November 04, 2006

The search for right director to helm "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" still continues. After the names like Matthew Vaughn, James McTeigue, and M. Night Shyamalan popped out as candidates, here now comes Michael Hoffman on the list as SlashFilm has reported that the man is in talks to assume the position.

The quest to look for the one to lead this sixth installment of the hit franchise lately has become a hot topic around Harry Potter fans as well as moviegoers. Previous directors such as Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuaron have reportedly shown their interest to return with Terry Gilliam being rumored on IMDb to get on board though his name was quickly removed.

Again, artist injured on the film set. This time the bad luck befalls Hilary Swank. The two-time Oscar winning actress was injured Thursday Nov 2nd on the set of her new film "P.S., I Love You" in New York.

People magazine wrote that during a scene with co-star Gerard Butler, in which the actor performs a striptease for Swank, Butler's suspenders became snagged and hit the actress on her forehead.

Spidey fans, do mark your calendar on November 9 for it's the date for a new trailer of "Spider-Man 3" to see the light at last. Superhero Hype! has learned that Sony Pictures is reportedly set to show the trailer on MTV exactly on the day during the airing of its "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel" at 10 p.m. ET.

For those who later turn out to miss the show, need not worry for the trailer will then be played in theaters attached to prints of the new James Bond flick, "Casino Royale", starting November 17. In addition there are rumors that a second new trailer of the picture will be featured in February 2007 in front of the screening of fellow superhero flick "Ghost Rider"

Lukas Rossi, the lead singer of reality television formed rock band Rock Star Supernova, is set to rock his hometown Richmond, B.C., just outside of Vancouver, performing in the 2006 annual Gemini Awards.

Marking his first Canadian performance since winning the rock 'n' roll reality TV show, Rossi will take the stage Saturday Nov 4th alongside fellow band member Gilby Clarke who also is the ex-guitarist of Guns N' Roses. The twosome will perform an acoustic version of "It's All Love" off Supernova's upcoming eponymous album, scheduled for a November 21st release date.

Rounding out a great ensemble of Latin cast, Rodrigo Santoro, Paz Vega, and Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira have all been confirmed to take part in a romantic epic feature entitled "Dare to Love Me."

Slated to start shooting next spring in Romania, the picture, set in 1930s Paris, tells about the life of Argentinean tango legend Carlos Gardel. Santoro is billed to play the crooner, while Vega and Shakira will both become his love interests in a romantic triangle. Alfonso Arau is on board to direct with Jeremy Leven writing the screenplay.

Again taking part in teen comedy genre, Amanda Bynes has landed a deal to topline an updated version of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" fairy tale titled "Sydney White", Production Weekly has reported.

Scheduled to enter production this January in Florida, pic revolves around a popular college student named Rachel whose status is challenged when White (Bynes) enters the campus and steals attention as well as her would-be boyfriend Blaine away from her. Joe Nussbaum is in charge to direct while Chad Creasey is set to pen the script.

Busta Rhymes just forgets how to be the right man in the right place. The rapper was caught Thursday Nov 2nd talking on his cell phone while driving in New York City, where it is illegal to drive while talking on a cell phone.

The incident took place at about 7 p.m. before the star was quickly pulled offer by police and issued a summons for the moving violation. Rhymes' management office won't comment on the encounter somehow.

He was previously a back up dancer and next became the husband of a famous pop star. Subsequently he released his debut solo album, and now Kevin Federline is having an autobiography in his mind.

Publicly announced his plan to write an autobiography, Federline says it will be aimed at letting public know about his life before his marriage to Britney Spears. Despite such fact, the set won't include in it any content relating to the couple's up-down relationship.

Known as a film producer and the man behind "Project Greenlight", Chris Moore now is heading to another field. The man is about to make his feature directorial debut in "Killers", a horror-action flick set to be distributed by Lionsgate Films.

A collaborative production of Element Films, Lift Films and Benderspink, the project focuses on a group of close friends who are forced to engage in a game where they have to kill each other in order to survive by a mysterious killer. Agnes Bruckner, Taryn Manning, and Patrick Flueger are all starring with Kelly C. Palmer writing the script.

Easy come, easy go. That's how Lindsay Lohan living her love life. Shortly after her break up with restaurateur Harry Morton, the actress has found a new love all over again.

This time around Lohan's choice goes to her junior, the 18-year-old Evan Ross. Yes you're right, he is the son of the famous singer Diana Ross.

As for Chris Rock, marriage life isn't as easy as that of his acting career. The comedian is reported to have begun divorce proceedings against his wife of nearly 10 years, Malaak Compton-Rock.

For the sake of the split, Rock has hired a high-powered attorney, it has been reported. Being asked on that encounter, the star's representative remained tight-lipped, saying "I cannot comment at this time."

Jumping into pure drama genre, Andrew Niccol has been appointed by Room 9 to direct its new project of "Dali & I: The Surreal Story", a big screen feature about Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.

An adaptation of Stan Lauryssens' autobiographical book "Dali and I", the picture will depict Dali's life through the eyes of Lauryssens and focus on the mentor-protege relationship between the two. Filming is expected to begin next spring with Niccol to also rewrite the script originally penned by John Salvati.

Following the footstep of her fellow celebrities, Christina Aguilera is the latest to have her figure immortalized at London's prestigious Madame Tussauds museum in the form of a wax statue.

Officials at Madame Tussauds have confirmed that Aguilera has agreed to have her likeness immortalized, and she will pose in a glittering vintage gown. The singer will have her figure unveiled later this month after she completes her UK tour.

Set to work hand in hand, French actress Catherine Deneuve and "The Skeleton Key" star Gena Rowlands have both agreed to lend their voices in the English-language version of the French animated film feature "Persepolis."

Taking the same duty as she did in the original version, Deneuve is billed to voice the lead character's mother while Rowlands will voice her grandmother. Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi have been in charge to both write and direct with Xavier Rigault and Marc-Antoine Rob producing.

Securing one more great deal, Rogue Pictures has obtained distribution rights to action/horror flick "Castlevania" for North America and the U.K regions as well as for Spain and German-speaking territories with Crystal Sky handling sales for the rest of the world, Variety has learned.

Based on Konami's long-running game franchise of the same name, the project tells about the clash between Dracula and the vampire-hunting Belmont family which has spanned for centuries. It is revealed, however, that the film will mostly take place in 15th century Transylvania.

A shocking decision has been taken by Fox Atomic. The studio has confirmed that production on its "Revenge of the Nerds" is halted after Atlanta's Emory University, where most of the film takes place at, backed out of its agreement to permit the shooting on campus.

Reason behind Emory's action is still unclear yet, but it is believed that the refusal was triggered by the disapproval of the institution's officials on the raunchy nature of the flick. Fox itself actually has attempted to shoot the project at other colleges in Atlanta before finally came to a conclusion to shut it down.