Julianne Hough About to Go Footloose

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Musicals, Remakes, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Julianne Hough‘s tackled both the dancing world and country music, now she’s moving on to the next phase: acting.

Provided she has room in her busy schedule, Julianne will be the Chace Crawford’s leading lady in the remake of Footloose. Dancing with the Stars’ two-time winner will be take on the Ariel Moore role originated by Lori Singer.

Hough’s selection came after several other young stars - including Hayden Panettiere and Miley Cyrus - were rumored for the part. Although this wouldn’t be the 20-year-old’s first appearance on the big screen, this would be her first major role.

Director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) told E! Online that he has much love for Julianne. “I adore her. I’m a big fan of hers. Not only how beautiful but how deep her talent goes.”

Production is set to begin in March.

Read More | Variety

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First Look: Check Out the New Talent in Fame

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, Musicals, Remakes, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

If the judges of So You Think You Could Dance and American Idol ever taught at a high school, it might look a little something like this.

Later this fall, a new crop of aspiring performers will hit the big screen in Fame, an update of the 1980 hit film. The movie, like the original, will center around students at New York High School of Performing Arts. Tutelage will be provided a number of television vets including Megan Mullaley, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelsey Grammar and Charles S. Dutton.

SYTYCD followers will also see two familiar faces. Season 4 contestant Kherington Payne will be featured as one of the students while choreographer Debbie Allen - who played Lydia Grant in both the film and the TV series - has been cast as Principal Simms.

Fame debuts on September 25.

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Find the Weight on Penelope Cruz

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Let me start by saying that I agree with actress Nia Vardalos. Too much emphasis is placed on women and weight in Hollywood. But every once in a while, I come across a story like this and I can’t help but laugh.

During the production of Nine, several of the cast members were asked to gain weight for their roles in the musical. According to singer Fergie, it was suggested by director Rob Marshall that she and Penelope Cruz each add on 17 pounds. “We were eating our brains out. We ordered everything fried and full of fat and salty,” she told Allure magazine.

While it’s easy to see from the trailer that the Black Eye Peas performer did reach at least part of her goal (I highly doubt that was 17 pounds), I’ve been struggling to see - from any angle - what the Oscar-winner put on. Can anyone help me?

Read More | Us Magazine

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Getting Into Character: Kristen Stewart Rocks It Out as Joan Jett

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Biopics, Musicals, Period, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

And you thought Robert Pattinson’s hair was shaggy.

For her next film, Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart will be steering away from vampire fantasy for a little rock ‘n roll reality. In The Runaways, the 19-year-old will channel Joan Jett, a former member of the ‘70s band of the same name. Stewart’s New Moon co-star, Dakota Fanning, will join her as Cherie Currie, the female group’s lead singer.

No release date has yet been announced for the biopic.

Read More | Just Jared

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Cher to star alongside Christina Aguilera in Burlesque

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Musicals, Casting, Upcoming Releases

Cher is in talks to star in Burlesque. The 63-year-old singer-and-actress is being lined up to appear alongside Christina Aguilera in the new movie musical as a Los Angeles burlesque club owner. Christina stars in the lead role as a small-town girl who works at the club and follows her dreams, with Cher acting as her mentor guiding her along.

According to movie bosses, Burlesque was written specifically for Christina. Clint Culpepper, from Screen Gems, the studio making the film, said: “I couldn’t be more excited, as this was a project written with her in mind.” This is the first time Christina, 28, has appeared in a film, though she voiced a character in the 2004 animation Shark Tale.

Burlesque - which is reportedly based on Bob Fosse’s iconic musical Cabaret - was written by Pussycat Dolls producer Steven Antin, who will also direct the project. It will be produced by Donald De Line, who previously worked on I Love You, Man. Filming will start in September and the movie is due for release late next year.

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Chace Crawford set to play Ren McCormack in Footloose remake

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Musicals, Remakes, Casting, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Chace Crawford has landed the lead role of Footloose, grabbing the spot that Zac Efron turned down. Paramount Pictures has confirmed that Chace, a Gossip Girl star, has signed on to play Ren McCormack (originally played by Kevin Bacon) in the forthcoming musical remake, following weeks of speculation. As we noted, Zac Efron originally had the part, but turned it down because he didn’t want to be permanently typecast as someone who could only act in musicals. No other casting info has been officially announced, but rumor has it that Miley Cyrus is in the running to land the female lead of Ariel Moore, originally played by Lori Singer. Amanda Bynes and Hayden Panettiere have also auditioned for the lead female spot. Footloose is scheduled to hit theaters in July 2010.

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First Look: Daniel Day-Lewis and All His Women in Nine Trailer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Musicals, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

What would Daniel Day-Lewis do to get past his Academy Award-winning role as Daniel Plainview? He’d move on with a bevy of women.

In Nine, the There Will Be Blood star trades in the oil industry for a life behind the camera. Daniel plays Guido Contini, a Venice director who struggles to complete his film while handling all the women in his life. It’s a part that was once given to Javier Bardem.

Click to continue reading First Look: Daniel Day-Lewis and All His Women in Nine Trailer

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: May 5, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Independent, Musicals, Period, Romance, Comedy, Home Entertainment

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: DVD, Blu-ray
• Enchanted April: DVD
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Blu-ray
• Grease: Blu-ray
• It Could Happen to You: Blu-ray
• Last Chance Harvey: DVD, Blu-ray
• Roxanne: Blu-ray
• Saturday Night Fever: Blu-ray
• Twilight: Blu-ray
• Wendy and Lucy: DVD

Click here to see the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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Hayden Panettiere the New Heroine of Footloose?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Music, Musicals, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Rumor has it that Heroes cheerleader Hayden Panettiere has auditioned for the upcoming remake of Footloose, the project formerly dropped by Zac Efron (and possibly picked up by Chace Crawford).

An unnamed source says that Panettiere’s pipes left nothing to be desired when she bellowed out a tryout tune for the singing role in the flick. In case you didn’t know, the new Footloose movie is going Broadway - that means big musical numbers and all.

Hayden Panettiere has flexed her singing stylings in the past. She released “Wake Up Call,” in 2007 and has appeared on several soundtracks.

Chace Crawford, notably of Gossip Girl fame, isn’t officially on board with the movie, but the press has already given him the starring role. Neither Panettiere or Crawford’s rep was available for comment.

Read More | E! Online

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Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Drawn to Obsessed

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Musicals, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

It was a battle between two Dreamgirls stars at the box office this weekend.

After back-to-back roles in music-related dramas, Beyonce Knowles proved she could deliver without having to sing a note. Obsessed, a thriller produced for approximately $20 million, pulled in nearly $29 million for a 1st place finish. The film, also featuring two NBC stars (The Office’s Idris Elba and Heroes’ Ali Larter), more than doubled last week’s champ, 17 Again.

Meanwhile, an Academy Award winner and an Iron Man joined forces for a surprising fourth place finish. The Soloist, costarring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., didn’t even cross the $10 million mark. Although it was once considered as a pre-Oscars release, the film’s debut grossed less than last week’s nominee-filled entry, State of Play.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Drawn to Obsessed

Read More | Variety

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