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Michelle Williams Heading to Broadway

Alan Cumming and Michelle WilliamsMichelle Williams will make her Broadway debut next March.

The 32-year-old actress, who has been nominated for an Oscar three times, is set to star as Sally Bowles opposite acclaimed British actor Alan Cumming, 48, in a new production of Cabaret. Roundabout Theater Company confirmed on Wednesday that the Brokeback Mountain star has signed on for a 24-week run and previews will begin on March 21, 2014 at the Kit Kat Klub at Studio 54 on Broadway in New York.

Skyfall director Sam Mendes will helm the production for the second time after originally reviving the show in 1993, which also starred Alan. "I'm delighted to be stepping back into the Kit Kat Klub one more time, and to be having the opportunity to re-explore and re-discover this extraordinary musical alongside two equally extraordinary performers," he said in a statement.

The show will begin its official run on April 24.


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Robert Pattinson Was Close to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Role?

Robert PattinsonRobert Pattinson was E.L. James' choice for Fifty Shades of Grey, according to Bret Easton Ellis.

He has claimed the author behind the erotic novel wanted the former Twilight Saga star to play the lead in the upcoming movie adaptation. "Talked to E.L. James at a party over the summer: her first choice for Christian was Rob Pattinson and Matt Bomer was never in the running," he wrote on Twitter.

The screenwriter - who penned the script for The Canyons - also said he drunkenly suggested porn star James Deen for the lead role after he impressed in the noir thriller. "When E.L. James asked me who I thought should be Christian I said, 'James Deen, of course,' and then she shoved me. We were both very wasted," he added.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that Charlie Hunnam has been cast in the role. E.L. James announced in a series of tweets: "Good moaning all. Hold on to your hats ... I am delighted to let you know that the lovely Dakota Johnson has agreed to be our Anastasia in the film adaptation of Fifty ... So... Christian... The gorgeous and talented Charlie Hunnam will be Christian Grey in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. (sic)"


Ben Affleck to Star as Batman in ‘Man of Steel’ Sequel

Ben AffleckWhether you want to remember him for directing Argo or acting in GigliBen Affleck has been chosen as the next actor to play Batman.

Taking the black cape and bat-eared costume from Christian Bale, who portrayed the Dark Knight in Christopher Nolan's recent Batman trilogy, Affleck will appear in the upcoming sequel to Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Snyder released a statement announcing Affleck's casting:

"Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry [Cavill]'s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can't wait to work with him."

The film - tentatively titled Batman vs. Superman - is expected to be released July 2015 with production beginning in 2014.

Read More | USA Today

Ethan Hawke to Play Macbeth

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Classics, Drama, Casting, Celeb News,

Ethan HawkeEthan Hawke will play Macbeth on Broadway.

The 42-year-old actor has been confirmed as taking the leading role in the Shakespeare tragedy. The female lead playing Lady Macbeth has yet to be confirmed.

Ethan will reunite with director Jack O'Brien at Lincoln Center Theater, where he has previously starred productions of The Coast of Utopia - earning him a Tony nomination in 2007 - and Henry IV. Ethan is also currently riding high as the star of The Purge - which topped the box office last weekend - as well as playing the lead in highly anticipated romantic drama Before Midnight, the sequel to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

The actor recently admitted he often questions his stardom and feels "guilty" as he thinks he deserves the attention he receives from fans. "You know in your heart of hearts that you're special only like every human being is special, so you don't know why you're getting all this attention and you feel guilty about it. What you feel guilty about is the feeling that some part of you thinks you deserve it 'cos it feels good. And it's a weird snake that's eating it's own tail."


Courtney Love Says Frances Bean Was Offered ‘Twilight’ Lead

Courtney Love and her daughter Frances Bean CobainCourtney Love recently confirmed in an interview with Howard Stern that her daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was offered the role of Bella Swan in Twilight (a role that eventually went to Kristen Stewart, catapulting her to mega-famedom) and ended up turning it down. Between that and her recent Twitter tirade over reality star Kendall Jenner's inconsiderate pity-party tweets, Frances Bean is one of the coolest celebrity offspring around these days.

Moreover - if you believe in the accuracy of Love's paraphrasing skills - the 48 year-old musician stated that Frances Bean had a rather eloquent way of turning the part down. "Someone just saw a picture of [Frances Bean] in a magazine and sent me the script,” Love said, going on to recall that her daughter rejected the script, telling her, “That’s a sexist, Mormon, piece of s***.”

While Love has dabbled in film, Frances Bean has yet to make her big screen debut. When If (given her apparent disdain for Hollywood, the notion of her acting seems unlikely) she does decide to act, I'd be the first to throw my money at her project.

Read More | The Cut

Jessica Chastain Rules Out ‘Rodham’ Role

Jessica ChastainThe list of actresses rumored to be in the running to portray Senator Hillary Clinton in Rodham has just been shortened by one.

When answering questions at a press conference for the charity event Sound of Change in London last night, Jessica Chastain made it clear that she is not being considered for the role. "No, that's actually not true. I found out about the project online, but, yeah, there's a lot of stuff out there," she said.

Reese Witherspoon, Amanda Seyfried, and Scarlett Johansson are among the other actresses believed to be in the competition for the coveted role. The Spectacular Now director James Ponsoldt will helm the biopic and has already spoken generously about the actresses in the running: “They’re all wonderful actresses. We’re very fortunate that a lot of really great actors are interested in playing these roles. We’re in an enviable position.”

Rodham will focus on Clinton's early days in Arkansas during the Watergate scandal.

Read More | Huffington Post

Florence Welch Set for Major ‘Star Wars’ Role?

Florence WelchFlorence Welch is being considered for a leading role in the new Star Wars trilogy.

The 26-year-old pop diva could be turned into an "overnight" movie star with reports she is being lined up for a huge part in the next installment of the long-running science fiction saga. "We think Florence has the exact style we are looking for. She has done some acting but it was her singing on stage that initially caught the eye. Almost every actress in Hollywood wants a role in the new movies but we are keen to cast people who are unexpected. Florence is being considered for a major part that would turn her into an A-list actress overnight," a source said.

The Florence + The Machine singer would star close to her London home with the recent news the series would be filmed in the UK, with shooting due to start next year.

The movie - planned for a 2015 release - is also expected to see the return of original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.


Saoirse Ronan Disappointed After ‘The Hobbit’

Saoirse RonanSaoirse Ronan felt "really disappointed" to turn down a role in The Hobbit.

The 19-year-old actress was rumored to be starring in the three part fantasy adventure, directed by Peter Jackson - whom she had previously worked with on The Lovely Bones - but decided it would be better to focus on other projects.

"There was talks about me playing the wood elf Itaril but I had to turn it down. I was really disappointed but there were other projects I had to consider and to spend a year doing The Hobbit wouldn't have left me time for anything else," she said.

The Irish star is currently filming Ryan Gosling's How to Catch a Monster, which she is finding "a bit twisted," and also has a string of other films in the pipeline. "I'm filming How to Catch a Monster, which is Ryan Gosling's writing and directing debut and it's cool, dark and a bit twisted, too. It's about an underwater town, and the struggles of the characters living in this dilapidated place. And I'm in Violet & Daisy, in which I play a hit girl. How I live Now and The Grand Budapest Hotel are all coming out in the next year. Then I'm due to play Mary Queen of Scots in a movie about her starting soon," she said.


Quote of the Day: Why Viggo Mortensen Wasn’t in ‘The Hobbit’

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn

"Before they started shooting, back in 2008, one of the producers did ask if I would be interested. I said, 'You do know, don't you, that Aragorn isn't in The Hobbit? That there is a 60-year gap between the books?'"

- Lord of the Rings actor Viggo Mortensen shares why he wasn't in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (in which LOTR castmates Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood appeared).

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | Huffington Post

Emma Watson Feels Inadequate About Acting Skills

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Casting, Celeb News,

Emma WatsonEmma Watson constantly feels "inadequate" as an actress.

The 23-year-old actress lacks confidence when it comes to her abilities and always worries about being labelled a "fraud," despite finding success as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise and then acclaim for other roles, most recently The Bling Ring.

"It's called the impostor syndrome. It's almost like the better I do, the more my feeling of inadequacy actually increases, because I'm just going, 'Any moment, someone's going to find out I'm a total fraud, and that I don't deserve any of what I've achieved.' I can't possibly live up to what everyone thinks I am and what everyone's expectations of me are," she said.

Emma credits The Perks of Being a Wallflower director Stephen Chbosky for giving her confidence by casting her in the coming-of-age movie and helping her shake off the good girl stereotype she gained playing Hermione from the tender age of nine: "After Harry Potter I didn't feel very confident in myself as an actor. It's lucky that I've improved that now, but back then I needed someone to believe in me, and Stephen really did."

Click to continue reading Emma Watson Feels Inadequate About Acting Skills


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