Next STAR WARS Title Is?
Could the name for the last STAR WARS prequel be EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH!?! We are if we’re to go by a reader on TheForce.net. Supposedly he knows someone (one of them stories) who works at the domain registrar Register.com. They told him that Lucasfilm Ltd got Register.com to purchase the RevengeOfTheSith.net name for them. Only the force knows if this is true though!
Who is the next contender to play James Bond?
Scottish newspaper The Daily Record is reporting that despite all the official denials and speculation, “Gosford Park”/”Croupier” star Clive Owen will be revealed to be taking on the 007 role late next year.
“At a Press conference at Pinewood Studios in January or February 2004, Pierce Brosnan will reveal his last outing as 007 will be Bond 21, to be made next year and released in 2005. And for the first time, the new James Bond will be unveiled at the same time. We can reveal that Clive will take on the mantle in the Bond 22 which will be filmed in 2006 and shown in 2007”.
Not only do they indicate that Clive is in fact Pierce’s recommendation to Producer Libby Broccoli, but their inside source also says “Clive’s the one.
There have been rumours about Clive, but these rumours are getting louder and louder now. No one at the top will come out and admit it, but the claims it’s Clive are coming from different sources within Eon who make the Bond films…He’s not hugely known, but has done some good films and is at least a name people recognise. Most of the other names mooted (eg. Ewan McGregor, Dougray Scott, Ralph Fiennes) are already known actors so could never be Bond. Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan were both known actors, but not hugely famous when they took on 007 and they are the best.
ALOHA
Imagine Entertainment and Universal Pictures acquiring the rights to turn CBS’ Magnum P.I. into a feature film. A publicist for former star Tom Selleck says he has not heard about the project.
Hobbit director to get 20 mln dlrs and star Naomi Watts for “King Kong”
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – “Lord of the Rings” film director Peter Jackson has won a huge 20 million dollar deal to remake “King Kong” and wants Australian actress Naomi Watts as his star, it was reported.
Daily Variety said Universal Studios will pay Jackson, acclaimed for the “Rings” trilogy, the last installment of which is due out in December, 20 million dollars against 20 percent of the movie’s gross ticket receipts.
The daily said that news of the almost unprecedented pay-cheque deal has stunned Hollywood studio chiefs who are reportedly fuming about the deal which they fear could set a precedent for other top directors.
Most top Tinseltown film-makers get paid between 10 and 12 million dollars for a major picture, Variety said.
The industry press also said that New Zealander Jackson was eyeing fellow antipodean Naomi Watts for the lead role as the object of the giant ape’s desire in the movie scheduled to hit the big screen in 2005.
Variety and Hollywood Reporters said that while no deal had yet been signed for the “Mulholland Drive” and “The Ring” star to take on the role of actress Ann Darrow in the movie, Jackson had made her an offer.
If British-born Watts, 34, is signed for the picture, she would follow in the footsteps of Fay Wray who starred in the original 1933 classic and Jessica Lange, who recreated the role in 1976.
Jackson, 42, who is still completing post production on “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” is expected to start writing the “King Kong” script in November and plans to shoot next summer.
He will be re-teaming up with his “Rings” writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and the movie will be shot in New Zealand, Variety said.
Jackson has wanted to re-make the classic ape epic for years, but only won the go ahead from Universal earlier this year following his global success with the risky 270-million-dollar “Rings” project.
Bill Murray: No Beef With Lucy Liu
BURBANK, Calif. – Bill Murray says reports about his having a beef with Lucy Liu is baloney.
Murray, speaking to “Access Hollywood,” acknowledged the two had a disagreement on the set of the first “Charlie’s Angels” movie. But he said it lasted for all of 20 minutes when they went to their “separate corners and, you know, fired hand grenades and bottle rockets at each other.”
Murray said it was only “a misunderstanding about a scene” they were going to do. He said he asked Liu how she could want to say certain lines because he thought they didn’t make sense.
Murray said she got mad at him and “took it as a personal assault.” But he said it turned out she didn’t like the lines either.
Murray said “a high-ranking production person” had misrepresented how Liu felt about the lines. He added that the same production person is one of the reasons he didn’t do the sequel.
Plus, he said, he’s “not much for sequels,” having learned a lesson from “Ghostbusters 2.”
Sharon Stone may battle Catwoman
Sharon Stone is clawing her way towards the villainous role in “Catwoman,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Stone has been offered the part – which she is expected to accept – pitting her opposite Halle Berry, who has already signed on for the title role.
The film tells the story of a woman out to avenge the murder of her father.
Stone’s character, Laurel, runs a cosmetics company and also controls an evil empire with her husband.
Josh Lucas (“Sweet Home Alabama,” “Hulk”) has been approached to play the role of Catwoman’s love interest.
There is no word on a production date as yet.
OOPA-LOOMPA-DOOPITY-DEPP
Rumours surrounding the casting of Tim Burton’s next film CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACOTRY have been swirling around Hollywood for the past year, but today we hear that Johnny Depp is poised to accept the role of chief chocolate maker, Willy Wonka. Variety reports that Depp has been offered the role of Wonka, which would make this his fourth outing with the director since 1990’s Edward Scissorhands. According to studio insiders, the only thing that could throw a chocolate spanner in the works would be the success of Pirates of the Caribbean which means that Depp’s agents could ask for a smidgeon more cash this time around.
Welcome Back Sarah!
It is rumoured that the new Sarah McLachlan disc will be called “Fallen.” Upon its release it will be issued as a Limited Edition with a bonus DVD as well as the standard CD release.
“Fallen” is expected on November 4.
Also, Pink’s upcoming album, with a title to be determined, will hit shelves on November 11 as both a Limited Edition with bonus DVD and a standard CD issue as well.
SHREK team see green
SHREK isn’t even close to being finished, and already there’s plans for a third instalment. In SHREK 3, Our friendly green ogre will come face to face with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Needless to say, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz will return.
X2 – DVD 3
Numerous reliable retail sources are reporting that 20th Century Fox has a November street date planned for its DVD release of X2: X-Men United.
Official confirmation should come in the next day or two, along with cover art and full specs. According to our sources, extras on the 2-disc set will include anamorphic widescreen video, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes and a multi-angle sequence among other features.
Its expected that the film will also be available in a specially priced 2-pack with X-Men 1.5.