August 03, 2007

Finally the search for male lead in "The Spirit" is concluded now that Lionsgate Films and director Frank Miller have found the appropriate one to assume the role, who turns out to be Gabriel Macht, fresh from Michael Lehmann-directed "Because I Said So."

Macht will then assume the role of the titular character, described as a man who has faked his own death so he can battle crime from the shadows of Central City. The Bronx-born actor landed the part after making his way to impress the filmmakers in the audition for the flick, which Miller insisted to carry out in looking for actor to play the role.

Seems someone has already been eyed to take directing reins on Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures' mythology flick "Clash of the Titans." IESB.net has come up with a very interesting tidbit from its sources claiming the two film companies are keen to have Sam Raimi as the director of the project, a remake of Desmond Davis' 1981 cult classic of the same name.

The site further informed that the "Spider-Man" trilogy helmer so far is the only one being tipped for the position while also pointing out that Warner Bros. may have offered him everything "under the sun" as the studio is willing to do anything to lock the man into a multi-picture deal.

50 Cent's music video on 'Ayo Technology' has leaked online. The song that is done with Justin Timberlake has been circulating video web sharing on August 2, the same day BET getting the right to its premiere.

The rapper had to travel to London last month with Justin and Timbaland to do the video shooting. "The technology portion of the song is definitely in the music video," 50 told MTV of the set. "There's things that are going to be in it that you aren't actually seeing while we're shooting it right now. And so after they get it, they'll go in post [production] and start adding effects to it, it'll turn into a whole other thing. But it's exciting."

Carrie Underwood has released the lead single of her highly-anticipated sophomore album. 'So Small' was released on July 31 both on CD single format and digital download.

She described the song as a 'feeling' on "how people invest so much of their time and energy into things that aren't really important, and you don't really realize that until it's too late. We're all guilty of it, as I know I am, of just letting silly things get in the way. The smallest thing can almost ruin my day, and at some point, I realize, 'Good gracious, Carrie! What are you doing?' I have a great life, and we need to remember the things that are truly important."

Landing a new stint for her film resume, Jennifer Aniston has struck deals to topline a romantic comedy titled "Management", which Sidney Kimmel is financing through his eponymous production company for MGM to distribute.

Set to act opposite "Sahara" star Steve Zahn, the beauty is reported to become a traveling saleswoman who sells cheap art to small companies and motels. Things go beyond her expectations when she gets pursued all over the States by an an aimless, underachieving assistant motel manager, played by Zahn, whom she has a fling with at one of her stops.

Providing next look on the upcoming movie, Walt Disney Pictures has put online a new trailer for "National Treasure: Book of Secrets", which the studio previously premiered during its panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.

Just like most trailers these days, the clip, placed on Apple.com, is available in HD format besides those in high, medium, and low resolution, in the meantime giving the viewers a lot more hints about the plot of the action adventure.

Akon, already gaining 2.6 million sales, is fattening his second album "Konvicted" with bonus tracks and a DVD. Details have come up on this special edition that will be put on shelves August 28 through Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown.

The album will now contain a Rush Hour 3 soundtrack featuring Kardinal Offishall aptly called "Rush", a yet-untitled new song and "Sorry, Blame It on Me". The latest being the song he wrote following the controversy that he performed a graphic sex scene with an underage girl in a Trinidad concert.

Landing feet as the latest additions in the cast lineup, Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang have both been picked up to fill in the remaining roles in James Cameron's ambitious performance-capture flick "Avatar", Variety has revealed.

A $190 million hybrid of live action and animation produced under 20th Century Fox, pic centers on a wounded ex-marine assigned to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival. Lang is informed to play a seasoned Marine Corps colonel who travels to the planet to take charge of its troops while Rodriguez will portray an ex-Marine pilot.

Stevie Wonder is finally back on road again after stop touring in 1986. The pop singer is launching a U.S. tour that will begin in San Diego's Humphrey's Concert on August 23.

The singer who had hinted this tour earlier this week, revealed the details of the trek at a news conference in business district of Century City. Not making the conference short, Stevie treated audience with a number of songs , including "My Cherie Amour" and "Higher Ground".

Scarlett Johansson who holds a passion on singing is reported getting serious on her music career. Talks are rife that TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek is to produce the actress' debut album with members of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Celebration chipping in as collaborators.

Not only does her voice is considered on the same level to the late Marilyn Monroe but it is also predicted to earn her a Grammy, said Dockside studio owner Steve Nails. She has been spending over a month in a Louisiana studio to work on the material.

Heavy rumors about "Rush Hour 3" getting barred from China's theaters sadly turned out to be a nightmare-comes-true for all fans of Jackie Chan in the country.

Daily Variety has obtained information from China's powerful state-run Film Bureau that permission for the movie's launch on the mainland had been withheld for commercial reason, which the entertainment paper perceived as 'a surprising justification' if looking on the box office successes the previous two installments made in China.

Gwen Stefani has taken a diplomatic step responding to a group of conservative Muslim students in Malaysia that protested against her "obscene" attire. She took the core of the problem and decided not to wear revealing costumes for her concert.

Maxis Communications Bhd. that serves as the event organizer said, "Gwen Stefani has confirmed that her concert will not feature any revealing costumes. She will abide by the Malaysian authorities' guidelines to ensure that her show will not be offensive to local sensitivities."

Pop rock singer Emerson Hart is being celebrated for his debut solo album 'Cigarettes and Gasoline'. Lead single 'If You're Gonna Leave Me' from the CD that was released on July 17 has received huge airwaves on radios and hit #25 on AC Radio charts.

Emerson is to be known as the ex-frontman of post-grunge band Tonic. “Millions of people are already familiar with Emerson’s poignant lyrics, smart songcraft, and evocative voice," Manhattan Records GM Ian Ralfinicomments said. "When they hear his new music, they’ll know that he is on the verge of a significant new chapter in an already-illustrious career. I’m proud that he is joining the Manhattan artist roster.”

Set to launch another spy franchise after the "Bourne" series, Universal Pictures has obtained screen rights to a seven-book series of bestselling spy novels by Daniel Silva and is aiming to make "The Messenger", adapted from the author's 2006 work, as a possible first film.

In working on the goal, the studio has already assigned Pierre Morel to assume directing duties with Mark Gordon and Josh McLaughlin both producing via the Mark Gordon Co. Morrel, who marked his feature directorial debut in action sci-fi "District B13", just wrapped up filming on "Taken", a thriller about a former spy who dusts off his old skills after his daughter is kidnapped and sold into the slave trade.

Good news comes from our beloved actress, Julianna Margulies. The actress who's extremely private about her life is reportedly pregnant.

No confirmation released by the star just yet, but it is widely believed that she's due to pop out by winter.

Establishing a promising mutual collaboration, famed filmmaker McG has struck an exclusive film deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to develop film features under the company banner for three years ahead.

Three big screen projects are learned to have been set up for McG to direct for his Wonderland Sound and Vision shingle with the studio: an action comedy titled "Nightcrawlers", a spy pic to be produced by Basil Iwanyk, and a heist drama called "Yucatan."

Jail sentence has changed Hollywood bad girl Nicole Richie into a whole new person. What a miracle. Days after officially confirmed she's almost four months pregnant with her boyfriend, Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden's child, the soon-to-be jailbird talked to Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America," surprisingly expressed regret and self-consciousness about her past life.

The brand new Nicole said in an interview Thursday August 2nd, carrying a bun in the oven does lead her to such realization that she indeed needs to change her life and take responsibility. "I owe the baby my life," she said. "I owe this baby everything and I have a responsibility now. I'm now responsible for someone else. I need to set the right example."

On the brink of worldwide success, Island/Def Jam artists Hot Dollar is delivering two singles at a time. Lead song 'Streetz on Lock' that has been hot on radios is made the remix featuring Rick Ross and Gucci Mane while a brand new song 'SideKick' is dedicated "to the ladies".

Both singles are to appear on the rapper's debut studio album 'My Dream…A Day in the Life'. In an interview Dollar explained how significant this record is to him. "Basically, everybody’s got a dream about what they really want to do and what they really want to have. (In this album,) you’re watching me get it. A day in the life of it. It’s like you’re watching my movie, being corresponded. This is my dream – I’m living it. I was living like a rapper before I was rapping, just doing what I wanna do, having nice-looking females, (and) driving nice cars."

Nicole Richie is following in BFF Paris Hilton's step, heading for the Los Angeles County jail.

The socialite and mother-to-be will do her time at the Lynwood jail, the same place where hotel heiress Paris completed her 23-day stay for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. Richie's lawyer contacted the county Sheriff's Department earlier this week and indicated the reality TV star wanted to serve her four-day sentence in county lockup rather than a city jail, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Thursday August 2nd.

It’s not until December 14 that moviegoers finally can see "I Am Legend" come to the surface yet a sequel has already been prepared to be developed at Warner Bros. Pictures by screenwriter Mark Protosevich for sure.

According to Los Angeles Times, the man has pitched the company on a follow-up to the action horror thriller although no deal has yet been finalized. Protosevich, a native of Chicago, Illinois, previously got hired for four different times to work on the script, which was at one time optioned by 20th Century Fox with talk of Ridley Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger as director and star, respectively.

Hilary Duff is being kept busy by her hectic schedules. Has been tapped to host this year Teen Choice Awards, she was seen Wednesday August 1st dished up chicken stew for hundreds of homeless men in Edmonton as part of her personal campaign to raise awareness about poverty and hunger. What a caring celeb she is.

Pop singer Duff was seen serving hot lunch and dessert for an hour at a downtown emergency shelter, before then visited the nearby headquarters of Hope Mission, a Christian social care agency. "The Hope Mission was a priority and we wanted to lend a hand," so she said after completing her kitchen shift. "It's so rewarding for me. I love to get down and dirty and help out."