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-- Entertainment News For The Week Of June 25, 2003 (http://www.vcdhq.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=22336)

Entertainment News For The Week Of June 25, 2003

50 Cent night at the movies?

MTV is reporting that SOPRANOS staff writer Terry Winter has been hired to write a screenplay inspired by the life of rapper 50 Cent. The idea is to follow the path laid out by Eminem with 8 MILE, which was partially based on young Mr. Marshall Mathers' struggle to break into music and which went on to gross more than $100 million at the box office.

50 Cent's life is perfect material for a SOPRANOS scribe: according to MTV the 26-year-old singer was dealing crack at the tender age of 12. Unlike the real slim shady, 50 Cent has also been shot nine times. Now that's story material.

**Lets hope the real 50 cent dies while filming

SOUTH PARK creators prepare TEAM AMERICA

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the two creators behind Comedy Central's hit animated series SOUTH PARK, have a new target in sight: puppets.

The duo and writing partner Pam Brady are making TEAM AMERICA, a feature-length send-up of today's action and superhero movies, with something borrowed from the old THUNDERBIRDS TV series, namely, the use of marionettes to play the film's characters. SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT producer Scott Rudin will also be along for the ride. Parker will direct the R-rated TEAM AMERICA for Paramount Pictures while Stone also produces the picture with Rudin.


"Our cast will be deliberately made of wood, but that will only be taking to the extreme what is evident in many Hollywood movies right now," Variety quoted Matt Stone as saying about the movie. "What we wanted was to do a send-up of these super important huge action movies that Jerry Bruckheimer makes."


"The subtle joke here is that all actorss are puppets," adds Trey Parker in Variety report. "This will probably piss off everyone in town, and might well be our swan song."


The $20 million dollar movie will be made during the next break between SOUTH PARK seasons. The show's core concept is to follow an action hero who joins the Team America superteam to defeat an worldwide menace. With these guys creating the show, expect lots of humor at the expense of the Hollywood machine.

SCOOP! WB schedules T3 sneak peeks!

A source working in show business has told us Warner Bros. has given the go ahead for theaters to hold early screenings of TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES on July 1. The movie is scheduled to begin its theatrical run in North America on July 2.

Warner Bros. decision to allow early showings of T3 isn't unusual; studios usually have a showing of their big "event" movies in the late evening the day before the picture's opening day or even sometimes at midnight screenings. What is unusual about Warners approval for the T3 showings is the early time that theater owners can choose to start showing the sci-fi actioner. According to our person on the inside, screenings of T3 can begin at 8:00 PM on July 1. That means two showings of each print of the film can be sold before the first day even starts. Conceivably that can boost the first day grosses of T3, of which the early showings ticket sales are included with. However, it will remain up to each individual theater manager to decide if they wish to show early sneaks of TERMINATOR 3.

Tucker thinks of third RUSH HOUR

Variety reports that comedian Chris Tucker is finally in talks with New Line Cinema about making a third RUSH HOUR movie. New Line has been wanting to get cranking on RH3 for a while now but Tucker and his co-star, Jackie Chan, and RUSH HOUR director Brett Ratner have all been too busy.

New Line wants Ratner to direct RH3 but he may work on the sequel to GET SHORTY, titled BE COOL, first if a deal can be reached. Contractually New Line owns Ratner; his next film has to be with them unless a deal can be made. New Line might do it if they can get something of benefit for RUSH HOUR 3.

Producer prepares to carve HALLOWEEN 9

Has there been eight HALLOWEEN movies already? If you still think there's life left in the franchise, you'll be happy to know that producer Moustapha Akkad is finalizing plans for HALLOWEEN 9, scheduled to shoot sometime this summer for a 2004 release.

The official HALLOWEEN movies website has posted a short update confirming H9 is in active development. "With discussions taking place with actors and the film set for a summer 2004 release, shooting isn't too far off," reports the website. "We will, of course, keep everyone updated as things progress. Happy Halloween!"


If Michael Myers keeps this up, soon there won't be anyone left in Haddenfield for him to kill.

Bloom Talks ROTK Reshoots

Sci Fi Wire had the word:

Orlando Bloom--who plays Legolas in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy--told SCI FI Wire that he recently returned to New Zealand to film additional scenes for the final installment, Return of the King. "I did the reshoots a few weeks ago," Bloom said in an interview while promoting his upcoming film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. "[Director Peter Jackson] loved the audience's reaction in the first movie [to] Leggy running over the back of the cave troll and killing the cave troll, and then in the second movie, sliding down the stairs and jumping [off] the horse. And in the third movie, he's kind of combined a whole load of stuff. So it's like another one of those sort of Leggy moments."

The actor added that there are scenes in the previous two films he would have liked to have been able to shoot over again, if given the chance. "I've changed so much," he said. "And I thought, oh God, I would have done that different now. What was I thinking? I obviously wasn't. I was so nervous. I'm so tense. There's things like that. But s--t, it was an opportunity and I love that character. I tried really hard to get it right, and Pete was amazing and directed me really well, and I feel lucky."

Now that all of his scenes have been filmed, Bloom says that he is ready to put the project behind him and move on to other roles. "I had to go back, and I have done, and it's done," he said. "I'm holding out for f--king three guys sitting around a table playing cards. Not that I'm not grateful for the opportunities and experiences I've had, but I just think it would be good for me to do something like that just to show that I'm not just an action-reaction, one-line man. You know what I mean? There's more to me than that, and hopefully I can get an opportunity to show that." The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opens in theaters Dec. 17.

Snoop Tired of GIRLS GONE WILD

Snoop Dogg has decided to disassociate himself from the world of the GIRLS GONE WILD videos. The reason? They don't feature any color other than white. "If you notice, there hasn't been no girls of (ethnicity) at all on none of those tapes," Snoop Dogg said. "No black girls, no Spanish girls — all white girls, and that (stuff) ain't cool." Snoop says he plans to start his own series to satisfy the demand of all races that are dying to go topless for the camera. "They've been complaining to me like crazy," Snoop added. "They think I like the white girls because I'm on there with them, and I don't, I just did that for money."
Source: Associated Press

Mac and Kutcher Go to DINNER

Columbia Pictures has enlisted Bernie Mac (CHARLIE'S ANGELS 2) and Ashton Kutcher (PUNK'D) to star in THE DINNER PARTY. Kutcher will play a white man marrying a black woman. Her father, played by Bernie Mac, has a bit of a problem with the marriage. Kutcher will also produce the film.
Source: Reuters

Miramax Remaking DAMN YANKEES!

Miramax has enlisted the aid of CHICAGO producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to remake the 1958 movie and Broadway musical DAMN YANKEES! The story is about a man that sells his soul to the devil in order to aid the Washington Senators beat the New York Yankees.
Source: USA Today

CATWOMAN Gets Shooting Dates, New Script

There is big movement on the CATWOMAN project. Apparently Warner Bros has set shooting dates for the film from September to December 31. The studio has also hired Ed Solomon to do yet another rewrite of the script. It seems the previous version by John Rogers was trashed after angry fan response, especially when it was revealed that the movie would have no connection to the BATMAN franchise. Solomon, however, only has two months to nail down his script before shooting begins. Pitof is directing the film. Warner hopes to release the film on July 30, 2004.
Source: Dark Horizons

Greengrass to Helm BOURNE IDENTITY Sequel

Universal has tapped Paul Greengrass (BLOODY SUNDAY) to direct THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, the sequel to THE BOURNE IDENTITY. Greengrass will work from a script by Tony Gilroy, who adapted Robert Ludlum's second book in the Bourne series. In the second film, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is accused of assassinating a Chinese vice premiere. Bourne must then find out the real identity of the assassin. Frank Marshall, Paul Sandburg and Patrick Crowley are producing.
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Kattan and Posey Get Onboard for ADAM & STEVE

Chris Kattan (SNL) and Parker Posey (JOSEY & THE PUSSYCATS) have agreed to star in the indie film ADAM & STEVE. Craig Chester is writing and directing the comedy, which is about a straight couple (Kattan and Posey) and a gay couple (Chester, Malcolm Gets) in New York. Phil Viardo is executive producing.
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Zellwegger to Play Janis Joplin

Rene Zellwegger (DOWN WITH LOVE) will star in and producec A PIECE OF MY HEART, the biopic of late musician Janis Joplin. Filming will begin in early 2004, after BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON wraps.
Source: TV Guide

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

y would u hope 50 cent dies? thats not koo

why? cause he cant rap..his music's shit and he is an annoying presence on the face of the planet who is a HORRIBLE role model and has been thrown into popularity because he knows eminem. He's a crack dealer and a convict..shut the cell and throw away the key

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

quote:

---

Originally posted by petrocs
why? cause he cant rap..his music's shit and he is an annoying presence on the face of the planet who is a HORRIBLE role model and has been thrown into popularity because he knows eminem. He's a crack dealer and a convict..shut the cell and throw away the key

---

most of the hate is jelousy
right rocs?

-cant spell

__________________
Jesus fucking christ my sig was huge so Dwaggy replaced it with this message

jus cuzz u think he sucks or dont like his music doesnt me he should die and to say that hes not a good role model look at marilan manson or wutever his name is

jealousy? no..i wouldnt want to be a rappin uneducated idiot.

and Minus..you actually think I think Marilyn Manson is a good role model? I never mentioned him..I just said 50 pence or eminem arent

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

Leguizamo Ready for ICE AGE 2

John Leguizamo (ICE AGE) says that he expects to sign on soon for ICE AGE 2. Apparently Ray Romano and Dennis Leary are already on board for the project. Leguizamo will resume his role as Sid, the giant sloth. Voice work will begin later this year.
Source: Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Stamos, Harring Up for THE PUNISHER

Laura Harring has agreed to star in and Rebecca Romijin-Stamos is in negotiations to star in THE PUNISHER. The film stars Thomas Jane (61*) as a man who becomes a vigilante after his family is killed by the mob. Harring will play Ivia Saint, wife of bad guy Howard Saint (Travolta). Howard is a man that masks his criminal dealings by appearing as a pillar of the community. However, his trappings are cast off when his son is brutally killed. It's unknown what role Stamos would take. Jonathan Hensleigh is directing the film. Shooting begins next month in Florida.
Source: Reuters

Jane Talks PUNISHER Fighting

Thomas Jane (61*) talks about the type of fighting you can expect to see in the upcoming THE PUNISHER.


Sci Fi Wire had the word:

Thomas Jane, who stars in the upcoming film adaptation of Marvel Comics' Punisher series, told SCI FI Wire that he begins filming at the end of June and that the film's action will include realistic fighting. "All old-school stuff," Jane said in an interview. "What would you really do to take these [bad] guys out? What it usually comes down to is, you poke their eyes out, you slit their throat, break their nose, brutal stuff. That kind of ends the fight kind of quickly. That's why you don’t see it too much. No wires, no Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stuff. It's all going to be real world."

Punisher will tell the story of a man whose family is killed, turning him into a vigilante with weapons and gadgets, in full costume. Jane has been undergoing physical training for the title role. "I'm working with Navy Seals," he said. "I've got two trainers, and I work out twice a day. I'm just exhausted all the time. I sleep." Artisan plans to release The Punisher in the summer of 2004.

Universal prepares to embark upon EVEREST

Universal Pictures is assembling its own team to take on EVEREST. The movie may possibly be directed by Stephen Daldry (THE HOURS) while the script has been written by Michael Cristofer (THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK). Working Title Films is also onboard as the film's production company.

EVEREST's screenplay is based on the tragedy that befell mountaineers attempting to summit the world's tallest peak back in May 1996. A severe storm hit the mountain, trapping different teams and preventing them from an emergency descent. In all eight people died.


Variety's Michael Fleming describes the film's approach to the reality-based material as similar to Wolfgang Petersen's THE PERFECT STORM. The story will follow both those trapped on Everest as well as their relatives anxiously awaiting word down below, hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

And the final word for the week...

DreamWorks loses IQ points, gains director

David Frankel has been tapped by DreamWorks Pictures to polish the script and direct IQ 83, a sci-fi thriller in development at the House of Speilberg, Katzenberg and Geffen. The screenplay is based on a novel by Arthur Herzog.

I've heard some good stuff about this project. Essentially, it's about a experimental virus made from modified DNA that effects your intelligence. Once it escapes into the world's population people start losing IQ points. Civilization begins to rapidly break down as people start losing their skills; for example, airplane pilots take off but just a few hours later can't remember how to land their planes. The inventor of the virus is trying desperately to remain quarantined and find a cure but soon he is also exposed. Can he discover a cure before he forgets all there is to know about how he created it?


Frankel is expected to junk all the earlier drafts of IQ 83 and start from scratch.

Columbia cracks DA VINCI CODE

Columbia Pictures has picked up the movie rights to THE DA VINCI CODE, the bestselling novel written by Dan Brown. In fact,the studio has purchased the rights to all of Brown's novels that star DA VINCI professor Robert Langdon. CODE is the second book to star the Harvard teacher, with ANGELS AND DEMONS being the first. A third book is currently being written by Brown.

THE DA VINCI CODE has Langdon investigating the murder of the curator at the Louvre art museum. He eventually uncovers a secret society that keeps a shocking secret, clues of which can be found in the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci.


The project is in the very early stages of development at Columbia, and a producer nor a screenwriter have been assigned just yet.

A scoop and casting news for THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

THE SUM OF ALL FEARS co-star Liev Schreiber has been added to the cast of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE for Paramount Pictures. The remake of the 1962 John Frankenheimer classic thriller also stars Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep and will be directed by Jonathan Demme (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS).

Schreiber's character is one of two soldiers (the other will be Washington's character) who return to America after being captured by the enemy. Both men have been secretly brainwashed and don't know they are to be assassins. The part was originally played by Laurence Harvey in Frankenheimer's film.


As well, we've been scooped that location scouts for the movie were seen this week looking at the Hudson County Courthouse in New Jersey.

TARZAN swings in movies again

Screenwriter John August has landed a job writing the screenplay for a new big-budget TARZAN movie. The project is in development at Warner Bros., with producers Jerry Weintraub, Alan Riche and Tony Ludwig onboard.

August is going back to the source material for his version of the legendary master of the apes. "Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan is a much different character," the writer told Variety. "He's more ferocious and wild, like Wolverine without the claws. That's the version we want to use."


One character that will be updated to reflect the 21st century is Jane, Tarzan's love interest. August plans on making the modern Jane as much of an active action hero as her hunky partner, with smarts and guile to match.


Warner Bros. also has a new TARZAN AND JANE TV series coming out this fall on The WB, but there won't be any connection between the two projects other than Burroughs' characters.

and finally...

RETURN OF THE KING poster arrives

New Line Cinema has just unveiled the first poster for the final film in Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy of films, THE RETURN OF THE KING. Click on the image to the left to see Aragorn and his sword, and then count the days remaining until the picture opens on December 17.

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

oops..got some late breaking news

Dangerfield Up for BACK TO SCHOOL Again

MGM has decided to remake Rodney Dangerfield's 1986 film BACK TO SCHOOL, and they've signed a deal with Dangerfield to make a cameo and act as producer. The original film saw Dangerfield playing a wealthy and obnoxious businessman that enrolled in college to encourage his son (Robert Downey, Jr.) to attend.
Source: Zap2It.com

Cannon to Mouse Up for the Fat Cat

Nick Cannon (DRUMLINE) has agreed to provide the voice of a mouse in 20th Century Fox's upcoming adaption of GARFIELD, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Bill Murray and Breckin Meyer. Cannon will play Louis, a mouse that becomes Garfield's friend and ends up saving his life. Meyer plays Jon Arbuckle, while Hewitt plays his girlfriend. Murray voices Garfield. Peter Hewitt will direct from a script by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow.
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Travolta Up for BRIDGET JONES 2

John Travolta is apparently in talks to play Rene Zellwegger's love interest in BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON. Apparently the producers wanted George Clooney, but Zellwegger nixed that choice. Says a source, "Renee was adamant on this point, and would not be swayed. The producers had toyed with the idea of getting a new leading actress, and keeping Gorgeous George, but how many actresses are likely to put on two stone? Not very many."
Source: PeopleNews

Sam Jackson on Windu

Samuel L. Jackson talks Mace Windu's fate in STAR WARS EPISODE III.


Sci Fi Wire had the word:

Samuel L. Jackson revealed the fate of his Star Wars: Episode III character, Mace Windu, in a spoiler-filled interview with MTV.com. "I'm just going to die, you know?" Jackson told the site. "I'm basically going down there, hoping that I'm going to have this really awesome lightsaber battle with somebody that takes me out in the proper way. You know, the way a Jedi of my status deserves to be taken out."

Jackson said that he travels to Australia next month to begin work on George Lucas' third and final Star Wars prequel. "I never realized I would end up with some kind of franchise character that's in the middle of a big franchise of its own, but it's very cool," Jackson said. "Mace is kind of evolving for me. And it's been a wonderful experience, being able to be in Star Wars, first of all because I was a huge fan. I used to sit around and wonder how you got into something like that, and how great it would be to be in it. Fortunately for me, somebody must have heard me, and I'm in it!" Star Wars: Episode III is scheduled to hit theaters in 2005.

__________________
"If somebody said to me, in twelve years you’ll be in a band with your brother and two carrot munching geezers who don’t like football, I would've said 'fuck off, I’m not joining the Bee Gees." -Noel Gallagher 2005

anyone else read all that?