January 22, 2007

Taking another project to work on together after their collaboration in "The Hitcher", Rogue Pictures and Intrepid Pictures are set to develop "Couriers" based on a series of action graphic novels of the same name of which movie rights they have secured.

Written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Rob G, the series centers on the adventure of a pair of gun-toting mercenary couriers named Moustafa and Special who carry out jobs that other couriers do not, like large cash transfers, protection, assassinations, and blockade-running.

Taking bold decision in developing "Big Man on Campus", Columbia Pictures has picked up a first-time feature director Mark Teitelman to helm the flick, which is intended to be a teen comedy feature.

Written by Gina Wendkos based on her own pitch, the picture presents a story that is set in motion as beauty and brains duke it out in high school, changing the perception of "popular" and crumbling the power structure.

After being tightly kept under wrap, Universal Pictures finally lets loose the story of "Mummy 3." SCI FI Wire has gained information from the project's co-writer Alfred Gough that the flick will still revolve around the O'Connell family with their grown son while presenting a new mummy as well.

"We figured out a really good family story with Rick and Evie, and [their son] Alex is now grown up," he remarked. "So it's really interesting."

Yes, the story of the web-swinging superhero still continues on the big screen. The Superhero Hype! has pointed out that Sony Pictures is moving forward to the fourth installment as it learned from a very reliable source that "Spider-Man" scribe David Koepp is involved in talks to pen the script for the project.

Apparently, the hype surrounding "Spider-Man 3" has proven effective enough for Sony to finally decide to make the fourth. The third one previously received phenomenal reaction when footage of the flick was screened at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas several weeks ago.

She's been through trial after trial for assaulting her housekeeper with her mobile phone, but now Naomi Campbell is ready to make a comeback to spotlight. The supermodel has landed a role on the hit TV series "Ugly Betty".

Thus, the Golden-Globe winning series will see her as a loon who loves to shop. "On Ugly Betty I'll play a loony who loves to shop and can't find a man. I like that sort of role," Campbell was quoted as saying.

Honoring various fields of media work for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation unveiled on Sunday, January 21 in Park City, Utah the contenders of its GLAAD Media Awards.

For film categories, the organization selected five titles each for that of Outstanding Film- Wide Release and Limited Release. Competing in the former one are "Little Miss Sunshine", "The Night Listener", "Running with Scissors", and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" while "The History Boys", "Quinceanera", "Shortbus", "Imagine Me & You", and "Summer Storm" will all vie for the latter.

Ashley Olsen is single again. The 20-year-old actress has split from her 27-year-old boyfriend Greg Chait after a year-and-a-half together.

Reason cited behind their break up is "commitment issues", about which a source confirmed PageSix.com, "When they were together over the holidays, she told him she was looking for something more permanent. He wasn't ready for that. So they decided on an amicable parting."

Here's supposedly one perfect movie for F1 die-hard fans. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Oscar-winning producer of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy Barrie Osborne is developing a biopic of Bruce McLaren, one of the F1 racing car legends.

No words yet on either the helmer or the cast, but Osborne has already picked up Oscar-winner Dan Hennah as the film's production designer with motor sport enthusiast and veteran international broadcaster Michael Garlick co-producing.

Her deep concern to education has led Alicia Keys to offer scholarship. The Grammy-Award winning singer is offering $5,000 college scholarships to four students in four cities.

"We're just looking for standout students who are definitely college-bound and need a little bit of help financially to really achieve their dreams," Keys explained.

David Beckham is paving his way to stardom. Following his signing to LA Galaxy, the British soccer ace has been set to give an American TV interview which will be watched by 80 million viewers.

On that encounter, it is reported that Beckham is set to promote his new team during the Superbowl final on February 4, screened on the CBS network. That will be his first major TV interview ever since announcing his new career move.

Boldly continues to deal with sensitive topic after "United 93", Paul Greengrass is collaborating once again with Working Title Films to depict the aftermath of the Iraq invasion in "Imperial Life in the Emerald City."

Based on the Rajiv Chandrasekaran's book, the project concerns the author's experience when he witnessed Americans' chaotic attempts to set up a provisional government in the area around Saddam Hussein's palace. "United 93" producers, Lloyd Levin, Tim Beva, and Eric Fellner, are all back to serve as the producers with Universal Pictures to distribute.

A surprise marked the ceremony of PGA Awards as the Producers Guild of America held the event for the eighteenth time on Saturday, January 20, 2007. Includes over 2,800 members of the producing team worldwide in its membership, the organization finally picked up producers of "Little Miss Sunshine" as the recipients of its Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures.

Bestowing the honor to the offbeat, dark comedy's producing team consisting of Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, and Ron Yerxa, the Guild also granted "Cars" producer Darla K. Anderson the Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures and "60 Minutes" producer Jeff Fager that in Non-Fiction Television.

Just last week, it was reported that she and partner Brad Pitt had bought a house in New Orleans following their plan to move there. Just now word got around that Angelina Jolie has spent last week in Vietnam for a meeting on behalf of the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Project, her charity aiding her son's native country of Cambodia.

Per People magazine, it is reported that the actress and MJP executive director Stephan Bognar, met with officials from the International Finance Corporation's Mekong Private Sector Development Facility, a privately funded World Bank initiative that promotes economic development in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Rock group Evanescence has, on Friday afternoon January 19th, announced the second leg of U.S. dates on their World Tour in support of their success LP, "The Open Door".

Set to perform 14 dates in arenas, beginning on March 16th in Fresno, California and runs across the U.S. with the final show scheduled for April 5th in Glens Falls, NY, tickets for all of the shows on this leg will go on sale beginning January 27.

The step dancing fever has indeed become an epidemic among the moviegoers if looking on the prolonged success of "Stomp the Yard." Yes, the urban dance drama again comes out as the No. 1 movie in its second round on the weekend box office after satisfyingly gathering $12.2 million, slightly above "Night at the Museum" that still manages to add $12 million into its second place-feedbag.

Behind the family-friendly comedy pops up musical drama "Dreamgirls" on the heels of its Golden Globe Award last Monday for the best comedy or musical feature title. Rises one notch from its last-week position, the Paramount Pictures release this time collects $8 million to firmly put newcomer "The Hitcher" on the fourth place as the thriller remake opens below pundits' expectation at $7.8 million.

It will be a long and tough divorce battle for Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese. Following the footstep of his soon-to-be ex-wife, who filed for divorce on December 29, 2006 after just over a year of marriage, the rocker has also filed his own.

Dated January 19th, in his divorce papers Manson is trying to block any future claim of spousal support from estranged wife Von Teese, despite the fact that she has not asked for any. He also wants her to pay her own legal fees, while she is seeking to have him pay for the divorce.

Actress Keri Russell and her contractor fiance Shane Deary are expecting their first child ever. A spokesperson for her shared the good news, Friday January 19th, while confirming that the baby is due later this summer.

Russell, played the title role of Felicity Porter in the hit drama "Felicity" from 1998 to 2002, and Shane became engaged last year after dating for several years. However, no wedding date has been set.

Britney Spears, no panties, no underwear, and now no boyfriend. The pop singer, who is working on her comeback album, has reportedly split from model boyfriend Isaac Cohen, just three weeks after the pair began dating.

It was Spears herself who revealed the fact, telling a pack of paparazzi who followed her Thursday night January 18th at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf cafe in Santa Monica, California, "Me and Isaac are not together, by the way." Being asked by photographers if the relationship was really over, she replied, "Yes."