• Leonardo DiCaprio and Ridley Scott are teaming up for an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Pretty soon high school sophomores everywhere will never have to read the book again.
• The full cast for Robert Rodriguez's Machete has been announced. Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal, and Robert De Niro...together at last.
• The first trailer for the vampire tale Cirque du Freak has been released. Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, and Patrick Fugit star. You remember Fugit, right? Almost Famous? Anyone?
• Screenwriter and author Budd Schulberg passed away at the age of 95. Schulberg penned A Face in the Crowd, and his novel What Makes Sammy Run? is one of the seminal Hollywood satires.
• The red band trailer for Zombieland has arrived. Is it too early to start the Oscar buzz for Woody Harrelson as zombie hunter Tallahassee?
• Liam Neeson is in talks to star in Unknown White Male, a thriller for Dark Castle.
BIZ
A New Test for Studios: The August Box Office
from NYT > Movies by By MICHAEL CIEPLY
Hollywood heads into what promises to be an unusually nervous month at the box office.
TV Upfront Negotiations Nearly Done
from Advertising Age - MediaWorks by bsteinberg@adage.com(Brian Steinberg)
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Negotiations in the upfront market with the five major broadcast TV networks are close to wrapping up, according to media buyers, with several anticipating volume in the onetime $9 billion-plus market to be off by as much as 10% to 15%. A good portion of the cable marketplace has moved as well, buyers said, with volume likely to be down anywhere from 7% to 12%.
Rupert's News Corp Swings to $203 Million Loss
from The Wrap RSS by Dylan Stableford
Murdoch also says that all News Corp sites will be charging
for content by 2010.
FESTIVALS
Emily Blunt's 'Young Victoria' to end Toronto fest
from USATODAY.com Life - Top Stories
Next month's Toronto International Film Festival is ending
on a regal note. The closing-night film of the 10-day festival will ...
2009 Austin City Limits Schedule
The schedule for Austin City Limits has finally been revealed.
'Passing Strange' to open Downtown fest
from The Hollywood Reporter - Awards by Staff report
Spike Lee's "Passing Strange," a film version of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, will be the opening-night film when the 2009 Downtown Film Festival-Los Angeles kicks off Aug. 12 at the AT&T Center Theater.
'Julie & Julia' to close Rome festival
from Variety.com
Film News: Event unveils three Italian titles in competition
-- Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia" is among the first batch of pics
revealed by the Rome Film Festival.
AWARDS
Beyoncé, Lady Gaga lead VMA nominations
from Entertainment Awards: News & Videos about Entertainment Awards - CNN.com
Congratulations to Beyoncé and Lady Gaga!
Emmys Revamp Ceremony in Search of Better Ratings
from NYT > Television by By EDWARD WYATT
Producers will prerecord some awards in order to spend time highlighting more series that are popular with viewers, including some shows that weren't nominated.
FILM
Daily Box Office: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
from Box Office Mojo - Current Box Office Results
Funny People tops Tuesday's box office with $2.7 million
'Fast & Furious' tops video charts
from Hollywood Reporter by By Stephanie Prange
Universal's "Fast & Furious" sped to the top spot on the national home video sales, rental and Blu-ray Disc sales charts for the week ended Aug. 2.
'The Hurt Locker' defies the odds
A drama set in the Iraq war is a tough sell, but 'The Hurt
Locker' is defying the odds.
'On the Waterfront' screenwriter dies in NY at 95
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By HILLEL ITALIE
NEW YORK (AP) -- Budd Schulberg, the son of a studio boss who defined the Hollywood hustle with his novel "What Makes Sammy Run?" and later proved himself a player with his Oscar-winning screenplay for "On the Waterfront," died Wednesday at age 95....
Jason Segel in 'Adventurer's Handbook'
from EW.com: Movies
By Nicole Sperling
''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' star to join Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman in
film about four guys in search of a mysterious destination
Say It Ain't So 'Joe' : Paramount Won't Show Critics 'G.I. Joe'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
It's the biggest movie of the summer that practically no one has seen.
Sam Worthington To Replace Tom Cruise In The Tourist
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
The fallout from Tom Cruise's decision to star in James Mangold's Witchita continues.
Leonardo DiCaprio Putting Scary Spin On 'Little Red Riding
Hood'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
"Little Red Riding Hood" is about to get a whole lot darker - thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio.
from Hollywood Reporter by By Gregg Kilday
In a move that adds a wrinkle to the traditional film-distribution model, DirecTV will debut Guillermo Arriaga's "The Burning Plain," starring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, as a VOD offering nearly a month before the film's theatrical release.
Liam Neeson to star in 'White Male'
from Hollywood Reporter by By Borys Kit
Liam Neeson has signed to star in "Unknown White Male," a thriller from Dark Castle and Warner Bros.
Jennifer Aniston Headed Behind Bars For Next Film
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Jennifer Aniston is about to be locked up with the "Girls" for her next film.
Eclipse's New Lil'l Bloodsucker
There's a new vampire in town. Sources confirm that 14-year-old Canadian youngster Jodelle Ferland has been cast in Eclipse as a human who turns into a vampire.
'Gunsmoke' remake in the works
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A big-screen version of the classic Dodge City-set radio and television series "Gunsmoke" is in development, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Filmmaker Joe Eszterhas back to work with Virgin
from Entertainment Weekly's News Briefs by Alynda Wheat
Joe Eszterhas is back with his first film project in three years, a drama about the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mpower Pictures announced today.
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Movie Trailer
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com
(slashfilm.com)
Universal have released the first trailer for Paul Weitz' Cirque du Freak:
The Vampire's Assistant
from L.A. Times - TV News
Here are the rankings for national prime-time network television last week (July 27- Aug. 2) as compiled by Nielsen Media Research.
Abdul's 'Idol' exit shakes up TV's top-rated show
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By ERIN CARLSON
NEW YORK (AP) -- Say what you want about Paula Abdul, but give her this: She makes for great television, especially at her own wacky expense....
'At the Movies' co-host turnover is announced
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By FRAZIER MOORE
NEW YORK (AP) -- After a year of getting slammed for their performance as film critics, "At the Movies" co-hosts Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz are getting their tickets punched....
Louis C.K. heading to 'Parks and Rec'
from Variety.com
TV News: Comedian lands multi-episode arc on NBC show -- Comedian Louis C.K. is joining the cast of NBC's "Parks and Recreation" for a multi-episode arc.
Bryan Singer to direct Syfy miniseries
from Hollywood Reporter by By James Hibberd
Syfy is reteaming with director Bryan Singer for a six-hour limited series, while fellow NBC Universal cabler USA Network announced an extensive development slate at TCA's summer press tour that includes projects from Stephen J. Cannell, Mike Newell, Tom Fontana, Steve Stark, David Breckman and Randy Zisk.
Conrad, Kardashian set as `Top Model' guest judges
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Reality TV stars Lauren Conrad and Kim Kardashian are set to appear as guest judges on the new season of "America's Next Top Model."
Ashlee
Simpson-Wentz talks 'Melrose Place'
"There's a lot of jaw-droppers on the show that we obviously can't give away but it does get crazy," the actress promises.
MUSIC
'Way' is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Fabolous' "Loso's Way" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart this week, Billboard.com reported Wednesday.
Heath Ledger-Directed Music Video Released Online
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Heath Ledger's spirit rocks on in the music video world.
Radiohead song honors UK's last WWI survivor
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
LONDON (AP) -- Radiohead has recorded a song in tribute to Britain's last World War I survivor....
Chris Brown sentencing delayed
from Entertainment Weekly's News Briefs by Alynda Wheat
A judge in Los Angeles delayed formal sentencing in the Chris Brown case today, The Associated Press reports.
Bob Dylan Christmas Album on the Way
from Paste Magazine
As we've just learned from Bully! Pulpit, the inimitable (not to mention greatest living) folk grandmaster Bob Dylan has been steadily compiling a collection of modern songs and Christmas carols for his first-ever Christmas album.
Robbie Williams to release new album in November
from Reuters: Entertainment News
NEW YORK (Reuters) - British pop singer Robbie Williams will
release his first album in three years this November, record company EMI said
on Wednesday.
Steve Bing Flew Bill Clinton To N. Korea
from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily by Nikki Finke
So the former prez could negotiate the release of those two detained U.S. journalists. According to AP, Clinton flew to North Korea on movie producer/director Bing's private jet.
The Obamas make 'Vanity Fair' best-dressed list
from USATODAY.com Life - Top Stories
Barack and Michelle Obama edged out Hollywood stars on the 'Vanity Fair' International Best-Dressed List.
