January 08, 2008

Words are circulating that Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert's Ghost House Pictures are re-teaming with Mandate Pictures once again. According to ShockTillYouDrop.com, the trio are involved in developing another horror movie "Burst".

Though only a few details has been shared, it was said that Ghost House and Mandate are now seeking for a director to helm the new project. Further, the movie will tell about an isolated town that endures an alien invasion during a severe snowstorm causing the victims to spontaneously burn.

The star of Emmy-nominated television series "The Shield", Michael Chiklis, has joined the cast of "Eagle Eye". Hollywood Reporter reported that in the movie produced by DreamWorks, the actor in superhero flick "Fantastic Four" will play the U.S. secretary of defense.

As the latest member to join the cast, it means that the father of two will star alongside Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton as well as other cast members. Meanwhile, Chiklis' credits also include "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "The Legend of Secret Pass".

Is desperately wanting to have baby, Jennifer Aniston is said to have been considering another option besides adoption that is having a sperm donor.

The actress, who's been not so lucky in her love relationship following her divorce with actor husband Brad Pitt, has reportedly told best pal Courteney Cox that she wants one of her male friends to help her conceives a child.

The Black Crowes will try out their new album, 'Warpaint', in a series of one-off gigs in U.S. The rock band which is fronted by Chris Robinson, also revealed that they will play several songs from their back catalog and "select surprises".

The 8-dates jaunt will kick off March 2 in New Jersey and visit other cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, San Fransisco and Los Angeles before heading to Australia and Europe. The trek in U.S. includes a March 15 gig in Austin, Texas which is part of South by Southwest festival (SxSW).

Spending the past few years starring in television series, Skeet Ulrich is said to be returning to the big screen. According to Hollywood Reporter, the 'Jake Green' actor in CBS's drama "Jericho" has been cast in Screen Gems' new project "Armored".

In the drama thriller film directed by Nimrod Antal, the 37-year-old actor will portray Dobbs, a scruffy member of an armored truck company team who plans to rob a truck that carries $10 million. He will star alongside Matt Dillon, Columbus Short, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno and Fred Ward.

Baton Rouge rapper Webbie will drop the sequel to his 2005 debut album 'Savage Life' that went gold in U.S. His new album is titled 'Savage Life 2' and will be released via Trill Entertainment on February 26.

Its first single 'Independent' feat. Lil Phat and Lil Boosie had been released on the radio late last year and had since peaked on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 11. Its music video has been premiered on BET in December, featuring the direction from Chris Comeaux.

John O'Farrell novel "The Best a Man Can Get" will be adapted to the big screen by Paramount Pictures. According to Variety, the studio will develop the comedic project helped by Karey Kirkpatrick.

The multi-talented writer is said to be the movie's director, producer as well as writer. In penning the script, he will be assisted by O'Farrell, while he will be accompanied by Kathleen Kennedy in the producers' seat. Further, Kirkpatrick is credited for his writing scripts, including "Chicken Run", "Charlotte's Web", "James and the Giant Peach" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Previously, he directed an animated feature, "Over the Hedge", and has just finished "NowhereLand", another Paramount's comedy film starring Eddie Murphy.

Norah Jones is back on the single market again after her longterm relationship with boyfriend Lee Alexander ended.

The songbird and occasional actress has been dating Lee, The Little Willies bassist, for years, reportedly since 1999. The couple, unfortunately, broke up during the Festive Season.

Academy Award-nominated English actress Samantha Morton and her fiance Harry Holm have welcomed a baby girl, it has been confirmed.

The newborn baby, who has not yet been named, was born in an undisclosed London hospital in the early hours of Friday, January 4.

A new material from Donnie of Making the Band 4 has been leaked to the Internet following the leaking of a song snippet from the reality show's winner earlier this week.

A mid-tempo song, in snippet also, titled 'So Beautiful' allegedly belongs to the singer who is set to make his debut album. The new season of Making the Band 4 that will air January 28 on MTV will determine which among him, Danity Kane or the winning band, will get to release their album first.

United Artists has bought the film rights to children's literature series "Ranger's Apprentice". According to Hollywood Reporter, the studio has paid seven figures to option the rights over the fantasy series written by an Australian author, John Flanagan.

Further, it was reported that the studio is approaching the Academy Award winning writer of "Crash", Paul Haggis, to adapt and direct the first film of the series. Allegedly, the first film will be made based on the first of seven books, The Ruins of Gorlan which was being published in the United States in 2005.

First teamed up with Louis Vuitton in 2004 to create the "Millionaire" line of sunglasses for the French fashion company alongside "A Bathing Ape" creator Nigo, Pharrell Williams has once again teamed up with the fashion giant to create a new line of jewelry called Blason, which actually is the symbol of a dynasty, synonymous with a coat of arms and originates from French Heraldry.

Fashion Week Daily is reporting that Louis Vuitton will unveil the new collection of fine jewelry, designed in collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Camille Miceli, the Vuitton creative consultant who now designs jewelry for the brand and handles Marc Jacobs' personal public relations, during the upcoming Paris couture shows in late January.

The trend set by Radiohead to independently release one's album is spreading quickly. Reports are circling around that Coldplay will walk away from EMI just like the band and Paul McCartney.

An insider revealed that the Chris Martin -fronted band feels that they "don't necessarily need a label" after they release the follow up to 'X&Y' and will take time to think about re-signing to EMI.

Once again "No Country for Old Men" walked away from 13th annual Critics' Choice Awards ceremony with multiple prizes. On Monday, January 7, 2008 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the adapted drama about a killer who cuts a path of destruction across Texas was hailed as the 2007 Best Picture by the Broadcast Film Critics Association beating out other strong nominees, including "There Will Be Blood" and "Into the Wild".

Besides nailing the much wanted top honor, the Miramax Films' project also brought home kudos for its director, Ethan and Joel Coen, and its actor, Javier Bardem. The three men received prizes of Best Director and Best Supporting Actor respectively. In winning the award, the Coen brothers outshone Tim Burton for "Sweeney Todd", Sean Penn for "Into the Wild" among others, while Bardem triumphed over four other nominees, including Casey Affleck for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and Philip Seymour Hoffman for "Charlie Wilson's War".

Britney Spears' new boyfriend Adnan Ghalib was kind enough to whisk the troubled pop star away for some private time after she's been held on a "5150 hold" at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for a series of physical and psychological tests following a "family custody dispute" involving sons Sean Preston and Jayden James she had with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Were reported to have gone to the Daily Grill in Palm Desert around 10 A.M. Sunday, January 6 following her early release from Cedars-Sinai, Britney and her alleged boyfriend, Adnan, were then seen getting cozy "as they playfully shared a lollipop, with Spears smoking, outside a bungalow in Desert Hot Springs, about 120 miles east of L.A." CelebTV has reported.

Saxophonist Kenny G goes Latin for his next album which is part of his new deal with Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Records. The album which will be titled 'Rhythm and Romance' will be dropped February 5 and followed by a set of North American tour.

G worked with a number of acclaimed musicians for this piece, namely drummer Alex Acuna, percussionists Michito Sanchez and Paulino Da Costa, bassist John Penia and guitarist Ramon Stagnaro. The album also features guest vocals by rising Chilean star Barbara Munoz and Spanish-speaking pop/rock sensation, Camila.

One more American Idol graduate has parted ways with Arista/ J Records. Ruben Studdard of season two decided to switch label to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2007, but Taylor Hicks of fifth season takes a bolder move by reportedly, taking independence in releasing his next album.

Reports indicated that Hicks is dropped by the label. In a short statement, J Records publicist Liz Morentin said, "Taylor is going to record on his own for the next album." No further details have been released regarding the split.

Australia's Daily Telegraph has reported that Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden and his Australian actress fiancee Sophie Monk have split up.

Benji and Monk had been dating for six months when the rocker proposed to the starlet with a 3.5 carat Neil Lane diamond ring on Christmas Eve in 2006.

The comedic thriller "Jennifer's Body" reportedly has found its helmer. Variety reported that Fox Atomic is setting Karyn Kusama to direct the project written by "Juno" screenwriter, Diablo Cody.

The 39-year-old director allegedly has been brought to join the producers, Jason Reitman, Dan Dubiecki and Mason Novick. She previously directed a drama film featuring Michelle Rodriguez "Girlfight" and a sci-fi film starring Charlize Theron "Aeon Flux".

Organizers of Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced on Monday (January 7) that Tim McGraw will kick off the concert series which will be held at Reliant Park. The country singer is among the 21 artists highlighting the event with their solo performances.

McGraw will hit the stage on March 3 and followed by his wife Faith Hill the next day. The shows will all run in March and end on date 22 when country duo Brooks & Dunn give the closure.

Having let out confirmation about her pregnancy rumor, Nicole Kidman is hit by another speculation as she was said to withdraw from her new drama movie, "The Reader". According to Herald Sun's site, the Academy Award winning actress has quit from the project that is scheduled to start production this month.

In a statement, the Australian actress' publicist, Wendy Day, gave out hint that the 40-year-old has done what is recently rumored. She said, "I understand she's had to withdraw from the film and therefore she's had to give them the reason, and therefore she's now able to confirm that she's pregnant."

Has become the media darling ever since she came out of the closet with her revelation that she's pregnant with her first child and engaged to film producer boyfriend Cash Warren, Jessica Alba is the perfect pick as the February 2008 cover girl for Elle Magazine.

Sat down for an interview with Elle, the movie beauty addressed on such issues, as on using her sex appeal in her career, turning 27, and meeting teen favorite Zac Efron.

R'n'B singer Chris Brown has landed a verbal deal with his idol, Michael Jackson, to do a collaboration in the future. He was introduced to the pop king, who is making a comeback, by Black Eyed Peas' member will.i.am.

"Hopefully it will be," Brown told AllHipHop.com. "We are talking but...like I originally talked to will.i.am, because he does some stuff for him. And then when I talked to Mike, he said 'Yeah we'll do something,' so hopefully we will do that record."

Preceding the premiere of "Mad Money" on January 18, 2008, Overture Films has released 9 new clips from the new comedy movie starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes. The provided clips gave out more insight from what the trailer had to offer as there are scenes that aren't included in the video piece.

"Mad Money" tells the story of a suburban mother who is on the verge of losing her comfortable upper class lifestyle, Bridget Cardigan, a hard-working single mom, Nina Brewster, and an exuberant free spirit, Jackie Truman. It is a comedy about three ordinary women that bonded on an unlikely friendship as they decide to rob one of the most secure banks in the world.

Rapper slash actor Ray J will soon drop his fourth effort in music entitled 'All I Feel'. The album which will be released in April, is part of his new multi-million deal with Koch Records that involves his own production company Knockout Entertainment.

"I feel great about bringing Knockout Entertainment to KOCH," Ray J said of the new deal. "I enjoy making great music and I believe in working very hard. I'm excited to be with a team who believes in me and my ideas."

A film actress and former child model, Jennifer Connelly has been picked as the new face for fashion house Balenciaga.

Being featured in the ads promoting the fashion label's upcoming Spring line, the Oscar-winning actress who first rose to fame for her portrayal of Marion Silver in "Requiem for a Dream" (2000) could be seen sporting Nicolas Ghesquiere's sculptural floral-printed designs.

It was announced yesterday (January 7) on an episode of 106 & Park that Janet Jackson's new video for 'Feedback' will be premiered later today, January 8 on BET.

Meanwhile, a sneak preview of it has been made online. It shows Jackson in space, dancing in black tight-fitting suit and backed with several male dancers. Reports said that she shot it with British director Saam Farahmand in New York.

Though the names of "Bond 22" cast slowly but steadily being confirmed one by one, questions about the leading actress remain. However, on Monday, January 7, the speculation has been met with an answer as according to Hollywood reporter, the producers of the new James Bond movie said that Olga Kurylenko has been cast as the leading female character.

Reportedly, the Ukrainian actress has landed the role of Camille, an alluring character who challenges Bond and helps him come to terms with the emotional consequences of Vesper Lynd's betrayal. The 28-year-old top European model will play alongside Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini and the newcomers, Gemma Arterton.

It's official, Nicole Kidman is pregnant.

Has been hit with pregnancy report for several times and has repeatedly come to denial, the Aussie actress finally confirmed that she's pregnant with her first child with husband Keith Urban whom she's been married to since June 2006.

Despite the fact that Writers Guild of America has agreed with United Artist's new deal, Oliver Stone's "Pinkville" will not be revived. According to Variety, the drama movie will not continue its production because its leading actor, Bruce Willis had left the My Lai Massacre's project at the beginning of the strike.

"Pinkville" supposedly scheduled to be released this year and starred by Willis, Channing Tatum and Woody Harrelson among others. The MGM's film tells about the investigation of the 1968 My Lai massacre in which U.S. soldiers killed as many as 500 My Lai villagers, most of them unarmed women, children and elderly.