Joshua Jackson Takes On UFO

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adaptation, Classics, Mystery, Remakes, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Joshua Jackson has signed up to take the lead in UFO.

The Fringe actor will take the lead in the big screen adaptation of the cult 70s TV show by Gerry Anderson in a story which follows test pilot Paul Foster join a secret alien-fighting organization hidden between a film studio.

The movie will be directed by special effects expert Matthew Gratzner, who has previously worked on The Aviator, The Good Shepherd, Pitch Black and Alien Resurrection, and is based on the hit TV series of the same name.

The show followed the pilot’s discovery of the secret group - named SHADO - and his discovery of alien life forms after his plane was severely damaged when the two fought in the sky. Matthew plans to start filming early next year with a script penned by Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek.

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Nine Addict Penelope Cruz

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Romance, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Penelope Cruz found working on her latest film, Nine, addictive.

The Broken Embraces actress formed a strong bond with her co-stars on the musical, which included Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Marion Cotillard, and particularly enjoyed their dance training.

“It was scary, but it was so much fun. It was great seeing that we were all feeling the same way. There was a great support system on that set, all the actors with each other and with Rob Marshall, the director. I had danced classical ballet before, so this was very different from what I had studied. We had a room in our building and we were all taking different classes. We would all pass each other in the hallway. All day, training. We all felt so free and so happy. Music was so present everywhere. That elevates people, music. It was so addictive, that experience.”

Rob admits he was amazed by the actress’ work ethic and dedication to giving the best possible performance while filming: “She knew we had to get in there and really be great, so she came in and worked like nobody’s business. She was the first one there and the last one to leave. She’d always want one more take. She’s a real perfectionist.”

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Zac Efron Thinks Action Role Could be Kiss of Death

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Action, Musicals, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip

Have no fear, Shia—Zac Efron thinks it would be “weird” if he starred in an action movie (despite already having the body for it).

The High School Musical star, who became a teenage heartthrob after appearing in the Disney movie franchise, would love to try his hand at as a screen hero but fears his career could be over if the role wasn’t perfect.

“I would love to try an action film at some point, but not too soon. I think that can be a kiss of death. There’s got to be a real role that I can bring something unique and specific to, a way for me to do it believably. Until then, I think it would just come across as weird.”

The 22-year-old star also revealed he is in awe of actor Leonardo DiCaprio, despite disliking him when he was growing up: “I think Leonardo DiCaprio’s done a great job. I was dead set against the guy when I was growing up, kind of force-fed his image from Titanic. Since then, through very hard work and incredible performances, he’s done a complete 180. Now he’s one of my favorite actors. He’s at the top of his game.”

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Quote of the Day: Natalie Portman on Joining Thor

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

“I just thought it sounded like a really weird idea ‘cause Kenneth Branagh’s directing it. And Ken Branagh doing Thor is super weird. I’ve got to do it.”

-Natalie Portman explaining why she decided to join Paramount Pictures’ upcoming blockbuster.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | E! Online

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Daniel Day-Lewis Scared of Singing

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Romance, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t think his singing and dancing was good enough to star in new musical movie Nine.

The Oscar-winning actor, who plays Italian film director Guido Contini in the hotly-anticipated film, had a crisis of confidence and asked the director Rob Marshall if there was anyone else who could take his role, because he had no confidence in his voice.

“I did say to Rob in the early stages, ‘Is there anyway of getting out of this? I have a list of actors who could do it tomorrow!’ He tried to convince me I could sing and I said, ‘You’ve no idea if I can sing or not!’ I sang feebly a couple of times, and on the grounds of that Rob managed to convince me it was worth pursuing.”

The 52-year-old actor, who is famous for his method acting, also joked that dancing was difficult because his body is so “creaky”: “I can do a lot of stuff, I can climb, I can run, I can cycle, I can box, but I can’t dance. I used a lot of 3-in-1 to lubricate those stiff joints. It’s not natural grace - that’s sheer effort of will. My limbs are a mass of scar tissue through years of doing things I shouldn’t have.”

Daniel stars in Nine alongside Penelope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench and Nicole Kidman.

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Jennifer Hudson to Play Mandela’s Wife

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Biopics, Drama, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Jennifer Hudson has signed on to star in Winnie, a biopic about Nelson Mandela’s former wife.

The film will follow her whole life, and Hudson will be singing the movie’s theme song as well.

“I was compelled and moved when I read the script,” the Academy Award winner recently said. “Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told.”

Production begins May 30. With Hudson in the lead, the flick already sounds like Oscar material.

Read More | Vote for the Worst

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Sequel News: Men in Black, Saw and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Disney, Lionsgate, Action, Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases, Videos

Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:

Independence Day: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Roland Emmerich flat out hates this planet. The director of The Day After Tomorrow and and 2012 is now talking about a follow-up to his 1996 hit, Independence Day. Emmerich says his proposed idea would see vets Will Smith (another lover of sequels) and Bill Pullman years after the first disaster. “One day we will do it,” Roland claimed.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: Men in Black, Saw and More

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Johnny Depp to Get $35 Million for Pirates 4

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Disney, Action, Adventure, Family, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

While studio execs at Disney may forge ahead without Johnny Depp for the fifth and sixth Pirates of the Caribbean films, they’ll definitely be paying a hefty amount to have him in the latest sequel of the franchise.

Reportedly commanding a minimum of $35 million, Depp would shoot to the top of the highest-paid actors list, placing him above the likes of Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Mel Gibson, who ask for around $30 million (Depp received $25 million for the last Pirates sequel).

Yes, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have dominated at the box office; however, higher-ups usually aren’t known to shell out $35 million paychecks, so what gives?

Click to continue reading Johnny Depp to Get $35 Million for Pirates 4

Read More | Telegraph

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Michael Sheen Apologizes For His Hair

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adaptation, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Michael Sheen apologized to his daughter for not being bald.

The actor’s 10-year-old daughter Lily, whose mother is actress Kate Beckinsale, was delighted when he landed the role of Aro in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, but the Frost/Nixon star was worried that his depiction wouldn’t match up with fans’ ideas of the role.

“I said, ‘What does he look like?’ She said, ‘He’s bald.’ I think she was mixing it up with Nosferatu, the old vampire, you know? But it shows that people, and this is the beauty of books for a start, that your imagination creates your own version of these characters. And so when a film comes along and you’re kind of going, ‘No, it looks like this,’ then that’s a very delicate thing to get right or to find a way to meet everyone’s imaginary requirements of the character. So I was very aware of that because of my own daughter. I said, ‘Sorry, I’m not bald. I’ve got long hair.’”

When working on his interpretation of Aro, Michael immersed himself in Stephenie Meyer‘s novels which the movies are based on.

“I would have loved to have talked to Stephenie loads about it, but I just kept rereading a few of the chapters in the book - especially the opening chapter where she describes Aro - just looking for anything that would help give me a clue. And then I was just left to my own devices.”

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Tom Cruise on a Mission to Cast Katie Holmes

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Action, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Tom Cruise wants Katie Holmes to play a villain in the next Mission: Impossible movie.

The actor - who stars as spy Ethan Hunt in the action franchise - is desperate to work with his wife and believes an evil part for her in the fourth film would be perfect because he doesn’t want them to play a couple on screen.

“Tom is very excited about taking Mission: Impossible in a new direction and he sees Katie as a big part of that,” a source said. “They have wanted to work together for a while now but the idea of being a couple on screen in a romantic comedy is a bit dull. This might give them a chance to have some fun both as a couple and as hero and villainess.”

Katie - who has a three-year-old daughter, Suri, with Tom - recently admitted she loves bringing her home life into her acting roles. “In my own life, my whole world really revolves around my family. I do what I need to do, but it’s like, ‘How is everybody else doing?’ And it’s wonderful for me as an actress to put some of that into a character,” Holmes said.

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