farming drama that did well at Venice last fall, opened in four theaters for a $4,144 per screen average. Amongst the other new entries, the low-budget, low-key "An Oversimplification of Her Beauty" overperformed at two theaters, averaging $5,550. Here are some more numbers from Deadline, just this week's new entries since there are so many of them: Arthur Newman (Cinedigm) [248 Theaters] Weekend $108K, Average $435 At Any Price (Sony Pictures Classics) [4 Theaters] Weekend $16,574, Average $4,144, Cume $22,766 Graceland (Drafthouse Films) [14 Theaters] Weekend $11,081, Average $792 King’s Faith (Waking Giants) [ 6 Theaters] Weekend $28K, Average $4,655 Kon-Tiki (The Weinstein Company) [2 Theaters] Weekend $22,334, Average $11,167 Midnight’s Children (Paladin/108 Media) [2 Theaters] Weekend $12,200, Average $6,100 Mud (Roadside Attractions) [363 Theaters] Weekend $2,185,980, Average $6,022 An Oversimplification Of Her Beauty (Variance Films) Weekend $11,100, Average $5,550 The Reluctant Fundamentalist (IFC Films) [3 Theaters] Weekend $32,700, Average $10,900 Storm Surfers 3-D (XLRator Media) [2 Theaters] Weekend $6,500, Average $3,250 We also have a lot opening next weekend, as the art house tries to counterprogram "Iron Man 3." Look for "What Maisie Knew," the contemporary adaptation of the Henry James novel, starring Julianne Moore and Alexander Skarsgard; "The Iceman," with Michael Shannon; "Something in the Air," from director Olivier Assayas; and the doc "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's," plus many more.

Weekend Box Office: "Pain & Gain" Needs Little Muscle To Win

kanderson — Sun, 28 Apr 13 11:05:50 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20480" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Their box office could have used some steroids."][/caption] Here are the numbers: 1. Pain & Gain - $20 million 2. Oblivion - $17.6 million 3. 42 - $10.1 million 4. The Big Wedding - $7.5 million 5. The Croods - $6.5 million Is it a win if no one else is in the race? That's how it feels for "Pain & Gain," Michael Bay's "little movie," the passion project he got Paramount to finance in return for directing "Transformers 4." Despite such star names as Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, audiences didn't seem to feel drawn to the movie, and those that did come out to see it weren't satisfied, giving it a C+ Cinemascore. Reviews also generally weren't good, saying that Bay couldn't make the mix of comedy and violence add up to the social satire he intended. He was going for Coen brothers territory and still got off at the Michael Bay exit. The good news is that it did indeed only come with a $26 million budget. The other new movie this weekend, "The Big Wedding," didn't get advance reviews and no one did any publicity for it. That's because it was awful and Lionsgate and everyone else involved knew it. When are the good movies coming? Nice holds for "Oblivion" and "42"-- if any producers are feeling good this weekend, it's anyone attached to those movies. Next week! A little movie called "Iron Man 3" opens, and thankfully with it comes the summer season when we should have more good news this weekend. No other wide releases are daring to compete with the Marvel machine.

Adrian Lyne Resurfaces For Highsmith's "Deep Water"

kanderson — Sun, 28 Apr 13 10:49:47 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20476" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="A suitably pulpy cover for a Highsmith thriller."][/caption] Patricia Highsmith, best known for the novels-into-classic films "Strangers on a Train" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley," wrote so many made-for-the-movies thrillers that it's a wonder they haven't all been filmed by now. The good part about that, though, is that means there's still plenty of good material left from the master of mid-century suspense and nastiness for filmmakers to discover. Like this, for example--Deadline reports that Adrian Lyne will direct an adaptation Highsmith's "Deep Water." Zach Helm wrote the script. "Deep Water" is described this way by Amazon:

In Deep Water, set in the small town of Little Wesley, Vic and Melinda Meller's loveless marriage is held together only by a precarious arrangement whereby in order to avoid the messiness of divorce, Melinda is allowed to take any number of lovers as long as she does not desert her family. Eventually, Vic tries to win her back by asserting himself through a tall tale of murder—one that soon comes true.

I have a feeling that it's the small town thing that's going to be a problem. Lyne was a well-known director in the 1980s and '90, noted for directing such sexually forthright and visually stylish movies as "Flashdance," "9 1/2 Weeks," "Fatal Attraction," "Indecent Proposal," and the lesser known but perhaps most interesting "Jacob's Ladder." He hasn't directed a movie since 2002, which is surprising, since that was the well-received hit "Unfaithful." Apparently he's reluctant to commit. That sounds like a good title for a movie, doesn't it? Word is that they are already "in talks" with a "big star" to take one of the lead roles, and if that deal comes through, everything else will fall into place quickly; one person in the Deadline comments insists that the actor in question is Benedict Cumberbatch. We'll see.

Scream TV show could be a reality

Angela — Sat, 27 Apr 13 21:54:23 +0000

Are you a fan of the "Scream" series of movies? If so, prepare to be very, very happy. Apparently MTV has ordered a pilot for a TV adaptation of the classic slasher movies and the hour-long pilot would be the precursor to a full series which would air in 2014. One of the greatest aspects of the "Scream" movies is the tongue-in-cheek writing, the classic campy horror lines and scenes, plus of course the direction of Wes Craven. MTV are still looking for a writer for the show, but are apparently speaking to Wes Craven to at least oversee the pilot. Who do you think will star in the "Scream" TV show? I can't imagine it without Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox, but it would be unlikely to star either of them. Any thoughts on who could take the leads?

Snooki & JWoww renewed

Angela — Sat, 27 Apr 13 21:50:32 +0000

As a former semi-fan of "Jersey Shore", even I am stunned that "Snooki & JWoww" not only have their own show, but also that it's just been renewed. There came a point in season four of "Jersey Shore" were I just couldn't take anymore and decided then and there to stop watching it. Perhaps that's why I'm so surprised that people still enjoy watching Snooki and JWoww. Their show has been renewed for a third season by MTV and there will be more insights into the life of Snooki Polizzi and Jenni 'JWoww' Farley for at least a few more months. Snooki & JWoww have certainly been two of the most fortunate Jersey Shore cast members with their show continuing to pull in ratings. Not quite sure what they can possibly do this season to keep it fresh and interesting, but never-the-less MTV still want them around. Is this the kind of show you'd tune into? What is it about the show that keeps you watching and what does it need to do this season to make it interesting?

Jennifer Love Hewitt for X Factor USA?

Angela — Sat, 27 Apr 13 21:47:39 +0000

With only Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato returning to the judging panel on "The X Factor" USA, speculation has been rife about who would replace Britney Spears and LA Reid. Now it seems Jennifer Love Hewitt may be in the running and could be one of the favorites. Simon Cowell has been trying to tempt a number of celebrities into the judging chair, but Hewitt is definitely one of the front runners. Most people may be confused at Hewitt judging a singing competition, but the actress has released four albums and did court the idea of a singing career above acting for quite some time. Other celebrities who are rumored to be potential judges are Kelly Rowland and Reba McEntire. Do you think any of them would be good? Who's your favorite to join the new X Factor judges?

Max Beesley becomes a Suit

Angela — Sat, 27 Apr 13 21:44:55 +0000

British actor Max Beesley has signed up for the third season of "Suits" where he'll be in a major recurring role as Stephen Huntly, a charismatic colleague of Darby. Beesley will essentially be the British counterpart of Harvey and will arrive in the New York office due to a merger. Beesley's character is likely to cause some tension at Pearson/Darby with egos out of control all over the place. "Suits" was renewed for a third season by the USA Network way back in October, so it's nice to see some new characters being added to create some interesting plot twists. Beesley has starred in a number of shows, most recently "Hotel Babylon", "Survivors" and "Mad Dogs". The season premiere of "Suits" will be on July 16 in the US. Will you be tuning in?

Ben and Kate star Nat Faxon joins new show

Angela — Sat, 27 Apr 13 21:41:26 +0000

Ahhh "Ben and Kate", I'm still devastated that you were cancelled. With the number of poor comedies on TV these days, it's surprising that a genuinely funny and touching show like "Ben and Kate" didn't make it. Looks like the cast are already moving on though, with Nat Faxon joining a new FX comedy pilot. Faxon played Ben in the show and has joined a new project which is being developed by "The Last Exorcism" maker Andrew Gurland. He'll play a married man who's wife actively encourages him to get a mistress in an attempt to save their marriage. Of all the "Ben and Kate" cast, Faxon has done well since leaving. He landed a role in the ABC pilot "Spy" earlier this year and also won an Oscar for his co-writing on "The Descendants" screenplay. Still, he'll always be Ben to me and I'll always mourn the loss of the show, as well as the super catchy theme song.

James Franco To Direct "Garden of Last Days"

kanderson — Sat, 27 Apr 13 19:46:16 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20472" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="James Franco books another project."][/caption] James Franco has his screen version of William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" ready to premiere at Cannes, so it must seem like a good idea to go to the literary well again. This time Deadline reports that he'll direct "The Garden of Last Days," based on the novel by Andres Dubus III. Hanna Weg wrote the script. Gerard Butler, who we'll mention because he's a movie star, is listed amongst the myriad of producers. Here's how Amazon describes the novel:

"In his stunning follow-up to the #1 best-selling House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus draws us into the lives of three deeply flawed, driven people whose paths intersect on a September night in Florida. April, a stripper, has brought her daughter to work at the Puma Club for Men. There she encounters Bassam, a foreign client both remote and too personal, and free with his money. Meanwhile, another man, AJ, has been thrown out of the club, and he’s drunk and angry and lonely. From these explosive elements comes a relentless, raw, and page-turning narrative that seizes the reader by the throat with psychological tension, depth, and realism."

The adaptation of Dubus's "The House of Sand and Fog" starred Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly and was nominated for many awards. I didn't see it because it was described to me as relentlessly depressing and to be honest, I just don't need that. Production on "The Garden of Last Days" is supposed to begin on July 8th. You can see Franco on screen later this summer in "This Is The End."

Johnny Depp Set For "Into the Woods"

kanderson — Sat, 27 Apr 13 11:23:29 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20468" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Johnny Depp and his many layers of accessories."][/caption] The long in development film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" has finally added another cast member, it seems. The Hollywood Reporter says Johnny Depp is close to signing a deal to star in the movie. Rob Marshall will direct; Depp and Marshall worked together on "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," so this will be just like a big reunion for them. "Into the Woods" is a riff on classic fairy tale characters that focuses on a " childless Baker and his wife, who attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront the Witch that put the spell on them. " Along the way they meet familiar characters such as Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, etc. Depp, who we should remember is a Sondheim alum after starring in "Sweeny Todd," is said to be playing the wolf, as in the wolf who comes after Little Red Riding Hood. Meryl Streep has long been attached to play the pivotal role of the Witch. For all of you who are about to get hysterical about having someone who's not an accomplished singer star in a Sondheim musical, remember that Hollywood has been sacrificing singing talent for star names forever. Audrey Hepburn couldn't sing in "My Fair Lady," Natalie Wood couldn't sing in "West Side Story," dancing stars such as Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, and Leslie Caron had their songs dubbed, partially dubbed, or fixed in the studio. Someone like Jeremy Jordan or Raul Esparza may have a lot more singing talent than Depp, but they're not going to help sell the foreign rights to "Into the Woods." Depp will. So just in case you weren't sure, movies are a business. (My goodness, I sound cynical today!) Depp will be seen this summer in "The Lone Ranger." He's currently filming Wally Pfister's "Transcendence."

Shorts: Release Date for "Nebraska," Debut For Minaj, Money for "Iron Man 3"

kanderson — Sat, 27 Apr 13 11:04:44 +0000

[caption id="attachment_20465" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Nicki Minaj brings her outsized presence to "The Other Woman.""][/caption] Let's catch up on some small bits of news:

Were you worried that there wasn't enough Nicki Minaj out there? Never fear, now we have word from The Hollywood Reporter that Minaj will be making her film debut in "The Other Woman," a comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Kate Upton. Nick Cassavetes directs the story of a woman (Diaz) who finds out that she's been dating a married man (Coster-Waldau) who is also seeing someone else (Upton). They team up with the wife (Mann) for revenge. Or something like that. Minaj will play "Diaz's opinionated assistant -- a woman on her third marriage -- at a law firm."
Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," his follow up to his Oscar nominated "The Descendants," has been given a prime awards season release date--November 22nd. The black-and-white film stars Bruce Dern as "a moody old man who thinks he's won millions from a magazine sweepstakes. His son (Forte) reluctantly agrees to escort him on a road trip from Billings, Mo., to Lincoln, Neb. to seek out his winnings." The movie is also in competition in Cannes.
In a surprise to no one, "Iron Man 3" is having a strong opening overseas, taking in $36.5 million since in it began to open on Wednesday. It's on pace to do better international business than "Iron Man 2." As we said, nothing shocking here, just proof that things are proceeding as expected.