Entertainment News Page 4699

"Skip Tracer," an upcoming action comedy of Columbia Pictures is on work. The studio has hired Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer to rewrite an earlier draft penned by Steve Franks.

In the meantime, Neal Moritz is in hand producing the flick through his Original Films production company alongside Brad Luff and Chris Henze.

The marriage of Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney is considered as never exist. The couple's union was annulled by Los Angeles Superior Court, so said documents obtained this week by the television show "Extra."

"The judgment of nullity is entered," the documents read, per TV's Extra. "The parties are declared to be single persons." Getting straight to the point, the annulment means a judicial declaration that a marriage never legally existed.

Robert Plant, widely known as former Led Zeppelin frontman, has collected a $60,000 donation for a Carefree, Ariz.-based charitable organization that aids nomadic people in drought-stricken West Africa. Plant reportedly got that amount from a four-song CD released by his band, Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation.

Sadly, the CD's sales failed to generate the royalties Plant had expected, forced the man to make an appeal to PAR Charitable Trust, a small grant-making organization that agreed to cover up the rest amount needed to build and operate school dormitories for 200 children for three years. And so, Trust will supplement proceeds from the CD sales to build eight dorms and provide meals, blankets, school uniforms and medicine for students in four locales in Mali.

The record-release party, held Wednesday Dec 21st at a Manhattan nightclub for a new record featuring duets with the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., turned into a violent. There were three people stabbed inside the club, while three others were shot in a parking lot near the club called "Exit."

Chronicling the incident, police first responded to a 3:10 a.m. call reporting gun shots at a parking garage near the club and found three men wounded. All of them are said to be in stable condition at a local hospital. Shortly thereafter police received a 911 call reporting a stabbing in the club and discovered two men cut in the face and one stabbed in the stomach.

Rumors on the street mention that famous model Brooke Burke splits from her boyfriend of four months, David Charvet.

Concerning this matter, a friend of the beauty revealed to American In Touch magazine that Burke is still nursing a broken heart from the break-up of her marriage to plastic surgeon Garth Fisher.

On February 9 next year, people will keep their attention sticking on the 26th annual London Film Critics' Circle awards. Organizers have on Wednesday announced the awards nominees that include some famous films, like "The Constant Gardener" which is a big nominee with seven nominations.

The drama thriller is nominated among others for the categories of Best Director for Fernando Meirelles, Best Producer for Simon Channing Williams and Film of the Year. Challenging Meirelles to win the Best Director award are Ang Lee for "Brokeback Mountain," Paul Haggis for "Crash," Peter Jackson for "King Kong," and David Cronenberg for "A History of Violence."

Rapper Eminem starts this year Christmas season with such a great attainment in music scene as his album "Curtain Call" debuts at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday for a second week in a row, sold 324,000 copies in its second week on release.

The second position this weekend is secured by Carrie Underwood whose album "Some Hearts" sold 271,000 copies in its fifth week. "Now That's What I Call Music! 20" by various artists is the 3rd, one place ahead of American Idol runner up Bo Bice whose debut album "The Real Thing" sold 227,000 in its first-week.

One of country's hardest rock bands, Brooks & Dunn, has been set to help rolling the Stones tour with their opening performance in Omaha, Neb., Jan. 29 next year. "We've thrown around the concept of opening for the Stones forever," singer Ronnie Dunn commented about their being tapped to warm up The Rolling Stones tour.

Amazed upon getting the invitation from their manager, the duo immediately "started calling our friends as fast as we could as soon as we walked out of the room," Ronnie added. See you there friends.

Death Cab for Cutie reveals their plan to unveil new "Directions." Consisting of an anthology of 12 short films, the set will also include a music video of each song from the band's Grammy-nominated album, "Plans."

Created by 12 different directors, the videos will be unveiled one by one on Death Cab for Cutie's Web site early January next year. As for fans to know, band members don't appear in the films, which were made with small budgets.

Hollywood hunk Ethan Hawke will give it a go for an upcoming drama romance "The Hottest State." An adaptation of Hawke's novel of the same name, the flick chronicling the desperate, consuming rush that accompanies young love from its first hints to its ultimate disintegration.

The story focuses on two young aspiring performers grappling with questions of self-identity and emotion that neither is equipped to handle. While Hawke gives hand at directing, Michelle Williams is set for a roll in the film. Shooting reportedly will begin in late January next year.

Following fresh from the oven news confirmed that actress Keira Knightley has signed on to play the role of Helene in the upcoming drama romance "Silk," Michael Pitt reportedly has been cast in the male lead.

Pitt will then play the role of Herve Joncour, a married silkworm smuggler in 19th Century France who travels to Japan to collect his clandestine cargo. While there he spots a beautiful European woman, the concubine of a local baron, with whom he becomes obsessed. Without speaking the same language, they communicate through letters until war intervenes. Their unrequited love persists however, and Herve's wife Helene begins to suspect.

Terry Wogan has been given his own show on UK Gold. It's called "Wogan Now and Then." The new show will then make it possible for Wogan to reunite with various celebrities he's been interviewed over the years on his BBC show "Wogan."

To mark the debut of his show, Wogan has tapped Posh Spice Victoria Beckham as the first guest he's about to interview. What a smart pick. Apparently, Victoria reportedly accepted Terry's proposal because she knew he will be easy on her and won't open sensitive subjects, like that of the boob job she had but denied having.

This is what moviegoers around the globe are waiting for, the list on who's won what leading up to the 78th Oscars. Comes first on the list is "Brokeback Mountain" which ups for six nominations all at once, which are Best Picture, Best Director for Ang Lee, Best Actor for Heath Ledger, Best Supporting Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal, Best Supporting Actress for Michelle Williams, and Best Screenplay.

Then comes "Capote" which earns 4 nominations, mainly for Best Actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman, Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Keener, Best First Film, and Best Screenplay. "The Constant Gardener" comes next with 3 nominations; Best Picture, Best Director for Fernando Meirelles, and Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz.

The hotel heiress has had much, but still wanting more and more. Acting, writing, now Paris Hilton would like to sing. Yes, the socialite is eyeing a singing career and reportedly has employed composer Cathy Dennis to help with her future music career.

As for everybody to know, Cathy first was discovered by Simon Fuller, creator of American Idol, in the mid-80s. She then spawned great music works, as that of Kylie Minogue "Can' Get You Out Of My Head" and Britney Spears "Toxic," only to mention some hits Cathy has created.

Bad news. Ups. Well good news maybe. Or it could be both for different persons. Charlize Theron reportedly has turned down the Bond girl role in the highly anticipated "Casino Royale."

For the film producers, this of course a bad news for there's only one month left to find the female lead of the film as the flick is slated for a fall 2006 release date.