March 09, 2006

Notable rapper Mos Def and Sophie Okonedo are both in final talks to star in the indie drama "Stringbean and Marcus," which was written and will be directed by first-time feature helmer Tanya Hamilton.

Set in 1978, "Stringbean and Marcus" focuses on the broken love affair between two former Black Panther members (Mos Def and Okonedo) and is told through the eyes of an adolescent girl.

John Cusack has stepped his feet on the room "1408". Not in the real meaning but the actor has signed on to star in the big screen adaptation of Stephen King's short story, which Mikael Hafstrom about to direct.

Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the film will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Of horror thriller genre, "1408" revolves around a man specializing in debunking paranormal occurrences who meets his match when he checks into the notorious room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. There, he encounters true terror.

Australian fans of U2 has to unfortunately wait a little while longer to see their idol perform in the country as the Irish rock band on Thursday announced it was postponing its Vertigo tour dates in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii later this month and in early April due to a family illness.

Explaining on the postponement, the tour promoter Arthur Fogel said the decision was unavoidable "due to the illness of an immediate family member of one of the band." Further, Fogel continued "Any fan of U2 will realize that this decision has not been taken lightly. We will announce further details as soon as we have them."

Bam Margera, the star better known for his portrayal in "Jackass: The Movie", was arrested Friday March 3rd, 2006 for unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon. He was in Los Angeles that day to film a Right Guard deodorant commercial.

After finishing the shoot around 7 p.m., "I met up with some people from Island Def Jam (Records) and went to a party at the Roosevelt Hotel. At some point they ended up giving me a pair of brass knuckles as a gift. I just tossed them in my bag and then showed up drunk at the airport to catch a flight home," Margera revealed.

Former Creed frontman Scott Stapp is free. Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the singer, confirmed Wednesday evening March 8th, 2006 that the Los Angeles City Attorney's office will not be filing charges against Stapp for allegedly being publicly intoxicated hours after his Feb. 10 marriage to Jaclyn Nesheiwat.

As of Stapp, he received the good news that he wouldn't be charged on Tuesday March 7th, 2006 at an informal hearing he attended at the city attorney's office.

Thanks God. That's maybe the words uttered by singer Boy George as he cut a deal with New York City prosecutors to avoid jail time for cocaine possession last fall.

Stemming from the Oct. 7, 2005 incident when police answered a call at his apartment and discovered 13 bags of cocaine, George could have faced 15 years in prison if convicted. However, the Manhattan District Attorney dropped the more serious drug-possession charges and instead sentenced George to five days of community service and fined him $1,000.

Bruce Springsteen has been added to the line up slated to perform at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, scheduled over two weekends, April 28-30 and May 5-7. The festival producer said the veteran singer is slated to close out the first weekend.

Springsteen will perform with The Seeger Sessions Band, the musicians who backed him on an upcoming album inspired by folk singer Pete Seeger which is scheduled for an April 25 release date. Among the additional acts announced Wednesday by the festival producer are Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Dave Bartholomew and Warren Haynes.

Dimension Films has attached Eli Roth to direct its upcoming film project "Cell" as the studio has acquired rights to the Stephen King's latest novel.

Will produce the film is Mike Fleiss and Chris Briggs, both produced "Hostel" and are readying the sequel with Roth.

Cast of the "Resident Evil: Apocalypse", including Oded Fehr, Mike Epps and Iain Glen, will all reprise their role for Screen Gems' next installment, "Resident Evil: Extinction." As of Fehr he is set to play Carlos Olivera, while Glen stars as Isaacs and Epps plays L.J.

Milla Jovovich also is back, reprising her role as Alice and she's running with a new pack of humans, leading a caravan that's cutting through the Nevada desert on a long trek to Alaska. Hunted by the minions of the perpetually scheming Dr. Isaacs, Alice has zombies hungry for her flesh and lab rats hungry for her blood -- while Alice herself is hungry for only one thing: revenge.

Became a breakout star soon after her performance in last year's "Wedding Crashers," Hollywood actress Isla Fisher has joined the cast of the upcoming drama thriller entitled "The Lookout." Set to direct the film is Scott Frank, who wrote the script as well.

The film revolves around a mentally impaired former athlete who works as a janitor at a bank and gets sucked into a heist. Other cast on board are Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Carla Gugino, and Matthew Goode. Shooting is slated to begin in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at month's end.

The US pop album charts Wednesday March 8th, 2006 was dominated by R&B singer Ne-Yo's debut solo release "In My Own Words" which opened at No. 1, selling 301,000 copies in the week ended March 5. Meanwhile, the soundtrack to the Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" by various artists slipped to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 128,000 copies, after one week at the top.

Sat at No. 3 was rock quintet Hawthorne Heights's "If Only You Were Lonely" which sold another 114,000 copies. Alan Jackson's "Precious Memories" was back on the Billboard 200 debuted at No. 4 with 107,000 copies, ahead of R&B singer Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" which slipped one to No. 5 with 81,000 copies. Bounced from No. 14 to No. 6 is "The Legend of Johnny Cash" by Johnny Cash with another 80,000 copies.

Pop star Kylie Minogue gives hand at different direction besides singing. The Aussie star is about to be a fiction writer by publishing a children's book.

Named her first book ever "The Showgirl Princess," it is aimed at children aged six and upwards and will be released by Puffin publications in September.

Uma Thurman and Andre Balazs is an item no more. The couple who has been dating for over than two years go separate ways, proving the long circulating rumors on their break up soon following Thurman's attendance at the Oscar alone to be right.

News on their break up was confirmed in a statement by Thurman's publicist saying "Unfortunately, it is true. But we remain close friends." Despite the bitter fact, the actress commented "It's lovely to have a man in my life who's cute, intelligent, interesting and complicated, and very supportive."

The nominees of the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards have been announced early Wednesday morning March 8th, 2006 and among the long lines there is Brad Paisley who receives a leading six nominations, including nods for Single, Song, and Male Vocalist of the Year. Duo Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland each receives 5 nods.

Announced the nominees Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood also are among the most honored artists with four nominations apiece. Some other artists vie for the prestigious award are Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Gary Allan, Lee Ann Womack and many more.

Hollywood superstar Paris Hilton surely won't label restraining order as something "hot". In fact, the hotel heiress got one from a court commissioner who on Monday signed off on an unusual restraining order against the beauty, ordering her to stay at least 100 yards away from event producer Brian Quintana who claimed she threatened him -- unless they're at a party together.

Quintana was granted the three-year restraining order against Hilton last month after he testified that she harassed and threatened him after their friendship soured. And due to the fact that both occasionally attend the same social events, their attorneys then drafted an untraditional restraining order that was approved by Superior Court Commissioner on Monday. The agreement mentions that when they attend the same parties, "the stay-away distance may be shortened to 25 feet."

In a bid to fix the things up, Teri Hatcher has had the right decision. The "Desperate Housewives" star has on Tuesday March 7, 2006 revealed to Vanity Fair that she was sexually molested by an uncle 35 years ago, but kept the abuse a secret until recently.

In an interview appearing in the magazine's cover story, on newsstands Friday, the 41 years-old actress said how she was haunted by the 2002 suicide of Sarah Van Cleemput, a 14-year-old girl who also was molested by the uncle, Richard Hayes Stone. Afraid that her uncle might avoid prosecution, Hatcher made the decision to tell the prosecutors her own story of sexual abuse and put aside the fears that her claims might be viewed as a bid for attention from a washed-up actress trying to revive her career.