Warner Bros "furious" over Radcliffe play

Warner Bros is reportedly "furious" after being forced to buy out several showings of Daniel Radcliffe's Broadway show in order to secure his appearance at the final Harry Potter premiere.

New York Post reports that the actor, who is starring in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying until at least November, would not have been given a release for the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July 7.

According to the newspaper, a "bitter" negotiation took place between Warner Bros and the play's producers, which resulted in the studio paying $500,000 (£306,206) to free Radcliffe from his role for five nights.

A source said: "Warner Bros is furious that Radcliffe committed to Broadway when he should be promoting Harry Potter.

"This is the final film, so it's a big deal. A grand world premiere is being planned as well as a US premiere and a press tour. They absolutely couldn't do it without their big star.

"But the theatre producers dug their heels in and said they wouldn't release Radcliffe unless Warner bought out the entire theatre for the nights they need him."

Blade Runner follow-ups are on the way

Blade Runner is a milestone in science-fiction filmmaking. We all know that. But sadly even it isn’t safe from a Hollywood still suffering from a severe and lingering case of sequelitis.

Almost 30 years after Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece made its cinematic bow, the WB’s Alcon Entertainment division are in the final stages of acquiring the film and TV rights to Blade Runner.

If they successfully close the deal, they’d have the power to create as many sequels, prequels, TV shows or ‘ancillary’ products as they see fit. Though, happily, their deal means they’re not allowed to remake the original.

Alcon co-founders/co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove said this in a statement:
“We are honoured and excited to be in business with Bud Yorkin. This is a major acquisition for our company, and a personal favourite film for both of us.

“We recognise the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce. We have long-term goals for the franchise, and are exploring multi-platform concepts, not just limiting ourselves to one medium only.”

It’s probably about time now to realise that absolutely nothing in Hollywood is sacred anymore. What next, a follow-up to Casablanca? Best not give them ideas, eh?

'Phantom Menace 3D' gets release date

Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox have announced a released date for the 3D theatrical opening of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

The 3D version of the first Star Wars prequel will arrive in cinemas on February 10, 2012.

George Lucas previously announced that he plans to convert all six Star Wars films to 3D and re-release them in theatres in the epic story's chronological order.

The Phantom Menace was originally released in cinemas in 1999 and grossed more than $924 million at the worldwide box office.

Mark Wahlberg 'working on Fighter 2'

Mark Wahlberg has revealed that he us working on a sequel to The Fighter.

Speaking to Extra on the Academy Awards red carpet, Wahlberg said that he hopes to make a follow-up revolving around boxer Mickey Ward's trilogy of fights with fierce rival Arturo Gatti.

"Now we're going to talk about doing number two," he said. "We're going to do the Ward/Gatti trilogy and make it real."

Wahlberg's co-stars Christian Bale and Melissa Leo scooped the 'Supporting Actor' and 'Supporting Actress' accolades at Sunday's Oscars ceremony.

Zellweger 'agrees to Bridget Jones 3'

Renee Zellweger is reportedly set to confirm that she will reprise the role of Bridget Jones for a third film.

However, the actress is said to have told producers that she will only do the role if she can keep her current weight, according to The Sun.

The tabloid claims that the opening scene of the film will show Bridget stepping smugly onto some scales in order to show the audience that she is no longer curvy.

A source told the publication: "Renee had no reservations about saying yes once she found out she wouldn't have to get fat.

"She hated having to do that in the last two films."

Colin Firth has already said that he is keen to sign up after taking on a heavyweight leading role in the Oscar-winningThe King's Speech.

Brolin to star in 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'

Josh Brolin will star in a new version of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.

The True Grit actor will also produce the Warner Bros project through his Brolin Productions firm, reports Variety.

Tim Burton is said to be the favoured choice to direct the new Hunchback, which will be penned by Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney.

Victor Hugo's novel Notre Dame de Paris was first published in 1931 and centres on Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral who falls for gypsy Esmeralda.

The story has been adapted several times for the big screen, including 1939's black-and-white classic and Disney's 1996 animated version.

Waltz to star in Tarantino's new Western?

Christoph Waltz has reportedly been cast in Quentin Tarantino's next film.

Waltz, who starred in Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, is allegedly joining Tarantino's next project, a Western that will begin shooting later this year, according to Ain't It Cool News.

In addition, the film will reportedly star the Italian actor Franco Nero, Keith Carradine and Treat Williams. Nero recently revealed his own involvement in the film at the Los Angeles Italia film festival via Italian website Movieplayer.

"The film... is a tribute to Sergio Leone. It's a movie that contains humor, lots of action, but also a great plot," said Nero.

Waltz earned an Academy Award for his role in Inglorious Basterds

Adams 'didn't think about winning Oscar'

Amy Adams has said that she didn't even think about winning an Oscar at last night's awards ceremony.

The actress told Access Hollywood that she was far more concerned with her red carpet appearance instead.

"I'm just excited to be here," said Adams, who was nominated for 'Best Supporting Actress' for her role in The Fighter.

"I haven't even thought about the winning, the competition. I've just... mostly thought about the red carpet up to this point."

Adams, who lost out on her award to Melissa Leo, wore jewellery worth $1.3m (£800,000) to the ceremony.

She said that she planned to continue partying after the event finished, because her 9-month-old daughter Aviana would already be in bed.

"She'll be asleep by then, so I don't feel too bad," said Adams. "But I can't stay out too late, she gets up at about 6 o'clock in the morning… I'll get up with her. She's so hard to resist. Really!"

Director Gary Winick dies, aged 49

Filmmaker Gary Winick has died at the age of 49.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Bride Wars and Letters To Juliet director passed away after suffering from brain cancer.

"He was suffering from brain cancer for quite some time, and it ultimately metastasised throughout his body," explained his manager Rosalie Swedlin.

Swedlin, who said that a memorial service for Winick was being planned, added: "What's remarkable is that after his first surgery, he was able to direct Letters To Juliet. It was a battle that we thought he had won, and ultimately they just didn't get it all."

Winick produced 19 independent films after founding production company InDigEnt in 1999.

His other films as a director include 13 Going on 30, Tadpole and Sweet Nothing

In Full: Oscars 2011 Winners

The full list of winners for the 2011 Academy Awards, held on February 27 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre

Best Picture The King's Speech

Director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)

Best Actor Colin Firth (The King's Speech)

Best Actress Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Best Supporting Actor Christian Bale (The Fighter)

Best Supporting Actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter)

Adapted Screenplay Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)

Original Screenplay David Seidler (The King's Speech)

Animated Feature Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film In A Better World

Art Direction Alice In Wonderland

Cinematography Inception

Costume Design Alice In Wonderland

Documentary Feature Inside Job

Documentary Short Strangers No More

Editing The Social Network

Makeup The Wolfman

Original Score The Social Network

Original Song' We Belong Together' (Toy Story 3)

Sound Editing Inception

Sound Mixing Inception

Visual Effects Inception

Animated Short The Lost Thing

Live Action Short God Of Love



Seyfried: 'I can control my sexiness'

Amanda Seyfried has revealed that she has the ability to control her sexiness.

The Red Riding Hood actress explained that she can easily portray a sexual person on-screen because she is very "connected" to that part of herself.

She told Total Film: "I can turn my sexuality on and off.

"It doesn't exist in everyday situations, I don't really think about it then, but there are certain situations where I will make myself be aware of it.

"Just to keep myself in check, you know? Not to say that I'm overtly sexual - I'm not. But I'm definitely very connected to that side of myself."

Twilight will win big at The Razzies

One of the biggest events in the movie calendar takes place this weekend.

Yeah, a little ceremony called the Oscars is happening, but so is the 31st Annual Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as The Razzies.

As you can see from the list of nominees, it's been quite a year for dreadful flicks:

• Worst Picture: Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Last Airbender, The Bounty Hunter, Sex and the City 2, Vampires Suck

•  Worst Actor: Ashton Kutcher, Gerard Butler, Jack Black, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

•  Worst Actress: Jennifer Aniston, Miley Cyrus, Entire Cast of SATC2, Megan Fox, Kristen Stewart

Social media monitoring tool Meltwater Buzz has done a comprehensive track on over 200 million blogs, micro-blogs, social networks and forums to get an idea on what the public think are the worst of the bunch.

As the results are based on online conversations, it'll be interesting to see how closely they match the awards that are handed out.

According to the online buzz analysis:

• 58% of the general public feel Twilight: Eclipse deserves the Worst Picture award.

• 35% feel that Robert Pattinson should be crowned Worst Actor

• 29% of people feel Kristen Stewart should win Worst Actress, although
Jennifer Aniston was a close second for her role in The Bounty Hunter.

While the Twilight Saga is easy to attack, is it really as dreadful as any of the other nominees? Or does the franchise have built-up animosity working against it?

Stay tuned for the imminent announcement of the winners, and see if the online buzz matches the judges' opinions.

Source: Meltwater Buzz