February 19, 2008

Following the uprising reports that James Bond's star Daniel Craig and the rest of cast and crew were caught in a middle of a gun battle between two rival gangs in Panama, "Quantum of Solace" producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli cleared out the rumors. According to MI6 News, the producers have released joint statement denying the reports stating that it was a misunderstanding.

Letting out assurance that the cast and crew haven't been threatened in any way possible, the statement read, "The filming of 'Quantum of Solace', with director Marc Forster at the helm, is on schedule and will continue as planned in Panama. None of the cast or crew have ever been in danger. Reports of troubles with gangs are untrue. The protests are to do with the fatal shooting of a construction worker in Colon and are unrelated to our filming activities. Our cast and crew have not been threatened and no thefts or muggings have occurred." Further, they noted that the untrue reports made by British newspaper The Daily Star have made the cast and crew's family in the U.K. stressed out.

Won't be turning 20 until Wednesday, February 20, Rihanna however preferred to celebrate her birthday early. The Barbadian singer celebrated her 20th birthday partying with friends at Los Angeles' Les Deux nightclub on Tuesday night, February 19 during which she involved in a cupcake fight.

Rihanna along with celebrity pals, including Kanye West, Wilmer Valderrama, and Chris Brown were all enjoying the party when "There was cupcake frosting all over Rihanna's face and the group was hysterically laughing to the point of almost tears!" a source in the know revealed.

The "Notting Hill" star Rhys Ifans has agreed to star in a new comedy project for Universal Picture. Variety reported that the 39-year-old Welsh actor is set to be playing a pirate radio show's deejay in England in "The Boat That Rocked".

In the Richard Curtis-directed film, the BAFTA-nominated actor will be joined by Kenneth Branagh and January Jones. Branagh will portray another deejay for the radio show, while Jones depicts an American woman who visits the boat used for the show and finds herself to be in love with Ifans' character.

In addition to working on his next LP, to be titled "Paper Trail", T.I. is branching out his singing career by designing custom line of T-shirts for Playboy. The rap icon is one among the many other artists giving hand to participate in the second annual Rock the Rabbit Program.

Having seen a number of other famous music figures, including the likes of Duran Duran, Daft Punk, Ghostland Observatory, Hot Chip, Iggy Pop, and Jamie T, place their own personal design around Playboy's famous Rabbit Head, T.I. has his limited edition Rock the Rabbit custom designed T-shirts emblazoned with the words "T.I. vs. T.I.P." with the famous bunny logo and a crown are used as the dots on the "I"s. "T.I. vs. T.I.P." actually is directed from the title of T.I.'s latest effort of the same name.

Setting his feet in the movie biz, the Black Eyed Peas' rapper Taboo has become the latest addition to action adventure "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li". According to Variety, the hip-hop artist will be joining Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chris Klein and Rick Yune in the project.

Despite the fact that it was said that the 32-year-old rapper has been signed in, further details about what role he will be playing hasn't been revealed. Still, Variety reported that the man that has made a cameo appearance in John Travolta's "Be Cool" joined the cast with "Pathfinder" actress Moon Bloodgood, Singapore's Edmund Chen and Hong Kong film star Cheng Pei Pei.

Arguably the most-anticipated reunion in Hip-Hop has to be postponed after a shooting outside the venue. The reunion that includes Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile and Mannie Fresh was slated to take place February 18 at New Orleans' Dream nightclub for NBA All-Star Weekend but shootings forced it to be canceled.

According to MTV News, the show was due to commence in the morning but few hours before that an unknown gunman opened fire, causing two 24-year-old women and a 26-year-old man who were standing on the sidewalk to be injured. They were rushed to hospital but later said to be recovering for the injuries were not life-threatening.

Party girl Tara Reid is heading to indie drama film "The Beautiful Outsiders". According to reports, the "American Pie" beauty has been negotiating to star as one of the leading characters.

If she is indeed joining the project, Reid is going to tackle the role of Sarah Fugate, the girlfriend of former drug addict who has to work in a brothel to pay her way to university. She will also be joining earlier cast members that includes Doug Bradley, Cameron Douglas and John Fallon.

Heath Ledger whose death has been proclaimed as accidental drugs overdose will live on a new plastic doll. The late actor is having his role of Joker in one of his latest big screen projects "The Dark Knight" being immortalized in the form of a toy doll.

Heath's family has approved the release of the Mattel action figure to go with the upcoming movie "The Dark Knight." "Heath was very proud of his work in the film, and his family is aware and supportive of Warner Bros., and its partner's plans for the movie," a family spokesman told the New York Post.

Has been praised for her Oscar gown taste, Kate Winslet put on her Cardboard Citizens ambassador hat and dropped by the charity's fund-raising event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, London on Friday, February 15 in their honor. It was during that charity dinner that the actress had a dress designed by Vivienne Westwood for her sold for $40,000.

The stunning scarlet red satin gown, described as a "beautifully flowing deep red number", was sold just one day after fashion designer Vivienne showed her collection for the first time in ten years. The lucky mystery bidder soon had it packaged up as Kate quickly changed into an "ultra-chic all-black ensemble" following the winning bid.

Talib Kweli has pulled out another single and its music video from his charting album, "Eardrum" (2007). The song "Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us)" that samples electronic band Space's "Deliverance" receives its music video premiere.

The video opens with a scene in Lagos, Nigeria and about the song itself, Kweli who rapped "Hip-Hop is not a Nation" explained to Hip-HopDX.com, "I don't think we necessarily need to be a nation. A nation is bigger than a genre of music or a lifestyle. A nation requires nation-building. It requires real structure. That's not what Hip Hop is about. Hip Hop is about rebelling and being free - not that a nation isn't about being free, but nation-building needs leaders and I'm not sure that Hip Hop needs leaders."

One more actress is added to the list of honored stars at the 2008 ShoWest Annual Convention. At the event held from March 10 to 13 at the Bally's and Paris hotels in Las Vegas, the Emmy and Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt has been set to be awarded with the title of Breakthrough Director of the Year.

The 44-year-old actress will be presented with the kudo at the convention's Opening Day Luncheon on March 11. She is chosen to be given the prize following her latest film "Then She Found Me", which was the opening film of the 19th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival. In the drama comedy starring Colin Firth, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick, the star of "As Good as It Gets" took the role of the leading actress and most importantly the helmer.

Robin Antin, founder of successful all-girls group The Pussycat Dolls, revealed that the band have started recording their next album, the follow up to debut album "PCD". Member Nicole Scherzinger who started her solo career, is also back as the sixth piece.

"We're in the studio right now," Antin said. "Nicole is 100% back with us. She actually never left. She was working on her solo stuff and it's out there and people will hear that, but she actually wants to focus on Pussycat Dolls right now. We all want to. We're going full force."

Is arguably one of the hottest hunks in entertainment industry, Matthew McConaughey has no doubt to bare his chest for a new Dolce & Gabbana fragrance ad. The actor took his shirt off and revealed his trademark chiseled torso to promote "The One" for men.

The new ad campaign, to be unveiled next month, promotes a "real man's fragrance" packed with grapefruit, coriander, basil, cardamom, ginger, orange blossom, cedarwood, ambergris - and tobacco. "I wanted it to be a classic - not a banal classic but a classic men's fragrance that would last for years and be the type of scent women adore," fashion designer Stefano Gabbana said about the new fragrance.

It costs People Magazine a really big buck to have pop superstar Christina Aguilera and her baby boy Max Liron Bratman featured on the cover of their latest issue. The publication reportedly paid the baby-momma $2 Million for the exclusive pictures of her son, featured on its February 15 , 2008 issue.

In addition to the cover shoot, People also obtained a photo of Max's nursery and a family photo, all of which made it worth for them to spend such amount of money. The other mega bucks baby picture is that of Nicole Richie's baby daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden, which according to Gawker.com, cost People $1 Million.

It's been a while since Paris Hilton was romantically linked to Travis Barker when his marriage to wife Shanna Moakler first hit the rock bottom. New rumor, indeed, surfaces by the hour that the once-rumored lovers have been hooking up again during the Valentine's week.

Travis was attending the Magic clothing show in Sin City promoting his label, Famous Stars and Straps, when he met Paris at the Jet nightclub on Wednesday night, February 13. Both of them, according to Gatecrasher, were later that day spotted sharing a kiss.

Lily Allen was seen leaving ex-boyfriend Ed Simons' house in London on Sunday morning, February 17 thus prompted rumors that she has rekindled her romance with The Chemical Brothers musician. And while the report has not yet been confirmed, there comes a new report that the British singer has been snapped wearing a ring on her engagement finger only to fuel engagement speculation.

Allen and Simons began dating September last year. She was once pregnant with their first child together but suffered a miscarriage back on January 16, caused them to lose the not yet born baby.

Moments leading up to BRIT Awards are being highlighted with the announcement of its performers. British band Klaxons have revealed that they will team up with U.S. R'n'B singer Rihanna for a one-off special at the event held February 20 despite them being in different continents.

Frontman James Righton did admit some difficulties resulting from the long distance rehearsal. "It's been a bit of a funny one because she's in America and we're over here," he said. "They've got this funny idea of what our band sounds like and we've done three or four different versions. Her people kept sending versions back going 'No, this sounds more like you'. It's strange when someone thinks they're better at being you than you are!"

Has been keeping herself away from wide media coverage following her latest rehab stay, Lindsay Lohan has resurfaced. The actress, who's considerably sexy, has bared all for New York Magazine's February 25, 2008 issue. She is following in the footsteps of famous blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe by recreating the late star's final nude photo-shoot.

The actress and pop star appears naked on the front of the magazine, covered up only by a see through pink scarf. The shoot was done by famed photographer Bert Stern, who also shot Monroe's "The Last Sitting" which was done shortly before she died.

"Definitely, Maybe" star Ryan Reynolds is going to make special appearance in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". According to AICN, the co-star of Wesley Snipes in "Blade: Trinity" will star as the anti-hero character Deadpool in the action fantasy film.

If Reynolds indeed makes a cameo appearance in the Gavin Hood-directed film, he will be joining the lead stars, Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, as well as recent casting members, Lynn Collins and Danny Huston. A while back, the Canadian actor has expressed interest in portraying the mercenary in an interview with ComingSoon saying, "Basically for me there are two superheroes that I could play. One would be Deadpool, the other would be The Flash."

Nas' plan to release his studio album "Nigger" during the Black History Month this February has been squashed. The new album that created a controversy sometime ago with its bold title, will not be arriving until April 22.

"April 22," said Nas. "I'm over Black History Month. I think we are part of American History and we should have it all year 'round," adding "The timing couldn't be more perfect. Nobody's going to tell the truth about race relations if they're not offended or angered. Everybody's just hiding behind the veil of half-truths...They think that if you don't talk about it it'll go away."