PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

Superstar TOM CRUISE and executives from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc are resurrecting United Artists, the movie studio founded more than 80 years ago by screen legends including CHARLIE CHAPLIN and MARY PICKFORD.
MGM executives announced the new plans which will have Cruise starring in and producing films for the studio, today (02NOV06).
Cruise’s production partner PAULA WAGNER will serve as chief executive for the new studio.
According to MGM, Cruise and Wagner will set the company’s production slate from development to production green-lighting ability, subject to certain parameters.
Paramount Pictures boss SUMNER REDSTONE sensationally axed the studio’s deal with Cruise star earlier this year (06), blaming his famous couch-jumping appearance on OPRAH WINFREY’s TV show for embarrassing the studio and hampering the performance of sequel MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Oscar winner JULIA ROBERTS will star in the big screen family drama THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB.
The ERIN BROCKOVICH star has been an avid knitter for years and regularly indulges in her hobby during down time on film sets.
Roberts will also produce the project through her Red Om production company.
The film is based on KATE JACOBS’ upcoming novel and centres on a single mother who juggles the demands of running a Manhattan, New York knitting store with raising her spirited teen daughter.
Her regular customers gather once a week to work on their latest projects and chat, but when a tragedy occurs, the customers realise they’ve created more than just a knitting club.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE have received threats on their lives from members of terrorist group al-Qaeda.
The couple are currently in India shooting the film A MIGHTY HEART, based on the life of DANIEL PEARL, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reporter who was killed at the hands of al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan in 2002.
According to The Financial Times, British security experts were flown into Pune, India earlier this week (begs30OCT06), after being alerted by authorities in neighbouring Pakistan that the couple might be a target because of the political nature of the film.
The terror fear is also said to be the reason behind the decision to shoot the movie in Pune, as opposed to Pakistan, where the events actually took place.
After consulting with various intelligence agencies, Indian officials have provided the couple with extensive security while they are in Pune, according to Intelligence Bureau sources in New Delhi.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Australian actor GUY PEARCE is set to reprise his ED EXLEY character in the LA CONFIDENTIAL sequel, WHITE JAZZ.
The Melbourne-bred actor won critical acclaim for his role as the thorough detective in the 1997 adaptation of JAMES ELLROY’s thriller and reports suggest he’ll be the only original cast member to return for the sequel.
Website Moviehole.net reports Pearce is in talks with director JOE CARNAHAN about returning.
NICK NOLTE, UMA THURMAN, JOHN CUSACK and WINONA RYDER are also among the big names mentioned for the sequel.
The original featured RUSSELL CROWE, KEVIN SPACEY, DANNY DeVITO, JAMES CROMWELL and KIM BASINGER, who won an Oscar for her role as LYNN BRACKEN.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

ROB LOWE is joining the cast of hit TV drama BROTHERS & SISTERS for at least six episodes to romance CALISTA FLOCKHART’s character.
The part was written specifically for the star by the show’s executive producer JON ROBIN BAITZ, who wrote an episode of THE WEST WING while Lowe was still part of that show.
The actor will play a Republican senator from California running for re-election in the midst of a nasty divorce.
Although the ABOUT LAST NIGHT star has only signed on for six episodes, Baitz is hoping he’ll end up signing on full-time.
Baitz says, "He brings a maturity to the role on a show that’s about people who are no longer kids." Lowe’s character meets up with Flockhart’s KITTY WALKER on her conservative political talk show and a romance ensues.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Former BAYWATCH star DAVID HASSELHOFF is returning to the stage to play a bumbling director in the upcoming Las Vegas production of comedy musical THE PRODUCERS.
The actor will play flamboyant ROGER DE BRIS in the new stage show, which is set to hit the city’s Paris hotel and casino next year (07).
Hasselhoff and show creator MEL BROOKS made the shock announcement at a press conference this morning (02NOV06), with funnyman Brooks insisting the actor was a perfect fit for the new production.
Brooks said, "He has incredible comedic timing, terrific musical theatre experience and stage presence and he will be a perfect marriage with the role.
And by the way, he has great legs." Hasselhoff stated, "I’m honoured to be a part of anything Mel Brooks is a part of. He has always been my favourite man of comedy.
"He is a giant and it is a dream come true to be part of one of the greatest Broadway musicals in theatre history." Meanwhile, Brooks also announced that BRAD OSCAR will reprise his portrayal of MAX BIALYSTOCK for the Las Vegas production. Oscar has played the deceiving producer on Broadway and in London.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Former JAMES BOND PIERCE BROSNAN is set to return to the big screen as master thief THOMAS CROWN in a remake of PETER USTINOV’s 1964 crime caper TOPKAPI.
Brosnan hopes to cleverly implant his Thomas Crown character into the Topkapi plot, which revolved around the theft of a jewelled dagger from a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. The new film will be called THE TOPKAPI AFFAIR.
Brosnan tells website Moviehole.net, "(Topkapi) is much loved by people who love that genre of film, and it has a sentimental resonance to it.
"So we just took Thomas Crown off the shelf, kind of dusted it off, and took Topkapi, which is much loved, and is also in the cannon of the MGM library, so it didn’t cost us anything.
"This version of Topkapi will have a different part, different woman, and different affair… and we’re using wonderful locations." The THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR remake, which starred Brosnan and RENE RUSSO, was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 1999.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Comedienne ELLEN DeGENERES almost ruined SANDRA BULLOCK’s wedding plans after buying the property the actress had hoped to stage her nuptials last year (05).
Bullock had her sights set on hiring out a European-style estate in rural California for her big day, but DeGeneres swooped the property out from under her, forcing the MISS CONGENIALITY star to look elsewhere.
The actress says, "It was a beautiful Tuscan house and had these valleys and fields and llamas and I was like, ‘Oh my god, this reminds me of Europe. I grew up in Europe. I drove up (to it) and I became the weepy bride." The family who were selling the property promptly took it off the market, but her wedding dreams were shattered when she and fiance JESSE JAMES discovered someone had bought the place.
Bullock recalls, "We were told that some famous person had bought the house.
They sold it out from under us! We had already booked the hotels… I was really p**sed." Bullock then heard DeGeneres talking about her new home on her US chat show and she realised the comedienne was the new owner.
The actress confronted DeGeneres about wrecking her wedding plans when the two came face to face for a taping of the ELLEN show, which airs tomorrow (03NOV06).
A shocked DeGeneres said, "When we bought the place we didn’t know (about your plans) because we would have let you use it." Bullock eventually wed celebrity mechanic James at the Folded Hill Ranch near Santa Barbara, California last July (05) - and DeGeneres’ TV show DJ at the time, TONY OKUNGBOWA, played at the wedding reception.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

PIERCE BROSNAN is still upset he wasn’t called up for a final JAMES BOND adventure in CASINO ROYALE because he always wanted to go back and investigate the birth of 007.
Instead, DANIEL CRAIG was called in to take over the superspy role in the prequel.
Irishman Brosnan tells website Moviehole.net, "I always wanted to go back, because it’s the blueprint of Bond’s character.
"It’s the one where Fleming really painted in the details of what Bond was about, so I was disappointed that it didn’t happen." Ironically, it was Brosnan and prospective director QUENTIN TARANTINO who first approached Bond producers about remaking Casino Royale.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

ANNA NICOLE SMITH has blocked out the events surrounding her son’s death and can only remember the drive home from the Bahamian hospital where he died.
The former model, who had given birth to baby DANNIELYNN just three days before the tragic events of 10 September (06), awoke to find her 20-year-old son’s lifeless body slumped in a chair.
It has since been revealed that her son, DANIEL, died from a drug overdose.
And in her first interview since the tragedy, the actress has told US news show ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT she has no recollection of seeing her son on the morning of his death, admitting she has discovered she had to be sedated so medics could attempt to revive the dead boy.
She says, "The first thing I remember I was in a black car. I guess that was the car they brought me here (home).
"They had sedated me at the hospital, they said that I was too emotional and I wouldn’t let go of Daniel so they had sedated me and brought me here." Smith also reveals she thought her partner and attorney HOWARD K STERN was joking when he told her Daniel was dead.
She adds, "Howard walked in and he had a crazy look on his face and I didn’t understand why and I asked him what was wrong… And he said, ‘Sit down.’ I sat down and he said, ‘Daniel’s dead.’ "I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ And he said, ‘Daniel’s dead.’ I said I didn’t understand. And he said Daniel died at the hospital." Stern recalls, "She was telling me to say that it’s not true and I was saying I wish I could." The interview airs in America tonight (02NOV06).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: WESLEY SNIPES has reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service in the US regarding his tax fraud charges.
The agreement will likely see Snipes surrender to federal authorities when he next returns to America.
In return for agreeing to a payment plan, Snipes will not be jailed and will be allowed both to continue working and to travel abroad.
According to a 17 October (06) indictment, Snipes tried to unsuccessfully claim nearly $12 million (£6.7 million) in false refunds for taxes he paid in 1996 and 1997.
The BLADE star had his taxes prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients.
Snipes is currently in Namibia shooting the horror film GALLOWWALKER.
The film’s director ANDREW GOTH says, "We are happy that he continues to turn up on set each day. If his indictment creates this amount of press, it shows he is a star."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Country group TRICK PONY’s singer HEIDI NEWFIELD is quitting the band to go solo.
The frontwoman will be leaving the band after it’s December (06) tour.
In a statement, she writes, "I’ve decided to branch out and try it on my own.
It’s time for me to follow my heart and take my own path."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Rapper FLAVOR FLAV’s hit series FLAVOR OF LOVE will have a spin-off show where 20 of the top contestants from the first two seasons of the show are sent to charm school.
The series, which has women competing for the chance to fall in love with the rapper, real name WILLIAM JONATHAN DRAYTON JR, has been a phenomenal ratings success for US network VH1.
The spin-off will take 20 of the most camera-friendly contestants from the first two seasons and put them in competition for cash and the title of Charm School Queen.
The format for the show will have contestants competing in various challenges to test their ability to demonstrate grace under pressure.
The females contestants have regularly engaged in cat fights and screaming matches, and one woman even defecated on a marble floor when she was unable to reach the toilet in time.
Comedian and actress MO’NIQUE will host the show saying, "When I watched Flavor Of Love I was shocked, I was embarrassed, and sometimes I was speechless.
"I don’t want America viewing women like that." The new series will begin filming later this month (NOV06) and will premiere next year (07).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

It’s an amazing week for ACHY BREAKY HEART singer BILLY RAY CYRUS’ little girl MILEY - a day after topping the US album charts, the teen queen has set a new record on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cyrus’ soundtrack to her hit Disney show HANNAH MONTANA kept JOHN LEGEND and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE off the top of the album charts, and now she has scored a record-setting six debuts on the US singles chart. No other artist has ever achieved such a feat.
Her hit IF WE WERE A MOVIE has netted the new chart’s highest new entry at 47, followed by I GOT NERVE, PUMPIN’ UP THE PARTY, THE OTHER SIDE OF ME, THIS IS THE LIFE, JUST LIKE YOU and YOU SAID, a re-entry.
Meanwhile, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has landed his second US number one single of the year (06) after taking MY LOVE to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
The feat makes Timberlake the first male artist to boast back-to-back number ones since USHER earned four straight in 2004.
The pop star scored his first number one of the year when SEXYBACK took control of the Billboard chart throughout September and October (06), claiming seven weeks at the top.
My Love ends rapper LUDACRIS’ two-week reign at number one with MONEY MAKER, which slips to number three on the new chart.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

JACK and KELLY OSBOURNE recently had a joint birthday bash and each of the siblings booked a stripper to surprise the other one.
Kelly was celebrating her 22nd birthday, while Jack was celebrating his upcoming 21st birthday on 8 November (06).
Mum SHARON OSBOURNE explains, "Jack booked a stripper for Kelly and Kelly booked a stripper for Jack.
"The one that Kelly booked, she said, ‘I’m not coming unless I have a deposit.’ I went, ‘Oh, yes and how much deposit?’ and she said ‘Ten dollars.’ "She comes in and she’s about 75 - no teeth, all that English chocolate, you know.
"I’m not being mean, but honestly, she looked like she was waiting for the club to close to bring in the bucket and start cleaning up.
"I saw her and I went, ‘I just cannot do this to my son.’ It would just freak him. He’s been through a lot. He couldn’t take that.
"So I gave her like $100 dollars (£55) and said, ‘God bless. Go home.’ "But yet the one that Jack booked for Kelly - he was rockin’! He was unbelievable. He did amazing things.
"He took his willy and wound it round his wrist and he’s going ‘wrist watch’ and all these jokes. He was fabulous!"

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Rap mogul IRV GOTTI has stunned the music world by signing singer VANESSA CARLTON to his record label.
The Inc boss is famous for turning hip-hop stars like JA RULE and CADILLAC TAH into hitmakers but a chance meeting with pop pianist Carlton convinced Gotti to add her to his roster.
He tells MTV News, "I see Vanessa and I say to myself, ‘I know her from somewhere.’ She started playing and her voice, it completely took me over.
"I start rambling, running my mouth basically. And just going crazy. After I calmed down, she played (her hit) A THOUSAND MILES, and once I heard the piano riff, I spazzed out again." Carlton will now join ASHANTI as the only hit-making ladies on Gotti’s roster. The rap boss hopes to have Carlton’s first album released on his label early next year (07).
Carlton says, "I feel now like I’m sitting on the best patch of songs I’ve ever written. It’s like baking bread, and I think this is the best loaf so far."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Country singer STEVE WARINER is recovering after undergoing gall bladder surgery at a Nashville, Tennessee hospital yesterday (01NOV06).
The singer will miss out on appearing at the Country Music Association Awards reunion of past winners on Sunday (05NOV06), but he is expected to make a full recovery in two to three weeks.
Wariner’s wife CARYN says, "Steve is resting comfortably. He’ll be released from the hospital in a couple of days, and then he’s expected to have a recovery period of two to three weeks."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Punk icons BAD BRAINS are planning a full reunion after reforming to perform at a recent tribute to now-defunct New York club CBGB.
The group was asked to play as part of the final week of shows at the punk mecca and were stunned when three shows sold out in minutes.
Now, the original line-up, featuring energetic frontman HR and bassist DARRYL JENIFER, are embarking on plans to tour and record a new album.
Guitarist DR KNOW tells Billboard.com the CBGB shows were "tremendous" and made the band realise they’re still in demand.
He says, "We hadn’t played in that place in a long, long time… It was a bit much, actually. It was really an honour and a privilege to have so many good friends and see them all.
"We were back together for a week; we hadn’t been together for a long time." The group’s first release will be a long-planned new album, produced by BEASTIE BOYS star ADAM YAUCH.
Bad Brains were at the forefront of the US hardcore punk movement in the early 1980s and the group is featured heavily in acclaimed new documentary AMERICAN HARDCORE.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)