Jennifer Hudson to Play Mandela’s Wife

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Biopics, Drama, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

Jennifer Hudson has signed on to star in Winnie, a biopic about Nelson Mandela’s former wife.

The film will follow her whole life, and Hudson will be singing the movie’s theme song as well.

“I was compelled and moved when I read the script,” the Academy Award winner recently said. “Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told.”

Production begins May 30. With Hudson in the lead, the flick already sounds like Oscar material.

Read More | Vote for the Worst

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Getting Into Character: Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Biopics, Drama, Period, Romance, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,

Emily Blunt as a teenage Queen Victoria

From bowing down to the royal editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, newly engaged Emily Blunt will now reign over England as a young Queen Victoria in the upcoming film, The Young Victoria.

The period biopic will focus on Victoria’s first ruling years, as well as her torrid relationship with Prince Albert, portrayed by Rupert Friend. Paul Bettany and Miranda Richardson also star.

Directed by newcomer Jean-Marc Vallée, the film is scheduled for limited release in the states on December 18th.

Read More | People

Casting Corner: Kristen Bell, Justin Long and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Disney, Universal, Action, Biopics, Classics, Drama, Independent, Musicals, Period, Remakes, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,

Justin LongKristen Bell

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Kristen Bell: Who knew Veronica Mars was a dancer? Kristen Bell has just been added to the cast of Burlesque, a film that will see Christina Aguilera playing a small-town girl working at a cabaret-esque club in Los Angeles. The film, which stars Cher as the establishment’s owner, will feature Bell as the soon-to-be former lead dancer. Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough will also do what she does best.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Kristen Bell, Justin Long and More


Ozzy Osbourne Would Like Johnny Depp in His Shoes

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Biopics, Casting, Celebrity Gossip,

Ozzy OsbourneCould Johnny Depp be biting off doves’ heads someday?

Black Sabbath rocker has just released his autobiography, I Am Ozzy, and says one of his few remaining ambitions is to see the tome turned into a film, with the Pirates of the Caribbean actor in the lead role.

“What’s left to wish for? A number one album would be good. And to have a movie made of the book, maybe with playing me - I’d like that,” he revealed. “But really, I’d like to go back in time and make better choices. Still, I know now that there is no such place as Utopia. Even if I do make it to heaven, you can bet your life the toilet will stink.”

As well as career plans, Ozzy is also thinking about returning to his native UK with wife Sharon. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in California. There’s so much bulls**t out here and the reality is, I’m English,” he said.


Michael Jackson To Be Played By Son

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Biopics, Music, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

Omer Bhatti to play Michael Jackson in upcoming biopicThe casting director for an upcoming biopic of Michael Jackson need not look too far for casting—he’ll just hire the pop star’s “son” to play him in the new film.

Omer Bhatti, whom the late King of Pop told friends he had fathered, will play Michael in a movie charting his rise to superstardom in the ‘80s.

A source told Britain’s The Sun, “Michael’s story from childhood to the height of success is nothing short of astounding. The family feel fans would love to see a dramatic retelling. They want to cover his childhood and family life but really focus on when his career went into overdrive.”

Although Norwegian Omer, who has worked as a Michael Jackson impersonator, denies that Michael is his biological father, he has revealed that the singer used to tell him he was “like a son” to him.

He has also been welcomed by the Jackson family and sat in the front row at Michaels’ Los Angeles memorial service in July. Since Michael’s death in June, Omer has reportedly stayed at the Jacksons’ California home.


Jennifer Aniston to Become a Country Singer

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Biopics, Music, Period, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

Jennifer Aniston is getting her pipes warmed up to start performing in the Goree Girls, a female country music group. She’s not switching career paths - she’s working on her next film role.

Aniston will star in The Goree Girls, a movie about the band which maintained a popular radio show in the 1940s. The Goree All Girl String Band was somewhat different from other musical acts, and not just because they were an all-female country-singing group. They were also convicted felons, serving time in Texas for various crimes including robbery and murder.

I’m already interested in the movie even without Aniston, but now I’m sure it’s going to be a hit.

Read More | E! Online

Getting Into Character: Kristen Stewart Rocks It Out as Joan Jett

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Biopics, Musicals, Period, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,

Kristen Stewart as Joan JettKristen Stewart as Joan Jett

And you thought Robert Pattinson’s hair was shaggy.

For her next film, Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart will be steering away from vampire fantasy for a little rock ‘n roll reality. In , the 19-year-old will channel Joan Jett, a former member of the ‘70s band of the same name. Stewart’s New Moon co-star, Dakota Fanning, will join her as Cherie Currie, the female group’s lead singer.

No release date has yet been announced for the biopic.

Read More | Just Jared

Leonardo DiCaprio taking lessons to sound like Frank Sinatra

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Biopics, Casting, Upcoming Releases,

Leonardo DiCaprio Frank Sinatra is taking singing lessons to sound like Frank Sinatra. Leo is hoping to portray the legendary Sinatra in a new biopic, but needs to prove to director Martin Scorsese he has the vocal talent to carry it off. “Leonardo has hired a top vocal coach to get him sounding like Sinatra. He is a massive fan of the singer and has always wanted to play him. He would be upset to miss out on the leading role because his singing wasn’t up to scratch. He is now in intensive vocal coaching lessons to replicate Sinatra’s distinctive style.” said a source.

However, Leonardo faces competition from stars including George Clooney, Justin Timberlake, Harry Connick Jr. and Jamie Foxx. It was recently claimed Jamie - who played jazz musician Ray Charles in Ray - is being lined up to portray the Rat Pack singer after film bosses saw similarities between the two stars’ backgrounds.

Click to continue reading Leonardo DiCaprio taking lessons to sound like Frank Sinatra


Will Jamie Foxx Play Mike Tyson?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Documentary, Celebrity Gossip,


He’s already channeled a blind singer and a schizophrenic musician, so why couldn’t play an ear-biting boxer?

Even though there’s a documentary currently out about the former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson is still interested in seeing a dramatized version of his life. If all goes as planned, it’ll be star we see in the ring.

Click to continue reading Will Jamie Foxx Play Mike Tyson?

Read More | MTV Movies

In Theaters This Weekend: March 20, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, FOCUS, Magnolia, Universal, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

I Love You, Man

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

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