December 15, 2006

Looking for a respectable name to lead its new big screen project "Tarzan", Universal Pictures is considering acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro to be given the task. Variety has learned that the studio is currently involved in negotiations with the man for the position with John Collee being eyed to pen the script.

"I'd love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it," Del Toro said as he revealed his scheme for the movie. "There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment."

His high-profile vehicle of "Spider-Man 3" has not yet seen the lights in theaters, but Topher Grace has already landed his next acting stint in "Kids in America (2007)."

Production Weekly has reported that the "That '70s Show" star has reached an agreement to topline the project as an aimless college grad named Matt Franklin who pursues his dream girl at a wild Labor Day weekend party, finding himself struggling with his burgeoning adulthood over the course of the night alongside his twin sister and their best friend.

Making a progress on its new rom-com project "Around the World in 80 Dates", Universal Pictures has successfully snatched the "Hitch" helmer Andy Tennant and Gwyn Lurie as the film's director and screenwriter, respectively, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.

Here Lurie is replacing Jeff Rake who initially wrote the previous draft with Reese Witherspoon producing via her Type A Films alongside Mike De Luca Productions. It should be noted that the actress has not yet attached to play a role in the flick even though that easily could change as the project develops.

Agreed to join forces together, Miramax Films and producer Scott Rudin are set to work on to develop Catholic-school drama "Doubt" as their next collaborative big screen project.

Based on John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same title, the picture concerns a nun who confronts a priest upon suspecting him abusing a black student. Shanley himself will both write and direct the flick with an eye to begin production in fall 2007.

Gearing things up for the coming of its highly anticipated sequel "Shrek the Third", DreamWorks Animation has smoothly launched a new version of the teaser trailer for the movie, the studio itself has officially announced.

Available in AOL Players format, those who want to take a look on it can go to http://movies.aol.com/movie/shrek-the-third/21802/main. In addition, the flick's official website on http://www.shrekthethird.com/ has also been updated with some new downloads.

Taking into account the success of previous James Bond movies, it is safe for us to say that the forthcoming "Bond 22" will surely be a box office hit as well. In an attempt to anticipate the success of the flick, it is necessary, in fact, to find the perfect choice to fill in the theme song.

Who is the perfect choice then? What about The Killers? The US rockers have been asked to record the theme song for the next James Bond film. On that matter a source said, "The Killers have reached the perfect point in their career to do a Bond track. They have the right sound, right look and a huge fanbase."

Though already been slated to hit theaters late this month on date 29, there is a possibility for "Factory Girl" to not appear on that day as famed musician Bob Dylan is preparing to take legal action against the movie which can prevent it to come up on date scheduled.

What triggers Dylan to plan so apparently is because he considers that the flick, a biopic of mid-sixties 'it girl' Edie Sedgwick, falsely implies he is responsible for the socialite's death as people can easily relate Hayden Christensen's character Billy Quinn to him despite the film's producers' claim insisting Quinn of actually being a composite of Dylan, Mick Jagger, and Jim Morrison.

Though she repeatedly denied reports she's romancing John Mayer, all signs are pointing otherwise. Despite her denial, Jessica Simpson has fueled the romance issue as she reportedly planning to record a film duet with the blues singer-songwriter.

Rumors on the street say Simpson desperately wants to get Mayer into the studio, asking him to record a duet with her for the soundtrack of her new film, "Blonde Ambition."

Rapper Proof, who was shot and killed during a dispute at an after-hours club in April this year, will live on with "Time a Tell," a new album and movie his label, Iron Fist Records, is planning to release next year.

"Time a Tell" features 18 tracks written and recorded by Proof during a 24-hour period in January 2006. The set is the fruit of such hard work after Proof was challenged by his friend Julius Myers, known as DJ Jewels Baby, to write and record an album in one day.

Get ready, folks, the 'real' teaser trailer of "Transformers" is coming soon on the web. Paramount Pictures, the company owning DreamWorks SKG where the flick is produced, has been confirmed to have fixed things to launch the first official trailer for the movie next week.

Definitely not an announcement trailer, it is set to pop up online on December 20 before becoming available through streaming feeds on December 26, the day after Christmas.

It's over between Bridget Moynahan and boyfriend, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The couple who's been dating for three years long ended their relationship several weeks ago.

"Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady amicably ended their three year relationship several weeks ago. We ask for your respect and consideration of their privacy. No further comments will be made," a representative for the actress said in a statement on Thursday Dec 14th.

Continuing its annual tradition in giving honors to talented figures in show business, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has finally unveiled yesterday, December 14, in Beverly Hills, California, the nominees for the 2007 Golden Globe Awards of which ceremony will take place at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast airing on NBC on January 15.

Leading the contenders, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's multinational ensemble drama "Babel" gloriously scored seven nominations, notably that of Best Motion Picture- Drama alongside "Bobby", "The Departed", "Little Children", and "The Queen." Other major nods secured by the picture included those in supporting categories for its three stars namely Brad Pitt, Adriana Barraza, and Rinko Kikuchi.

It's been a busy period for Nine Inch Nails as the alternative rock band is readying "Beside You in Time," a 19-track DVD chronicling their early 2006 "With Teeth" supporting tour.

The DVD, due February 27th next year via Interscope in the U.S., will be released in three formats: standard, high-definition, and Blu-Ray, with the latter two featuring "true high definition video audio," according to the band MySpace.

Three are just not enough for Angelina Jolie and boyfriend Brad Pitt, they want more. The actress said Thursday Dec 14th on ABC's "Good Morning America", that she and Pitt want more children, and will likely adopt their next child to try to balance their "mixed-race family."

"I want Mad (Maddox) to know that as our family grew and we all came together, we didn't just start having children, biological children," Jolie said while adding "Yes, we have Shiloh and it's been a wonderful experience, but we want to find another brother or sister in the world for our family."

Bringing his production company Infinitum Nihil to higher degree, Johnny Depp is teaming up with Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group to produce not only one but four film features of different genre based on writing works of acclaimed authors.

Though the Infinitum execs have carefully stressed that the Oscar-nominated actor will only produce- not star, hopes still arise that the projects can turn into starring vehicles for the versatile star.

Jennifer Lopez and Jim Carrey, none of them are close to either Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes. So you maybe surprise when the two scored tickets to the wedding of the year, don't you? Yeah, and that cost them converted to TomKat's believe, Scientology.

Rumor has it that Lopez as well as Carrey and Jenny McCarthy have all invited to TomKat wedding because they are apparently linked to the Church of Scientology. "Jim is taking the introductory and beginner's courses right now," a source said.

Taking a new writing stint after being last noticed co-penning David O. Russell's "I Heart Huckabees", Jeff Baena is on board to work on the screenplay of "The Awakening of Jean-Luc Barbara" for Warner Bros. Pictures, Variety has revealed.

A battle-of-the-sexes comedy, the project will be the feature directorial debut of Justin Reardon, who has been known as a commercial director. In the meantime, Warner will collaborate with Tapestry Films to develop the flick.

No, they are no longer best friends. Britney Spears and Paris Hilton are best pals no more.

Talk is heating up that Spears has decided to stay apart from Paris after she's been told by her people if she ever wants to make a comeback, she has to stop hanging out with Paris and starts acting like an adult.

Making an unlikely venture in her acting career, Anne Hathaway has landed a deal to topline a supernatural thriller entitled "Passengers" which will be developed by Mandate Pictures for Columbia Pictures to distribute domestically.

Scheduled to begin filming early next year, the feature focuses on Hathaway's character, a grief counselor, who helps six plane crash survivors while establishing a special connection with one of them. Things turn darker when the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, leading her to a determination to find the truth behind the occurrence.

Set to come up with a potential horror picture, Universal Pictures has assigned Carey Malloy to write for its new project of "Tag" with Jeff Kirschenbaum and David Ortiz both overseeing the production for the studio, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on a comic book written by Keith Giffen and drawn by Kody Chamberlain, the project follows a man as he sees his body decompose every day before his eyes after being tagged by a stranger. Realizing that he is under an ancient pagan curse, the guy must either surrender or find the next victim to tag.