April 14, 2007

This time, the fate of King Sharaman's son lies in the hand of Michael Bay. Yes, the action filmmaker is reported by IESB.net to have assumed helming duties for "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time", an adaptation of Ubisoft's popular third-person action adventure video game of the same name.

Developed under Walt Disney Pictures banner for a 2009 release, the movie is said to take some elements from the game to use them in building a new story in the vein of "Pirates of the Caribbean" film installments. It is expected to be the next big screen project of Bay after his highly anticipated feature "Transformers", which is set to hit theaters on July 4 this year.

Looks like development of "Afterwards" is running rather velvety as the flick now already has three promising names in its cast namely John Malkovich, Romain Duris, and Evangeline Lilly, who is set to make her feature debut here.

A co-production of France's Fidelite Films and Canada's Christal Film Productions, the supernatural thriller is based on Guillaume Musso's novel "Et apres..." and will see Duris as a workaholic lawyer drifting away from his ex-wife, played by Lilly, and daughter. In one occasion, he unexpectedly stumbles into Malkovich's character, a mysterious doctor named Joseph Kay, who claims to be have the power to sense when people are about to die.

Well aware of her age, Halle Berry has set the date for herself to get pregnant.

The actress, who is dating 31-year-old model Gabriel Aubry, said "Having children is my next big project. I'm planning on becoming pregnant by the end of the year - it's my age, it's only natural."

Mario has set back his singing persona by preparing third studio album titled "GO". The album that is due July 17 via J-Records, presents the work from noted producers such as Timbaland, The Neptunes, Scott Storch and Akon.

"I worked with a lot of different people. And you got to talk with the writers and producers and really be in front of it and really give your perspective on things," he said. "That's the best way to go - be involved and creatively help to come up with certain situations that cater to who you are."

She does dare to be different. Gwen Stefani, unlike her fellow celebrities, has been dieting since she was 10 years old to maintain her size 4 figure.

The singer and mother of one tells Harper's Bazaar in its May issue, "I've always been on a diet, ever since I was in the sixth grade. It's an ongoing battle and it's a nightmare. But I like clothes too much, and I always wanted to wear the outfits I would make. And I'm very vain."

A string of performers to grace the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards' stage have been announced. Held at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, the event puts up country connoisseurs Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Sugarland and pop star Kelly Clarkson.

Brokks & Dunn, apart from performing is nominated for 7 categories, just one category less than the frontrunner Strait. Chesney is also in the nomination list for two counts while rising star Sugarland is up to Top Vocal Duo nomination.

While juggling with her time as the opening act for John Legend's tour, Corinne Bailey Rae can't help to get home soon. Apparently she would like to get back to the studio to record her sophomore album.

"When I get back from this tour I'm going to have quite a big break and over that time I guess I'll start writing and starting to get my head in that mode again, going from performing all the time and doing lots of promotion to actually being more creative again. I'm really looking forward to writing more. I can't wait for that - for the next phase of things," she said.

Smoothly launching back her acting career back on the track with "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" and "The Last King of Scotland", Gillian Anderson has reportedly given her commitment to star in a gut-wrenching drama entitled simply "Helen."

Marking the first English-language feature from German writer/director Sandra Nettelbeck, the picture will find the Chicago-born actress as a talented professor forced to come to terms with her clinical depression. Filming is slated to begin September this year in the U.S. under Berlin-based Egoli Tossell banner in collaboration with Echo Lake Productions supported by German regional subsidy Filmstiftung NRW.

"Divorce has its price" and it costs expensive when you're a star. Michael Jordan, Neil Diamond, Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford are the obvious examples. A basketball star, Jordan's split from wife of 17 years, Juanita Vanoy Jordan, December last year is the most expensive according to Forbes.com's list of "The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces."

The pending divorce of the basketball legend could possibly earn the divorcee more than $150 million in a settlement. Diamond, whose 1995 divorce from Marcia Murphey cost him an estimated $150 million, holds second place. Spielberg is the third for his $100 million divorce settlement with first wife Amy Irving. Securing the 4th spot is Ford whose divorce from wife Melissa Mathison cost him an estimated $85 million.

If many singers do their singles in bilingual records, Avril Lavigne goes multi. For the single "Girlfriend", the 22 years old singer did it in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Mandarin.

While some criticized her poor accents, some even condemned her grammar mistakes. Johnny Degliuomini, gives an insight to her Italian version. He said, "…And then she says, "I will be your girlfriend." "Sarò tua" means "I will be" instead of "I could be." She couldn't directly translate it because of the tense of the verb. It takes way too long and doesn't fall right."

Brought together again for the first time since 1986's "Down and Out in Beverly Hills", Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler are both set to evoke moviegoers' laughs through a new comedy feature titled "Lust for Life", Moviehole has revealed.

A Walt Disney Pictures production, the project finds Dreyfuss as a seventy-something widower who becomes more free-spirited and romantic when he retires, unnerving his forty-something children and delighting his adoring teen grandson. "Raising Helen" director Garry Marshall has been tapped to helm with Jillian Tohber penning the script.

Rumors are abuzz that Rachel Stevens already finds new love. The English singer and former S Club 7 member is reported dating the son of Arsenal chairman David Dein, Gavin Dein.

The Sunday Mirror is the first to bring the report to the surface, quoted a source as saying "I haven't seen her look so happy in a long time. It's early days, but she and Gavin can't get enough of each other. He is everything she looks for in a man - intelligent, good-looking and highly successful in his own right. He is treating her like a princess and they are like a pair of love-struck teenagers."

After gloomy years following her breast cancer treatment, Melissa Etheridge sheds the dark cloud with winning, honorary, and new record.

Her first in three years, Melissa predicts that the record will be out somewhere between October and December this year. Recently winning an Oscar, has given Melissa the gasoline needed to gear up her tenth studio album. "I was recording my new album in between rehearsing for the Oscars. So I would record for seven hours, go and rehearse for the Oscars, and then come back and record," she said. "There are very personal things on the album, including one of the greatest love songs I have ever written. These songs are 100 per cent truthful about me and how I am feeling."

Well, turns out that Variety's report back in March about Shia LaBeouf's inclusion in "Fourth Installment of the Indiana Jones Adventures" appears to be true indeed despite the actor's denial shortly thereafter.

Director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas finally announced on April 13, 2007 that the "Transformers" star is officially cast in the highly anticipated project, which is scheduled to enter production June this year. What role the young actor will play, however, is still undisclosed apart from his remark that it will be "sort of the sidekick character."

It seems that Leonardo DiCaprio isn't going to become a daddy. Not now at least. The actor comes to denial, put to rest rumors claiming girlfriend Bar Refaeli is pregnant with their first child together which then leads to wedding rumors, said to take place this summer.

Would like to set the record straight, the actor has through his representative said, "The story is totally (explitive). 100 per cent made up (explitive)."

Bon Jovi will be the first musician to officially re-open the newly rebuilt The O2, or formerly known as Millenium Dome on June 24.

Justin Timberlake, The Rolling Stones, Scissor Sisters, Take That and Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds have all booked a time slot for their concerts at the London's stadium. Before them, The O2 will be opened on June 23 for its employees only in a free event featuring Tom Jones, Kaiser Chiefs and Basement Jaxx.

Acting, singing, doing charity work. What else that Nicole Kidman has not yet done? For all she's been doing in her entire career the actress was awarded Australia's top civil honor, the Companion of the Order of Australia, Friday April 13th in a ceremony at Government House in Canberra.

The honor, perceived as equivalent to an English knighthood, was bestowed upon Kidman for her successful film career, as well as for her work promoting women and children's health and cancer research.

Elvis Costello has several projects in mind that he plans to launch within a month. Besides releasing two compilations, he will also go on a tour and display a digital catalogue.

On May 1, two of his best singles are comprised in two separate records. "The Best Of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years" and "Rock And Roll Music" will feature his biggest hits and never before heard pieces. On the same day, a digital catalogue of his first 11 albums will be posted on iTunes for one month. Meanwhile, his tour will start on May 2 in Los Angeles and will visit other 10 cities before ending at Nokia Theatre, NYC.

Seems to have no shortage of film offers, Leelee Sobieski has reached deals to be the leadstar of a thriller comedy entitled "Walk All Over Me", Variety has reported.

Here she is billed to portray a small-town Canadian cashier who gets caught up in the misadventures when she takes on her roommate's identity. Also included in the cast is Darcy Fehr with names like Tricia Helfer, Michael Eklund, and Jacob Tierney being attached to co-star.

Set to wear headset and takes the microphone, Ioan Gruffudd has given his agreement to lend his voice to the adventure animated feature "Agent Crush", which Fantastic Films is setting up at its pit.

Joining other voice cast members like Brian Cox, Roger Moore, Trevor White, and Neve Campbell, the Welsh actor will voice the titular character while Cox, Moore, White, and Campbell are set to fill in the voice of 'Spanners', Burt Gasket, Major Rusty Gubbins, and Cassie, respectively.

Continuously filling up its future slate, New Line is on the move to develop a comedic feature entitled "The Latin Lover" following its successful attempt to acquire its rights from Spanish actor Santiago Segura, Variety has learned.

Story concerns two seasoned lotharios who are betting on whether they can turn their country club janitor into a debonair playboy in an attempt to determine whether the art of seduction is an innate talent or something that can be taught.

Wanna know who's the latest celebrity having adoption in mind? It's Penelope Cruz. The movie beauty, in an interview with Spanish Marie Claire for it's May issue, spills the bean on her ambition to start a family.

To the publication Cruz revealed that not only she wishes to have kids of her own, but hopes of adopting some day. "I want to have my own kids, but also adopt. For awhile, I've had the feeling that my life won't be complete if I don't adopt," the actress said.

James Blunt is in good luck for sure as he has narrowly escaped criminal charges for an alleged hit and run incident during which he drove over someone's foot while leaving a party in February.

Confirmed the decision, the city attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan said Friday April 13th, "After review of the information provided, we've decided not to file charges at this time."