June 19, 2007

Just few days after being reported to make "Party Up", New Line Cinema is collaborating again with Benderspink to spark another comedic feature entitled "The $40,000 Man" together.

Presented as a comedy spoof, the flick revolves around a legendary astronaut and true American hero who finds himself, after a horrible accident, being rebuilt by the government to be a bionic man on a budget of $40,000, which makes him not that bionic.

Trouble appears to still afflict "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" despite its progress to come up to the surface under Paramount Pictures banner.

Previously got Tim Burton attached as director, the flick is suspected to lose the famed filmmaker as Paramount may be in search for a new helmer for the revived project, ComingSoon.net has learned. It is unclear yet whether this will bring any change to the planned production schedule, which has already been set to begin in winter 2008.

A gold-plated gun and a pill bottle belonged to the late King of Rock n Roll Elvis Presley were among the items sold out at the annual Julien's Summer Auction held Saturday June 16th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The gun was sold for $28,800, whereas his prescription pill bottle raised $2,640. "We'd planned to sell the bottle with the pills, but the Los Angeles Police Department told us it would be a federal crime to do it, so sad to say we had to remove the pills," CEO Darren Julien said in a statement.

Seems the casting process for "Watchmen" is indeed underway by now. In an interview held by Superhero Hype!'s Max Evry, Patrick Wilson did signal that he is approached for the role of Nite Owl in the long-gestating project.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about this stuff," so he first said upon being asked about director Zack Snyder's recent response of showing no denial on the heavy casting rumors, then continuing, "It's been confirmed on a lot of websites, I'll just say that."

In promotion of her upcoming album, rapper Eve has teamed up with YouTube to hold a contest that requires lots of 'shaking'. Eve's new song "Tambourine" featuring Swizz Beatz becomes the main inspiration behind this contest.

Basically fans are required to view Eve's newest video on "Tambourine" first to get familiar with the music so that they can create their own choreography. Those interested in joining the competition will have to tape their best move and upload the video before registering to the group first.

Contrary to recent rumors, Kelly Rowland is not dating English soccer star Kieran Richardson. The songbird has denied tabloid reports, insisting "I've never met this guy. It's not true. I'm not dating at the moment."

Rowland, a former member of music group Destiny's Child, was initially reported dating Richardson after he was reported spending most of his free time with her. Rumors on the street said at that time, "The two have been dating on and off for a few months now - but things are starting to heat up ... [Kieran] even hired a plane to take him to Cannes to watch Kelly perform last week. And the two spent the entire weekend together."

Successfully reaching a three-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures back in April 2007, Aardman Features is now going full force to develop a handful of new animated projects on its plate, Aardman Animations COO Stephen Moore revealed on Monday, June 17.

As part of the plan, the company has appointed writing duo Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah to both pen the script of a comedy caper entitled "The Cat Burglars" for Steve Box to direct. Mixing the comedy action of "Wallace and Gromit" with the cool styling of "Ocean's Eleven" in the studio's trademark stop-frame claymation, the flick centers on a gang of milk-pilfering stray cats that attempt to pull off their biggest heist ever.

Spice Girls reunion has taken a step forward with the revelation of first comeback single. The pop group will have old but unreleased track "Woman" re-polished with the addition of Geri Halliwell's voice.

The song was originally written in 1999, the year after Geri's departure from the band. All of the band members except Geri are included in the writing credit along with Richard Stannard and Matt Rowe. It was reported that Geri and Emma Bunton approached Stannard to talk about how the song is going to be buffed up.

Jeri Ryan is single no more. The American actress, best known for playing the ex-Borg Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1997-2001), exchanged vows with boyfriend, French chef Christophe Eme in France's Loire Valley on Saturday June 16th.

The couple had their wedding took place at the 15th century Chateau de Noirieux in Eme's hometown near Angers. The bride was seen wearing Vera Wang wedding dress. "There was so much love in the air," wedding planner Lisa Vorce revealed. "They are so happy together."

If Al Gore has his Live Earth, Corinne Bailey Rae, Annie Lennox and James Morrison have their own campaign concert in London. Not for global warming, the September 21 gig is intended to promote global peace.

"Something that is of common interest to every man, woman or child on the planet must surely be the notion of peace," said Lennox who admits being "thrilled" in joining this event. "Without peace we cannot survive."

For 2007 project, Sonic Youth will release a compilation album that needs a little help from their celebrity friends. The alternative rock band will ask artists ranging from Wilco's frontman Jeff Tweedy to Michelle Williams to pick their favorite songs from Youth's discography.

Guitarist Thurston Moore explained the concept. "We sort of devised this idea of a Sonic Youth record where we asked all these different people to choose their favorite song, people like artists and actors and other musicians and what have you. So all these people, from Jeff Tweedy to Beck to Marc Jacobs to Portia de Rossi to Michelle Williams, they all chose their favorite songs and wrote a little thing about it."

Coming to the highlight of the event, the feature jury of this year's CineVegas Film Festival eagerly handed out filmmaking honors in an afternoon ceremony held Saturday, June 16, picking up nine recipients plus giving honorable mention to four short film features in total.

Selected as the winner of Audience Awards for Narrative Feature was Todd Breau's comedy "Throwing Stars" while that for Documentary went to Richard Trank's "I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal." However, it was Adam Rifkin's "Look" that took its glorious turn as the surveillance camera film wonderfully took the top honor of the competition, none other than the Grand Jury Prize.

A huge pop star herself, Kylie Minogue does deserve a huge celebration when the time has come for her to celebrate her 20th years existence in music industry. The Australian songbird reportedly is planning to throw a star-studded party in London to mark the 20th anniversary of her first single "Locomotion".

The bash, slated to take place August 3rd later this year to coincide with the hit single's success in topping the Australian charts, is said to cost Kylie $670,000. Guests will among others include, musical stars and celebrities, as well as friends, family and past-loves.

Not releasing any album in two years after a big breakthrough, James Blunt raises the anticipation on the sophomore effort. Under the title "All the Lost Souls", the singer's album will answer the demand on September 17 via Custard/Atlantic.

Blunt once again teamed up with his long-standing live band for the artistic team and producer Tom Rothrock who was responsible for the success of "Back to Bedlam" (2005).

Golden Globe-winning American actress Keri Russell gave birth to her first child with carpenter husband Shane Deary, a baby boy, Saturday June 9th in New York.

Russell's representative announced the birth of the baby, named River Russell Deary, Monday June 18th. No other details of the baby being made public though.

For a good cause, Elton John gathered a mass in Ukraine to watch his biggest concert in the country. As many as 200,000 people turned up in the main square of the capital Kiev to enjoy the show and get exposed to HIV education.

The free and open-air gig was held to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS that is quite high in the country compared to other parts in Europe. The Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenka also came to the venue to show his support despite religious extremists' accuse of promoting homosexuality earlier this year.

The world's number one golfer Tiger Woods became a first-time father Monday June 18th as his wife Elin Nordegren gave birth to a baby girl, their first child together.

Announced the birth of the baby, named Sam Alexis, Wood wrote on his Website, "Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully. We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy."

Things appear to run incredibly well for Neil Gaiman. Set to see "Stardust", Paramount Pictures' adaptation of his 1999 fantasy novel, this August while preparing to direct "Death and Me", the author has successfully got one more of his work received another big screen treatment.

The man has informed through his official site that DreamWorks Animation will develop a movie based on the book he wrote alongside Michael Reaves. Entitled "Interworld" just like the original's name, the project centers on a boy trapped in the middle of a war between two equally powerful forces who joins a super-team consisting of versions of himself from different alternate realities to try and maintain the cosmic balance.

A new starring vehicle is being set up for Sarah Jessica Parker to ride. In a Manhattan press junket of "A Mighty Heart" held on Friday, June 15, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Dan Futterman eagerly opened up an interesting tidbit saying that he has lined up the actress to topline his next writing project titled "Finn at the Blue Line."

Admitting he penned the romantic comedy alongside his wife, the man further pointed out that Swedish filmmaker Lasse Hallstrom is poised to handle directing matters for the flick.

Lindsay Lohan is not going to milk it. The actress-singer, who's undergoing treatment at the Promises facility in Malibu, has put down plans to throw a big 21st birthday bash at Pure nightclub in LA on July 2nd.

Confirming the cancellation of the planned two-day bash, Lindsay's spokesperson says, "The party was cancelled officially over two weeks ago. Lindsay will not be having the birthday party at Pure and is focusing on her recovery 100 per cent."

Seemingly goes undisturbed in maintaining his productiveness, Adam Sandler is plotted to highlight a new drama comedy written by bestselling author Mitch Albom which his Happy Madison shingle and Columbia Pictures has preemptively acquired.

Still not yet titled, the project is said to be a comedy with emotional elements set in the world of baseball. It therefore will be the feature writing debut of Albom, whose books like "Tuesdays with Morrie", "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", and "For One More Day" have all been turned into telepics.

Britney Spears breaks her silence and this time she shouts loud. The troubled and much-publicized singer has, through her lawyers, asked Florida radio station Clear Channel's WFLZ/Tampa to take down billboards promoting its MJ Morning Show, showing her baldhead as part of it.

The billboards, featured three identical paparazzi photo of bald and bothered-looking Britney next to radio station WFLZ's logo and a picture of talk show host Todd Schnitt, first appeared in May. Along the top of each picture run the logos: "Total Nut Jobs", "Shock Therapy" and "Certifiable".

Does she change already? Paris Hilton showed her softer side when parents, Rick Hilton and Kathy Richards, visited her in Los Angeles prison on Sunday June 17th.

Momma Kathy said her beloved daughter "is doing very well and much better." The only problem is that she's been cold in her cell. Being asked on what Paris does on her free time, the former actress said she "just looks at the four walls and reads some nice fan mail."

Julia Roberts finally pops. The actress gave birth to her third child with cinematographer husband Daniel Moder Monday June 18th. The newly born, a baby boy named Henry Daniel Moder, weighed 8 1/2 pounds.

The star's rep, Marcy Engelman, confirmed the good news, saying Henry was born at a Los Angeles hospital. "The Moder family is doing great," the representative said.