Aykroyd spills details of third Ghostbusters
The ghostbusters are set for a new round of paranormal policing.
Ottawa native Dan Aykroyd tells the Los Angeles Times there will be a third Ghostbusters film starring himself and original cast members Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.
Aykroyd says production could be under way by winter.
The Saturday Night Live alumnus and Ramis co-wrote the first two films in the sci-fi comedy franchise, about eccentric paranormal exterminators in New York City.
The hit 1984 debut and its 1989 sequel also starred Rick Moranis and Annie Potts and were directed and co-produced by Ivan Reitman.
The next instalment is penned by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, who also write for the TV series The Office.
In a report on the L.A. Times website, Aykroyd says Reitman is too busy to helm the third incarnation of Ghostbusters, so Ramis might direct instead.
Aykroyd – who was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in Driving Miss Daisy – also says some females might be added to the ghost-busting team.
He thinks Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku would be good in the roles.
Milano already stars in part of the franchise – she voices the character of Dr. Ilyssa Selwyn, a brainy curator, in Ghostbusters: The Video Game, written by Aykroyd and Ramis.
Paul McCartney to play Halifax
Paul McCartney is coming to Halifax.
The ex-Beatle announced Wednesday he's "very happy" to be performing at an outdoor concert on July 11.
"The Canadian audiences are great and the timing of the event, with the arrival of the Tall Ships, means that it will be an exciting event for us all," McCartney said on his website. "We are looking forward to rocking in Halifax."
Local promoters say it will be McCartney's only concert in Canada this year and are calling it the "largest and most exciting" concert in Halifax's 260-year history.
"This iconic and legendary performer's presence in our city will be an historic event for all Atlantic Canadians," said Harold MacKay, president of Power Promotional Events.
The concert is expected to attract 60,000 fans — 10,000 more than the crowd at the Rolling Stones show in September 2006.
Tickets will go on sale May 29 at 9 a.m. AT through Ticket Atlantic and at participating Atlantic Superstore locations.
Tickets will cost $125 for general admission and $305 for VIP tickets. Promoters say between 5,000 and 6,000 VIP seats will be available.
Wednesday's announcement ends the rumours that have been circulating since McCartney's representatives toured the Halifax Common last spring.
Last April, MacKay took McCartney's senior tour staff to the park. He said they were impressed with the site, but there wasn't enough time to set up an event that summer.
Halifax radio personality J.C. Douglas said he's excited to see Paul McCartney perform again.
Douglas has been to McCartney concerts in England and Montreal but this time, he would like the chance to meet the former Beatle in person.
"Working in radio, you get to meet a lot of stars and things and there's no one I'd rather meet than Paul McCartney," Douglas said. "He's been at the top of that list for my entire career and I'm sort of hoping that might happen, I don't know."
McCartney is playing a week before KISS headlines an outdoor concert in the park. That has some local residents concerned about the potential damage hosting two big concerts so close to one another could do to the Halifax Commons.
"In terms of the environment that we all want to come sit in and spend the afternoon in and the dogs and sports events, I mean, that's not as possible because of these concerts they bring in and it ruins the property," M.E. Woodside said.
Last summer, the city placed 30 rolls of plastic weave on the grounds to protect the grass during a Keith Urban concert. However, the grass was uprooted when the covering was removed.
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly admits that the city didn't get everything perfect last summer.
"This is an opportunity for us to see what can happen," Kelly said on Wednesday. "This is the first time back-to-back concerts, too. Same venue, same staging and other aspects. So for us, it's a way of testing things out and making things better and we learn from the process."
Fleetwood Mac resumes tour after canceled gigs
Fleetwood Mac is expected return to the stage Wednesday night in Oakland, CA, after postponing a handful of shows over the past week due to illness.
As previously reported, the classic rockers canceled two shows in Canada last week--Tuesday night (5/12) in Calgary and Wednesday (5/13) in Edmonton--due to a band member falling ill.
The Stevie Nicks-led group managed to perform last Friday night (5/15) in Vancouver, though Monday night's (5/18) show at Sacramento's Arco Arena was also postponed due to illness. According to the venue's website, a rescheduled date will be announced soon, and tickets for the original performance will be honored on the new date.
Fleetwood Mac's greatest-hits trek, dubbed the "Unleashed Tour," is set to run through early summer, finishing up June 17 in Uncasville, CT. The band's classic 1977 album, "Rumors," was re-issued as part of a special CD/DVD boxed set on Reprise Records in conjunction with the in-progress US tour.
Don Henley readies new best-of collection
Don Henley is releasing a new best-of collection that spans his entire solo career, including recordings originally released on the Asylum, Geffen and Warner Brothers record labels, according to a press release.
"The Very Best of Don Henley," which will be offered in CD and deluxe CD/DVD versions, includes songs culled from solo albums as well as his cover of Leonard Cohen's classic "Everybody Knows," which originally appeared on his first solo collection, 1995's "Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits."
The deluxe CD/DVD version features six music videos as well as four bonus audio recordings from soundtrack releases. Videos including "The Boys of Summer" and "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" are complemented by audio recordings from "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" ("Love Rules"), "The Color Of Money" ("Who Owns This Place?"), "Leap of Faith" ("Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat"), and "Michael" (Through Your Hands").
Scheduled to hit stores June 16, the collection also includes the first Henley song to land on the Country music charts, "For My Wedding."
Voice of Mickey Mouse dies in L.A. at 62
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Sound-effects specialist Wayne Allwine, who followed in the footsteps of Walt Disney to provide the falsetto voice of Mickey Mouse for the past 32 years, has died, Walt Disney Co said Wednesday.
Allwine succumbed to complications from diabetes at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles Monday. He was 62.
He was only the third person to lend his voice to the famed rodent. Disney himself started voicing Mickey Mouse in 1928, when he made his talking debut in "Steamboat Willie." Jimmy Macdonald took over the responsibilities in 1947 and handed over the reins to his protege Allwine in 1977.
Allwine provided Mickey's voice for such movies as "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988), and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990). He also brought Mickey to life for Disney theme parks, television, radio and live stage events.
"Wayne dedicated his entire professional life to Disney, and over the last 32 years, gave so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to our most beloved, iconic character, Mickey Mouse," Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said.
Born in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale in 1947, Allwine joined Disney in 1966, working his way up from a job in the mail room. He worked under sound-effects expert Macdonald for seven-and-a-half years, editing such Disney films as "Splash" (1984) and "Three Men and a Baby" (1987).
"Mickey's the real star," Allwine once said of his job. "You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won't be yours forever."
Allwine is survived by his wife, Russi Taylor, who provides the voice of Minnie Mouse, and five children from previous marriages.