On Gear Live: Samsung S95C: The OLED TV You Can’t Afford (to Ignore!)

James Franco to Play Hugh Hefner?

James FrancoJames Franco is in negotiations to play Hugh Hefner in Lovelace.

The 127 Hours actor may portray the Playboy magazine founder in the movie starring Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace - best known for her starring role in porn movie Deep Throat - after passing on the opportunity to play her husband Chuck Traynor.

The role would be a cameo and only require one day of shooting, but talks have not yet been completed to find a date suitable for him, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A heavy-hitting cast including Sharon Stone, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Noth and Juno Temple are already signed on to star.

Production on the project is already underway, with shooting in Los Angeles beginning last week. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman are directing the picture.

James - who earlier this year put in a turn as presenter when he hosted the Academy Awards with Anne Hathaway - has a number of movies coming up, including Wizard of Oz prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful and Spring Breakers.


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Isla Fisher Replaces Amanda Seyfried in ‘Now You See Me’

Isla FisherIsla Fisher is set to replace Amanda Seyfried in Now You See Me.

The Wedding Crashers actress - who is currently filming Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby - will reportedly soon begin talks with director Louis Leterrier to appear in the thriller after Jennifer's Body star Amanda dropped out of contention, Variety reports.

The film sees Mark Ruffalo play the leader of an FBI team assigned to track down a gang of magicians known as the Four Horsemen who pull off bank raids during their performances and distribute the proceeds through their audiences. Isla is in line to play Henley, an illusion builder who helps the criminals pull off their tricks. Also starring in the film are Social Network actor Jesse Eisenberg as leader of the gang, Morgan Freeman, who plays a former illusionist who has been shunned by other magicians for revealing how their tricks work, and Melanie Laurent, who stars as a federal agent.

Edward Rucourt and Boaz Yakin have written the script for the movie, while Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will produce. Filming on Now You See Me is scheduled to begin in January.


First Look: Amanda Seyfried in Sexy Riding Hood Retelling

Amanda Seyfried’s bringing sexy back … to a classic children’s tale.

Don’t let that innocent face fool you -- in the upcoming Red Riding Hood revamp, Seyfried plays a girl “torn between two loves.” The quote comes from Seyfried’s director Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed Twilight.

Red Riding Hood is a sexified horror remake of the children’s classic. Seyfried plays Valerie, who enlists the aid of a hunter to help defeat a werewolf who is terrorizing her village.

The film opens March 11, 2011.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: September 14, 2010

Prince of Persia DVDHere are some of the options available today:

  • Delicatessan: Blu-ray
  • Jacob’s Ladder: DVD, Blu-ray
  • James and the Giant Peach: DVD
  • Just Wright: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Letters to Juliet: DVD, Blu-ray
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Blu-ray
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Blu-ray
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Blu-ray
  • Monster House: Blu-ray 3D
  • My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?: DVD
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Seven: Blu-ray

Make sure to also check out the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: July 13, 2010

The Bounty HunterHere are some of the options available this Tuesday:

  • 8: The Mormon Proposition: DVD
  • Alpha Dog: Blu-ray
  • Assault on Precinct 13: Blu-ray
  • The Bounty Hunter: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Chloe: DVD, Blu-ray
  • The Greatest: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Greenberg: DVD, Blu-ray
  • In Bruges: Blu-ray
  • Insomnia: Blu-ray
  • Our Family Wedding: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Saint John of Las Vegas: DVD

Make sure to also check out the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Get to the Greek…and Shrek

Get Him to the Greek

Ashton Kutcher may have more Twitter followers than Diddy and Russell Brand combined - but that achievement wasn’t reflected at the box office this weekend.

Despite pirating the first 13 minutes of Killers, Kutcher was unable to generate enough interest to earn more than third place. The film - Katherine Heigl’s first since leaving Grey’s Anatomy - only rounded up a mere $15.8 million. (In other words, Ashton got about $3 from each of his Tweeps.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Get to the Greek…and Shrek

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Choose Shrek Over Sex

Sex and the City 2

Shrek - not cosmopolitans - was what fans were buying this weekend.

Despite competition from two heavily-promoted features, an aging green ogre was able to hang on to his title for two weeks in a row. raised an additional $57 million during the Memorial Day frame to bring its domestic total to $146.8 million.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. proved that people can get tired of sex. Sex and the City 2 - which featured the return of Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) - couldn’t get past the bad reviews to even match the first film’s numbers. (Sex and the City opened to $56.8 million in May 2008.) The lovely ladies also couldn’t overpower Jake Gyllenhaal’s four-day haul. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time wound up snagging second place with a $37.8 million debut.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Choose Shrek Over Sex

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: MacGruber IS a Bomb

MacGruber

Disappointment can come in all shapes and box office sizes.

may have earned nearly three times as much than its nearest competitor, but it wasn’t exactly a winner for Paramount or Dreamworks. The film, which grossed $70.8 million in ticket sales, become the first sequel in the Shrek franchise to open below the $100 million mark (and that’s with the help of higher 3-D prices). The comedy did, though, place fourth on the all-time animated debuts list behind Shrek the Third ($121.6 million), Shrek 2 ($108 million)  and The Simpsons Movie ($74 million).

Meanwhile, it appears will last just as long in theaters as he does in Will Forte’s sketches. Although the character is (supposedly) known for diffusing bombs, he actually helped deliver one this weekend. The latest Saturday Night Live-based comedy - also starring Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe - generated a mere $4 million this weekend. While that number seems (understandably) dismal, there is one positive thing to note: the film only cost approximately $10 million to make.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: MacGruber IS a Bomb

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Fights Off Robin Hood

Robin Hood

‘s excellent aim couldn’t keep Robert Downey Jr. off target.

Despite increased competition in its second week of release, remained firm at the box office. Paramount’s sequel generated another $52 million between Friday-Sunday and vaulted over the $200 million mark domestically.

Meanwhile, ‘s arrow was sharp enough for a $36 million bounty, but a bit too dull for a first place finish. The film did, though, earn approximately $74 million in foreign dollars. That topped the $43.1 million overseas debut for 2000’s Gladiator - another Crowe/Ridley Scott production.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Fights Off Robin Hood

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Gael Garcia Bernal Defends His Character

Gael Garcia Bernal with Amanda Seyfried on set‘s character in Letters to Juliet is not unloving.

The 31-year-old actor claims his character in the romantic movie is not a “jerk,” and says he never morally judges any role he takes on.

“I wouldn’t call him a jerk. My character, I think, is actually very concentrated on the things he likes and the thing is, right now, his girlfriend is not able to follow him and share with him that excitement.”

The actor - who plays Victor in the movie alongside Mamma Mia! star - also admits to having a great time filming in Italy for the romantic drama: “I did the film just to have fun ... to enjoy working with the group of actors that were here. To spend some time in Italy!”

And despite the fact his character isn’t the best chef in the film, Bernal thinks he gets away with it. He told MTV News, “He knows a lot about what he’s doing, more than any of us know about cooking, and the Italian culture. I wouldn’t judge him. I don’t like judging characters at all morally.”

Letters to Juliet - which also stars - will be released this Friday, May 14.


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