March 16, 2007

Shining bright from the accolades he received for his directorial work in "The Queen", British filmmaker Stephen Frears is currently being involved in early talks to direct "The Burial" for Screen Gems, which obtained the rights out of turnaround from Warner Bros. Pictures.

Already got Doug Wright penned the script, the picture is actually based on a lengthy New Yorker profile penned by "Civil Action" author Jonathan Harr about Willie Gary, one of eleven children in a family of migrant workers, who made his way to become a multimillionaire attorney.

The availability of Stacy Ferguson's "Glamorous" featuring rapper Ludacris for download sales has been on and off. In its ninth week, finally it gathers 166,000 digital sales and rightfully sits at the top position of Billboard Hot 100 chart. Stacy Ferguson aka Fergie has held the position twice and therefore is the only sixth solo female artist in 20 years to collect more than one #1 single from debut album.

With Fergie sitting on that position, it knocks out last week's three toppers to slip one places each. MIMS' "This Is Why I'm Hot" falls to #2, Akon's "Don't Matter" is down to #3 and Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" featuring Akon falls 3-4.

Two talents of different generations are about to meet in one screen. Funnyman Martin Lawrence and "That's So Raven" star Raven-Symone have both agreed to take starring part in a comedic feature titled "College Road Trip", which will be produced under Walt Disney Pictures banner.

Born out of the Disney Writers Program by Carrie Evans and Emi Mochizuki, the flick tells about a young woman with ambitious public-defender dreams who undergoes a road trip to visit potential universities with her overprotective cop dad.

Now that the little girl has been discharged from hospital, her actor father and the whole crew might get prepared to start shooting again. Lily-Rose, the daughter of Johnny Depp and partner Vanessa Paradis, has been discharged from a London based - hospital after a scary attack of blood poisoning.

Lily-Rose was admitted to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital at the end of February. The child's exact ailment is being kept under wrap for the family's privacy.

Attempting to enlarge his writing credits, screenwriter Peter Buchman is engaged in final talks to pen the script for "The Wonga Coup", a new big screen production of Miramax Films and Blumhouse Productions.

Adapted from Economist writer Adam Roberts' book of the same title, the project concerns a failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea that is driven by the desire to control oil. No words yet on the cast and director, but it is revealed that Jason Blum will seat as a producer.

Amid the buzz surrounding Shia LaBeouf's denial of his inclusion in "Fourth Installment of the Indiana Jones Adventures", Lucasfilm Ltd. turns out to have got a very bright talent to come onboard the highly anticipated project.

The Hollywood Reporter has brought in good news that Cate Blanchett is poised to star in the flick opposite Harrison Ford. However, it is still unclear what role the Oscar-winning actress will portray as David Koepp's script is being kept tight in secrecy.

She's been tapped to host the prestigious Academy Awards. Then is said to get hitched with partner. Now with 12 nominations of Daytime Emmy, Ellen DeGeneres' year is just perfect.

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" takes a leading 12 Daytime Emmy nominations, including one for Best Talk Show and one for Best Talk Show Host, an award Ellen has won three years in a row.

Seemingly wanting to make people recognize him not merely as the new Superman, Brandon Routh appears to have taken a contrasting acting stint in his big screen credits.

A site on the actor, brandonrouth.com, revealed that the striking hunk has nabbed a role as a drug addict in urban drama "Life Is Hot in Cracktown" for Ithaka Entertainment. Routh himself has confirmed his inclusion in the project as posted in the site's askbrandon section.

Her ex has given her a green light and so Uma Thurman is going on with her plan. The actress is reportedly planning to wed on-off boyfriend Andre Balazs.

Thurman and the hotel boss are planning a summer wedding at the Caribbean isle of St Bart's, it has been reported.

From historical to a rather modern-day biopic, that's what Kirsten Dunst is up to. The actress herself spilled the bean that she indeed will play Deborah Harry, the frontwoman of new wave band Blondie, in a biopic of her which Michel Gondry is attached to direct.

Speculations on her taking the role have been circulated from some time, provoking various reactions among the moviegoers, including those showing signs of disapproval or questioning her capability to become the famed punk goddess of the 80's. On these, the actress appears to have quite a solid answer in turn.

He has left the bitter memories behind and moves on. Dave Navarro already gets over from her failed marriage with Carmen Electra and has found new love in Kelly Carlson.

The twosome is reported dating, one month after his divorce from Carmen became final. Navarro and Carlson have recently been photographed enjoying each other's company around Los Angeles.

With the new addition to their family has come, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie might have their wedding takes place anytime soon. The celebrity pair reportedly is planning to marry in the Bahamas over the summer.

The wedding reports came to the surface today, as soon as it was reported that Jolie has picked up her newly adopted son, Pax Thien Jolie, and is close to complete the things to get the little boy his US visa.

The Jigsaw we are set to see for the fourth time will definitely still be the same old man we first spotted in the beginning of the "Saw" series.

Yes, that's true, Tobin Bell is returning once more to play the nefarious serial killer in "Saw IV", producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules have confirmed during the Lionsgate luncheon presentation to the ShoWest conference in Las Vegas on March 14, 2007.

Are single and having movie project together drew Rachel Bilson and co-star Hayden Christensen closer. Once spotted holding hands, both movie stars fueled recent rumors claiming they're dating when they were spotted feeding each other on Wednesday afternoon March 14th in L.A.

Done with the lunch, Hayden then drove Rachel's car back to her house in L.A. While speculation on their getting together as couple is heating up, either parties are keeping mum on that. But fear not as we'll keep you posted with more.

Ne-Yo grabbed the chance to do a piece of work with Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson. The American R&B singer said that he has done a song with Hudson but refused to elaborate further on other artists supporting his upcoming LP "Know Me".

The mutual interest is based on Ne-Yo's willingness to get the real Hudson heard. "As of right now, nobody knows who Jennifer Hudson is," he explained. "Everybody knows who Effie is because every song (Hudson) performs are the songs Effie did on the movie. (With the LP, we're) trying to establish who Jennifer Hudson is."

This just in. Jessica Biel is reportedly dating Ryan Reynolds.

Both Biel and Reynolds are co-stars in the 2004 hit movie "Blade: Trinity" and are said to have rekindled their friendship.

To have Zac Efron seated in racing car instead of dancing merrily around seems quite possible, at least for Just Jared.

According to the site, the "High School Musical" star is currently in talks to portray the title character in "Speed Racer", the live-action adaptation of the Japanese cartoon series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. The young actor was even granted permission by Disney to take one-day leave from "High School Musical 2" set so that he could attend the project's callback audition.

Home sweet home. Jennifer Aniston is reportedly planning to shift from Los Angeles to native state, Gotham in New York.

A friend of the actress said Aniston is contemplating the shift after considering the possibility of meeting several kinds of people, which would make her life better, and that she will also have chance to meet lot of men.

Finishing the tour for "Back to Bedlam" in November 2006, James Blunt can then concentrate on the new album. He is in progress of the sophomore album which is predicted to be out by fall.

He said that this album will contain something different from the previous and that fans can expect new sounds coming out. "It's got a good '70s feel to it," he said. "I guess it's the next chapter in how I feel." This is supported by the fact that he is recording with his band that has toured with him for two years, "They know the new songs and they give a bit of grit and edge that perhaps wasn't there when I was doing it on my own," he said.

Danny Ocean and his team will make an earlier appearance on Mediterranean.

Variety has claimed that prior to its stateside release on June 8, "Ocean's Thirteen" will encounter its international premiere at the 60th annual Cannes Film Festival, scheduled to run from May 16 to May 27, 2007.

Compared to any other celebrity moms, Katie Price has been chosen the best in an online poll by UK shopping website Grattan.

The British model, also known as Jordan, thus named Celebrity Mom of the Year 2007, beating other celebrity contenders including Victoria Adams, Jade Goody, Sarah Ferguson, Kate Moss, and Heather Mills among others.

Planned carefully, Annie Lennox's first album in four years is backed up with a brilliant musician, Glen Ballard. The highly awaited album will be out end of this year though no name and exact release date have been specified yet.

Instead of working with Steve Lipson again, Annie has picked Grammy Award winning producer Glen Ballard to work with her in this album. Successful with Alanis Morissette's albums the veteran songwriter is putting final touches in the album. "It's a very intense record," Ballard said in a statement. "It's very personal to her. We spent a lot of time making sure the music was the way she wanted it."

The carnivorous freshwater fish is swimming to the big screen again, only this time it will come up to the surface through the hands of Alexandre Aja, backing up by producers Mark Canton, Marc Toberoff, and Gregory Levasseur.

Yes, the French filmmaker has assumed duties to direct stylized horror-comedy "Piranha", a remake of Joe Dante's 1978 effort of the same title, which was known as a dark parody of Steven Spielberg's "Jaws." This, however, is not the first time the flick receives a remake treatment since Scott P. Levy had made one in 1995, if TV-movie production is counted.

Ricky Martin was honored Thursday March 15th with the title of king of the 50th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

The honor given to the Latin singer is meant to honor his musical success and efforts to fight the exploitation of children worldwide.

Nick Lachey is compiling ideas for third album. Always striving for the best, Nick hopes that the next album following "What's Left of Me" will be much lighter. He told MTV News that ballad would still be his thing because he knows what he's known for.

Nick claims that he puts emotions in every step of making a record. The previous album "What's Left of Me" was the one he made during a low point of his life following the divorce with Jessica Simpson. Anticipating that the dark clouds have gone, he promises more colors available in the upcoming not yet titled album.

SOS, Britney Spears needs help. The troubled pop singer, who has nearly completed her 30-day stint in rehab, is asking for your support during the recovery.

She wants you to "send your thoughts and inspiration" through an email to her official site, britneyspears.com , to get her through the tough moment.

After reviving his rap persona in album "Alter Ego", Tyrese Gibson has become addicted to it and wants to do it again in the next album. In fact, as an MC he has gained quite a reputation from both fans and fellow musicians, therefore he makes sure that the rap counter part (Black Ty) will always be present.

Gibson is initially known for his R&B style before he met a new challenge that he was willing to take on. Describing the rap experience as one thing that has no comparison to singing, he believes that this part is growing. "All I can do now is come with lyrics and concepts and whatever comes to me from here on out. Black Ty is here, I ain't going nowhere," he said.

It's official. Angelina Jolie has on Thursday March 15th picked his newly adopted son at the Tam Binh orphanage outside Ho Chi Minh City as soon as Vietnamese officials approved the adoption earlier that day.

Orphanage director Nguyen Van Trung said the boy's birth name was Pham Quang Sang, but has been changed into Pax Thien Jolie, with Pax means peace in Latin. Jolie picked up her 3-year-old son with the companion of Maddox. They arrived at the orphanage at about 9 AM.

Other stars' presence in John Mayer's tour is quite a common sight, as the singer likes to travel with fellow musicians. In the upcoming Continuum tour, Mayer has asked singer and songwriter Ben Folds to come along and open the act.

Held in promotion of Mayer's album "Continuum" (2006), the tour will kick off on June 1 in Ridgefield, Wash and visit other 37 venues. Beside Folds, other artists such as Rocco DeLuca, Brett Dennen and James Morrison are also in support of this tour.

Already had at least five big screen features to be developed apparently does not stop Jonathan Mostow to add one more project into his hectic schedule. Variety has reported that the Connecticut-born filmmaker has been appointed by Disney to direct its new sci-fi thriller of "The Surrogates."

Based on the graphic novel written by Robert Venditti and illustrated by Brett Weldele for Top Shelf Comix, the flick presents a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact vicariously through surrogate robots. Mostow will set up the project while he continues to pen "Sub-Mariner", an adaptation of the Marvel Comics character for Universal.

Aiming to have first-class talents to topline the project, filmmakers of "Blindness" reportedly are holding negotiations with both Daniel Craig and Julianne Moore to entrust the task to the pair.

An adaptation of Portuguese Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago's 1995 novel of the same title, the picture focuses on an epidemic of blindness that spreads across an unnamed contemporary city, pushing the residents to the brink of breakdown. Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles has been tapped to direct for Focus Features International.

Planting his nails deeper into show business, Don Cheadle has come up with five big screen projects that he is about to produce and star in. All of them will be set up at Crescendo Productions, the company in which he partners with longtime managers Kay Liberman and Lenore Zerman.

Among the five, there will be a biopic of famed musician Miles Davis which Cheadle is eyeing as his feature directorial debut. Liberman and Zerman both claimed they have secured music and life rights to the jazz legend with writing duo Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson working on the script.

Putting one more potential big screen project at its pit, Warner Independent Pictures is on the move to develop "Night of the Living Dorks", a remake of the 2004 German comedy of the same title.

Described as "Revenge of the Nerds" meets "Shaun of the Dead", pic centers on three not-so-cool school friends who decide to perform an old voodoo ritual which surprisingly turns all of them into zombies after they die in a car crash. Instead of trying to find way to leave the world peacefully, the threesome curiously attempt to take advantage of their new lifestyle.

Set to work as solid onscreen team, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ray Liotta have both given agreement to star together in indie movie "Hero Wanted", The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Brian Smrz, the project concerns a garbage collector who stages a bank robbery so he can be the hero and stop it in order to impress a female employee there. Production is scheduled to begin next month in Bulgaria under Millennium Films banner.

Previously almost cast as the titular character in "Spider-Man 2" replacing fellow actor Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal may have chance to be another superhero of his own if the report is proven true.

New York Daily News has opened up hot tidbit that the Oscar nominee could be the chosen actor to play Captain Marvel in "Shazam!", New Line Cinema's adaptation of DC Comics character created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker.