International Show, Film & Celebrities News
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS author THOMAS HARRIS’ new HANNIBAL LECTER novel - about the cannibal’s early years - will hit bookstores this Christmas (06).
The book, HANNIBAL RISING, was originally slated to come out last year (05).
The book will be the fourth in Harris’ Lecter bestselling series.
Harris has also been writing the screenplay for a film version of Hannibal Rising, which he’s committed to finish by early 2007.
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Director STEVEN SPIELBERG is so eager to get the fourth installment of dinosaur film JURASSIC PARK moving, he is considering directing it himself.
The Oscar-winner directed the first two films in the franchise before film-maker JOE JOHNSTON took over for the less successful third movie. According to Sky News, Johnston is still Spielberg’s first choice to direct number four, but if he is unavailable Spielberg will step back into the director’s chair.
The film is currently slated for release in 2008 and the script is still being finalised. Spielberg is also on track to direct the fourth installment of INDIANA JONES.
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Movie tough guy VINNIE JONES’ London stage debut has been put on hold because some of his castmates have been unable to attend rehearsals.
Producer PAUL SAVIDENT fears the production of the STEPHEN SONDHEIM musical INTO THE WOODS will not be at its best if he aims for the scheduled 22 October show at the Royal Albert Hall, so he has postponed it.
Savident says, "We had been anticipating a number of artistes to be available for the rehearsal period and now professional commitments have made these artistes’ presence unlikely.
"As we are determined to present Into The Woods as a truly special event, we have decided to postpone the performances. A new date for the event will be confirmed shortly." The gala shows will benefit charity The Children’s Society.
The Sondheim/Lapine musical will also star British actress ANITA DOBSON.
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Funnyman WILL FERRELL has "killed" the sequel to his hit Christmas movie ELF, because he doesn’t want to reprise his role.
The actor’s 2003 festive film - about one of SANTA CLAUS’ elves in New York City - became an instant favourite, but Ferrell insists he won’t be donning the green and white suit again.
He tells moviehole.net, "Elf 2 got killed. I killed Elf 2." And bosses at New Line have since ditched the project because they didn’t want to make a sequel without Ferrell.
The actor isn’t completely against sequels - he’s still up for a repeat performance in OLD SCHOOL 2.
He tells the website, "Old School 2 is apparently being written." Ferrell, who played boozing streaker FRANK ‘THE TANK’ RICARD in the 2003 comedy, expects to be shown the script in the next few weeks.
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Oscar winner SEAN PENN refuses to let criticism stop him from being politically active and insists more celebrities should speak out for what they believe in.
Penn has regularly criticised the current US administration and made headlines in Toronto, Canada, earlier this month (SEP06) when he called President GEORGE W BUSH "a Beelzebub - and a dumb one".
The MYSTIC RIVER star makes no apologies for his tough talking or political activism: "I think it’s incumbent upon everyone to speak up. "Not enough people do it. Maybe they’re afraid they’ll be criticised or called a Nazi. But I hope that never makes me embarrassed to lend a hand or speak my mind." Penn claims his political activism is geared more towards "civilians" and insists he wasn’t trying to get publicity by joining recovery efforts in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina struck last year (05) - he was just trying to help. He adds, "I was able to lend a hand and that’s all I was there to do. People may want to make it more than that, but I don’t want to dignify all these talking-head (jerks). "At the end of the day, you have to do what you think is right, to act responsibly so you can live with yourself."
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LATEST: The widow of CROCODILE HUNTER STEVE IRWIN will give her first television interview since her husband’s death to US newswoman BARBARA WALTERS.
Walters announced on her US chat show THE VIEW this morning (19SEP06) that she is heading Down Under for Irwin’s memorial service, where she will interview Terri and her young daughter BINDI.
Irwin was killed by a stingray while diving off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef on 4 September (06).
Walters said, "Tomorrow there is this great memorial service for Steve Irwin, who died so tragically and so young. "His wife has not talked to anyone about this and I’m going to go to Brisbane, Australia to do an interview with Terri Irwin and their little girl Bindi.
"To discuss what her life was, what her relationship with her husband was like, how she heard. The whole world seemed to care about him." Walters will film an hour special which will air next Wednesday (27SEPT06) night in the US.
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LATEST: ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s tragic son DANIEL had been in and out of hospital in the weeks leading up to his death on 10 September (06).
The 20-year-old movie producer was found slumped in a chair in his mother’s Bahamian hospital room just three days after the birth of his half-sister.
Initial autopsy reports have failed to find a cause of death.
But, after forensic pathologist CYRIL WECHT declared yesterday (18SEP06) that Daniel was taking prescription anti-depression medication when he died, the youngster’s movie partner has revealed he had been very ill.
DAVID GIANCOLA, the director of Smith’s new movie ILLEGAL ALIENS - which was produced by her son - tells American magazine In Touch that Smith had been in intensive care for an elevated heart rate.
He says, "He was in the hospital for two or three days. He was really sick.
He lost something like 28 pounds and had a constant stomach ache." According to Giancola, Daniel seemed to have recovered but was still not fully fit when he flew to the Bahamas to be with his mother after she gave birth on 7 September (06).
It has been suggested that Smith had been prescribed anti-depression medication after splitting up with his girlfriend.
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JONATHAN BUTLER, PATTI AUSTIN and WILL DOWNING are the latest stars to record tributes to late soul star LUTHER VANDROSS.
The singers will cover the beloved singer’s hits on FOREVER, FOR ALWAYS, FOR LUTHER, VOL 2, and then tour America together.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.
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AEROSMITH frontman STEVEN TYLER has designed his first Harley Davidson motorbike.
The rocker took time away from the group earlier this year (MAR06) to undergo throat surgery, but he kept busy during his recovery and came up with a new custom-made bike creation.
The Steven Tyler Signature Series includes 10 limited-edition custom motorcycles, priced at $80,000 (£44,400) each, according to America’s Life & Style magazine.
The new bikes will launch on 20 October at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, the world’s largest Harley Davidson dealership, located in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Tyler says, "I love to ride. I love the freedom to have the wind blow through my hair, and I love the vibrations! They go into my backbone and remind me of being on stage.
"Growing up in Yonkers, New York, I went to hardware stores and admired minibikes. When I discovered big bikes and found that they had a motor and you didn’t have to pedal, I was hooked."
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GEORGE STRAIT has made country music history by scoring his 41st number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in America.
The Texan singer/songwriter’s GIVE IT AWAY has toppled STEVE HOLY’S BRAND NEW GIRLFRIEND, giving Strait the honour of becoming the only artist to have more than 40 chart toppers.
Strait, who first hit the top in 1982 with FOOL HEARTED MEMORY, was previously tied with CONWAY TWITTY on 40.
It’s shaping up to be a remarkable autumn (06) for Strait - he’ll be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in November (06).
Strait’s induction, in a category for artists who achieved national prominence between 1975 and the present day, will be his second in the fabled Nashville, Tennessee, music museum.
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LATEST: ELF actress ZOOEY DESCHANEL has replaced singer PINK as JANIS JOPLIN in the biopic GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JANIS.
The STUPID GIRLS singer pulled out of the PENELOPE SPHEERIS film earlier this year (06) and, after much speculation, Deschanel was eventually selected to take over the role.
The script has gone through several revisions and now focuses on former Rolling Stone writer DAVID DALTON, who was once assigned to write a cover story comparing the troubled Joplin to JUDY GARLAND.
Dalton accompanied the singer on a long tour and his adventures have become the central plot for the film. Deschanel has spent the past four months working with a vocal coach to help her mimic Joplin’s gritty vocals, and she will sing all of Joplin’s songs featured in the film.
According to producer PETER NEWMAN, it has been a struggle to find an actress who could sing or a singer who could act. He says, "Zooey is the first we found who excels at both." Filming will begin on 13 November (06) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the film is scheduled for release in 2008.
Oscar winner RENEE ZELLWEGER is attached to another film about Joplin’s life, but it is currently on hold at Paramount Pictures while the script is reworked.
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Singer AARON CARTER is engaged to Playboy Playmate KARI ANN PENICHE, who previously dated his brother NICK.
The 18-year-old proposed to Peniche on Saturday (16SEP06) in Las Vegas, Nevada, while they were onstage in front of 200 people during the Playboy Comedy Tour at the Palms Casino Resort. She tells American publication People, "I’m very excited about it. Aaron is the most genuine person I know. He’s kind, loving, and I love him so much." Peniche, 22, says she was shocked when Carter popped the question adding, "I had no idea he was going to do this, but I’m glad he did. I don’t remember it happening. It was such a blur." The couple, who plan to wed in the next six months, hugged and kissed after Peniche accepted the proposal. Playboy tour producer and comedian CORT McCOWN says, "He said he was going to do it, but we thought he was kidding. He was really nervous." Peniche was named Miss Teen USA in 2003, but had to relinquish her title after posing for Playboy. Carter is set to star in a new reality show about his family, HOUSE OF CARTERS, which premieres next month (OCT06) on the American E! network.
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LATEST: Oscar-winning rapper EMINEM’s divorce proceedings with wife KIMBERLY MATHERS have been referred to a mediator. The couple attended an hour-long private hearing today (19SEP06) in Michigan and Macomb County Circuit Judge ANTONIO VIVIANO subsequently told reporters the case was being turned over to a mediator. Lawyers for both parties say a date for mediation hasn’t been set. Opposing lawyers HARVEY HAUER and MICHAEL J SMITH, who represent Eminem and his estranged wife respectively, said they hope the case will be settled amicably.
Mathers declined to make a comment on the way out of the courthouse and Eminem - real name MARSHALL MATHERS - wasn’t seen leaving the building. Eminem filed for divorce on 5 April (06), 82 days after the couple remarried.
The rapper remarried Mathers in Rochester, Michigan, on 14 January (06) - one month after the couple announced they were getting back together. Their first marriage lasted from 1999 until 2001.
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British songwriter GUY CHAMBERS would love to reform his successful partnership with ROBBIE WILLIAMS - but only on the condition the pop star records a duet with SHAKIRA.
Chambers, who composed many of Williams’ best loved tracks including ANGELS and ROCK DJ, is convinced Williams would be guaranteed success in the US if he were to perform with the HIPS DON’T LIE hitmaker.
He says, "(I would work with Robbie again) if he ever duets with Shakira. He should always have done that. It would be the perfect match and I would like to write the tune for it.
"It would be a worldwide hit and would break Robbie in America." Chambers also admits that Williams’ move to the US was part of the reason behind their split.
He adds, "I think one of the main reasons that our partnership stopped was him moving to Los Angeles.
"If I’d also moved out there we may have continued working together. But that idea wasn’t really going to be possible."
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Actress LINDSAY LOHAN is having so much fun in London, she is planning to move to the British capital with boyfriend HARRY MORTON.
The MEAN GIRLS star has reportedly been exploring chic Notting Hill in West London for the perfect property.
She says, "I just love Notting Hill - it has some really cool shops and great restaurants.
"I’ve been looking at some properties while I’ve been over here and we’re hoping to buy something soon. I can see me and Harry really fitting in there."
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The final date of ROBBIE WILLIAMS’ world tour in Milton Keynes, England, tonight (19SEP06) will be streamed live to T-Mobile customers in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. It is the first time a concert has been broadcast live to mobile phones in more than one country simultaneously.
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MISCHA BARTON has no interest in dating an actor, because there would be war over who gets to spend the most time in front of the mirror every morning.
The former THE OC star, who is currently dating WHITESTARR singer CISCO ADLER, admits she is so vain, she couldn’t cope with a boyfriend who cared about his appearance as much as her.
She says, "Who’d look in the mirror most? It’s bad enough with me in the house.
"I’m really slow leaving in the morning because I’m lazy and easily distracted, and I also spend far too long looking in the mirror.
"It wouldn’t be a good idea to have to share my life with a man who cares as much about his looks as I do about mine.
"I like to be very careful about my boyfriends and I can’t remember meeting any actor and thinking, ‘I must get him to take an interest in me.’"
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SIGOURNEY WEAVER is happy to have left the Hollywood limelight behind her, because the media are more concerned with celebrity than talent.
The ALIEN actress is content with being a mature artist who doesn’t grab the headlines, because she wants to focus on making movies and not worry about being photographed when she’s not expecting it.
She says, "I’m just a working actor, nearly 57 years old. I don’t miss being flavour of the month at all.
"Celebrity is a waste of time, especially with the way the press is now. Who cares what an actress is wearing? "I just like doing the films I want to do."
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