April 19, 2007

Finding each other working hand in hand again after Oscar-winning film "Crash", Robert Moresco and Mark R. Harris are both set to make a biopic about Whitewater figure Susan McDougal, Variety has reported.

McDougal, who partnered with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the failed Whitewater real estate venture in the 1980s alongside husband James B. McDougal, was convicted in late May 1996 and spent time in prison for four counts of fraud and conspiracy relating to the Whitewater scandal. She later received a full Presidential pardon from Clinton in the final hours of his presidency in 2001.

Bringing a great boost to the project, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon have both given their commitment to join Ben Whishaw, Matthew Goode, and Hayley Atwell in "Brideshead Revisited", of which North American distribution rights have successfully been obtained by Miramax Films.

An adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of the same title, the drama follows an Oxford student named Charles Ryder, played by Goode, as he gets entangled with a seductive but troubled family of Anglo-Catholic aristocrats. Whishaw and Atwell will portray the family's children while Gambon becomes their father, the dissolute patriarch Lord Marchmain, and Thompson his estranged yet controlling wife.

In support of their upcoming album "The Sun and the Moon", The Bravery has added as new set of UK gigs to their 'warm-up' schedule. Their large-scale performance will now be added with other 11 dates.

If previously the band was reported to hit the stage April 22-24 in Manchester, Glasgow and London respectively, they extend the short leg to Liverpool on July 10. After that they will stop in Leeds, Nottingham and several others before concluding at Brighton Concorde on July 25.

Set to show full dedication to film industry following the wrapping up of his sitcom "The King of Queens", Kevin James has entered talks to highlight "One Nation Under Bob", a new comedy of Universal Pictures production.

Written by John Scott Shepherd, the project revolves around an average guy who inherits a plot of land only to discover that it is a country unto itself and he is now the owner of a sovereign nation. No word on the director yet, but it is learned that Tom Shadyac will produce via his Shady Acres with Michael Bostick.

British act Klaxons is shifting gear in the sophomore effort. Guitarist Simon Taylor hinted that their new sound would be "prog".

Releasing the debut album in January, the three-piece band is back to writing mode for the second one. Within the process, the band discovers that there is a new vibe coming out of the way. "We've written the opener of the next album. We're thinking of making a prog album - like a huge tribal prog album. We've all been listening to bands in England like Caravan, so we're definitely making a big, prog album," Taylor said.

Abruptly stopped making music in late 2003, Blur has sparked another rumor of reunion. Triggered by the involvement of drummer Dave Rowntree's involvement in politic, bassist Alex James explained that there is a need to be working together again.

James wrote in his The Independent column, "It's good that everyone seems to have found their own niche outside of Blur and, ironically, Dave's second coming as a politician is more likely to reunite us than anything. We'd all grown to resent the fact that we needed each other and now that we no longer seem to, we can face each other again...".

Finally trying his hands at producing films, Elijah Wood is collaborating with Anthony Moody and Rob Malkani's Indalo Productions to produce a big screen feature entitled "Black Wings Has My Angel", The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Adapted from Elliott Chaze's noir novel of the same name, the project takes focus on an ex-convict who stages a daring armed car robbery in Colorado with the help of a call girl whom he picked up in a backwoods Mississippi motel.

Sharon Stone is in giving mood these days when she reportedly signs Hollywood's top fashion designers to bring into life her social mission to dress underprivileged girls for their prom nights.

"We started realizing that kids weren't going to their proms because they simply didn't have prom dresses and they could afford them," Stone said on the prom. "We started realizing what a huge thing (it is) and how compromising it can be for families; it's like a little wedding."

Seems to put more favor on the big screen rather than small one lately, Matthew Fox is reportedly involved in final negotiations to nab a starring role in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Speed Racer."

The "Lost" star will likely assume the role of the title character's archrival Racer X if deals are reached. Also embarks in talks is Australian actor Kick Gurry who is negotiating to play Sparky, Speed's hippie mechanic.

Jennifer Lopez earns a new predicate besides that of actress and singer. The multitalented star has been named Style Icon of the Year by American magazine Us Weekly.

Snubs the honor, Lopez is slated to receive the prize at a ceremony to be held in Hollywood next week, Thursday April 26th to be exact.

There it is, after days of chatter and speculation rumors on Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' split come to brighter side. Contrary to tabloid reports, the couple is not breakup, but does have a break in their romance actually.

The hiatus is thought to have something to do with the actor's status as an Oscar nominee that he wants to focus on his career. McAdams, on the other way around, is said needs to focus on something else besides Ryan as she is "very dependent" on him.

Turns out that Doug Jones will not deliver his own dialogue as The Silver Surfer in 20th Century Fox's "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer."

Variety has confirmed that the voice of the Power Cosmic wielder will be provided by actor Laurence Fishburne instead, who has already joined the flick this week. Fishburne, best known for his role in "The Matrix" trilogy, previously was speculated to be in the running for the voice of God-like villain Galactus yet Variety did note that Fox hasn't decided whether the character will even speak.

This is the many times in her life that Angelina Jolie gets the predicate "sexy." After all, the actress is again credited as sexy by Maxim.com in its list of Sexiest Movie Assassins, thanks to her role as Jane Smith in the hit movie "Mr and Mrs Smith."

Ranked 1st on the list, the Oscar-winning actress besting fellow movie star Kristanna Loken who comes 2nd for her role in "Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines." Earns the 3rd Sexiest Movie Assassin predicate is Rebecca Romijn who is praised for her action in "X-Men."

The newly revived CBS Records is launching its new artist P.J. Olsson who is currently in promotion of his brand new EP "The Ironwood Sessions". The record was released on March 27, and has since climbing the ladder of fame through instant reviews.

The record from the Houghton native emphasizes on the singles where the spotlight points to the track "She Says to Fly". Already the song graces CBS series productions such as "Ghost Whisperer" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and also the action drama "The Unit". Another song "Hold My Light" is utilized for April 30th episode of "CSI: Miami" plus May 2nd episode of "CSI: NY".

Taking a challenging role for his next acting stint, Luke Wilson has told MTV that he has signed on to star in a dramatic feature entitled "Henry Poole Is Here", which will see him become a man facing a crisis in the middle of his life.

"I play a guy who thinks he's dying," the actor revealed. "He leaves his life behind and goes back to the neighborhood where he grew up to buy a house [where he can] stay and die."

While the celebrity couple remains mum on the report claiming their relationship is on the rocks, the actress' manager comes forward in defense. Geyer Kosinski, Angelina Jolie's manager, responded to the persistent break-up rumors, claiming it as false.

The manager tells Usmagazine.com all is right in the world of Brad Pitt and partner Jolie, insisting "they are together and very happy."

Jennifer Garner and husband Ben Affleck are waiting in anticipation the arrival of their second child together. The actress and mother of one is reported pregnant again.

The reports are in all probabilities inspired by the fact that Garner was seen leaving a doctor's office sporting a clearly visible baby bump. "She was very happy and glowing. She touched her stomach for a moment. She looked pregnant," New Weekly magazine quoted a source as saying.

Looks like one director is not enough for "Rapunzel."

According to LaughingPlace.com, Walt Disney Feature Animation has hired a second director for the project to work as an equal alongside Glen Keane, and the lucky man turns out to be Dean Wellins, Annie-nominated animator and story artist.

She knows best how to spend her hubby's big bucks on posh things. That's the reason why she's called Posh Spice. If the media reports are to be believed, it costs David Beckham $80,000 to celebrate his posh wife's 33rd birthday.

The soccer god surprised Victoria Adams with an overnight trip to Paris, took her to Christian Louboutin and treated her to a pair of $3,000 made-to-measure high heels. The shopping spree continued at Victoria's favorite designer Azzedine Alaia, where she picked out a $14,000 custom-made dress.

The list of performers in Academy of Country Music Awards is swelling with the addition of Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Rodney Atkins and Miranda Lambert.

These people will join the lineups that have been previously announced such as Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Sugarland and pop star Kelly Clarkson.

Initially aimed for August release, Chris Brown's "Exclusive" is now pushed back to one month later. In coincidence to this sophomore effort, Chris is on the brim of taking transition to a more mature singer.

The soon to be 18 years old singer is careful not to stray away too far from his teen star signature. He said, "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people." He continued that there are indeed songs about sexuality and stuffs but he is not willing to go further into it.

Manages to continue dancing around high-profile film projects, "Mr and Mrs Smith" scribe Simon Kinberg has been picked up to work on a new script of Fox 2000's adventure comedy "The Hardy Men", The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Intended to be an updated version of popular detective/adventure book series "The Hardy Boys", the project follows the boys, now grown up and estranged, as they reunite to solve a mystery. Kinberg is said to make start from scratch while being expected to take the story in a new direction.

Still seeing his latest effort of "The Number 23" circulate around theaters, Joel Schumacher has given his agreement to carry out helming duties for "Inland Saints", a new feature coming from Paramount Pictures.

Described as a supernatural urban drama about love, betrayal and need, the project revolves around a young leader of a dangerous street gang who falls in love with the daughter of the detective hired to bring down his gang.

Ending his hiatus in film directing, Chris Columbus has signed on to helm fantasy feature "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" for Fox 2000 while also going to serve as the movie's producer through his 1492 Pictures.

An adaptation of Rick Riordan's 2005 children book "The Lightning Thief", which is the first in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, the picture revolves around a boy named Perseus "Percy" Jackson who finds out that he is the descendant of a Greek god then embarks on a quest to quell a battle between mythological deities.

Finally, the papers are signed. Long reported to flirt with the project, Rachel McAdams at last has inked deals to star in "The Time Traveler's Wife" accompanied by "Munich" star Eric Bana, Variety has confirmed.

Based on Audrey Niffenegger's best-selling novel of the same name, the romantic drama sees Bana as Henry De Tamble, a Chicago librarian with a rare genetic disorder that causes him to shift back and forth through time. Though the disorder leads him to vanish for long periods, he tries to build a life with the woman he loves, Clare Abshire.

Searching for her next acting vehicle after "Bug", Ashey Judd is reportedly engaged in talks to have a starring role in immigration drama "Crossing Over", which The Weinstein Company is currently setting up at its pit.

If a deal is landed, Judd will likely be billed as an immigration defense attorney who is trying to arrange the adoption of a Nigerian girl. Already included in the cast are Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Cliff Curtis, and Sean Penn, who turns out to only make a brief appearance in the movie.

Quickly securing another big screen project to work on after "The Latin Lover", New Line Cinema and Benderspink are joining forces again to bring a comedic project titled "Mancation" to the surface, Variety has reported.

Written by Jared Bush, the picture is said to present a story of a man who thinks marriage has robbed his younger brother of his manhood and drags him on a testosterone-filled "mancation" to help him get it back. No word yet on who to star or direct, but it is learned that Benderspink's Chris Bender, JC Spink and Jake Weiner will all produce.

Adding the number of dance flicks in the Hollywood film industry, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is about to make a movie of the genre entitled "Fame", which turns out to be a remake of the 1980 classic directed by Alan Parker and starred Irene Cara and Debbie Allen.

Confirmed the tidbit to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday, April 17, MGM COO Rick Sands revealed that the studio is intending to retain many of the musical elements of the original that also launched a global television hit and international stage show. A writer and director have been tapped, but the identity has not yet been made public.

She's back. Jessica Simpson is ready to back on media attention when she hosts The Pussycat Dolls show in Las Vegas next month.

The busty singer has been booked to host a special performance by the pop group and dance troupe at their themed lounge in Las Vegas' PURE nightclub on May 4th.

Following the critically acclaimed "Awake Is The New Sleep" (2005), Australian singer and actor Ben Lee is taking a careful step for the next by tying strong names to back up the record. So far the list of 'helpers' contains of Mandy Moore, members of Rooney, Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek and John Alagia.

The singer gets a good starter kick by nailing Alagia to helm the project. Alagia is known to produce the albums of Dave Matthews and John Mayer. He then cleverly lining Benji, the Rooneys and Sara to contribute songs for his album that is slated to be called "Ripe". Mandy meanwhile, assists him in the song "Birds and Bees". He wrote in his blog, "Mandy was very sweet and did her best Olivia Newton-John for me".

Mischa Barton has something else to do besides acting. The movie beauty is the latest star to be the face of a health campaign which warns against the dangers of too much exposure to the sun.

The actress has been tapped to front the skin awareness for everyone (Safe) campaign, launched by the Institute of Cancer Research and high-street chain Superdrug.

Paris Hilton is dealing with legal law, again. The socialite was on Tuesday April 17th ordered to attend a May 4th hearing for allegedly violating her probation.

The hotel heiress pleaded no contest to drink driving charges back in January stemming from a September 2006 arrest in Hollywood. She was instead sentenced to 36 months probation and instructed to attend an alcohol education program while also was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines.