November 03, 2006

Once spied knitting between takes before it became "the latest thing", Hollywood's sweetheart Julia Roberts can now bring her old hobby to the big screen. Yes, the Oscar-winning actress has reached a deal to topline "The Friday Night Knitting Club", a family drama feature developed under Universal Pictures.

Based on Kate Jacobs' upcoming novel of the same title, the picture focuses on a single mother who pulls all her strengths to juggle the demands of running a Manhattan knitting store with raising her spunky teen daughter. While no word yet on either director or writer, it is confirmed that Roberts will also produce along with Christine Peters.

Supermodel-turned-actress Milla Jovovich has already had all she wants in her life, but a baby. A bright shining career and fiancee British film director Paul W. S. Anderson have yet made her life complete. And so the Hollywood babe is wanting for a baby.

Desperate to have one, Jovovich on the other hand convinced she is too thin to conceive. "I'd love to have a baby. I think the only reason I haven't conceived is because of my active lifestyle. My body won't allow itself to get pregnant now because it knows it wouldn't be in a healthy environment," so she said.

Apparently got satisfied enough with the result of "Inside Man" which has grossed over $183 million worldwide, director Spike Lee and producer Brian Grazer once again are joining forces to develop a follow-up of the flick, Variety has reported.

Though Lee is still in talks to helm the untitled project, he has already worked on the script with the original's writer, Russell Gewirtz. So far, details about this sequel have been kept under wraps, so it is still unclear then whether it will bring back the original's main characters.

His drunken driving arrest and anti-Semitic remarks apparently couldn't prevent Mel Gibson from receiving public's appreciation. The senior actor has reaped his hard work when he was honored by Latino business organization for his upcoming film "Apocalypto."

An Oscar-winning actor and director, Gibson was granted the Latino Business Association's Chairman's Visionary Award. He received the accolade Thursday Nov 2nd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Finally returning to film directing after half a decade, twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes have delightfully been confirmed to be on board in helming action flick "Kung Fu", one of the twenty-five film projects marking the five-year deal between Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

An adaptation of the 1970s classic TV series starring David Carradine, the picture is expected to enter production next year with Thomas Tull, Scott Mednick, plus Jon Jashni producing and the series creator Ed Spielman executive producing. Meanwhile, Cory Goodman is set to re-write the script originally penned together by Spielman and Howard Friedlander.

Colombian bombshell Shakira dominated the 7th annual Latin Grammy Awards Thursday night Nov 2nd as she won a leading four trophies out of five nominations. She among other won the categories of Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year both for "La Tortura", plus Album Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album both for "Fijación Oral, Vol. 1".

The reggaeton group Calle 13 was another multiple winner at the awards event, earned the awards for Best New Artist, Best Urban Music Album for their eponymous album, and Best Short Form Music Video for "¡Atrévete Te, Te!". Another multiple winner included Argentine rocker Gustavo Cerati, who won the Best Rock Solo Vocal Album category for "Ahi Vamos" and Best Rock Song for "Crimen".

An unusual big screen collaboration is about to take shape. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Robert De Niro and 50 Cent are in final negotiations to take part in police thriller "New Orleans", an action drama of Emmett/Furla Films' production.

Originally titled "Microwave Park", the project follows a veteran officer as he teams up with his new partner to investigate the death of his previous partner who was actually murdered instead of dying in Hurricane Katrina as he has assumed before. If a deal is reached, De Niro will be billed as the cop while Cent as his new partner.

Speculation on when will Elizabeth Hurley and boyfriend Arun Nayar tie the knot finally is laid to rest as there is report suggests the couple has already planned a March wedding.

Hurley and Nayar are rumored to have their wedding held on March 3rd 2007 in both England and India.

Surprisingly still eager to open his arms to stints outside Hollywood despite his celebrity status, Ewan McGregor has given agreement to take part in London-based company Hanway Films' production of "Franklyn", Variety has learned.

A futuristic British feature, the project tells the story of four lost soul divided by two parallel worlds in a split narrative set simultaneously in contemporary London and a future metropolis ruled by religious fervor.

English soap-opera actress Jennifer Ellison is giving a hand to promote a new underwear range that is aimed at curvy women. The Hollywood sweetheart has reportedly been tapped as the new face of Young Attitude's autumn/winter lingerie collection.

The new underwear collection offers beautiful bras for curvy girls who are a D to G cup.

Kirstie Alley to pose in bikini. Can you believe that? This just in. The once-overweight actress is set to pose in her bikini on Monday's Nov 6th "Oprah Winfrey Show".

It's been nearly a year that Kirstie on Nov 7th, 2005 appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, saying she was inspired by a guest who had lost 70 lbs. and went on to win a Miss Bikini America pageant. She said "You know how I said every 15 pounds I have to challenge myself? I'm thinking this would be a really good challenge. If I don't make it, I'm really sorry. You can all come over to my house and see me in a bikini. But I think that would be a grand challenge."

Getting deeper into film industry, Jesse Metcalfe has smoothly landed his second starring role on the big screen. The striking hunk reportedly has snatched the top billing in "Loaded", a new project coming from Wingman Productions.

Accompanied by Nathalie Kelley, Monica Keena, Johnny Messner, Vinnie Jones, Corey Large, and rapper Kurupt who all play supporting roles, Metcalfe will portray a rich guy whose life takes a downward spiral into a world of drugs, sex and violence. Filming starts this week with Alan Pao directing and Large seating as producer.

Instead of releasing her greatest-hits compilation that was supposed to drop last year, Mary J. Blige on the other hand comes out with her next studio album. The set, tentatively titled "Reflections: The Journey," is slated to hit stores Dec 12 later this year.

The Geffen Records LP is said to consist of at least three new songs and some of Blige's classic cuts. A new song inside the LP, titled "We Ride," will hit U.S. radio outlets this week. Another new song, "Never Gonna Break My Faith," was recorded by Blige and Aretha Franklin for the film "Bobby," which arrives November 23 in U.S. theaters.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios Inc. announced Thursday Nov 2nd that Tom Cruise and his longtime producing partner Paula Wagner have both signed on to work with the studio to revive United Artists movie studio.

Thus, Cruise will star in and produce films for the studio, with Wagner will serve as chief executive. Further, as a part of the deal the actor will also set the studio's production slate, working on development and green-lighting projects.

Being attached to many big screen projects apparently does not prevent Colin Firth to take one more acting stint into his resume. Variety revealed that the British actor has just signed on to star in a contemporary horror feature entitled "Genova."

Already tapped Michael Winterbottom to direct, the project will see Firth as a recently widowed man who travels to Italy with his teenage daughters to make a fresh start in his life yet later finds out that he can't escape the ghosts of his past. No words yet on other cast members and the writer, but filming is expected to begin by next spring.

Troubled rapper Snoop Dogg was charged Thursday Nov 2nd with one count of felony possession of a deadly weapon, stemming from a Sep 27th arrest.

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, was arrested that day at John Wayne International Airport in Orange County, Calif. after airport security guards found a 21-in. collapsible police baton in his computer case.

Reuniting with Bruce Willis after their collaboration in M. Night Shyamalan's 2000 work of "Unbreakable", Samuel L. Jackson is positive to star in "Black Water Transit", an action thriller drama developed under Capitol Films banner.

Based on the novel of the same title written by Carsten Stroud, pic revolves around a group of cops, criminals, and lawyers who collide over a shipment of illegal firearms, mafia ties, and a double homicide. Willis will portray a criminal named Earl Pike who tries to secure his family's illegal gun collection to a safe haven.

Julio Iglesias and longtime girlfriend Miranda Rijnsburger ready themselves for a new addition to their family. The couple is expecting their fifth child together.

With the arrival of the baby, the legendary Spanish singer will then become a dad for the eight time. He has had three children from previous marriage.

Won't take into account all the controversies surrounding her action in adopting David Banda from hometown Malawi, pop superstar Madonna is considering for another adoption.

The singer, aside from the still circulating controversies out there, speaking to the BBC television in an interview broadcast on Wednesday night, she would consider adopting again. "I wouldn't rule it out, but I would like to experience David for a while and see how it works out," Madonna told the British channel.

Van Halen has a new bassist, it has been confirmed. The band has booked Wolfgang Van Halen to replace longtime bassist Michael Anthony, who left the band earlier this year.

Wolfgang Van Halen is only 15 years old. He is the son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen and estranged wife Valerie Bertinelli, and nephew of drummer Alex Van Halen.

Served as host and performer at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards, held Nov 2nd in Copenhagen, Justin Timberlake also was one of the many winners. The pop singer even took home two awards all at once, one for the category of Best Pop and the other one was for Best Male.

Just like Justin, Gnarls Barkley also won two awards, mainly for the categories of Future Sounds-Best New Act and Best Song for "Crazy". The other big winners of the night were Muse, winners of Best Alternative award, and Depeche Mode who was named the Best Group. Red Hot Chili Peppers, in addition, gloriously earned the Best Album award for "Stadium Arcadium".

Kate Moss really is an icon. Notwithstanding with the famous cocaine scandal, the supermodel's star is still glowing somehow. This is apparent when Moss was named Britain's Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards held Thursday Nov 2nd.

The 32-year-old beauty beat out competitors Erin O'Connor and Alek Wek to win the prize, awarded to the model who contributed the most to the global fashion world in the past year. It is said that Moss currently appears in 14 advertising campaigns, more than a year after numerous brands for whom she modeled cut relations with her after a newspaper published pictures of her allegedly snorting cocaine.