Sofia Coppola to Direct ‘The Little Mermaid’

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Romance, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases,

Sofia Coppola will direct a live-action version of The Little Mermaid.

The filmmaker has reportedly set her sights on Hans Christian Andersen's tragic fairy tale as her next project after 2013's The Bling Ring, and is in negotiations to bring the classic children's story to life on the big screen, Deadline.com is reporting.

Fans shouldn't expect a repeat of Disney's bubblegum 1989 cartoon version about aquatic princess Ariel and talking crab Sebastian, however. Coppola is thought to be planning a version in keeping with the original 1837 story, which sees the broken-hearted Little Mermaid commit suicide after the Prince marries another woman.

The new Universal Pictures/Working Title production is said to be based on a script by Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands), which was originally drafted by Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr. Banks) and Abi Morgan (Shame).

Click to continue reading Sofia Coppola to Direct ‘The Little Mermaid’

Kate Winslet to Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Celeb News,

Kate Winslet is to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 38-year-old actress will be the 2,520th star to receive an honor, and the unveiling is set to take place early next week with Titanic director James Cameron and Kate's co-star in the film Kathy Bates presenting her with the accolade outside of the W Hollywood Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, on Monday, according to Hollywood.com.

"We are so happy that Kate Winslet will be here on our famous Boulevard of dreams receiving her well-deserved star. We've seen Kate shine in her roles and fans around the world have been anxiously waiting for this special day to come," producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, Ana Martinez, said of the new addition.

Other actresses who have been added to the star-studded pavement recently include Non Stop star Julianne Moore and Glee's Jane Lynch.

Click to continue reading Kate Winslet to Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Conan O’Brien to Host MTV Movie Awards

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Celeb News, New Releases,

Conan O'Brien will host the 2014 MTV Movie Awards.

The presenter announced on his TBS talk show Conan last night that he will be hosting the high-profile awards ceremony on April 13 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. "After eight years of intense negotiations, I am honored to announce I am hosting MTV's second most prestigious awards show," he joked.

The star has plenty of experience hosting televised ceremonies, having previously fronted the Primetime Emmy Awards in both 2002 and 2006.

Jimmy Fallon, Aziz Ansari, Russell Brand and Sarah Silverman have all hosted the MTV Movie Awards in the past, with Rebel Wilson taking charge of last year's ceremony. Conan, who is known for his self-deprecating humor, will be at hand to deliver the coveted golden popcorn statuettes to this year's winners.

The MTV Movie Awards will also feature sneak previews of the summer's most anticipated films with never-before seen footage. Nominations go live tomorrow on MovieAwards.MTV.com.

Click to continue reading Conan O’Brien to Host MTV Movie Awards

Pink to Perform at the Oscars

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Music, Awards, Celeb News, New Releases,

Pink is set to make a special appearance at the Oscars.

The "Just Give Me a Reason" hitmaker has joined the list of performers that will take to the stage at the 86th annual ceremony in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 2. "We are very excited to welcome Pink to the Oscar stage for the very first time. She is regarded as one of the greatest voices in pop music and one of the best performers of her generation, and we are thrilled to have her join us for a highly anticipated moment on the broadcast," producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a statement.

The Grammy Award-winner, 34, shared her excitement about her upcoming performance on Twitter on Friday, writing, "Big news!!! I'd like to thank @TheAcademy for inviting me to perform on the #Oscars on March 2nd!! #holycow."

"Big news! @Pink is performing at the #Oscars! I don't know what she has planned, but I'm bringing my safety net just in case," the show's host, Ellen DeGeneres, said in a tweet.

Hugh Jackman to Host the Tony Awards

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Musicals, Awards, New Releases,

Hugh Jackman will host the Tony Awards 2014.

The Wolverine actor is set to present the show's 68th annual awards ceremony which will take place in New York City on June 8 and CBS Entertainment, who will broadcast the event, are delighted to have him on board.

"We are thrilled to have Hugh Jackman return to host the Tony Awards. Hugh is the ultimate performer - actor, singer and dancer - he does it all, second to none. He is a consummate entertainer and the one you want out there hosting your live television event," Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment, said in a statement.

Hugh previously fronted the Tony Awards between 2003-2005 and this will be the fourth time the Les Miserables star hosts the annual ceremony, which celebrates achievement in live Broadway theater.

Click to continue reading Hugh Jackman to Host the Tony Awards

U2 Will to Perform at the Oscars

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Weinstein Company, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Drama, Family, Music, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, New Releases,

U2 are set to perform at the Oscars next month.

The Irish rockers will take to the stage to perform their track "Ordinary Love," which is nominated for best Original Song, at the ceremony at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on March 2. Confirming the news on Wednesday, the event's producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said it will be the first time the band perform the song, which was written especially for the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom soundtrack, live.

Members Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge, who are currently in the studio working on their new album, face stiff competition in the Original Song category from Pharrell Williams for his hit "Happy" from Despicable Me 2, "Let It Go" from Frozen, and "The Moon Song" by Karen O, who is the vocalist for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, from the movie Her.

Click to continue reading U2 Will to Perform at the Oscars

Tom Hiddleston Cast in Ben Wheatley’s Adaptation of ‘High Rise’

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Adaptation, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Casting, Upcoming Releases,

Tom Hiddleston is a busy man.

From playing Loki in The Avengers films to starring in Shakespeare's Coriolanus (to rave reviews, mind you!) at London's Donmar Warehouse, the 32-year-old actor will now take on the lead in an upcoming adaptation of the JG Ballard novel, High Rise.

The film takes place in the future, where technology is so advanced that inhabitants of an apartment building need not venture to the outside world for any of their needs; however, trouble begins when the power starts to fail and the differing levels of the building - equated with societal classes - turn to violence.

Set to begin production in June, Ben Wheatley (Kill List, Sightseers) will direct while Jeremy Thomas - who has been trying to get the film made for 30 years - will produce.

Read More | Badass Digest

‘Back To The Future’ to Become a Musical

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Classics, Family, Musicals, Science Fiction, Upcoming Releases,

Back To The Future is being turned into a musical.

A stage version of the hit 1985 movie - which starred Michael J. Fox as time-traveling teen Marty McFly - has been given the green light to debut in London's West End in 2015.

Robert Zemeckis, who co-wrote and directed the original film, will team up with co-writer Bob Gale once again to pen the adaptation. "[It will be true to the spirit of the film without being a slavish remake. We intend to use music from the movie along with brand new songs to make a version of Back to the Future that is fresh, entertaining and takes advantage of all the amazing things that can now be done on stage. We can't think of a better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film," Gale commented.

Alan Silvestri will co-write the music and lyrics with songwriter Glen Ballard, while Jamie Lloyd - who directed James McAvoy last year in a sell-out production of Macbeth in London - is on board to direct.

Click to continue reading ‘Back To The Future’ to Become a Musical

Cinecast: JLaw Worried ‘American Hustle’ Costumer, ‘Thor 3’ a Go

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Buena Vista, Columbia Pictures, Disney, Lionsgate, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Distribution, Filmmaking, New Releases, Scripts, Trailers, Upcoming Releases,

+ It's a good thing that Jennifer Lawrence's white dress from American Hustle only cost $3.99 for a yard of the fabric: costume designer Michael Wilkinson revealed that the actress got into some trouble eating Doritos while in costume. Yeah, we're not surprised, either.

+ Disney/Marvel announced that the sequel to Thor: The Dark World has been greenlit, adding that Christopher Yost (who co-wrote Thor: The Dark World) and Craig Kyle (who produced both Thor films) are set to write it.

+ Twilight alum Nikki Reed has been cast in horror film Email, which will be set in Singapore. Perhaps this latest American-take-on-Asian-horror project will serve as her springboard onto bigger projects, as it seemed to do for Naomi Watts (almost forgot that she was in The Ring, eh?).

+ Forest Whitaker will be taking a step behind the camera to direct Lionsgate's adaptation of the best-selling book The Shack.

Click to continue reading Cinecast: JLaw Worried ‘American Hustle’ Costumer, ‘Thor 3’ a Go

‘Batman Vs. Superman’ Release Date Delayed

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Distribution, Upcoming Releases,

Fans looking forward to Zack Snyder's Batman Vs. Superman will have to wait a little longer for the big screen showdown between the two DC superheroes.

In order to "allow the filmmakers time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story," Warner Bros. has decided to push the release date of the film forward from July 15, 2015 to May 6, 2016 (what's another 10 months when folks are already waiting over a year for it to hit theaters?).

Click to continue reading ‘Batman Vs. Superman’ Release Date Delayed

Read More | The Wrap