January 19, 2007

Wanna see the big names in 'Black Hollywood' appearing together in one screen? Do keep an eye on this project from Brett Ratner, folks, as the filmmaker has successfully enticed the likes of Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Chris Tucker to all take part in a movie he is about to make, which is still untitled yet.

Set to be produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, the flick is said to be developed as a black version of the popular "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels. Adding the hype, "Inside Man" scribe Russell Gewirtz is confirmed to work on the script while Denzel Washington is reportedly engaged in talks with Ratner for a starring slot in the movie.

Quickly nabbing her next stint in filmmaking after "The Namesake", Mira Nair has been confirmed to be the helmer of "Shantaram", a collaborative big screen project between Warner Bros. Pictures and Initial Entertainment Group.

Based on Gregory David Roberts' novel of the same title, the action drama follows an Australian heroin addict as he reinvents himself as a doctor in Bombay after escaping from a maximum-security prison. Eric Roth is on duty to pen the script with Johnny Depp to both star in and produce via his Infinitum Nihil. Filming is likely to begin this fall for a possible 2008 release.

Moving out from "Lone Wolf and Cub" to vie for another potential directing stint, Darren Aronofsky finally lands his feet on Universal Pictures as the man has just been appointed by the studio to helm its psychological thriller project of "Black Swan."

Taking a look into the manipulative relationship between a veteran dancer and a rival, the feature has already hired John McLaughlin to pen the script with Aronofsky to also produce via his Protozoa Pictures alongside Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer, and Eric Watson. Meanwhile Brad Fischer and David Thwaites will both executive produce.

Picking up two Hollywood's household names for its thriller project "Lakeview Terrace", Screen Gems has successfully got Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington onboard to be the leadstars of the flick.

Set to begin production in May, the picture centers on an interracial couple who faces nightmare in their life when they move into a new home next to a tightly wound, racist LAPD officer. Scribe David Loughery is also executive producing alongside Jeff Graup with Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter and Will Smith producing.

It's perfectly cast, really. Variety has delightfully reported that Al Pacino is positive to topline Room 9 Entertainment's dramatic feature "Dali & I: The Surreal Story" and will portray none other than the famed Spanish painter Salvador Dali.

With this inclusion, the project thereby marks the reunion between Pacino and director Andrew Niccol after their last collaboration in "S1m0ne." The film itself, based on Stan Lauryssen's book "Dali and I", depicts the latter period of Dali's life through the eyes of the author, a young art dealer who later establishes a mentor-protege relationship with the artist.

Still high in demand, Laurence Fishburne is reportedly close to reach deal to have a starring role in Columbia Pictures' thriller project "21."

An adaptation of Ben Mezrich's best-selling nonfiction book "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions", the picture concerns a group of young men who become experts in the art of card counting. If everything goes smooth for Fishburne, the actor will likely be billed as a Vegas security chief who hunts down the group.

Coming together onscreen, Wes Bentley and Joe Mantegna are both poised to highlight "Hank and Mike", a dark comedy of Canada-based Darius Films and Shoreline Entertainment production, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Directed by Matthiew Klinck, the project concerns two foul-mouthed Easter bunnies who get fired and try their hand at a various number of bizarre jobs. Bentley will portray an efficiency consultant while Mantegna is plotted to play the owner of Easter Enterprises.

Going back behind the camera after four years, Harald Zwart has signed on to direct "Hotel for Dogs", a comedy project coming from DreamWorks Pictures, Variety has revealed.

While details on the project are being kept tightly under wraps, it is confirmed that Jeff Lowell is set to pen the script with Lauren Shuler Donner of "X-Men" franchise seating as the flick's producer.

Filming on "Charlie Wilson's War" came to a halt yesterday, January 18, 2007 as a simulated stinger missile exploded on the flick's set and got a special effects assistant critically injured, causing the person to undergo a surgery in the evening at St. Francis Medical Center.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but it was reported that the accident occurred when a group of special effects specialists were testing the handheld device at Downey Studios, a former aerospace factory 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

There does take and give between Fall Out Boy and Kanye West. The two famous figures in music industry are teaming up, with the band confirming that West will remix a track from their upcoming album, "Infinity on High," while they will return the favor by remixing one of the rapper's own songs.

As of West, he's set to remix the first single from "Infinity," entitled "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race," whereas it as yet confirmed on what track FOB will remix for West.

Following the buzz surrounding Courtney Love's plan to develop "Heavier than Heaven", a biographical feature about her deceased husband Kurt Cobain, what probably becomes the hot topic to talk about by now is seemingly the actor to play the Nirvana frontman.

A source for the Daily Express has informed that Ewan McGregor has come out as the top choice among other potential names to assume the role. What's interesting here is if McGregor truly lands the part, this won't be the first time the striking guy portrays a rock star as he had brilliantly done it before in "Velvet Goldmine."

Has Cameron Diaz found herself a new boy toy? The movie actress makes headlines when shortly after her break up with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake, she was romantically linked to super surf stud and current ASP World Tour champ Kelly Slater.

The starlet has been reported camped out on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii with Slater. It is said that they shared a romantic oceanfront dinner at Haleiwa Joe's restaurant before heading back to Slater's place. Rumor has it that Diaz is staying with Slater.

Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, and Ludacris are the latest names confirmed to play at the forthcoming 49th Grammy Awards.

The trio will join numbers of previously announced performers, including Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink, and Rihanna just to name a few.

The days of partying and having fun are over for Britney Spears. The pop singer, who is working on her comeback album, has back on track.

The mom-of-two is getting back to work, put full concentration finishing her forthcoming album. Spears is said to have met rapper Pharrell Williams in an L.A. recording studio to work on her new LP.

Trouble has found Usher. The R&B singer has been sentenced to community service and hit with a fine after being convicted of speeding.

The Grammy-winning singer, pulled over by traffic police after being caught driving at 103 mph in Georgia on July 4 last year, appeared in Bartow County court Tuesday January 16th to face the charge as a result of the incident. Bartow County Court Probate Judge Mitchell Scoggins ordered Usher to perform 20 hours of community service and fined him $425.

Its latest work "Ratatouille" still has to wait a few months more before coming to the theaters yet Disney/Pixar has already aimed to develop a follow-up to the cuisine-loving rat tale.

In a letter sent to shareholders this week, Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger informed that the company is set to make the ninth CGI animated feature entitled "Wall-E" with "Finding Nemo" helmer Andrew Stanton to direct and Jim Morris producing.

It really is girl power that works within these recent weeks. One typical case is that of Beyonce Knowles. The singer has her single "Irreplaceable" leads the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday January 18th. This marks the song's seventh consecutive week on that No. 1 spot, ties with Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" as the longest running No. 1 among the songs that moved into first place in 2006.

Next we have Akon's "I Wanna Love You" and Stacy Ferguson's "Fergalicious" which both remain at 2nd and 3rd spots respectively. Meanwhile, Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right" climbs one to No. 4, switching places with Akon's "Smack That" featuring Eminem which secures the 5th spot. Jim Jones' "We Fly High" jumps two to No. 6, followed right after by The Fray's "How To Save a Life" at No. 7.

American Idol champ, Kelly Clarkson, has inked a deal to be part of the 2007 NASCAR team. "Anyone who knows me knows I'm a race fan and love NASCAR," Clarkson said. "It's been cool doing things with NASCAR in the past and I'm honored to have the opportunity to play such a huge role for the sport in 2007."

The deal kicks off with Clarkson headlining the Nextel "Tribute To America" concert airing live on Fox just before the Daytona 500 in Florida on Feb. 18. During the appearance, Clarkson will film a 30-second NASCAR spot for TV featuring a new song from her upcoming third album. She will also serve as a spokeswoman for the fourth annual NASCAR Day on May 18, 2007.

Paris Hilton gets more cash to shop as she reportedly has been paid for $1 million to attend the traditional Vienna Opera Ball on February 15 later this year as the guest of Viennese socialite and real estate entrepreneur Richard Lugner.

"She will dance with me," Lugner, 74, told a news conference. "If a man is a good leader on the dance floor, a woman is capable of everything." "She is a very good advertisement for the Opera Ball," Lugner's wife added.

The Internet serial "Lonelygirl15" will get star treatment Friday January 19th, when American Idol runner up Katharine McPhee is scheduled to play a guest role on the web show.

"Lonelygirl15" centers around Bree and other characters with their own chains of video blogs. The characters interact and the plot lines are woven together to produce a single, all-inclusive tale of the character's videos as they investigate messages embedded in the clips. "Lonelygirl15" has its own Web site and is posted on YouTube and other sites.

In the list compiled by Forbes magazine on the "20 Richest Women In Entertainment", the name of Oprah Winfrey comes first. The talk show host is the world's richest female entertainer, according to the finance bible, with an estimated worth of 1.5 billion dollars. With such amount of fortune, Oprah easily tops the list, ahead of the famous British Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, who is worth an estimated $1 billion into second place.

Businesswoman and home entertaining expert Martha Stewart ranks in 3rd, with an estimated fortune of $638 million. In fourth place is pop queen Madonna, who is worth an estimated $325 million. Canadian singer Celine Dion, who is worth an estimated $250 million, is in 5th place, beating Mariah Carey in 6th with a value of $225 million and Janet Jackson in 7th with $150 million. In the 8th spot on the list is Hollywood actress Julia Roberts, with an estimated wealth of $140 million.

Known to be quite consistent in releasing good movies worth to look at, New Line Cinema has obtained the rights to "Material Breach" to develop it into a big screen feature.

A political thriller, the picture centers on a secret government group that brings in a man once accused of terrorist acts to help plan attacks on Washington. No words yet on production schedule, but it is revealed that Don Winston has already been hired to work on the screenplay while John Moore is still in talks to direct.