Benson, Keaton Voicing Toy Story 3

Wireless keypad for PS3 unveiled

Never being one to not "borrow" great ideas from other consoles, Sony announced a wireless keypad for the PS3 Sixaxis and Dual Shock controllers. The keypad (seen below) will make messaging friends easier, and according to Sony, "could be used for game development in future."

Just a few days after this article was posted, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov has told The Wall Street Journal that the studio is going to be reintroducing Superman. We assume this will be similar to how Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk was a reboot of Ang Lee's Hulk. Here is what the article says:

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Russell Crowe may next play comedian Bill Hicks now that Ridley Scott's Nottingham has been pushed back. Here's a clip:

It is understood he is considering playing the main role of Hicks — a controversial and brilliant American comedian who battled drug and alcohol abuse before dying from cancer at 32. Crowe confirmed Nottingham would not go ahead until March next year because director Sir Ridley Scott wanted the leaves on the trees in England's Sherwood Forest to be the right colour.

Latest: Harry Potter fans are campaigning against the recent decision to delay the release of the forthcoming film until next year.

Movie bosses announced last week that the sixth installment of the wizard's adventures, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has been pushed back eight months.

The movie was originally slated for release in November but now won't hit cinemas until July.

And the move has infuriated fans of the magical franchise, with over 12,000 signing an online petition, demanding that bosses at Warner Bros. rethink their decision to delay the film.

One fans says, "They are doing this for no other reason than to make money.

"We don't want to be pacified. We want the movie, as promised, this November."

Transformers star Megan Fox is sure to upset the skin police - by insisting the sun and sea work wonders for her.

As cancer experts and dermatologists the world over advise against sun worshipping and excessive beach jaunts, the sexy actress insists she needs a regular fix.

She says, "I find that being out in the sun is better for you than people think. Like, when I started going back to the beach and being in the saltwater and the sun, my skin improved a lot. So, I benefit from sunshine."

British actor Simon Pegg has been forced to pull out of Quentin Tarantino's new movie.

The funnyman was scheduled to star in Inglorious Bastards alongside Brad Pitt.

But Pegg pulled out of the project because it clashes with the filming of his movie Paul.

A spokesman for the star says, "Unfortunately, the schedule overlaps with another film Simon is already committed to."

Actor/musician Rhys Ifans has refused to write about his break up with Sienna Miller on his band's new album - because she "doesn't deserve" a song.

The Alfie star ended their year-long relationship in June and has reportedly been dating married actor Balthazar Getty.

And Ifans, who sings with Welsh rock band The Peth, denies his track Stonefinger from new album, The Golden Mile, was dedicated to Miller, insisting it was written about a previous love.

He says, "Jesus Christ, no. She doesn't deserve a f**king song, that one."

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is reportedly set to become a superhero in an adaptation of comic book classic Sleeper.

The Top Gun star is reportedly helping set up the movie as a project for Warner Bros. along with director Sam Raimi - with an option of starring in the film himself.

The movie will be adapted from the DC Comics/Wildstorm comic book which centres on a spy whose fusion with an alien artifact makes him immune to pain.

Cruise recently became the sole boss at United Artists films, after his partner Paula Wagner quit. However, Cruise's deal allows him to continue working with other studios.

Robert Downey Jr. may only be spoofing, as he reportedly does to hilarious effect playing a white Australian actor playing an African-American soldier in Tropic Thunder, but he has boldly given The Dark Knight its worst review yet. When asked during an interview with MovieHole.net about the Batman sequel, Downey said that he "didn't get it. ... [I] still can't tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character." He said that while watching the movie, it dawned on him, "I get it. This is so high-brow and so f*ing smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie." He then added, "You know what? F* DC comics. That's all I have to say and that's where I'm really coming from." Last month, Downey starred as Iron Man, created by DC comics' principal rival, Marvel.

Wrong Turn 3 Cast Update
Source:IMDB
August 18, 2008

Shooting has begun under the radar on Fox's direct-to-DVD sequel Wrong Turn 3. Sources tell us director Declan O'Brien has two weeks of principal photography under his belt.

A quick look over at the IMDB offered some cast updates. Currently Tom Frederic (The Oxford Murders), The Hills Run Red's Janet Montgomery and Mike Straub, Tamer Hassan, Gil Kolirin and Chucky Venice (Return to House on Haunted Hill) will take on the follow-up's inbred muties.

The plot reportedly concerns the elusive Three-Finger as he takes on a group of prisoners being transported by Frederic's Nate Wilson.

In anticipation of the August 26th release of Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition DVD, director Henry Selick participated in an online discussion with Shock to talk about the film fifteen years later.

Naturally, the talks turned to sequel possibilities of which Selick says, "There has been discussions over the years about a possible sequel. When those discussions came up about 7 years ago it was unsettling that it was suggested this time it would have to be done in CG. I'm glad that did not happen. But as far as coming up ideas for a sequel, you have to admit there are a lot of other great holidays for Jack Skellington to take over."

He adds that he has grown used to the idea of the film becomes a merchandising smash hit and is pleased the characters of Jack and Sally have captured an audience. "But this did not happen right away it has taken years for our initial cult audience to grow into a pop culture phenomenon. Just this past Halloween, we had some girls show up at the house in Nightmare Before Christmas costumes and my wife and I pointed out one of the original Jack Skellington and the Skellington Reindeer [puppets] which was in our office. It blew their minds and they screamed with joy, taking their handfuls of candy and went away just full of life."

Selick is six weeks away from completing the animation process on Coraline, a new dark fantasy feature film featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Ian McShane

A trio of production companies are teaming to tell the story of the Moulin Rouge, the first desegregated hotel and casino in Las Vegas, reports Variety.

New screenwriter Milosz Feigin has completed penning The Fabulous Moulin Rouge, and the producers are setting up the film to be shot in Dubai.

The film is a co-production of Dubai-based Exwaze, Hollywood-based Hughes Capital Entertainment and Garden Grown Entertainment, the last of which was formed by brothers Mos Def, Khalil Prescott-Bey and Rahman Prescott.

The casino sprang up in 1955 and closed six months later under mysterious circumstances just as it was gaining momentum and attracting singers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

The drama will focus on a fictional African-American character who rises from mob debt collector to manager of the Moulin Rouge.

Jack Black is a Man-Witch
Source: Variety
June 19, 2007

Jack Black and Todd Phillips are teaming for the first time on Warner Bros. comedy Man-Witch. Variety says they are developing the project for Black to star and Phillips to direct.

In the comedy, Black will play a schoolteacher who suddenly discovers he has witchlike abilities. Taken in by a coven, he is persuaded to attend a school for witches, only to discover that his classmates are all girls.

Jay Reiss, currently starring on Broadway in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," is writing the script based on a pitch by Josh Stolberg and Bob Florsheim.

Original Film's Neal Moritz and Phillips are producing; Scott Budnick executive produces for the Todd Phillips Company and Ori Marmur for Original Film.

Voltron Moves Into Turnaround
Source: Variety
August 18, 2008

Fox-based New Regency has put Voltron: Defender of the Universe into turnaround, reports Variety.

The trade says that Ryan Kavanaugh's financing and production venture Relativity Media is in negotiations to back the property, though on a more moderate budget, utilizing the type of cost-effective technology employed in films including 300.

The Mark Gordon Co. still is attached to produce "Voltron," which is based on the popular Japanese animated TV series of the 1980s.

Mark Gordon and Jordan Wynn are producers. Bryan Zuriff is executive producing. Producers expect to attach a director within the next week. The film was written by Justin Marks.

Marks' take is described as a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City and Mexico, where five survivors of an alien attack band together and end up piloting the five lion-shaped robots that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron that helps battle Earth's invaders

Goosebumps Feature Gets Two Scribes
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
August 18, 2008

Writing duo Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander are in negotiations to write the live-action big screen adaptation of the children's horror series "Goosebumps" for Columbia Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Neal Moritz and his Sony-based Original Film is producing as is Scholastic Entertainment's Deborah Forte.

While straight-to-video versions of the R.L. Stine book series have been made, the project will mark the first feature adaptation of the series and could become a franchise for Columbia, which acquired the rights in May. The "Goosebumps" series have grossed hundreds of millions for Stine and Scholastic, second only to the "Harry Potter" series.

Moritz has said he likely will cast youngsters for the leads and then include well-known actors in supporting roles, a la the "Potter" films.

News

WB's Motion to Dismiss Watchmen Lawsuit Denied
Source: Variety
August 18, 2008

Variety reports that a judge has denied a Warner Bros. motion to dismiss 20th Century Fox's lawsuit over the right to make a film based on the graphic novel Watchmen.

The trade says the ruling is potentially a huge victory for Fox, which could wind up being a profit participant in the film, costing Warner Bros. millions considering the film's box office prospects.

The judge appears to conclude that Fox retained distribution rights to the graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons through a 1991 claim, and he concludes that under the 1994 turnaround with producer Larry Gordon, Gordon acquired an option to acquire Fox's remaining interest in "Watchmen," which was never exercised, thereby leaving Fox with its rights under the 1994 agreement.

The Zack Snyder-directed film is scheduled for release on March 6, 2009.

Simon Pegg has announced on his MySpace page that helmer Greg Mottola (Superbad, upcoming Adventureland) will direct Nick Frost and Pegg's new movie, Paul.

Written by Pegg and Frost, the road movie is about two British comic book geeks that get into an adventure across America.

In related news, Pegg says that he won't be able to star in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards. as was previously reported. "Much to our mutual disappointment, I won't be appearing in QT's forthcoming 'Inglorious Bastards' due to insurmountable scheduling difficulties," he said. "We really tried to make it work but in the end, it just was not possible without severe ramifications elsewhere. I'm trying to remain upbeat, as Tom Selleck said 'Who the hell is Indiana Jones anyway?'"

Regarding "Bastards," Ain't It Cool News adds that former "Freaks and Geeks" star Samm Levine will play one of Brad Pitt's underlings, while David Krumholtz won't be joining the film.

"British funnyman Russell Brand is expected to take the lead role in the remake of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, according to reports.

The original 1975 movie, which starred Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Meat Loaf, is set to be remade, with studio bosses were keen to replicate the original's success.

And British comedian Brand, who kicked off his film career in Forgetting Sarah Marshall earlier this year, is favourite to take on Curry's coveted role of transvestite scientist Frank N Furter, according to the London Paper.

A source tells the publication, "It would make sense for him to be Frank N Furter."

Angelina Jolie has been asking for advice on taking the role of Catwoman from an unlikely source - porn star Tera Patrick.

The Lara Croft star is said to be keen to sign up for the part if the Catwoman character is resurrected in a future Batman sequel by Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan.

Jolie has even been tipped for the role by Julie Newmar - who played the original feline villain in the 1960s Batman TV series.

And the sexy star has been discussing her possible portrayal of the character with porn star pal Patrick, who is a huge fan of the role, according to New York gossip column PageSix.

A source tells the publication, "They are friends and keep in touch via e-mail. She and Angie have a girl-talk thing going.

"After seeing reports that she'll land the lead role, Jolie asked Patrick what she thought. Tera had such insights into the role that Jolie cracked, 'You should do it!' "

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Actress Selma Blair has hit out at her fellow Americans - insisting U.S. citizens are too obsessed with celebrity lifestyle.

The star insists people in her native country spend too much time idolising those in the public eye, such as actress Lindsay Lohan and her family.

Speaking about the forthcoming American version of the Australian TV show Kath + Kim - in which she plays spoilt daughter Kim Craig - Blair says, "You don't think there are some deluded Americans? Hey, how about all of us!

"Everyone here is obsessed with tabloid celebrities and their lives and wanting to be like that, just like Kim.

"In America you have the people who watch the Lohans' reality show and want to be like Dina and Ali Lohan and live in a house with a throne in it. Everywhere! They're just everywhere!"

Disability advocates are planning to picket the Los Angeles premiere of Ben Stiller's latest movie Tropic Thunder - in protest over its depiction of people with learning difficulties.

The film, which also stars Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., has been slammed by 22 disability groups in the U.S. who oppose the satire's repeated use of the word 'retard' in association with one of its main characters, Simple Jack.

Protestors now plan to picket the movie's premiere in L.A. on Monday night - and are calling for demonstrations against the film to be held across the U.S.

Peter Berns, spokesman for Special Olympics, one of the groups opposed to the film, says, "We are asking people not to go to the movie and hope to bring a consciousness to people about using derogatory words about this population.

"That will be the start of a nationwide protest. We will continue to be vocal about the destructive effect of this film."

However, studio bosses have refuted the claims, insisting they have met with disability advocates to discuss the movie - and are planning no changes to the controversial footage.

Chip Sullivan, a representative for the film's studio Dreamworks, says, "Tropic Thunder is an R-rated comedy that satirizes Hollywood and its excesses, and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the top characters in ridiculous situations. The film is in no way meant to disparage or harm the image of individuals with disabilities."

George Clooney is reportedly set to star in a forthcoming movie about Islamic terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

Clooney is said to be eager to appear in The Challenge - after his production company, Smokehouse, bought the rights to the book.

In the novel, journalist Jonathan Mahler recounts the tale of Guantanamo Bay inmate Salim Hamdan, who worked as a personal driver and bodyguard for Al-Qaeda associate Osama bin Laden.

According to reports, Clooney will play the role of Charles Swift, a U.S. Navy officer who helped bring Hamdan's case to the Supreme Court and won a pre-trial decision to ensure that even terrorists are covered by the Geneva Convention - a series of treaties which protects the human rights of prisoners of war.

Just last month, Hamdan was cleared of terrorism conspiracy charges, sparking outrage in the U.S. after the jury of military officers conceded that he was "a really naive, simple guy who doesn't know the first thing about jihad and was just tagging along for the job".

According to reports, Clooney is planning to spend an estimated $30 million (GBP15 million) on the project.

Zombie Guitarist Creates Tunes for Tyrannosaurus Rex
Source:Blabbermouth
August 10, 2008

Rob Zombie reports via his MySpace blog that guitarist John 5 has recorded "a killer slab of raging fury" for Tyrannosaurus Rex. According to Blabbermouth, who recently caught up to Zombie, the movie is rumored to be about a semi-professional wrestler who is being pursued by a "biker gang from hell."