September 09, 2010

Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television are teaming up to bring "The Dark Tower" to the screen. The companies are set to make three films as well as a TV show based on the Stephen King's "Dark Tower" novels, short stories and comic books.

The Hollywood Reporter, which first heard rumor about the project, reports that Ron Howard will serve as a helmer for the first film of the trilogy and the first season of the TV show. Meanwhile, Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman will write the script. Howard and Goldsman, moreover, will join forces to produce the project, which has been in development for a while. Kerry Foster, Todd Hallowell and Erica Huggins are executive producing the first film.

Less than a week from its limited release, "Never Let Me Go" teases audience by releasing two new clips. The first clip which is debuted by HitFix shows a scene set at Hailsham where three main characters of the film spend their childhood. The next one which is an exclusive courtesy of Los Angeles Times sees two of them, who have grown up, visiting their former teacher.

Scripted by Alex Garland, the film tells the story of three close friends, Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, who were raised in seemingly idyllic English boarding school where they got all they needed. As they grow up, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other. In the meantime, they discover a bitter reality that they are actually clones grown for the sole purpose of organ donation.

Happy Mondays star Bez has been released from prison after serving just two weeks of a month-long sentence. The British dancer/percussionist walked free from Strangeways detention center in Manchester, England on Wednesday, September 8, shouting "See you later, lads!"

And when asked if he was relieved to be out, he told reporters, "No, I wish I was still in there!" The rocker, real name Mark Berry, was jailed last month for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Monica Ward, in a domestic dispute.

Rocker Vince Neil is at the center of an assault investigation in Las Vegas after allegedly attacking a woman in an elevator at the Hilton resort in Sin City. The alleged victim, who has asked to remain nameless, claims the Motley Crue singer lashed out unprovoked at her when she found herself in the wrong elevator as she headed back to her suite at the hotel on Sunday night, September 5.

She tells WENN she recognized Neil, who was with two younger women, from TV but couldn't remember his name. She struck up polite conversation asking the rocker to reveal his identity and he reportedly lunged at her.

Don Johnson has spoken of his "sense of vindication" after a judge granted him a further $28 million in a battle with TV bosses over his 1990s show "Nash Bridges". The actor was awarded $23.2 million in July after successfully suing bosses at production company Rysher Entertainment, Inc., claiming he was owed 50 per cent of the profits from the show because he owned half of the cop drama's copyright.

And on Wednesday, September 8 he was victorious again - Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern ruled that Johnson is due more than $28 million in interest. Johnson, who played a San Francisco cop in the hit show, is pleased his rights have been acknowledged.

Twista and Chris Brown share screen in newly-premiered "Make a Movie" music video. Despite the racy song lyrics about filming a sex tape, the clip is quite tame, featuring some love scenes between two ladies with lack of involvement from the two male performers.

"Make a Movie" is included in Twista's next studio installment "The Perfect Storm". He told MTV, "It was something that fit the criteria of what I wanted to come with as far as my next single, as far as me making the sexy jams and being able to come like that."

Three more clips from "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" have made their way out via Teaser Trailer. Highlighting Shia LaBeouf's Jake "Jacob" Moore, the videos share scenes featuring him and different characters in each snippet.

In the first clip, Jacob is seen telling her mother, portrayed by Susan Sarandon, to get another job as he cannot contribute more to her finance than he already has done. Next, he is seen involved in an intense conversation with Josh Brolin's Bretton James, his hedge fund manager. The other clip, meanwhile, sees Jacob and his fiancee, Carey Mulligan's Winnie' having an argument about their relationship.

Rockers the Disturbed have scored their fourth number one album in America. "Asylum" debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with 179,000 copies sold. The group previously stormed to the top of the countdown with "Indestructible", "Ten Thousand Fists" and "Believe".

The latest "Now" hits compilation - the 35th - debuts at two with 105,000 sales, while previous chart toppers from Eminem ("Recovery") and Katy Perry ("Teenage Dream") slip to three and four, respectively. Fantasia Barrino's "Back to Me" rounds out the new top five.

Grumpy rocker Lou Reed has reportedly broken Susan Boyle's heart by refusing to let her sing his "Perfect Day" anthem on a reality TV show. The Scottish singing sensation, who shot to fame after appearing on a British talent show last year, was due to perform the song on "America's Got Talent".

But when she arrived to soundcheck the tune at the show's Los Angeles studios on Wednesday, September 8, Boyle learned Reed wasn't a fan and had refused permission for her to sing the song. Sources tell TMZ.com Boyle burst into tears and refused to change her tune for the show. Instead, she allegedly headed to the airport intent on catching a flight back to Britain.

Britney Spears is at the center of a shocking sexual harassment case, filed against her by a former bodyguard. Fernando Flores claims the pop star repeatedly exposed herself to him, while he was in her employ, and made sexual advances towards him.

In a suit, filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 8 and obtained by TMZ.com, Flores alleges his former boss once titillated him during a night out - wearing little but a see-through lace dress. In legal papers, his lawyer states, "She was wearing a white lace, see-through dress. She walked over close by (Flores), intentionally dropped her cigarette lighter on the floor, bent over to retrieve it and thereby exposed her uncovered genitals... The incident caused (Flores) shock and disgust."

A look at Steve Rogers' outfit in "Captain America: The First Avenger" has been obtained in some set pictures. In the photos obtained by Daily Mail, the stunt double of Chris Evans was seen wearing the superhero costume complete with his helmet, shield and belt while filming a motorbike scene in the London countryside on Wednesday, September 8.

Though lead actor Evans himself was not seen during the production that day, the pictures manage to reveal other characters from the film which are Hydra agents. The baddies were apparently involved in a chase sequence with the stunt double as they were seen riding futuristic motorcycles which sport Hydra logo. Another vehicle, a Forties-style car, which has a similar symbol was also spotted being driven through a woodland location.

Katie Holmes has called on the media to stop speculating about her plans to have a second child - because she's putting off pregnancy for at least "a couple years". The "Dawson's Creek" star has been dogged recently by rumors she's expecting a little brother or sister for her and husband Tom Cruise's four-year-old daughter, Suri - and her spokesperson has continued to shoot down the claims.

Now Holmes is speaking out herself, insisting one child is enough for her to handle - for now. She tells America's Marie Claire magazine, "Maybe in a couple of years, but right now I want to make sure I'm really there for Suri. I'm the youngest in my family - my closest sister is five years older than me, and the next one is nine years ahead of me, so I was a bit of an only child, and I liked it! I liked having all of my mom's attention, and sometimes I think I still do."

"Chuck" is going to have a special guest for the next month's Halloween episode. Zachary Levi and the gang will get a visit from Robert Englund, the original depicter of Freddy Krueger, in an episode called "Chuck Versus Aisle of Terror".

The 63-year-old actor is billed to play Dr. Stanley Wheelwright, an evil scientist who can make your waking life a nightmare. According to Entertainment Weekly, his guest-starring appearance will be featured in the sixth episode of upcoming season 4.

Katy Perry has ended Eminem and Rihanna's run at the top of the U.S. pop charts by taking her "Teenage Dream" to number one. The pop star kicked off the summer by hitting the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with "California Gurls" and now she has scored the first number one of the Fall.

Perry bookends the new top 10 - "California Gurls" slips to 10 on the new chart. Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" duet with Rihanna falls to two, while Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" holds steady at number three.

Country music singer James Otto has canceled two upcoming concerts after he was admitted to a hospital in Tennessee with abdominal pains. The star checked into a medical facility in Nashville on Tuesday, September 7, less than a month after his wife Amy gave birth to the couple's daughter Ava on August 24.

In a statement, Otto reveals he had been "feeling badly on and off for a while now but didn't think it was serious", adding he "may have been a bit distracted by all the excitement of baby Ava's arrival". As a result of his illness, Otto has scrapped his weekend gigs on September 11-12 in Clarksville, Tennessee and Berea, Ohio.

Lady GaGa brought her concert in Washington, D.C. to a halt on Tuesday, September 7 when she spotted two feuding fans in the audience. The "Poker Face" hitmaker was finishing her performance of the song "Monster" when she spotted trouble breaking out in the crowd.

Pointing to the rowdy concertgoers, she called out, "Stop the music! Stop fighting! Do not fight at this show." She then apologized to the audience for cutting short her track and made sure the venue's security guards had the situation under control before continuing with the show.

Rap superstar Jay-Z will lead the way at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards after scoring 11 nominations. The hip-hop mogul is up for the top prizes of Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performer and CD of the Year for "The Blueprint 3", while his Alicia Keys collaboration "Empire State of Mind" has put him in the running for the Track of the Year and Perfect Combo titles.

Jay-Z will have stiff competition from the likes of Lil Wayne proteges Drake and Nicki Minaj - they've scored eight and six nominations, respectively. All three artists will battle it out with Eminem and Wayne for Lyricist of the Year, and Jay-Z will face his pal Kanye West in the Best Live Performer category, alongside Drake, Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

MTV reality star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has been ordered to complete two days of community service after pleading guilty to annoying others on the beach following an arrest in July. Polizzi, who shot to fame on U.S. TV show "Jersey Shore", was arrested in sunny Seaside Heights, New Jersey on suspicion of disorderly conduct and creating a public nuisance.

She was taken into custody after allegedly drinking alcohol in public, while filming the hit series' third season; the 22 year old was released hours later. In court on Wednesday, September 8, she was ordered to complete two days of community service with animal control and pay a $533 fine. The counts of disorderly conduct and creating a public nuisance were dismissed.

Former boxing champion Mike Tyson is set to be a dad for the eighth time - his wife is expecting a baby boy in January 2011. The star sparked baby rumors when he was spotted rubbing his wife Lakiha Spicer Tyson's belly over dinner at Ago restaurant in Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel at the weekend.

And Tyson's spokesperson has now confirmed the happy news to People.com, stating, "They are very happy and everyone is doing great." The couple also shares a 21-month-old daughter, Milan.

Kings of Leon spend a warm summer day with a choir of children in a music video supporting their new single "Radioactive". The four-piece band ditch beer and cigarettes for sodas and pies during a Southern-style barbecue. They are also seen playing the song inside a sunlit barn with the kids.

"We grew up in this type of lifestyle," Drummer Nathan Followill said. "Gospel music was a big part of us growing up, so to be able to come back and revisit that part of our lives at this stage in our lives is a very special thing." He additionally joked, "After my Grandma sees this video, she definitely won't think we're going to hell as fast as she did think we were going."

On heels of its big victory at 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards in late August, "Modern Family" reveals two promos for their upcoming second season. In one promo, ABC called its comeback as the return of Emmy-winning Best Comedy, urging people to "make some new memories with the family".

In the other ad, the network highlights the media's glowing reviews of the TV show as if to explain why the Sofia Vergara-starring comedy deserves the August 29 award. "Modern Family" will open the second season on September 22.

Ben Affleck has brought "The Town" to Italy at Venice International Film Festival. Accompanied by co-star Rebecca Hall who was dressed in a green flowing dress, the actor/director premiered the film on Wednesday, September 8 night at Palazzo del Cinema.

The red carpet event was additionally attended by other lead actors like Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner who all donned formal black and white outfit. Another "Town" beauty Blake Lively, however, could not join them as she was busy filming her TV series "Gossip Girl" in New York City that afternoon.

Justin Bieber's hectic tour schedule left him so exhausted last month, he collapsed on the night he was forced to scrap a concert in New York, according to a tabloid report. The "Baby" hitmaker had to pull out of his planned appearance at the New York State Fair in Syracuse on August 29 due to a mystery illness.

The teen pop sensation admitted he had been "super sick" prior to the cancellation, but failed to go into detail about his ailment, revealing only that he had been ordered by doctors to undergo complete bed rest. Now America's National Enquirer reports Bieber was so ill he actually passed out.

Dominican singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra and Spanish superstar Alejandro Sanz look set to rule the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards after landing four nominations apiece. The two hitmakers will go head-to-head in the most highly-coveted categories - Guerra's "A Son de Guerra" and Sanz's "Paraiso Express" are both in contention for the Album of the Year prize, alongside Camila ("Dejarte de Amar"), Bebe ("Y") and Miguel Bose ("Cardio").

Sanz's "Desde Cuando" is up for Song of the Year - the track will battle it out with Mario Domm's "Mientes", which he co-wrote with Monica Velez, Cuando Me Enamoro by Descemer Bueno and Enrique Iglesias, Ruben Blades' "Las Calles", and Uruguayan songwriter Jorge Drexler for "Una Cancion Me Trajo Hasta Aqui".

British TV personality Piers Morgan has finally confirmed he is to replace veteran newsman Larry King after his 25-year run hosting "Larry King Live" ends later this year. In June, the 76 year old announced his plans to retire from CNN's popular talk show, which features interviews with celebrities and prominent figures.

Morgan was a hotly-rumored replacement and the "America's Got Talent" judge reportedly inked an $8.25 million four-year deal for the coveted role - beating out competition from newswoman Katie Couric and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest.

"Smallville" actor Sam Jones III is taking legal action to halt the DVD release of an explicit sex tape featuring the star and his Playboy model girlfriend Karissa Shannon. Vivid Entertainment boss Steve Hirsch has obtained footage of the couple's bedroom antics from "a reputable third party" and is seeking to sell the adult video, which he has branded "extremely erotic".

But the porn mogul will face a court fight from Jones and Shannon - the stars have consulted their lawyers in a bid to stopping Hirsch from profiting from their steamy sex lives. He tells TMZ.com, "I understand that the guy from Vivid saw footage with Karissa and I in it. We have spoken to our legal team and they will be dealing with this ASAP."

Katie Holmes, Eva Mendes and Jennifer Garner are to be honored for their charity work at Variety magazine's second annual Power of Women luncheon. The event, which will take place at Los Angeles' Beverly Hills Hotel on September 30, will also fete actresses Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Natalie Portman and talent manager Suzan Bymel.

The ladies have been selected as the industry publication's Lifetime Impact Honorees for making a significant difference to their chosen causes. Holmes will be honored for her work on behalf of the Dizzy Feet Foundation, Mendes for Art of Elysium and Garner for Save the Children.

Halle Berry could have found her new man. The "Catwoman" star, who recently broke up with longtime partner Gabriel Aubry, has been reported hooking up with her "Dark Tide" co-star Olivier Martinez.

The two were reportedly spending their weekend walking arm-in-arm around his hometown of Paris. "They were both smiling and laughing. Their body language was very flirtatious. They definitely seemed like a couple - absolutely looked like more than friends," an onlooker tells People.

Bruno Mars adores his woman in a music video for chart-busting single "Just the Way You Are", the first single from his upcoming debut album "Doo - Wops & Hooligans". Wearing his signature fedora, the Hawaii native takes a cassette out the walkman his girl is listening to and uses the tape to create images which support his lyrics about wanting to keep her the way she is.

"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change/ 'cause you're amazing just the way you are," he sings in his buoyant voice. The music video is directed by Ethan Lader and inspired by the artwork of Erika Iris Simmons.

Florence Welch has warned fans they are in for a rocky ride while listening to her upcoming second album - the material she has come up with so far is "intense". The Florence and the Machine frontwoman became one of 2009's biggest success stories with the release of her debut album "Lungs", which won her critical praise and a string of awards.

And Welch is convinced fans will be impressed with her follow-up disc, but admits listening to the album will be an extreme experience. She says, "It's really intense so far! It's even more intense than the first album. It's got extra bass. We're putting a lot of bass on it and really huge weird drum patterns."

Singer Katy Perry wants to give Simon Cowell an extra special wedding present - by performing a duet with his TV colleague Cheryl Cole at the ceremony. The "I Kissed a Girl" hitmaker befriended Cowell and Cole when she stood in for Australian singer Dannii Minogue on the judging panel of Britain's "The X Factor" earlier this year.

And now Perry is keen to collaborate with the Girls Aloud star when Cowell finally walks down the aisle with Mezhgan Hussainy. She tells Britain's Now magazine, "I'd love to perform with Cheryl and I think a great time to do it would be at Simon's wedding - what else do you get the man who has everything?"

Bob Marley's youngest child Makeda has pleaded guilty to growing marijuana at her U.S. home. Makeda Jahnesta Marley was arrested in 2008 after cops were called to her Pennsylvania property over a domestic dispute and discovered her removing plants from the basement.

On Tuesday, September 7, the 29 year old pleaded guilty to the manufacture of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, reports The Daily Local News of West Chester. Marley, who was born just three weeks after her reggae legend father died in 1981, admitted having nearly a dozen marijuana plants at her home in Caln.

Kristen Stewart hates discussing herself during interviews - because she gets so nervous she starts to stink. The "Twilight" beauty never prepares properly before she is questioned by a journalist, and she often ends up a trembling wreck as she tries to avoid looking "incapable".

And the pressure is so great, she always breaks out in a sweat - and confesses she usually ends up smelling "bad" as a result. Stewart tells Stylist magazine, "Practice helps a lot. You just get so nervous... I don't know how to deal with it. I don't prepare anything, I just do it so it's gotten easier with experience."

Charlie Sheen's estranged wife Brooke Mueller has fled Los Angeles to undergo an intense workout program as part of a new reality show, according to U.S. reports. The "Two and a Half Men" actor was sentenced to 30 days in rehab after pleading guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault in August following bust-up with his wife on last Christmas Day.

Mueller, who has two children with the actor, also went to rehab following the breakdown of their marriage, and recently sparked rumors she had returned to the clinic for a second time in a year after leaving her L.A. Home. Her spokesman, Elliot Mintz, insists she has departed her hometown to embark on an "intensive, physical fitness program in Southern California".

Angelina Jolie has spoken out against a controversial U.S. pastor who has organized a Koran-burning event in Florida to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The "Tomb Raider" star jetted to flood-ravaged Pakistan on Tuesday, September 7 as part of her duties as a United Nations ambassador in a bid to boost donations for aid relief.

Her visit came just days after Christian pastor Terry Jones caused a furore in Islamic countries by announcing plans to set fire to the religion's holy book at his church in Florida on September 9, to mark the nine-year anniversary of the terrorist atrocity.

The former "Friends" stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are getting a reunion in the first episode of "Cougar Town" season 2. In anticipation of that, ABC released pictures and video preview of the upcoming episode featuring the two actresses.

In the pictures, the "He's Just Not That Into You" movie beauty goes casual. She is seen sitting next to Courteney in one image and sharing laughs with the Jules Cobb depicter. There is also a photo of her stroking a little white dog on a bench.

As it has been reported before, the principal photography of "X-Men: First Class" was kicked off in England in late August and now the first photos from the set have emerged. Obtained by INF Daily, the images which were taken from the shooting location in Buckinghamshire give the first look at January Jones as Emma Frost aka White Queen.

During the production on Wednesday, September 8, the 32-year-old beauty was seen wearing an all white outfit, including a short coat, knee-high boots and a Russian hat. Jones was seen wandering around the set with her stunt double who also wore similar costume. She then added an ankle-length puffy jacket and replaced her white footwear with colorful boots in between takes.

Jay-Z gave his superstar wife Beyonce Knowles a birthday to remember on Saturday, September 4 when he hired a plush New York restaurant and filled it with flowers and celebrity pals. The "Crazy in Love" hitmaker turned 29 on Saturday and was treated to a lavish bash at the soon-to-be launched Big Apple restaurant The Darby, where Alicia Keys, Serena Williams, Kanye West and Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs turned out to help the star celebrate.

And the "99 Problems" hitmaker ensured the party was a fragrant affair - he filled the venue with white orchids, according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.

Machine Head rocker Robb Flynn is pleading with fans to help him find four priceless guitars taken from his house during a break-in. The guitarist was left devastated when he returned home on Tuesday, September 7 after picking his son up from school to find numerous personal items missing.

And he has been left particularly heartbroken over an instrument he used during the recording of the band's debut album, and another given to him as a gift from late Pantera rocker 'Dimebag Darrell' Abbott. Flynn has issued an appeal for the return of the guitars, and promises a reward to anyone who can help locate them.

Dennis Rodman made some sweet music for shocked revelers at a New York hotel after he accidentally broadcast his racy bedroom endeavors over the microphone system. The legendary Lothario was partying at the Hotel Indigo in New York's posh Hampton Bays area on Sunday, September 5 when he disappeared into his suite accompanied by six girls.

But the former basketball champ made a private clinch into a public spectacle when he started talking dirty to his harem - without realizing he had a cordless mic in his pocket. Rodman's raunchy words were heard by partygoers who were still enjoying the bash around the hotel's pool - before red-faced bosses swiftly moved to unplug the speaker system.

Rich Cronin has passed away in a hospital on Wednesday, September 8 afternoon, a week after his 35th birthday on August 30, TMZ reported. His brother said the lead singer of 1990s boyband LFO suffered a stroke after a long battle with leukemia.

His friends have since reacted to the sad news. Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC wrote on his Facebook, "Rip to a great friend rich c." Another former member of the band, Lance Bass, has taken it to his Twitter to express his sympathy, writing "Sad sad day that Rich Cronin died- was a amazing guy. : ("

British actress/socialite Davinia Taylor has lost custody of her son after a bitter divorce from sports agent David Gardner. The millionairess, who starred in U.K. TV soap opera Hollyoaks and is one of supermodel Kate Moss' closest friends, formally ended her marriage to Gardner earlier this year.

Their divorce sparked a bitter battle over their three-year-old son - and in a rare ruling, a judge this week awarded custody of the boy to Gardner, who is a close pal of soccer superstar David Beckham. According to Britain's Daily Mail, Taylor will only be allowed access to her child every other weekend.

Martha Stewart has been targeted in a new lawsuit over allegations she is sucking profits out of Vampire Vineyards wine company by producing low-quality counterfeits. In a suit filed by bosses at the gothic inspired wine firm, Stewart and her company is accused of selling cheap booze with the Vampire Vineyard label in a bid to tarnish the company's product and boost sales of her own wine range with E&J Gallo winery.

In papers obtained by TMZ.com, Vampire Vineyards chiefs state that the TV titan is out "to disparage and tarnish wine brands by portraying a mock label of Vampire Vineyards affixed to cheap, nondescript wine and spirits products."

The artwork of Rihanna's new single "Only Girl (In the World)" is unearthed just a day after the song debut. It boasts the naked 22-year-old singer sporting long red wig, kneeling down and clutching a red rose dress to cover her modesty.

Worked on by "Please Don't Stop the Music" producer Stargate, "Only Girl" itself reportedly will be made available for digital download in iTunes on September 21. It is confirmed as the first offering from Rihanna's upcoming fifth studio album titled "Loud" which is slated to come out sometime in November this year.