On Gear Live: Samsung S95C: The OLED TV You Can’t Afford (to Ignore!)

Russell Brand Ready to Rock New Film

Russell BrandForgetting Russell Brand just isn’t possible anymore. When the British-born comedian hosted MTV’s VMAs in 2008, he was relatively unknown. Now, he’s cropping up in star-studded comedies and pulling in huge bucks at the box office. He’s playing himself in Hop, the biggest movie hit of the year, and next week he’ll lead Arthur to the theaters.

Now, we’re hearing Brand is returning to his movie roots: he’ll be playing a rock star in an upcoming film role. He played eccentric star Aldous Snow in both Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, to much success. Rumor says that Brand is negotiating a role in Rock of Ages, a big screen adaptation of the Broadway hit of the same name. The plot centers on a 1980s rock bar in LA owned by a washed-up rocker (Alec Baldwin). Happening star Stacee Jax (Tom Cruise) will headline a concert sponsored by the bar. Reportedly, Brand will play Lonny, the bar’s operator.

Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough are already attached to the film, a gossip says that Amy Adams is in talks for another role.

Read More | Huffington Post

Advertisement

Gypsy Remake Starring Barbra Streisand Canceled

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adaptation, Remakes, Casting, Celeb News,

Barbra StreisandBarbra Streisand will no longer be playing Rose in the planned Gypsy film remake -- the movie’s no longer getting made.

Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book that inspired the original 1959 Broadway musical, has withdrawn rights permission for the film. He maintains that Barbra Streisand had nothing to do with his decision, but he never liked the 1962 film version of the story in the first place.

Streisand’s rep hasn’t commented on the sudden change in plans.

Read More | LA Times

Cinema Scene: Newsies Heading to Broadway, August: Osage County Heading to Theaters

Julia Roberts-Oscar winners Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep may team up for August: Osage County, a big screen version of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Playwright Tracy Letts would adapt his own story for the Weinsten production.

-Meanwhile, a Broadway version of Newsies, a 1992 Disney musical starring Christian Bale, is being written by Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), Harvey Fierstein and Jack Feldman.

-Speaking of musicals, the cast of The Sound of Music will reunite later this month for the first time in 45 years. Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the kids will all appear October 29 on Oprah.

-Brenda Chapman has just been named the first female director in Pixar history. Brave, a movie she will also write, will be released in June 2012. Reese Witherspoon, Emma Thompson, and Julie Walters will all voice characters in the project.


Efron vs. Timberlake: Who’s Going to Memphis?

Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake

Forget that silly Team Edward vs. Team Jacob rivalry. The real question is “Are you Team Zac or Team Justin?”

That’s the unfortunate decision one studio may have to make if an adaptation of Memphis comes to fruition. The Broadway production could soon be headed to the big screen, and rumor has it and Justin Timberlake are both interested in the same role.

Click to continue reading Efron vs. Timberlake: Who’s Going to Memphis?

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Remake News: Fantastic Voyage, Harvey and More


Fantastic Voyage: James Cameron will serve as producer, not director, in the remake of Fantastic Voyage, a 1960s science fiction film. The story, about a group of colleagues who miniaturize themselves and their submarine to save a dying scientist from the inside, will incorporate technology used on Avatar. Shane Salerno (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) will handle the script.

Click to continue reading Remake News: Fantastic Voyage, Harvey and More


Zac Efron Thinks Action Role Could be Kiss of Death

Zac Efron has the body of an action star!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.”


And the Enron Movie is Born

Time Enron Cover has recently acquired the rights to Enron, a stage show written by Lucy Prebble. The production about the bankrupt energy company is currently playing to sold-out audiences at London’s Royal Court Theater. (The show is expected to hit Broadway in April.)

It can be assumed that if Sony’s spending money, they’re going to make the movie. Thanks to Prebble, they’ll have a script. To start production, this just leaves producer, director…and principle roles.

So, who could play chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, or chief exec/chairman Kenneth Lay? And let’s not forget the three potentially meaty female roles - whistleblowers (and Time‘s 2002 Persons of the Year) Cynthia Cooper, Coleen Rowley and Sherron Watkins.

Read More | Yahoo! News

Daniel Craig Joins Hugh Jackman on Broadway

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Celeb News,

Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig

Wolverine and 007 will be combining forces for a different kind of blockbuster this fall. That’s when and Daniel Craig will star in A Steady Rain, a Broadway play.

The Aussie and the Brit will have their acting chops put to the test in this production. The Keith Huff drama centers around two friends - and Chicago cops - who become involved in a domestic dispute.

Jackman, who won a Tony award in 2004, has not appeared on stage since his run in The Boy from Oz. Meanwhile, Craig, whose had theater experience in London, will be making his Broadway debut.

Read More | New York Post

Hayden Panettiere the New Heroine of Footloose?

Hayden PanettiereRumor has it that Heroes cheerleader Hayden Panettiere has auditioned for the upcoming remake of , 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.

, 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

Getting Into Character: Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine

Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine

Here’s a snapshot of Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis in , Rob Marshall’s (Chicago) latest contribution to the musical genre.

In the movie, Daniel plays a director (Guido Contini) who has to deal with the many women - a wife, a mistress, a deceased mother, a muse - in his life. The Broadway adaptation also features Nicole Kidman, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench and Sophia Loren in the supporting roles.

The Weinstein Company production is scheduled for release sometime in 2009.

Read More | Bauer-Griffin

Advertisement

{solspace:toolbar}