Dominique Strauss Kahn Movie: Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Adjani Apparently Aboard for brand new Film

A year ago, there have been two tales that sent tabloid headline authors to new levels: Dominique Strauss Kahn's sexual misconduct (who are able to forget such gems -- "gems" -- as "Frogs Legs It" and "Pepe Le Perp"?) and actor Gerard Depardieu urinating on plane (Gerard Desperatedieu and Anderson Cooper's giggle fit). Now it appears such as the two dogged Frenchmen is going to be linked beyond tres bad puns. Deadline reviews that Abel Ferrara ('Bad Lieutenant') is eying a task that will bring the Strauss Khan scandal towards the giant screen with Depardieu starring because the ex-IMF chief and Isabelle Adjani as his devoted femme. The project is tilted as "something inspired by Strauss-Kahn which will concentrate on addiction and political figures" as opposed to a play-by-play from the recent scandal, which saw Kahn charged with forcing expensive hotels maid to do dental sex on him against her will. For the restroom-challenged ami, he dodged specific confirmation from the film but he it appears he hopes to split up themself from his compatriot. "Generally, I am excellent at playing figures which i can't stand or individuals which i don't resemble," Depardieu stated. Place cheap shot about Depardieu not proficient at urinary control here. [via Deadline] [Photo: Getty/AFP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Help Movieline Caption The First Photo of Sylvester Stallone in Bullet to the Head

Sylvester Stallone may be the busiest aging action icon today (sorry Chuck Norris). In between adapting Rocky into German musical format and posing for photos on the set of Expendables 2, Sylvester Stallone just finished filming Bullet to the Head. The New Orleans-set action movie stars Sly as a musclebound hitman who teams up with a young NYPD detective (Sung Kang) to investigate a pair of murders and naturally, exact revenge on anyone who stands in their way. Fortunately for us, the first caption-worthy photo from Bullet to the Head has arrived. The photo depicts Stallone going axe-to-axe with a ponytailed enemy in an abandoned warehouse. You know the rules: Come up with a clever caption and try not to make any cheap shots about Stallone’s body. Let’s see you engage in staged axe warfare at the age of 65. Ready, set, caption! Walter Hill’s Bullet to the Head, which also stars Jason Momoa and Christian Slater, is due in theaters April 13. Axe to Axe! First Look at Sylvester Stallone in ‘Bullet to the Head’ [/Film]

New Hunger Games Poster: Beyond Hungerdome

Finally, a Hunger Games poster that reminds us of the carnage and calamity that made the books so addictive. Here, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) stands before a packed stadium while her adversary Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) image flies above the crowd. Yes, this is the poster that Lionsgate asked Twitter uses to assemble from jigsaw clues — and it appears that @johnshoward is the one who pulled through. Pretty epic thunderdome. Katniss and Peeta are the new 2pac and Dre. I tossed back Suzanne Collins’s books like buckets of popcorn, and I wish this damn movie would arrive so I could apply my binge disorder to it in a similar fashion. Now we’re talking about the kind of “hunger games” I live every day. Square me off against Karen Carpenter and Tracey Gold - those broads don’t have a chance! And of course, Lawrence is giving us all the Katniss cred I need here. Let’s not forget that her casting in The Hunger Games might be the match of the year. And that Lenny Kravitz’s casting as Cinna is… still pretty weird. ‘Hunger Games’ Poster [Hunger Games @ Facebook]

'Prometheus' Poster Promises Mystery, 'John Carter' Promises Action

The very first two "Alien" movies are sci-fi classics, so you will find that all of us wanted Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" to become related in some manner. Indeed, it's -- you will find "strands of DNA" going swimming within the film that'll emerge next summer time, although not anything else. That appears okay in line with the first official poster, you will see enough mysterious sci-fi goings on without comprising the dense "Alien" world. Take a look at that poster (in addition to a new "John Carter" poster) following the jump! There isn't much to determine aside from the outline of the explorer laid against a huge mind, however it perfectly sets a dark tone for adventuring within the deepness of space. The cast is sneaky packed with stars, too -- Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace and Charlize Theron, simply to title a couple of. We can not watch for next June to determine the way it all plays out. However, the brand new "John Carter" IMAX poster inhabits one mood: intense. There's Taylor Kitsch chained up in certain gladiator pit, running from two yeti/hippopotamus hybrid cars having a panicked look on his face. Maybe he's recognizing the chain is simply too short, or that with no key "of Mars" subtitle, nobody knows what this movie's likely to be about aside from a couple of things: Taylor Kitsch and yeti/hippopotamus hybrid cars. (All due respect, "John Carter" may be the title of the imaginary senior high school basketball coach who trained his team how you can respect itself, or perhaps a biopic concerning the guy who invented eyeglasses. Alas, that's the way the marketing game goes!) Inform us that which you think about the brand new posters within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Some Enthusiasts (Old Globe)

'Some Lovers'Credits: A Classic Globe presentation of the musical in a single act with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Burt Bacharach. Directed by Will Frears. Musical staging, Denis Johnson. Music supervisor, Lon Hoyt. Orchestrations, Jonathan Tunick. Vocal design, Annmarie Milazzo. Ben - Jason Danieley Molly - Michelle Duffy Youthful Ben - Andrew Mueller Youthful Molly - Jenni Barber"Some Enthusiasts," the brand new Burt Bacharach-Steven Sater vestpocket tuner, got its inspiration in the dual irony of O. Henry's "Gift from the Magi": Husband sells watch to purchase wife hair combs, while wife sells tresses to purchase spouse watchfob. There's irony in the Old Globe, too, for the reason that octogenarian composer Bacharach brings youthful quality towards the project, as the youthful man's work (Sater authored "Spring Awakening") is lifeless and dull. The show has some sparkle, but it is a meandering romance. Blocked, heavy-consuming tunesmith Ben (Jason Danieley) uses Christmas Eve being an chance to try to reunite with ex-g.f. and muse Molly (Michelle Duffy). Maybe they have both caught the Gotham revival of "Follies," simply because they conjure their more youthful selves (Andrew Mueller and Jenni Barber) to visit lower a musical memory lane and straighten out what went awry. The cast is sensational. Danieley and Duffy are confident pros to whom, within an earlier theatrical era, original musicals would have occurred every season. The children match them step for part of charisma and brio. Bacharach -- in the first stage tuner since "Promises, Promises" in (will it be?) 1968 -- provides sweet, soaring tunes for past and offer incarnations of the mismatched pair, while eschewing his once-signature tricky time signatures (naturally, because the figures are extremely square). However the writing! "Some Enthusiasts" plays as an extended bout of couples therapy, where the participants sing around their problems while never exactly interacting anything germane or interesting. As close to it's possible to write out, NYU business major Molly falls deeply in love with Ben due to his capability to write fine tunes she inspires. But she will get pissed off when his creative mania causes him to overlook visits and obtain distracted on the vacation. Does she esteem his gift -- his "ghost," she grimly calls it -- or does not she? He begins turning out hits once he shacks up by having an un named singer. It's strictly professional, but Molly quickly demands he give "that girl" up, after which his career falls apart. Then she keeps nattering he should obtain a "real job," marry her and provide her an infant. In a nutshell, a larger portrait of the jealous, controlling, castrating harpy is difficult to assume. Sater sways on strained parallels using the O. Henry story rather than grounding the figures in specificity. When Molly provides a very pointed laugh line concerning the Nativity Magi, you are able to literally begin to see the audience awaken from its torpor. Meanwhile, his lyrics wallow in past tense expressions of generic pop sentiment, the near-rhyming of "Spring Awakening" absolutely unnatural among precise thinkers like Ben and Molly. (At some point Sater really rhymes "summer time/other/lover" right consecutively. Paging Hal David.) Helmer Will Frears and musical stager Denis Johnson can perform little with this particular material except possess the cast saunter round the arena stage. Inside a final irony, Takeshi Kata's untidy set is really as cluttered with naturalistic detail as Sater's script is bereft from it.Models, Takeshi Kata costumes, Jenny Mannis lighting, Ben Stanton seem, Leon Rothenberg. Opened up 12 ,. 7, 2011. Examined 12 ,. 13. Running time: 95 MIN. Musical Amounts: "Molly," "Aren't We?" "Some Enthusiasts," "Aren't We?/Another Start," "Love Me to have an Hour," "Coping With a Ghost," "Popular for you personally,Inch "Window Shoppin' and Dreamin' Dreams," "The Only Real Music I Realize,Inch "The Lady Who Sang My Tunes," "Hold Me," "A 1000 Stuff That Had You Been,Inch "Thanks for visiting My World," "Prepared to Be Achieved Along With YouOrA 1000 Stuff That Had You Been (Reprise)," "Almost Every Other Hour," "Just Leave,Inch "This Christmas," "Hush," "This Christmas" (Finale). Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

George Clooney States Aloha To MTV's #9 Movie Of 2011

I confess I am not the greatest fan of "The Descendants." But clearly I am within the minority. For just one, the film is really a near lock to nab Oscar nominations for the best Picture, Best Actor (George Clooney) and finest Director (Alexander Payne), and may leave with wins for those three if Academy voters sour on "The Artist." Two, I do not think I have heard crying like this inside a theater since "Schindler's List," or possibly "Jack and Jill." And three, "Descendants" arrived within the #9 place in MTV's Better of 2011 Movies list. My knock from the movie is squarely with Clooney's Matt King, an egocentric, workaholic, absentee father who all of a sudden finds out he loves his after she suffers a catastrophic brain injuries and will die. In my experience, that isn't genuine it's self-delusional and merely loathsome. It would be one factor when the movie designed a reason for exploring King's egotism. Rather, he's organized like a hero, a blameless good guy, even while is constantly on the put his needs ahead indeed, in position of individuals of his family members. Let's suppose this movie were advised in the wife's perspective, and it is this tragedy where she's inside a loveless marriage having a guy who's an overall total d--k, and all of a sudden she falls deeply in love with another guy and begins fantasizing of some other existence for herself but eventually ends up falling into coma. Identical story, and King's the villain. In Payne's telling, I never really buy King's grief. It feels forced, inauthentic. An infinitely more sincere analysis of grief happens in Cameron Crowe's "We Purchased a Zoo," the storyline of 1 family spinning in the dying from the mother. Matt Damon provides a heartbreaking performance like a father attempting to breathe new existence into his deflated kids' lives. It is a tale that might be cheesy in almost anybody else's hands apart from Crowe's. "Zoo," though, is not really invoice discounting in to the honours conversation. Yet that's also what is so enjoyable about these finish-of-the-year debates: no a person's likely to agree with everything, so when wise, informed people get together to go over movies, you finish up searching at films with fresh insight. This is the hope, a minimum of. And i believe we nailed it within our roundtable. Take a look on your own on Friday at 4:30 p.m., once we live stream our debate concerning the top 5 movies of 2011 at MTV Movies and NextMovie. Related: #10 Movie of the season: "Attack the Block" All of this week, watch "AMTV" on MTV every single day at 8 a.m. ET for the Better of 2011 lists. Then, arrived at MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. once we reveal our top chioces of the season!

Camilla Hammer Named New Shine Intl CEO

LONDON, December 14th 2011 Shine Group today announced the appointment of Modern Times Group (MTG) executive Camilla Hammer to CEO of its sales and distribution division Shine International. The appointment follows the recent relocation of Shine International from LA to London, where Hammer will be based and lead an international team of 42. In her new role, she will be responsible for the exploitation of worldwide intellectual property rights from both the Shine Group and independent producers and networks through formats and tape sales. Reporting to Shine Group President Alex Mahon, she will commence her new role in early 2012. Camilla Hammer is joining Shine Group from Modern Times Group (MTG) where she was SVP Acquisitions. During her 12 years with MTG, Hammer has held a variety of positions including COO of Emerging Markets, CEO of Hungary, Head of Pay TV & 3rd Party Channels. In her recent role as SVP Acquisitions, Camilla was responsible for managing acquisitions for all MTGs pay and free TV linear channels & on demand business, and also their recent co-finance ventures and channel partnerships. Hammers is the latest, and most senior, appointment in a reconfigured Shine International. Recent newly created positions have included former MTV executive Matthew Ashcroft joining as the companys first SVP, Asia Pacific, former ITV Global executive Noel Hedges, as SVP, Acquisitions and Jan Rowland who has joined as Head of Business and Legal Affairs for both Shine International and Shine 360.

Stephen Daldry on 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'

Stephen Daldry on 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'Stephen Daldry does not believe any books are "unadaptable," and as proof, he tackled bigscreen versions of "The Hours" and "The Reader" before turning his attention to Jonathan Safran Foer's intricate post-9/11 tale."People said those books were unadaptable as well -- particularly 'The Hours,'?" he says. "The great thing about Jonathan's book is that it has an incredible emotional charge."To translate Foer's 368-page tome to a different medium, Daldry kept novelist involved with screenwriter Eric Roth's various drafts of the story, which follows Oskar Schell (played by newcomer Thomas Horn) as he struggles with the death of his father (Tom Hanks) in the attacks on the World Trade Center."I come from the theater, so I really enjoy keeping my writers as close as I possibly can, and both of them were involved right through to the final editing stages," he says.For this lover of literary adaptations, the greatest challenge came from finding the right child to portray Oskar -- the clever, curious and grief-stricken heart of the film. Daldry auditioned experienced child actors and unknowns in London and the U.S. before settling on Horn, whose only experience on camera was his winning stint on the Kids Week edition of the gameshow "Jeopardy!""He came with a huge amount of intelligence and emotional life, which was untrained but intuitive," the director says.Daldry, a three-time Oscar nominee, knows his filming and post-production schedule has left "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" off some critics' top-10 lists. But Daldry says he wasn't willing to sacrifice any portion of the film, which took seven months to shoot, just to fit groups' deadlines."I'm sorry that critics didn't get to see it in time, but I literally finished the final mix at 6 a.m. this morning," he said during a Dec. 1 interview with Variety. "You have to make a choice about whether you're going to compromise the film to make deadlines or finish it the best way you know how."EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE DIRECTOR Helmers hot to globe trotWoody Allen | Stephen Daldry | David Fincher | Michel Hazanavicius | Terrence Malick | Bennett Miller | Alexander Payne | Jason Reitman | Martin Scorsese | Steven SpielbergIn the Mix Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Saoirse Ronan boards 'How I Live Now'

Ronan"Hanna" star Saoirse Ronan is positioned to topline Kevin Macdonald's "The Way In Which I Live Now," an indie drama using the 2004 novel by Meg Rosoff.Ronan may have Daisy, a teenage girl from NY City who travels to England to take a position the summer season with family inside the British countryside. When World War Ii breaks out and insurgents invade, Daisy together with a far more youthful girl named Piper must survive alone inside the forest simply because they try making it to safety.Jeremy Brock (Macdonald's "The Ultimate King of Scotland") and Tony Grisoni written the script. Film 4 is creating the pic with Charles Steel and Alasdair Flind of Cowboy Films.Ronan is presently filming Neil Jordan's "Byzantium" and may next be seen opposite Alexis Bledel in Geoffrey Fletcher's teen assassin pic "Crimson & Daisy." Irish thesp may also be set to topline Andrew Niccol's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's youthful adult novel "The Host."Ronan is repped by CAA and Macfarlane Chard. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

'Boardwalk' draws 3 million for season finale

The second-season finale of "Boardwalk Empire" drew 3 million viewers Sunday night, on par with the first-season closer. HBO skein also drew 834,000 for a repeat showing later in the evening to bring the total to 3.8 million. Pay cabler has renewed the Atlantic City-set Prohibition drama for a third season and the Terrence Winter-created skein looks to be a longtime player for HBO. At 10 p.m. immediately following "Boardwalk Empire" was a sneak preview of the David Milch-written horseracing drama "Luck." Set at Santa Anita Park and starring, among many, Dustin Hoffman, Denis Farina and John Ortiz, the pilot garnered 1.1 million. The official regular season begins Jan. 29. The 1.1 million was below the 3 million who tuned in to see the season finale of Milch's last show for HBO, "John From Cincinnati," but that series had the benefit of series-ending episode of "The Sopranos" when it debuted in 2007. Sunday was a busy night for other cablers as well. A&E offered two hours of the Stephen King miniseries "Bag of Bones," which brought in 3.3 million viewers. Showtime ran the penultimate episodes of the season for both "Dexter" (1.9 million) and "Homeland" (1.3 million). Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Kenneth Branagh on Playing Laurence Olivier in 'My Week with Marilyn' (Audio)

Stephen Lovekin/Getty ImagesBen Kingsley Ben Kingsley is at predicts join the cast of Ender's Game, Odd Lot's sci-fi film adaptation in the novel by Orson Scott Card.our editor recommendsHailee Steinfeld Joins Cast of Summit's 'Ender's Game'Talent Managers Sue Author Orson Scott Card Over 'Ender's Game' Commissions (Exclusive)'Ender's Game' Lands at Summit Hugo actor Asa Butterfield is starring inside the pic (Hailee Steinfeld is at discussions to participate it), occur the following where the Earth is under attack by aninsect-like race and mankind has created a battle school to teach fightingforces. In this particular atmosphere gets into Ender Wiggin (Butterfield), a kid who's tormented bybullies plus an older brother but works out to become a specialist at athree-dimensional, zero-gravity laser tag-like game. That sets him on apath as an deliverer in the people Kingsley may have popular war hero presumed being extended dead. Gavin Hood (X-Males Roots: Wolverine) is pointing in addition to written the script. Alex Kurtzmanand Roberto Orci are coming up with along with Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough ofOddLot Entertainment. Card and Lynn Hendee may also be creating. A February production start date continues to be penciled in. Summit might be the domestic distributor which is co-financing. Digital Domain is yet another financial partner inside the movie. Kingsley, repped by CAA, Jackoway Tyerman and Independent Talent inside the Uk, is seen representing cinema pioneer George Melies in Martin Scorsese's Hugo opposite Butterfield. Email: Borys.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Ben Kingsley Hailee Steinfeld Ender's Game Hugo

The X Factor's Astro: "I am Destined To Be Worldwide!"

Astro After his elimination in the X Factor on December 1, 15-year-old Brooklyn rapper John Bradley, also known as Astro, stopped by TV Guide Magazine's office to talk about his performances throughout your competition, advice he'll remember in the idol judges, and the plans for future years. TV Guide Magazine: That which was the good thing to be around the X Factor?Astro: The good thing from the experience was essentially having the ability to perform before huge numbers of people every week at this type of youthful age. And essentially having the ability to perform before four great people in the industry, which was great. It is something that many my buddies that are attempting to enter the background music business would only imagine, carrying out before Paula [Abdul], L.A. [Reid], Nicole [Scherzinger] and Simon [Cowell]. Which was awesome. TV Guide Magazine: You authored lots of original lyrics to tunes you carried out. That which was the procedure as with your mentor, L.A. Reid?Astro: When they did not allow me to rewrite the tunes i quickly would have dropped out a very long time ago. Essentially I needed to fight for your right a bit to have the ability to rewrite the tunes, however it exercised during my favor. And L.A., he understood me a lot more than the majority of the other idol judges, than the many other idol judges, really. He allow me to write my stuff, he allow me to be me, and that i respected that. We selected all of the tunes together. Some days we'd sit inside a room and choose a song. Other days he'd possess the song ready and I'd just write it. Lots of occasions he'd request for changes, I'd change my verses a couple of occasions however it arrived on the scene great every time and so i did not have trouble. TV Guide Magazine: Was the entire experience that which you expected so that it is?Astro: It had been a lot more than things i expected so that it is because to tell the truth I figured they would say you cannot write your personal stuff, you need to recite the lyrics like everybody else. The truth that they permitted me to create my very own music, I appreciate that many. I did not expect so that it is like this whatsoever. I wasn't going to test for X Factor. I wasn't trying to stay in a tournament. My mother convinced me to audition for that X Factor. And That I just stated, 'O.K., allow me to see how it is about. $5 million? May as well try'. I used also it exercised. I acquired through top seven from 200,000 so I am proud. TV Guide Magazine: That which was your most difficult performance?Astro: The toughest song was most likely Michael Jackson's "Black and Whitened." It's this type of effective song that you won't want to finish up saying the incorrect factor inside a song like this. It required me, like, each day . 5 to complete the song completely. TV Guide Magazine: And also the simplest?Astro: The simplest was "Jump." Essentially I wasn't rapping about anything, should you participate in it. I had been just doing exactly what a normal, 2011, modern-day rapper does: rapping about nothing. It had been just me getting fun. Which was the initial one Used to do. TV Guide Magazine: How has this complete experience affected you?Astro: Now we all know that individuals are watching. Diddy tweeted me after i did the "Missing You" song, which was crazy. It feels amazing now because I have been doing music since a very long time ago. I am the kind of dude that'll create a song and will also be one of my favorite tunes and I am like, dang, no one's even listening. I have only got 4,000 fans. I'd just get mad. I wouldn't even wish to place the song up, it is a waste. Now after i put an audio lesson up, I have get 150,000 fans, now basically publish an audio lesson on Twitter I'll get like 10,000 downloads, a minimum of. And So I know individuals are really listening now, therefore it feels far better that individuals are really realizing who I'm, rather than just seeing some kid from Brooklyn. TV Guide Magazine: Any advice in the idol judges that you will remember?Astro: L.A. stated, 'Never let Them help you sweat.' Essentially never let anybody see what will get you mad because that's the way they learn how to annoy you and also just pick to you and merely enable you to get angry. And So I just attempt to stay just a little calmer now due to that. TV Guide Magazine: What exactly are your plans for future years?Astro: I intend to release as much music when i can. Movies, I ought to be focusing on a cartoon, reality show, everything. Everything I possibly could do, just like a clothing line, like several things have been in the whole shebang. I intend on just carrying out everywhere. I am destined to be worldwide! -Sydney Bucksbaum Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Rachel Weisz Joins The Railway Guy

She's on for your Colin Firth dramaColin Firth already has the benefit of a compelling story for his next film, The Railway Guy, now he's reaping helpful benefits from superb acting offer the same shape as Rachel Weisz.Jonathan Teplitzky is pointing the particular-existence tale of World War Ii veteran Eric Lomax. Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson have modified Lomax's eponymous autobiography, which charts his capture and torture with the Japanese military and also the forced target the well-known "dying railway" using what was once known to as Burma.War Horse's Jeremy Irvine remains cast since the youthful Lomax, and Weisz may have the older version's wife, Patti. While earlier reviews had Lomax going after his captors to have the ability to get some good vengeful closure, Variety now more precisely reviews he really makes peace along with his former torturers while using support of his wife.Teplitzky will begin shooting next February australia wide. Weisz was last noticed in Dream House (though she probably desires to forget that) and may next be viewed in Terrence Malick's latest, still-untitled project as well as the Bourne Legacy. She has been busy concentrating on Oz, The Fantastic And Effective.

Piers Morgan to Be Called to Leveson Inquiry to Explain Comments on Phone Hacking

Warner Home Video's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 remained the top-selling DVD and Blu-ray Disc for the second consecutive week, topping both the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert overall sales chart and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.our editor recommends'Harry Potter' Films Dominate Home Video Chart Thanks to 'Deathly Hallows Part 2' Release'Harry Potter' And Blu-Ray Boom Keeps German Video Market Steady A trio of Walt Disney Studios titles took the next three spots on the overall sales chart for the week ending Nov. 11, as the holiday gift-buying season shifted into high gear with various Disney-themed promotions at top retailers, including Target stores. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides shot back up to No. 2 from No. 12 after five weeks in stores. The Lion King, in its seventh week in stores, shot to No. 3 from No. 19 the previous week. And Cars 2, the newest release of the bunch, remained in the top 5, slipping to No. 4 from No. 2. PHOTOS: 'Harry Potter' London Red Carpet On Nielsen's Blu-ray Disc chart, it was Potter-mania all the way, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I moving up a notch to No. 2 and the complete eight-film collection rising to No. 3 from No. 8 the previous week. On Home Media Magazine's weekly rental chart, Pirates shot to No. 1 from No. 86 now that its 28-day holdback from Netflix and Redbox is over. The No. 2 spot went to Warner's Horrible Bosses, which bumped Sony Pictures' to No. 3. The previous week's top renter, Paramount's Captain America: The First Avenger, slipped to No. 5, right behind Cars 2, which moved up two spots to No. 4. Related Topics Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Dancing's Derek, Jerry O'Connell, Josh Groban to Guest-Host Live!

Jerry OConnell, Josh Groban Jerry O'Connell and Josh Groban are returning to reside in! With Kelly to guest-host opposite Kelly Ripa. O'Connell is slated to appear on Friday, November. 25, while Groban can look for multiple days beginning 12 ,. 7. In addition, Dancing while using Stars' Derek Hough and Jonah Hill could make their co-hosting debuts on Monday, 12 ,. 5 and Tuesday, 12 ,. 6, correspondingly. . 8 possible competitors to switch Regis Philbin on Live! An enduring alternative for Regis Philbin has not been named, but Ryan Seacrest, Andy Cohen and Mark Consuelos - Ripa's husband - are apparently the most effective three candidates. Regis Philbin announces final day on Live For the time being, Ripa will probably be grew to become part of having a slew of guest hosts, including Jerry Seinfeld, who was simply the initial after Philbin left, The Way In Which I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris, Sex as well as the City's Kim Cattrall, comedian Howie Mandel, chef Jamie Oliver and Miss Piggy. Who you think should replace Philbin?

Hallmark greenlights 'Crew Nine'

Hallmark Hall of Fame has greenlit "Crew Nine," a drama starring Cuba Gooding Junior. just like a youth counselor who inspires troubled kids. Pic will probably be helmed by Darnell Martin ("Cadillac Records"), in the script by Ligiah Apartment-lobos ("Beneath the Same Moon"). Project will be the third Hallmark telepic to air on ABC beneath the certification deal the web signed taken after CBS declined to resume the franchise. The initial title in the future under that deal, "Mitch Albom's Have a very Little Belief," airs Sunday. "Crew Nine" involves a counselor inside a youth detention facility who trains kids to battle forest fires and conserve the public throughout other problems. Production begins this month in Atlanta. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

NBC Gives Full-Season Order To Grimm, Provides It With Thursday 10 PM Tryout

Carrying out a 2-script pickup a week ago, NBC has given new drama series Grimm a complete-season pickup having a Back 9 order. The move uses the rookie published single.6 adult 18-49 rating earlier this Friday, despite the prior week to prevent the show’s publish-premiere slide. Furthermore, NBC, which elected to help keep Grimm in the original low-trafficked Friday 9 PM slot around the lately launched midseason schedule, is giving the fairytale procedural a tryout within the Thursday 10 PM slot. A brand new Grimm episode will air on Thursday 12 ,. 8, then another original within the series’ regular Friday 9 PM berth the next evening. These acer notebooks turning the standard procedural drama on its mind and it is bringing in a loyal following for all of us on Friday nights,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt stated. “We love where its going artistically and were excited to provide more episodes to the audience. Grimm exceeded anticipation using its debut, which published a couple.1 demo rating on Friday airing against Game 7 around the globe Series. Season-to-date, it's averaged a couple.3/7 in grown ups 18-49 and 6.9 million audiences overall in “most current” earnings and it has enhanced NBC’s Friday 9 PM period of time by 50% in grown ups 18-49 versus. this past year in “live+24 hour.” Grimm also offers proven a large Digital recording device draw, growing 47% in 18-49 in Live+7, a lot more than any new drama this fall. It is the only real newcomer NBC drama to obtain a full-season order, joining comedies Up Through The Night and Whitney. Inspired through the classic Grimms Favorite Anecdotes, Grimm focuses on Tigard homicide Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) who finds out he's descended from a top-notch type of criminal profilers referred to as Grimms, billed with keeping balance between humanity and also the mythological animals around the globe.Grimm is created by Universal Television with Hazy Mills Prods. and GK Prods. It had been produced byStephen Contractor, David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf, Naren Shankar and Norberto Barba would be the executive producers.

Herzog, James Among the Snubs on Academy's 2011 Oscar Documentary Short List

Another year, another ruthless paring down of the Oscar-caliber documentary feature crop, with the acclaimed likes of Werner Herzog’s Into the Abyss, Steve James’s The Interrupters, Asif Kapadia’s Senna and others falling by the wayside as the Academy whittled its 125 submissions to 15 shortlist contenders. And honestly, this is a list I can live with. I wasn’t crazy about Abyss and would have been more than a little frustrated to think that might finally be the film for which the Academy recognizes Herzog. Senna and The Interrupters (and, to a lesser degree, the batshit Errol Morris trifle Tabloid) got jobbed, no doubt, but when you realize that the Oscar is Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory’s to lose anyway, the bitterness abates and you just tip your cap and content yourself to watch the rest of the game from the home-video sidelines. That said: Big ups to If a Tree Falls, Bill Cunningham NY” and Pina“:http://www.movieline.com/2011/02/berlinale-dispatch-wim-wenders-takes-his-place-in-the-3-d-vanguard.php (above), a few Movieline favorites the crew here wouldn’t mind seeing advance to the Big Show. Here are your final 15, via AMPAS; check back here Jan. 24 for the final nominees in this and the rest of the Oscar categories. Battle for Brooklyn Bill Cunningham NY Buck Hell and Back Again If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front Jane’s Journey The Loving Story Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Pina Project Nim Semper Fi: Always Faithful Sing Your Song Undefeated Under Fire: Journalists in Combat We Were Here Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Web Series Company company directors Prove a sizable Finances Are not required to create Quality Independent TV

Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger, "Distribution Only" The theater community has recognized Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger's actor-centric Web series "Distribution Only," and guest stars Kristin Chenoweth, Rachel Dratch, and Chita Rivera are simply the oncoming of show's A-list talent. But despite their fame, these stars still use Wetherhead and Keenan-Bolger for advice."That which you know already inside a certain point people stop trying to find direction, also it really isn't the problem,Inch states Keenan-Bolger, who created, directs, appears in, and produces the show with Wetherhead. "You type of more expensive that. Us giving direction to individuals absurd Tony individuals who win is certainly type of mind-coming."The show's high-profile guest stars also exemplify the tight-knit character in the theater world, as Wetherhead and Keenan-Bolger filled all the roles with pals and acquaintances. Ironically for just about any show about who audition, the designers haven't auditioned anybody. "We undergo our mutual pals on Facebook," Keenan-Bolger states of techniques they cast the first season. "The earth needed to see how gifted a couple of of those everybody was.InchFor that second season, which airs exclusively on BroadwayWorld.com, the duo asked for a close casting director for help. Formally the show does not have casting directoraside within the imaginary ones round the series.However, casting company company directors, company company directors, and authors have showed up at to they to have an chance being around the program. "In my opinion it's funny that that is the acting chance they require,In . states Wetherhead, who also stars as lower-on-her-luck actor Cent Reilly. However, you won't see these creatives playing themselves. "That's our rules," Wetherhead describes. "For those who aren't any actor and you are simply around the program, you can't play everything you do."No casting director is attached to the series at this time around around. Email submissionsonly@yahoo.com to request about casting options. Ned Ehrbar, "Co-op in the Damned" It's dangerous being an actress sometimes. "Our stars accidentally consumed fake blood stream," states Ned Ehrbar, creator, author, and director of "Co-op in the Damned," a sketch comedy Web series of a haunted apartment building. "One was handcuffed with a chair which we're able to not uncover the important thing.InchThe series just completed shooting its five-episode second season, as well as the creative team is talking to websites about hosting it. Ehrbar shoots the show episodically and relies on a casting director to keep the eye in new figures. Casting director Jonathan Groce also shown helpful when Ehrbar required to request stars to appear nudea tricky situation, particularly for any minimal-budget Web series. "You're just very up-front and sincere and apparent," Ehrbar states, "and don't pull the rug from under them anytime through the discussions."Although Ehrbar produces the show, it is dependent on improvisation, a skill he looks for in many his stars. "I write type of a very fundamental description of what will happen, so the actor fills in lots of the blanks," he describes.To stay on the right track, Ehrbar storyboards every episode. "We proceed and take individual sections and employ them a sizable board somewhere on set," according to him. "We tear them off after we finish them. As extended after we have so now, then other activities that anybody appears with is fantastic."To get hold of Jonathan Groce, the casting director of "Co-op in the Damned," email jgroce724@gmail.com or mail distribution to 805 N. Dillon St., L.A., CA 90026. Sean Becker, "The Guild" "The Guild," created by and starring Felicia Day, might be the poster child for effective Web series, but director Sean Becker retains plenty of rivals. "Our competition is not just other Web series but furthermore viral videos online,Inch according to him. "With sites like Hulu and Netflix, now we're rivaling actual TV and actual film."Typically the most popular showits YouTube funnel has greater than 300,000 subscriberschronicles the escapades of countless online gamers, and Becker, who won this year's Streamy Award for comedy pointing, remains while using series since Season 2. After five effective seasons together with a partnership with Microsoft, the show gets the luxury from the production crew, which supplies it a hostile edge.Despite its success, however, "The Guild" is restricted with a tight budget. The designers have only about 14 days to shoot a 12-episode season that's eight to 11 pages every day. "In the pointing perspective, I must shoot episodically, because then you are able to focus on that single moment," Becker states, adding he shoots the show while he would a component film. "But that's improper.InchYou will discover no testing days just before the shoot, and many types of the additional supplies use free. Fortunately, fans in the show are not appearing inside your ideas. "They have really created their unique group referred to as Guild of additional supplies," states Becker. "They've glued being fans in the show and sitting on set while 'The Guild' has been manufactured.InchThe casting director of "The Guild" is Helen Geier. No information was ship to this informative article. Scott Brown, "Asylum" Scott Brown lies to his stars. Well, not technically. The director of "Asylum" keeps the show's mysteries alive by hiding plot points within the stars, therefore creating an even more truthful reaction included. "Because the actor doesn't know, it causes this interesting need to uncover inside their character," he describes.Pointing a mental drama was something from the mystery for Brown themselves. Just like a author and director focusing in comedy, he met "Asylum" creator Serta Williams once they were studying screenwriting together within the College of La. Brown needed the opportunity to direct drama as a way of challenging themselves and growing becoming an artist.But drama can be a challenge for the next reason too. "If people go to the Web, they have a few minutes and they wish to laugh," Brown states. "It's challenging a five-minute fix of drama.""Asylum" recently became a member of with Wager.com for your show's second season together with a larger platform to help provide authenticity. "We attempt to develop an audience who's willing to produce a persistence for the arc of all the episodes," Brown states. "Drama is a good storytelling medium, and there's an area with this on the internet.In . While Wager acquired "Asylum" becoming an exclusive Web series, no casting director is attached to the series at this time around around. Creator Serta Williams could be acquired for queries at serta_williams@mac.com.

Prepare County: Film Review

NY -- Author-director David Pomes trains an unblinking gaze around the scourge of very meth affecting rural America within the harsh indie drama Prepare County. Although it was completed before Winter's Bone, Pomes' first feature suffers in comparison using the robust literary backbone and strongly driven central character of this Sundance discovery. Nevertheless its raw performances and dirty-realist immersion inside a harsh atmosphere keep Prepare County engrossing. Primary setting is deep within the forest of East Texas, where 17-year-old Abe (Ryan Donowho) lives together with his permanently fried, meth-dealing Uncle Bump (Anson Mount, seen recently in AMC's Hell on Wheels) and the even-further-gone grandfather (Tommy Townsend), whose lucid moments appear like ancient history. Their isolated home is dilapidated and also the kitchen no more fit to cook not meth. But Bump is really a self-aggrandizing blowhard who perceives themself as Paul Revere, heroically delivering truth to folks. Regardless of that his 6-year-old daughter, Deandra (Mekenna Fitzsimmons), is certainly going hungry and being uncovered to some constant parade of human crud. While Abe has previously loved the oblivion his uncle's freely shared rock can offer, the boy's protectiveness toward Deandra causes friction together. That rift expands when Abe's father Sonny (Xander Berkeley) returns from the prison stint, going to stay clean, and also to repair his relationship together with his boy. The storyline is just one of almost unwavering blight, with Bump growing more menacing as his drug-fueled existence becomes threatened. Pomes brings sharp observational abilities towards the erratic behavior of addicts in moments for example Bump and the flaky girlfriend (Polly Cole) losing the thread while considering vacation to Las vegas to got married. Frequently seen through Abe's eyes because he watches in the door towards the kids' bed room, the meth parties are specifically vivid within their toxic sleaze. Shooting in textured Super 16mm, Kaira Hurrying uses handheld camera in most but a number of Houston interludes, contributing to the jitteriness of the atmosphere pregnant with paranoia and being applied violence. Pomes endows the film having a tangible feeling of place, heightening the contrast between your quiet woodsy locations and also the claustrophobic squalor of Bump's home. And also the soured flavor of small-town existence is taken in uneasy moments by which Abe or Bump's other flunkies are delivered to the shop to cook supplies. The cast is solid. Donowho balances anger and vulnerability. Berkeley keeps Sonny's agenda sufficiently clouded to keep tension. And Mount's sinewy Bump is chillingly persuasive like a guy whose only loyalty would be to his addiction, even when the performance isn't without hints of actorish self-indulgence. The storyline's ugly climactic developments most likely represent credible options of these figures, however they push a previously bruising film into much more sordid territory. Regardless of the final glimmers of hope and deliverance, you question who the crowd for this is. That question may also explain why, following a string of prize-winning festival showings in 2008, the film has had such a long time to achieve theaters. Opens: 12 ,. 16 (Hannover House) Production companies: Greenwood Films, Red-colored Noses Productions Cast: Anson Mount, Xander Berkeley, Ryan Donowho, Polly Prepare, Rutherford Craven, Mekenna Fitzsimmons, Tommy Townsend Director/film writer: David Pomes Producers: David Pomes, Thomas Bickham, Anson Mount, Xander Berkeley, Ryan Donowho, Emily Gerson Saines Executive producers: Fishing rod Lurie, Michael Whalen, Rigo Fernandez Director of photography: Kaira Hurrying Production designer: James Fowler Costume designer: Mirin Soliz Music: Scott Szabo Editor: Branan Edgens Ranked R, 93 minutes Xander Berkeley

Lego Can Be A Go

Warners greenlights the toy-based picSlowly clicking into position since Warner Bros. nabbed the rights to produce a film within the plastic stuff in 2008, the Lego movie is becoming developing a move towards production, while using studio setting a difficult 2014 release.Cloudy Getting Possible Of Meatballs co-company company directors Phil Our god and Chris Burns continue being attached, getting re-written the script initially drafted by Serta and Kevin Hagerman. And they've got a completely new recruit aboard to help while using directorial workload: Chris McKay, who's usually found getting figures to existence on Robot Chicken.You will discover still no solid particulars in regards to the plot available, nevertheless the film will apparently comprise 80% animation with live action stars, and also the mission for that humans is scheduled to start within the month of the month of january. Nevertheless the studio already features its own eye around the 'toon team to deal with plastic fantasy elements: Australian company Animal Logic, best renowned for their Oscar-gathering concentrate on Happy Foot (now its follow-up) is aboard. Their presence means the film scores some handy rules came from here.No matter the stiff cloak of secrecy, Our god spoken somewhat in regards to the concept a year ago, explaining the concept is always to craft a global in the knobbly plastic bricks, with anything else from water to explosions produced in the stuff. More details must start to leak as casting can get on-going and carrying out a news conference searching for inside a couple of days in Nsw.Our god and Burns will get moving on making the main one factor after they have put the finishing touches for his or her live-action debut, 21 Jump Street, that's out here on March 16, 2012.

Universal orders 'Asteroids' rewrite

Universal Pictures is adopting its go-to scribe Evan Spiliotopoulos to rewrite the knowledge-adventure film "Asteroids." Matt Lopez written the first draft in the project, which is founded on typically the most popular video arcade game released in 1979 by Atari. Lorenzo di Bonaventura can make the pic, which Universal professional Anikah McLaren will oversee for your studio. Spiliotopoulos rewrote Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz's "Ouija" script for Universal and Platinum Dunes just before the project was place in turnaround. Scribe also written "Wanted 2" for Universal, which has since attracted on original "Wanted" scribes Derek Haas and Michael Brandt to pen the follow-up. Spiliotopoulos also stood a submit writing U tentpole "Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman," together with the studio's planned adaptation of "Moby Dick," which Timur Bekmambetov remains installed on direct. Spiliotopoulos is repped by UTA, manager DJ Talbot and attorney Sean A. Marks of Myman Greenspan. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Critic's Guide to Wednesday's TV: CMAs vs. X Factor and a Ripper Anniversary

Jason Lee Noticeably lacking in the ranks of The X Factor's contestants: budding country music stars. (Maybe they didn't want to risk another Scotty McCreery-style steamroller upstaging upstarts like "Astro.") And now, as the Top 11 square off, Fox's overblown singing contest (8/7c) faces its toughest competition to date: another musical extravaganza, ABC's three-hour broadcast of The 45th Annual CMA Awards (8/7c) from Nashville, with Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley co-hosting for the fourth year in a row. (They'll perform their hit "Remind Me" during the show.) Among the CMA's musical highlights: a tribute to country legend Glen Campbell by Paisley, Vince Gill and Keith Urban; plus a performance by Lionel Richie from his upcoming country album "Tuskegee," featuring Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker. All five nominees for CMA New Artist of the Year are also on the roster: Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square, Chris Young and The Band Perry. And as usual, the cream of the country crop will take the Bridgestone Arena stage, including Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. By comparison, it's kind of hard to get excited about the next performance from Lakoda Rayne, which is less an "X" than a "Why." Want more TV news? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! On this date back in 1888, Jack the Ripper claimed his last victim, or so the canon says. By a canny stroke of programming fate, BBC America's creepy Whitechapel mystery series (10/9c) reaches the end of its three-episode Ripper Copycat arc on the same night, as the Nov. 9 deadline looms to prevent the final murder and locate the elusive madman. The inspector in charge, the insecure Chandler (Rupert Penry-Jones), fears he's not up to the challenge, until a consulting Ripper-ologist brings some focus to his study of the historical record: "The killer has decided who the Ripper is. You've got to see things through his eyes." The race is on, and it builds to a satisfying finish. Better news: a second three-episode mystery based on another legendary murder spree begins next week. With ABC's winning comedies (including the top-rated Modern Family and the underrated The Middle) benched for the night due to the CMA Awards, anyone looking for laughs is advised to check out NBC's little show that could, Up All Night (8/7c). It features a very enjoyable guest appearance by My Name Is Earl's Jason Lee as a laid-back "regular Joe" single dad who catches Ava's (Maya Rudolph) wandering eye while she's babysitting little Amy as Reagan and Chris try, mostly unsuccessfully, to enjoy a first night out away from the baby. Lee is the answer to Chris' obvious question: "If Ava's watching Amy, who's watching Ava?" Meanwhile, Comedy Central's South Park (10/9c) takes on Thanksgiving, as the boys watch a History Channel special about the holiday and begin to believe that aliens were behind the original celebration. Somehow we doubt this will affect Cartman's appetite. Things are getting heated on CBS' Survivor: South Pacific (8/7c), now that the nerd-tastic player Cochran has made his move, sending one of his former tribemates to Temptation Island, leaving those left behind to vent their wrath. A double eviction in tonight's episode promises to shake things up even more. ... In other reality news, Bravo's Top Chef (10/9c) continues its selection process to fill out the Top 16, including a tense cook-off among those left "on the bubble" to earn the final coats. When one of the chef-testants is injured in this last round, the desperation shows as the chef just keeps on cooking, declaring, "I would cook one-handed. ... I would cook with my feet if I have to." The competition is on. ... And on The CW's America's Next Top Model All-Stars (9/8c), the remaining models head to Greece, because there's not enough drama happening there these days. Crime time: We rarely see Law & Order: SVU's Capt. Cragen (Dann Florek) out of the precinct, but in this week's episode (10/9c, NBC), he goes undercover as a lonely-heart to nail a killer involved in a Russian Mafia mail-order-bride scheme. ... More undercover work, as USA Network's goofy Psych (10/9c) plays ball when a murder occurs on Santa Barbara's minor league baseball team, and Shawn goes to bat as a new hitting instructor while poor patsy Gus dons the uniform of the team mascot, the Seabird. ... On a CSI head-scratcher (10/9c, CBS), a car-crash crime scene turns up an extra brain that doesn't belong to any of the vehicular victims. So what else is on? ... Joining the fray of deadliest-jobs docu-reality programming, the Weather Channel premieres Coast Guard Alaska (9/8c), following a crew stationed in Kodiak, as they battle the elements to perform dangerous rescues. ... The Science Channel profiles Prophets of Science Fiction (10/9c) in a new series, hosted by filmmaker Ridley Scott, that examines the work of visionary sci-fi/fantasy auteurs. Through famous movie clips and new animation, we see how their prescient stories helped inspire many of today's technical innovations. First up: Mary Shelley, who wrote the legendary (though often bowdlerized) Frankenstein. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Though crix carp, kudos trolling develops

RatnerMurphy A week ago marked the unofficial launch of Hollywood's honours season. Coincidentally, additionally, it marked the publication of two books about Pauline Kael, the legendary (and lethal) film critic -- a perverse irony.The main focus on Kael motivated a fusillade of essays concerning the decline of film and film critique. "We no more reside in age movies," asserted Frank Wealthy within the NY Occasions The Review, even while that paper's film experts asserted that the Academy awards were irrelevant and honours mania detrimental.Obviously, it had been Kael herself who once authored, "I do not trust anybody who does not admit getting at a while in the existence loved trashy American movies" -- a sentiment that will resonate using the countless Russians, Chinese yet others all over the world who're now feasting on Hollywood product. Their growing appetite for three dimensional tentpoles reminds us the "chronilogical age of movies" has not ended it's been transmogrified and industrialized.Regardless of the noise, the show goes on -- the Oscar show, that's. Same goes with the relaxation from the honours ritual -- the receptions, the Q&As, the red-colored-carpet interviews.Now, Martin Scorsese, who does not like Q&As and does not prefer to travel, come in Santa Monica carrying out a Q&A for "Hugo," but without his star, Sacha Baron Cohen, who truly hates Q&As. I remember when i did a show with Sacha, who requested me, "Who the crowd need to see -- Borat? Bruno?" After I stated "Sacha," he appeared absolutely confounded.The Academy this year is once more attempting to impose constraints on campaigning, thus "letting the job speak by itself.Inch The issue is that many money and prestige rides on "the job.Inch Furthermore, the heavens and filmmakers accountable for "the jobInch prefer to speak on its account because they are happy with it (and concered about their marketers).Academy constraints will even weigh heavily on Brett Ratner, that has fearlessly adopted the duty for energizing the Oscar show. His primary obstacle, obviously, is dealing with the amount of honours. Ratner's key objective would be to result in the show more entertaining. To that particular finish he's introduced in new authors (they from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" plus script physician Shaun Nathanson). Other new faces are now being put into they -- Melissa Watkins Trueblood in the Golden Globes may be the new talent producer. (Don Mischer is co-creating the show with Ratner.) Obviously, the option of Eddie Murphy as host signifies Ratner's most promoted innovation. "The very best hosts -- Hope and Carson and Very -- were comics," Ratner highlights. "These were funny. Eddie is funny, and that he interacts fantastically together with his audience." Murphy, who co-stars in Ratner's film "Tower Heist," did the talkshow circuit a week ago with Ratner and appeared to become taking pleasure in themself. "Our show is going to be fun," Ratner promises. "We'll possess some large surprises." At this time, however, he's cautious about speaking about the subject. There might be efforts to improve suspense by looking at yesteryear record of early those who win -- and therefore predicting the election. A doggedly persuasive filmmaker, Ratner already is arranging some stellar "presenters," and that he really wants to boost the celebrity presence within the audience.The Academy will doubtless break the rules on some suggested changes for example moving the show to Monday evening, upgrading the date and beginning the show one half-hour earlier. "The Academy likes to say, 'Let's get it done the coming year, or possibly year after next,'?" states one Oscar insider.Still, the Academy itself now includes many new faces since it's staff is constantly on the undergo a basic evolution. The choice to energize the show by approaching Ratner was brought by Tom Sherak and Beginning Hudson, the brand new executive director. For a long time, Hudson presided within the lively Independent Spirit Honours -- a reveal that featured both good acceptances and good weed.While demanding greater decorum, the Oscar audience still wants a wise and entertaining show -Body that undermines the thesis that "we no more reside in age movies." And Ratner intends to deliver it. The BacklotPeterBart Contact Peter Bart at peter.bart@variety.com

Disney reups Mayhem Pictures deal

Ciardi GrayDisney has reupped its first-look cope with Mayhem Pictures producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Grey, the duo most widely known for feel-good sports films like "Secretariat," "Invincible," "Miracle" and "The Rookie."Mayhem is constantly on the develop sports photos, including an inspiring tale about Greek marathoner Stylianos "Stelios" Kyriakides, who taken part within the 1936 Olympic games baseball project "Billion Dollar Arm," and "McFarland," in regards to a California senior high school track and area coach. However the producers will also be branching out into other genres using the Reese Witherspoon comedy "Wish List" and fantasy series "Fallen," in line with the youthful adult book series by Lauren Kate, plus an adventurous undertake Disneyland's Tomorrowland, all for that Mouse House.They likewise have the Chuck Russell-helmed actioner "Arabian Nights" within the works at FilmDistrict, and also the Dwayne Manley actioner thriller "Protection" with IM Global. Mayhem also worked with with Manley around the CBS Films thriller "Faster" and comedies "Your Tooth Fairy" for Fox and Disney's "The Overall Game Plan."Mayhem arrived its deal at Disney in 2002, soon after the prosperity of "The Rookie." Their shingle had formerly been located at Revolution Galleries, where they created "The Brand New Guy." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

AFM: Universal International Takes Contents Hard Boiled Sweets

Miley Cyrus is sinking her teeth into Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania as the voice of Mavis, the teenage daughter of Dracula, Deadline has confirmed. The father of all vampires, played by Adam Sandler, runs the resort of the title for a very specialized clientele — monsters and their families. Tucked away from the world of humans, it’s also convenient for shielding Mavis from the terrors of teen-hood. Additionally David Koechner has taken the role of Quasimodo and David Spade is Griffin the Invisible Man. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Cartoon Network’s Dexter’s Laboratory, Hotel Transylvania also hasAndy Samberg voicing the human who complicates matters when he stumbles upon the resort, Kevin James as Frank (-enstein), Fran Drescher as Eunice (Frank’s bride), Cee Lo Green (Murray the Mummy) and Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon as werewolves Wayne and Wanda. Mark Mothersbough is the composer. It’s slated for release September 21, 2012.

Faith-Based 'Left Behind' Books Returning to Big Screen

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Left Behind, the faith-based, action-packed book and movie series about the End Times, is getting a film reboot thanks to some familiar screenwriters.our editor recommendsAxe Deodorant Commercial Banned for Offending Christians (Video) Paul Lalonde, the writer and producer of the original set of movies made by Lalonde's Cloud Ten Pictures, and John Patus, who worked on the final entry, 2005's Left Behind: World at War, have written a screenplay, and Cloud Ten is now searching for a director. The script will be shown to buyers at the American Film Market, which gets under way this week in Santa Monica. PHOTOS: 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years Cloud Ten is eying a budget in the $15 million range, making the project one of the more ambitious Christian-themed movies to be made by an independent faith-oriented company. The Left Behind movies, which starred Kirk Cameron and launched in 2001, adapted the mega-successful books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins that reportedly sold more than 65 million copies. The movies were political thrillers that focused on the End of Days and the Rapture. Those Christian beliefs are again the focal point of the new movie but the story will be more in the mold of a classic disaster movie. The plot unfolds during the first few hours after the Rapture and focuses on the survivors. Christian-themed movies are in the news once again, especially in light of the success of Courageous, made by Sherwood Films. The movie cost $2 million to make and has grossed almost $28 million domestically, showing that the faith-based film market continues to be one of the most profitable segments in the film business. Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit

Expert: Michael Jackson Likely Gave Themselves Fatal Drug Dose

Michael Jackson Could Michael Jackson have accidentally destroyed themselves? Anesthesiologist Dr. Paul White-colored stated for your defense Friday inside the involuntary wrongful dying trial of Dr. Conrad Murray and mentioned the fatal dose of propofol that destroyed the King of Play June 2009 was most likely self-given, TheWrap.com reviews. Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyer: Michael Jackson died immediately His testimony attempts to counter the prosecution witness' argument from earlier inside the month that Murray had used an infusion via IV drip to supply propofol to Jackson that the physician had not successful to determine when the singer stopped breathing. Not only did the infusion theory appear sporadic considering the variety of propofol contained in Jackson's body through the autopsy, nevertheless the IV drip setup contained in his home didn't appear sensible either since no residual propofol was located in the bag or upper IV line together with a clip to suspend the bottle from an IV rig made the whole drip setup unnecessary. "It's befuddling in my opinion,In . White-colored stated. "Why would help with all the hassle?" Rather, White-colored agreed it made an appearance likely Jackson had injected the fatal dose themselves. The prosecution will begin to mix-examine White-colored on Monday, and shutting arguments can happen as soon as Tuesday just before the jury begins to deliberate. If billed, Murray could address four years jail time and losing his medical license.

Igielko-Herrlich & Granath: Outsiders looking in

RUBEN IGIELKO-HERRLICHTwo decades ago, Ruben Igielko-Herrlich reached his professional apex as a luxury-goods marketer, having worked with such iconic brands as Tiffany, Bulgari and Chopard.By chance, an MGM exec contacted the Havana-born Swiss native about scoring some free products for the film, "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man." The Hollywood overture sparked an idea that became the genesis of Propaganda GEM.He teamed on the venture with Anders Granath, an unlikely candidate to say the least given Granath's background in manufacturing. The two set out to conquer Hollywood from their perch in Geneva."Our initial lack of experience became our strength," says Igielko-Herrlich, who earned an MBA from Atlanta's Emory U. and is fluent in five languages. "Our fresh eye, with no preconceptions, enabled us to identify and anticipate gameshifting forces, (including the advent of) social media."ANDERS GRANATHAs a Paris-born Swede with a background in manufacturing, Anders Granath's outsider status couldn't be more solid. Nevertheless, the former Caterpillar marketing exec set out in 1991 to shake up Hollywood's nascent product-placement landscape.Granath co-founded Propaganda GEM with a mandate to expand upon the short-term vision that reigned, in which the modus operandi at the time was "strictly to generate product visibility, without any strategic considerations or alignment within a broader, longer-term brand strategy." Working as a marketing strategy consultant for Marks & Spencer in the late 1980s, the Geneva U. grad saw the potential in centralized brand-image building activities."Our vision of then has become the reality of today," says Granath, who now calls Geneva home. "It's rather the communication and marketing landscape that has been evolving -- slowly but surely -- to catch up with our visions of 20 years ago."Propaganda GEM at 20A placement in the sun | Savvy auds drive need for seamless show stuffers | Outsiders looking in Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

REVIEW: Johnny Depp Channels an Urbane, Dissolute Hunter S. Thompson in The Rum Diary

After years of watching Johnny Depp give performances from behind thick rings of pirate eyeliner or masks of outlandish Tim Burton makeup, it’s a relief to see him, more and more often these days, acting with nothing but his real face. In Bruce Robinson’s The Rum Diary — liberally adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s novel — Depp plays a wayfaring, hard-drinking journalist, Paul Kemp, who has drifted to Puerto Rico, circa 1960, where he lands a job at a floundering, two-bit newspaper, The San Juan Star. Its editor, played by a cigar-chomping Richard Jenkins, hires him reluctantly; never mind that he was the only person who applied for the job. Kemp quickly falls in with an equally dissolute colleague at the paper, Sala (a whiskery, appealing Michael Rispoli). But in between bouts of drinking and attending cockfights, he’s still able to detect, through his fuzzy, alcohol-fueled vision, the disparity between the rich and poor on the island. “You have to check into a hotel just to see the ocean,” he reflects at one point. Nonetheless, he manages to fall in with corrupt real-estate wheeler-dealer Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who has plans to develop luxury hotels on an unspoiled island. Sanderson hopes to get Kemp to write favorably about this shady enterprise, which Kemp refuses to do — until he lands in a bind that Sanderson helps him wriggle out of. After that, he feels indebted to the creep; a further complication is that he’s fallen hard for Sanderson’s fiance, a tough but juicy little peach named Chenault (Amber Heard, who makes a great, glamorous moll). Even if Thompson’s novel — which he began in 1959 but which wasn’t published until the late ’90s — contains some obvious biographical elements, Depp doesn’t play Kemp as a rehash of Raoul Duke, the Thompson stand-in he played in Terry Gilliam’s 1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Depp’s Kemp is one part smooth and urbane, one part down and dirty: He looks equally at home zipping around San Juan, dressed in a neat sports jacket and dapper Panama, or crawling his way out of bar-room brawl. In the movie’s opening scene, he stands semi-naked in the middle of a trashed hotel room, sporting a burst blood vessel in his left eye and looking a bit like a stunned raccoon. But even when he’s making an unglamorous entrance like this one, Depp has star charisma to spare, and his deadpan demeanor only adds to his allure. In the middle of that trashed room is a wrecked mini-bar; unable to find its tiny key, Kemp had tried to smash it open. When he’s confronted by the stunned room-service guy, he explains dryly, “I was looking for some nuts. I tend to avoid alcohol.” Robinson — who directed the 1987 Withnail & I, and who wrote the screenplay for The Killing Fields — has fashioned The Rum Diary into a rambling entertainment that ultimately doesn’t have enough punch. The picture has a low-key, shoulder-shrugging quality; even though it’s nicely shot by DP Dariusz Wolski, who avails himself of all the tropical colors on offer, The Rum Diary ultimately leaves a blurry and indistinct impression, as if it somehow lost its sense of direction on the way to its ending. Then again, maybe that’s Thompson for you: The picture at least has some pleasant, shambling energy. We also have Depp to thank for the fact that it exists at all: Depp, who was friends with Thompson, was visiting the larger-than-life journalist at his home in Woody Creek when he came across the unfinished manuscript for The Rum Diary. He urged Thompson to publish the book, hoping to make a movie out of it. Thompson died in 2005, but Depp, who has a producer’s credit on the film, has at last been able to make good on his promise. The Rum Diary may not be straight-up Thompson. But at least it’s wily and mischievous enough to count as Thompson on the rocks. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

'Easy A's' Will Gluck, 'SNL' Writer Sell Father-Daughter Comedy to NBC (Exclusive)

Will Gluck continues his selling spree. NBC has ordered another script from the The Easy A and Friends with Benefitsdirector, marking his Oliver Bridge Entertainment's seventh sale this development season. The untitled single-camera comedy hails from Saturday Night Live scribeJessi Klein, who will write and executive produce. The project, from Mosaic and Olive Bridge in association with Sony Pictures TV,explores the vibrant yet fraught relationship that exists between fathers and daughters, as inspired by writer Klein's relationship with her colorful dad. Mosaic's Jimmy Miller,Sam Hansenand Gluck will join Kleinas non-writing executive producers. Klein, who sold a romantic comedyto Universal, is repped by UTA and Mosaic; Gluck, whose other recent sales includean ensemble comedyWalk of Shame(at ABC) and an untitled mocumentary (at NBC),is repped by UTA and Sloan Offer. Related Topics NBC Saturday Night Live TV Development

River Road joins McQueen film

River Road originates onboard to create and finance Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave" with Plan B. Deal for Bill Pohlad's River Route to join "Slave" closed Monday. Summit will handle worldwide sales in the American Film Market. Michael Fassbender, who toplined McQueen's "Shame," signed on for "Twelve Years a Slave" two days ago. McQueen will direct from the script he co-authored with John Ridley. Chiwetel Ejiofor will even star within the true story of Solomon Northup, a NY citizen who had been kidnapped in Washington in 1841 and saved from the cotton plantation in Louisiana in 1853. Plan B's Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner are going to produce the film, that is likely to start production early the coming year. CAA is organizing financing for that pic and representing U.S. privileges. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

'Dark Dark night Rises' Prologue Coming?

Wishing to determine "The Dark Dark night Increases" a bit early? Hold on for an additional two several weeks and you simply could easily get the time. The most recent Batman buzz is the fact that a six-minute "Dark Dark night Increases" prologue is going to be mounted on copies from the IMAX discharge of "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol" in December, similar to the Joker-driven opening scene of "The Dark Dark night" was mounted on "I'm Legend" in front of its release. Warner Bros. rejected to discuss the storyline, so take that one like a rumor for the time being. We'll provide you with official word whenever we have it. Past the break, take a look at more comic movie news thanks to Splash Page! Dum Dum Digs "America" Neal McDonough did an excellent, if underrated, job playing Dum Dum Dugan in "Captain America," and also the actor hopes to place the soldier's bowler cap on once more for any follow up. Saying he "can't watch for 'Cap 2,'" the actor told us concerning the character: "Here is a guy from Boston like myself who's this large, brawly, all-America ass kicker. I had been like, 'Oh, ok. That's simple to play. That's me!'" Guy of Fights Everyone knows just how much Russell Crowe adores fighting 'round the planet, also it appears like the Oscar champion can get to complete exactly that when "Guy of Steel" flies into theaters. The actor says he's presently shooting a extended fight sequence opposite Michael Shannon, meaning General Zod and Jor-El will be tossing lower within the Superman reboot. Sounds awesome to us! For Asgard! We still have no idea who Earth's Mightiest Heroes are rising against when "The Avengers" assembles next summer time, but Tom Hiddleston dropped an indication that Loki has fanboy-friendly "help" on his side. See what he needed to say. Inform us what you believe within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Vendome Employs Former Vital Vantage Boss Guy Stodel As Production Leader

Guy Stodel, who went Vital Vantage until falling victim to some round of lay offs in June 2009, continues to be drawn on as leader of production at Vendome Pictures, producer behind Summit’s Source Code and Universal’s Ray Crowne. Stodel, who grew to become an indie producer after departing Vital, is going to be billed with managing growth and development of and ramping up Vendome’s slate the best goal would be to produce 2-3 films each year. He'll are accountable to Vendome leader and Boss Philippe Rousselet and co-Boss Fabrice Gianfermi. Im excited to utilize Philippe and Fabrice at Vendome,” stated Stodel, whose credits like a producer range from the British-language remake from the French comedy Le Mac starring Erectile dysfunction Helms. “Ive respected their passion, good taste, and commercial instincts for a while now and anticipate putting Vendomes existing projects and brand new ones into production. At Componen Vantage, Stodel produced the development slate and brought purchases in the niche unit. One of the films may be the approaching Guy On The Ledge, that is being launched by Summit. Before that, he was an SVP at New Line Cinema, where he assisted acquire films such as the Upside Of Anger, Laws and regulations Of Attraction and Oscar champion The Ocean Inside. Younger crowd were built with a stint at Lionsgate.

Apple Employees Celebrate Jobs Today

First family and friendsheld a little private funeral for Jobs on October seventh. Then there is abigger private memorial serviceheld at Stanford College, withBono, Bill Clinton,and Bill Gatesamong the 100s who attended. Now come news reviews of the private employees-onlycelebration ofJobs’ existence being held today in the Cupertino headquarters. Itwas introduced within an email to Apple staff from Boss Tim Cookwho authored it’s”to make time to recall the incredible things Steve accomplished in the existence and also the many different ways he earned the world a much better place.”The event is going to be broadcast live inside Apple. Consequently, mostretail Apple Stores is going to be closed for many hrs beginning at10 AMPT today.Employees across Asia and Australia will have the ability to notice a re-broadcast from the celebration.

Video: James Cameron Reveals More About His Avatar Sequels

What can you expect from the two Avatar sequels that James Cameron is currently writing for 2014 and 2015? No one is sure exactly but Nightline anchor Bill Weir was able to tease a few details from the franchise’s filmmaker in a casual interview recently. Among the things we can expect from the follow-ups to the most-pirated movie of all time: Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 will feature Pandora’s oceans, a few other planets and, like the first film, be a “a cornucopia, a treat for the eyes.” Learn more about the eagerly-anticipated sequels below. video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player [ABC News via ComingSoon.net]

Editor Peter E. Berger dies

Film and TV editor Peter E. Berger, who had been Oscar nominated for his focus on "Fatal Attraction" and cut several films within the "Star Trek" film franchise, died Sept. 22. He was 67. Berger's lengthy listing of credits include "Mommie Dearest," "Under Zero" and "Coach Carter," in addition to "Star Trek" photos "IV: The Voyage Home," "V: The Ultimate Frontier, "Decades" and "Insurrection." Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Taylor Quick Desires To Placed on Her Scent Everyday

First Launched: October 14, 2011 4:29 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Taylor Quick attends her Wonderstruck scent launch at Macys Herald Square in NY City on October 13, 2011 Taylor Quick will most likely be smelling quite wonderful Wonderstruck even! The 21-year-old singing sensation launched her new scent, Wonderstruck, on Thursday in NY City, where Access Hollywood guest correspondent Jill Martin arrived at the feet of her magical scent something her number of buddies will probably be smelling plenty of inside the future! Creating the very first scent, it's been a great deal fun, because we tried it for just about any year and handled to obtain really something Im so pleased with, Taylor mentioned. Its something I really love, the other If only to use each day, she ongoing. Its really fun, which i love it. When people compliment me round the perfume Im wearing, I am in a position to you have to be like, Oh, yeah, its one which I made! Wonderstruck can be a combination of many notes including freesia, raspberry, vanilla, honeysuckle and sandalwood. The Grammy champion also gushed about her latest musical recognition, being named Billboard Lady of year. Im so happy relating to this. Its this type of recognition, plus it was certainly among people moments where I obtained the phone call, which i only decided to be jumping up minimizing, so excited, Taylor told Access. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Seal's Chechen Leader Birthday Bash Performance Questioned By Human Rights Group

While Hilary Swank and Jean-Claude Van Damme have taken heat from human rights groups for appearing at a lavish Oct. 5 party for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, so far perhaps the highest-paid star to turn out on the occasion has gotten a pass.our editor recommendsHilary Swank, Jean-Claude Van Damme Slammed for Attending Birthday of Chechen Leader Human Rights Watch, which had previously denounced Swank and Van Damme for their appearances at a celebration feting Kadryrov on his 35th birthday, has sent an inquiry to Seal regarding his performance at the event. The organization has called on stars who attended the party to reimburse any money that they were paid to participate. "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimizes a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivializes the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there," the organization said. PHOTOS: Top 10 Highest Paid Music Artists The website Caucasian Knot says Rosa Pashaeva, head of the division of arts and educational institutions of the Ministry of Culture of the Chechen Republic, declined to estimate how much the talent was paid to appear. But a representative associated with one of those in attendance tells THR that normally celebrities are paid in the six figures to attend such events but any time a performance is involved, the rate rises to seven figures. In Seal's case, he may have gotten a stunning amount per song because Pashaeva reportedly said that he was supposed to perform for 30 minutes but sang only two songs because of time restrictions. Seal's publicist did not respond to THR's request for comment. "As for invited celebrities -- till the last day we didn't know exactly who would come and take part in celebrations," Pashaeva told the Caucasian Knot. "I wasn't involved in organizing the arrival of celebrities; but when they came, it was quite easy to deal with them," said Alvi Karimov, the head of the press-service of the Chechen president. "They eagerly communicated with citizens, took pictures with them, and even danced lezginka." As previously reported by THR, Van Damme stood on stage at the party and said, "I love you Mr. Kadyrov" while Swank said she was honored to be in Grozny and wished Kadyrov a "Happy Birthday." After Swank spoke, British violinist Vanessa-Mae performed for a reported half a million dollars. There were fireworks and performances by acrobats. The celebration was held on a floating stage on the River Sunzha; portraits of Kadyrov were displayed throughout the city. Related Topics Seal

American Film Market Reveals Slate

La, CA, March. 12, 2011 The 32nd American Film Market (AFM) will screen 395 movies, including 65 world premieres and 295 market premieres, for thousands of customers and industry professionals from 70 plus nations. Jonathan Wolf, AFM Controlling Director and Executive V . P . in the Independent Film & Television Alliance, made the announcement today. The 2011 AFM will occur November. 2-9 in Santa Monica, CA. Films making their World Premieres add a Gang Story, starring Grard Lanvin and Tchky Karyo (Gaumont) Bad Karma, starring Ray Liotta, Dominic Purcell and Rhona Mitra (Screen Media) Columbus Circle, starring Selma Blair, Amy Smart, Giovanni Ribisi and Kevin Pollak (Lightning Entertainment) Nobels Last Will, starring Malin Crpin, Bjrn Kjellman and Leif Andre (Zodiak Rights) Snowflake, the White-colored Gorilla, starring Elsa Pataky and Pere Ponce (Filmax Worldwide) Special Forces, starring Diane Kruger, Djimon Hounsou and Benoit Magimel (StudioCanal) as well as the Expatriate, starring Aaron Eckhart and Olga Kurylenko (Essential Entertainment). Among the 295 films set to produce their Market Premieres are: A Dangerous Method, starring Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender (HanWay Films) Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Manley (WestEnd Films) Bernie, starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey (Hyde Park Worldwide) Dark Equine, starring Justin Bartha, Selma Blair, Mia Farrow, Jordan Gelber and Christopher Walken (Goldcrest Films Worldwide) Detachment, starring Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks and Lucy Liu (Celluloid Dreams) Edwin Boyd, starring Scott Speedman, John Cox, Kelly Reilly and Kevin Durand (Myriad Pictures) Personally, starring Luke Ford, Vince Colosimo, Sigrid Thornton and Matthew Newton (Jinga Films) George Harrison: Dwelling within the fabric World, starring Paul McCartney and Terry Gilliam (Exclusive Films Worldwide, Limited) Hick, starring Blake Lively, Chlo Sophistication Moretz, Eddie Redmayne, Alec Baldwin and Juliette Lewis (Content) Killer Joe, starring Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Chapel, Juno Temple and Gina Gershon (Current Pictures) Le Skylab, starring Julie Delpy and Eric Elmosnino (Films Distribution) Loosies, starring Peter Facinelli, Jaimie Alexander, Michael Madsen, Vincent Gallo and Joe Pantoliano (CMG – Cinema Management Group) Lucky, starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Jeffrey Tambor and Ann-Margret (ICAP Media) and Michael, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Mahie Gill and Purav Bhandare (Fortissimo Films). For just about any complete report on the movies as well as the screening schedule, visit TheFilmCatalogue.com. This year, 27 films is going to be provided in 3d. In addition, 54 plus films unlisted inside the Film Catalogue might have their world or market premieres throughout AFM. People films will probably be created by their unique companies round the eve in the market.

Universal Takes Vows On Best Man 2

EXCLUSIVE: At Universal Pictures, there is so far no movement on another Bridesmaids, but the studio is moving to the altar on another wedding-themed comedy sequel. Universal has set Malcolm D. Lee to write, direct and produce Best Man 2, a sequel to the 1999 film. Lee wrote and directed the original, a comedy in which a writer (Taye Diggs) is preparing to be the best man for his football player buddy (Morris Chestnut), but the timing is bad because the writer’s autobiographical novel is about to pop and it describes how the best man bedded the bride. Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan also starred. The original grossed $35 million. Lee’s plan is to ask the original cast to reprise; in fact, I’m told the whole idea came out of a reunion dinner he held with most of the cast members, and they sparked to the idea of a re-team and so did the studio. CAA reps Lee.

Third Greatest Theater Chain May Boycott 'Tower Heist' Over VOD

You had been only some of the real person to scoff considering Universal supplying the arrival action comedy 'Tower Heist' to people of Atlanta, Ga. and Tigard, Ore. via on-demand services for your high, very high cost $59.99 72 hours after its release. Theater entrepreneurs did too! Rather than show their disdain with snarky tweets and/or mind shakes though, one company has made a decision to behave: Cinemark, the nation's third greatest theater chain behind AMC and Regal, mentioned on Thursday it wouldn't screen 'Tower Heist' inside a of the 300 theaters once the studio follows through having its on-demand plan. "Cinemark recognizes and values the changing technological landscape and related challenges that Universal as well as the other art galleries are facing inside the in-home window," mentioned the business in the statement (via LAT). "But that recognition apparently wasn't enough to assist test.In . This isn't the first time art galleries have tried to shut the theatrical window for on-demand gain: earlier this spring, four art galleries (Universal, Fox, The brand new the new sony and Warner Bros.) teamed for just about any test run of Home Premiere, which offered new releases on VOD just two several weeks after their initial theatrical debut. (The conventional theatrical window is 3 several weeks.) That service allowed clients the chance to look at films for $29.99. 'Tower Heist' director Brett Ratner and 22 other filmmakers signed instructions for the art galleries in the year nonetheless shortening the theatrical window could "irrevocably harm the business design within our film industry." Ratner released this statement in regards to the current plans for 'Tower Heist': "Brett is created alert to Universal's paid out video-on-demand try out 'Tower Heist' yesterday. [He] was told the studio is fully safeguarding the theater entrepreneurs against deficits within the box office. Brett did skip the feel of the exam.Inch Universal has yet to comment. [via LAT] [Photo: Universal] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Renew Vows, Talk Baby Plans

First Launched: October 5, 2011 6:06 PM EDT Credit: The Ellen DeGeneres Show Caption Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries renew their vows round the Ellen Degeneres Show on October 5, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Wedding couple Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are actually married for less than two several days, but due to Ellen DeGeneres the cute couple has restored their very own vows. Within a feel and look on Wednesdays The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the comedienne gave Kim and Kris the opportunity to resume their commitment in private, and requested the pair in what theyd change regarding glamorous wedding once they had the chance. In the event you could got married again, what else could you in different ways? Ellen asked for. Elope, Kim clarified. Really? a surprised Kris responded. I'd say longer after party. I'd say longer after party, however am crazy deeply in love with an entire month I literally I went crazy, Kim referred to. It absolutely was so demanding. In addition, inside an interview with E! on Tuesday evening, Kim states while using hectic wedding inside it, the happy couple is beginning to think about adding for their family members. In my opinion we'd wait like, yearly before we really start trying to possess kids, Kim told the network when asked for about baby plans. In my opinion you need to determine where [Kris] is gonna play and see his career so when we should cleanup and move somewhere, like the Area. Who knows? For just what the future holds for your reality royalty, Kris mentioned he hopes to experience a large family. Lots of kidshaving fun together, knowning that we could have a great time which existence is fun which we could spend a while together and support each other, he told E!. Kim and Kris large day will air just like a two-part special, Kims Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event, on October 9 and 10 on E!. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Italian Appeals Court Clears Amanda Knox Of Murder

First Published: October 3, 2011 4:59 PM EDT Credit: AFP/Getty Images Caption Amanda Knox reacts at the announce of the verdict of her appeal trial in the Meredith Kercher murder, Perugia, Italy, on October 3, 2011PERUGIA, Italy -- An Italian appeals court threw out Amanda Knoxs murder conviction Monday and ordered the young American freed after nearly four years in prison for the death of her British roommate. Knox collapsed in tears after the verdict overturning her 2009 conviction was read out. Her co-defendant, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, also was cleared of killing 21-year-old Meredith Kercher in 2007. The Kercher family looked on grimly and a bit dazed as the verdict was read out by the judge after 11 hours of eliberations by the eight-member jury. Outside the courthouse, some of the hundreds of observers shouted Shame, shame! Yet inside the frescoed courtroom, Knoxs parents, who have regularly traveled from their home in Seattle to Perugia to visit the 24-year-old over the past four years, hugged their lawyers and cried with joy. Weve been waiting for this for four years, said one of Sollecitos lawyers, Giulia Bongiorno. The judge upheld Knoxs conviction on a charge of slander for accusing bar owner Diya Patrick Lumumba of carrying out the killing. He set the sentence at three years, meaning for time served. Knox has been in prison since Nov. 6, 2007. Prosecutors can appeal the acquittal to Italys highest court. There was no word late Monday if they planned to do so. In Seattle, about a dozen Knox supporters were overjoyed that she has been cleared of the murder conviction. Shes free! and We did it! they shouted at a hotel where they watched the court proceedings on TV. Earlier Monday, Knox tearfully told the court she did not kill her roommate. Knox frequently paused for breath and fought back tears as she spoke in Italian to the eight members of the jury in a packed courtroom, but managed to maintain her composure during the 10-minute address. Ive lost a friend in the worst, most brutal, most inexplicable way possible, she said of the 2007 murder of Kercher, who shared an apartment with Knox when they were both students in Perugia. Im paying with my life for things that I didnt do. Knox and Sollecito, Knoxs former boyfriend from Italy, were convicted in 2009 of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher, who was stabbed to death in her bedroom. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison, Sollecito to 25. They both deny wrongdoing. I never hurt anyone, never in my life, Sollecito said Monday in his own speech to the jury. Hundreds of eager observers gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the highly anticipated announcement, joining television vans that have been camped out for more than a week. One hundred reporters were being allowed into the subterranean courtroom. Observers lined the street leading to the courthouse, taking pictures as the two vans carrying Knox and Sollecito from the prison to the court passed by. Kerchers mother, sister and a brother traveled to Perugia for the verdict. They had expressed worry over the possibility of an acquittal but told reporters as deliberations were under way that they hoped the jury would do the right thing and not be influenced by the medias focus on the case. As long as they decide today based purely on the information available to them and they dont look into the media hype, I think justice will be found, the victims sister, Stephanie Kercher, told reporters. She said the family was satisfied with the original verdicts. She lamented that Meredith had been most forgotten in the media circus surrounding the case, with news photos more frequently showing Knox and Sollecito than Mez the victims nickname. Its very difficult to keep her memory alive in all of this, she said. The family, however, said it could understand the Knox familys media campaign. They fully believe in her innocence. You cant blame them for that, said Lyle Kercher, the victims brother. But its obviously hard for us. As the verdict was broadcast live, hundreds of reporters and camera crews filled the underground, frescoed courtroom before Knoxs address, while police outside cordoned off the entrance to the tribunal. The trial has captivated audiences worldwide: Knox and Sollecito had been convicted of murdering Meredith in what the lower court said had begun as a drug-fueled sexual assault. Knox insisted Monday that she had nothing to do with the murder and that Kercher was a friend who was always nice to her. Gesticulating, at times clasping her hands together, the American said she has always wanted justice for Kercher. She had her bedroom next to mine, she was killed in our own apartment. If I had been there that night, I would be dead, Knox said. But I was not there. I did not kill. I did not rape. I did not steal. I wasnt there, Knox said. After the morning court session, Knox was relaxing in the prison chapel, playing guitar and singing as she awaited the verdict, according to an Italian lawmaker who visited her in prison Monday. These are obviously the most difficult hours, Rocco Girlanda, who has spearheaded a campaign in Italy in support of Knox, told The Associated Press. The time never seems to pass. Also convicted in separate proceedings was Rudy Hermann Guede, a small-time drug dealer and drifter who spent most of his life in Italy after arriving here from his native Ivory Coast. Guede was convicted in a separate fast-track procedure and saw his sentence cut to 16 years in his final appeal. Lawyers for Knox and Sollecito believe Guede was the sole killer, but the prosecution and a lawyer for the Kercher family say that bruises and a lack of defensive wounds on Kerchers body prove that there was more than one aggressor holding her into submission. Knox said she had nothing more than a passing acquaintance with Guede, who played basketball at a court near the house, and didnt even know his name. Sollecito, who addressed the court before Knox, told jurors that he did not know Guede at all. Sollecito was anxious as he addressed the court, shifting as he spoke and stopping to sip water. He said prior to the Nov. 1, 2007 murder was a happy time for him, he was close to defending his thesis to graduate from university and had just met Knox. The weekend Kercher was murdered was the first the pair planned to spend together in tenderness and cuddles, he said. At the end of his 17-minute address, Sollecito took off a white rubber bracelet emblazoned with Free Amanda and Raffaele that he said he has been wearing for four years. I have never taken it off. Many emotions are concentrated in this bracelet, he said. Now I want to pay homage to the court. The moment to take it off has arrived. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Hugh Jackman Excited To Not Have A Diet For Les Miserables Role

First Published: October 3, 2011 5:53 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Hugh Jackman steps out at the Real Steel Los Angeles premiere at The Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif. on October 2, 2011Hugh Jackman is no stranger to countless hours in the gym and shoveling heaps of protein in his mouth for his roles, but for the upcoming big screen version of the musical Les Miserables, the actor will enjoy some dietary freedom. Tom Hooper from The Kings Speech is directing it, Hugh told AccessHollywood.coms Laura Saltman at the Real Steel Los Angeles premiere on Sunday when asked about his next project. Im very excited about that. The actor, who plays Jean Valjean in the musical, is looking forward to letting go of his usual big screen beefcake status. I have to kind of age 19 years during the movie, which is pretty much how you feel during a movie, so it should just be all natural, Hugh explained. But this time, instead of eating steamed chicken during the movie, Ill just eat whatever I want. Perfect. Youll see me at the craft table! Fans might also be seeing the actor in another musical setting. Someone asked me the other day if I would be on Glee, and I said, Yeah. Im trained to say yes to everything. Well see, he said. [Matthew Morrison] is fantastic. Im a big fan of his Ill use [Les Mis] as a warm up [for Glee.] Les Miserables is slated to hit the big screen in December 2012. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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