July 13, 2007

Submitting an A-list talent into the project's cast lineup, Columbia Pictures has got Naomi Watts onboard to take on the female lead in "The International" opposite Clive Owen, The Hollywood Reporter has informed.

Pic's story concerns an obsessive Interpol agent, played by Owen, who investigates corruption at one of the world's most high-profile and powerful banking institutions. Watts is learned to portray a Manhattan assistant district attorney who partners with the agent to take down the bank.

Early buzz on the casting lineup for "Playboy" appears to have taken flight by now as UK's The Guardian has come up with an interesting notion saying Leonardo DiCaprio is involved in talks to portray the lead role in the project, none other than Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner.

"Leo thinks it would make a great movie and Hugh would love Leo to do it -- on the condition that Hugh is alive to see it," an unnamed source informed the paper.

Prince's new CD give away turns out not the best decision after all. The singer has angered record stores and the entire U.K. music industry in general for the almost free gift.

Prince's new album "Planet Earth" will come this Sunday (July 15) with the purchase of Mail at $2.80. Music moguls have criticized this act as very destructive to the already declining CD sales. Even Sony BMG in U.K. that serves as Prince's label has pulled off their marketing of the record.

Slated to have its North American premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival held this September, period drama "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" will next encounter its world premiere at the upcoming Rome Film Festival as the opening movie for the event, organizers announced Thursday, July 12.

Marking the occasion, slated to take place in Sala Santa Cecilia on October 18, 2007, will be the movie's star Cate Blanchett, who will become the second Australian actress to open the festival after Nicole Kidman last year. Director Shekar Kapur is said to be also present to walk down the Auditorium’s Red Carpet alongside Blanchett there.

Ready or not, the Beckham clan is arriving in the United States. David Beckham, wife Victoria Adams and their sons, Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James, and Cruz David, touched down at LAX airport Thursday night July 12th shortly before 8:20 p.m.

Both Posh and Becks were spotted holding hands and all smile as they walked out of a Los Angeles International Airport terminal before being whisked away in a black chauffeured car surrounded by a group of security guards. She was seen sporting a sleeveless black dress and sunglasses while he dressed in a black jacket and jeans.

Cast lineup of "City of Ember" is getting merrier now as four more talents have been smoothly added into the list.

Variety has reported that Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and newcomer Harry Treadaway have all agreed to take part in the fantasy adventure, joining the already-announced Bill Murray, Toby Jones, and Saoirse Ronan.

The very pregnant Ali Landry popped out. The former Miss USA, model and actress gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday July 11th.

The newlyborn, named Estela Ines Monteverde, was born just past 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz.

Breaking from the trademark of one-album-each-year, Ja Rule decided to take three years to work on his seventh studio album. "The Mirror", which is due in store on September 25, promises deeper more laid out record from the rapper.

Speaking on the reason he took this one longer than the others Ja explained, "The label wants an album every year. So your creative process gets - I'm not going to say lost, but it gets watered down a bit. So with this album I had a chance to really sit back and relax, record records like I want to record them. I could take two, three days if I wanted to record a record, it didn't matter."

Working on another possible fantasy franchise in preparation for the conclusion of its "Harry Potter" film series, Warner Bros. Pictures has unveiled its plan to develop "Septimus Heap: Magyk", an adaptation of Angie Sage's first book in her "Septimus Heap" series.

The company is learned to have obtained all rights to the seven-book series from HarperCollins Publishers and will set the movie version of the first chapter with Sage herself and Karen Rosenfelt to executive produce and produce, respectively.

While Britney Spears is busy dealing with the speculation surrounding the new man she's dating and finding the perfect buyer for her Beverly Hills mansion she has just put on sale, Kevin Federline is enjoying his dating status. The failed rapper is said to have found a new love in hip-hop radio DJ Liz Hernandez.

First met the radio presenter 18 months ago when he appeared on her show, K-Fed is claimed "definitely thrilled with Liz. He talks about her all the time, how smart she is, how she's marketed herself so well, and how beautiful she is. He's serious about her."

Spawning the first single "Over It" six months ago, American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee comes back spreading her "pheever" with second single. "Love Story", a funky, more vibrant tune compared to its predecessor finds its way to the market on May 22 with video premiere on July 11.

McPhee who released self-titled album in January 2007 and had it peaked at #2 in Billboard Hot 200 grows out a lot in this song. The video no longer featured her as the "girl next door" but reveals the statement that she is to be taken more seriously. In tight yellow dress, McPhee danced to her tune with a confident gait.

The Barker family keeps going from one low to another. Following their on-again off-again relationship, Travis Barker and wife Shanna Moakler separated again, this time for good. "About a month ago, they separated again," a source close to the couple tells People.

Moakler is said to be "very upset" about the split for she already "gave this marriage her all. She really loves him," a friend of her said. Sad to say that everything just not works for her and Travis. "She moved out. As far as she's concerned, it's over. She loves him, but it's one of those relationships where they keep trying to make it work but it doesn't."

Prominent filmmaker Steven Spielberg may really get busier for the couple of years from now. Already has "Lincoln" and "Interstellar" in his future helming credits, the celebrated director reportedly is hoping to go behind the camera again for "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

Project turns out to be the first of the three-films deals screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has struck with DreamWorks Pictures, which is currently enjoying the massive success of "Transformers" that Spielberg executive produced. Story will center on the trials of protestors at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, where clashes between demonstrators and police made it one of the defining events of the 60s.

It is not yet legal for the gays to get married. But Brangelina just can't wait to rush down the aisle. Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie are planning to wed next spring, it has been claimed. And they reportedly already signed a $200 million prenuptial agreement.

"They don't want anything left to chance," an insider told The Enquirer. "They are straightening out all their financial arrangements before the big day so they can kiss at the altar knowing they have taken care of every eventuality."

New rumors surface by the hour that Meg Ryan and Matthew Perry are more than just friends. Both actors reportedly enjoying a secret romance.

If US Weekly is to be believed, the twosome began dating five months ago and has been spending a lot of time in each others company lately while just enjoying their time together for now on.

Bringing up a really interesting tidbit, "Harry Potter" producer David Heyman has spilled the beans to MTV News saying Jim Carrey is attached to star in a high-concept comedy that he is currently developing.

"I've got this film with Jim Carrey called 'Yes Man,' which I hope will get into production in the fall," so the man stated.

Fantasy fans now can have something fresh to look at as 20th Century Fox has delightfully activated a new official site for its "The Dark Is Rising" where a trailer for the flick is also submitted in.

Apart from the clip, the site also provides the story of the movie while allowing the visitors to register for updates by submitting their birth-dates. As for the trailer itself, it gives the viewers glimpses of the lead character Will Stanton's adolescent innocence and the moment he discovers his powers as an Old One.

It's a girl again for Sarah McLachlan. The Canadian musician, singer and songwriter gave birth to her second child on June 22nd.

A publicist for the songstress confirmed the good news, saying the baby daughter was named Taa-Jah, which is the Hindi word for "crown." "The family is overjoyed to welcome this newest edition to their family," so said her Vancouver-based record label, Netterk Music Group adding that "Both mother and baby are happy and healthy."

Giving the first look to its "10,000 B.C.", Warner Bros. Pictures has smoothly submitted the first full teaser trailer for the prehistoric epic adventure on the net.

Available at Yahoo! Movies, the clip does not tell much about the flick's plot but provides quick-cut action shots instead with a bunch of flashes of tribesman waving spears around, running mastodons, and attacking saber-toothed tigers.

You better get ready to see Ms Mills dancing again. Heather Mills is in talks to join the U.K.'s "Dancing on Ice" show next season, it has been reported.

The former model, who's still waiting for her divorce to estranged husband Paul McCartney to be finalized, is said to be keen to improve her public image in the UK, and thus hoping that her appearance on the program would help her winning over the British public.

Bipasha Basu breaks her silence, put the record straight on the shocking photo of her and Cristiano Ronaldo kissing. Amid stir the photo has caused in her homeland India, the 28-years-old actress has denied kissing the soccer stud, claiming the photo was taken "at an opportune moment and has been taken out of context."

"Yes, it is me in the picture," Basu said while insisting "It was taken at an opportune moment ... it looks like a case of irresponsible assumptions." Further the beauty revealed "Meeting him was a dream come true. After the event, we went out clubbing, and that was simply fantastic ..... He is a friend now and he has promised me that I will be invited for all his matches."

Able to display her singing knack in "Dreamgirls", Jennifer Hudson may go rapping in her future starring vehicle as well.

The Oscar winner reportedly has caught the attention of rapper Missy Elliott who is keen to have the actress played her in a Hollywood feature about her life, being thought by the "Work It" singer to be the perfect one to take on the life account of hers on the big screen.