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Late actor HEATH LEDGER was film bosses’ first choice to play SPIDER-MAN, according to the dead star’s longtime agent.
In a U.S. magazine tribute to mark the first anniversary of Ledger’s death (22Jan08), CAA agent Steve Alexander reveals Ledger was among those considered for the blockbuster role before Tobey Maguire stepped up to play the comic book web slinger.
Alexander tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "Sony asked me to come over and read the script for Spider-Man. It was going to be a really cool tentpole movie.
"But as soon as I said ‘Spider-Man’ Heath said, ‘It’s not for me. I would be taking someone else’s dream away.’" Maguire has gone on to taste blockbuster glory with three Spider-Man movies, while Ledger had to wait for his comic book moment - he played The Joker in Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight, for which he won a Golden Globe last weekend (11Jan09).
He is hotly tipped to follow that with an Oscar next month (22Feb09).

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

Oscar winner MIRA SORVINO needed dental work after wrapping up new TV mini-series THE LAST TEMPLAR because she broke five teeth on the set.
The actress plays a female Indiana Jones in the upcoming TV event, and insisted on doing her own stunts for action sequences and fight scenes.
But it wasn’t either of those that left her with smashed teeth - she was hit by a boat hook during a storm scene, after she was blinded by a wave.
She explains, "We were supposed to be on the Turkish sea in a storm to end all storms. A big wave came and washed my contacts out of my eyes, and a hook got caught, and it slams into my face and breaks five of my teeth." But, despite the pain and the blood, The Mighty Aphrodite star agreed to complete the film in Morocco - and that included a messy kissing scene with co-star Scott Foley.
Sorvino adds, "They run with the make-up, and our wonderful producer decides, right now, Scott Foley and I should have a kiss to end all kisses.
"They painted my mouth a dark blood (colour)… and we have this kiss."

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

MARIAH CAREY will sing HERO for BARACK OBAMA when the President-elect is sworn in as America’s 44th leader on Tuesday (20Jan09).
The pop star will follow Beyonce at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. and admits her hit is the perfect song for Obama.
She says, "It’s fitting for him. It’s appropriate." As Carey prepares for her big night by relaxing with husband Nick Cannon at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, she admits she’s "nervous" about her performance, adding "I’m glad to be American." Leonardo DiCaprio is also expected to jet in from the London premiere of Revolutionary Road for the ball, and soul legends Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin are also expected to be a part of the big night.

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

A new movie which takes a behind the pages look at Vogue magazine is to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this weekend (17Jan09).
Documentary The September Issue chronicles eight months inside the fashion bible’s offices, and has the blessing of the publication’s infamous editor Anna Wintour.
Director R.J. Cutler was given unlimited access to Wintour and her editorial and fashion team. He created the film from 300 hours of footage, and admits he’s delighted Wintour likes the finished result: "I’m thrilled she’s supporting the film, which is a reflection of how she feels about it." The documentary also features rare glimpses into Wintour’s personal life and guest appearances from top designers Karl Lagerfeld and Oscar de la Renta.

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

Actor JERRY O’CONNELL has given American audiences their first peek at his newborn twin girls with actress REBECCA ROMIJN.
O’Connell was bursting with pride as a new dad during a stint as guest co-host on ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly on Friday morning (16Jan09) - just weeks after welcoming Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip into the world on 28 December (08).
Cooing over a set of photos of his grinning girls, he said, "I don’t want to be one of those guys who is like, ‘Look at my babies,’ (but) the second you have kids, you can’t help but be like, ‘I happen to have some photos of my children.’" And O’Connell admits being a first-time dad already has him tongue tied: "I really try to not speak in baby talk. I want them (twins) to be intelligent." He also raved about becoming a dad to twins: "These are my first kids and Rebecca’s first kids, and you can’t imagine just having one. It’s so much fun to have two of them. You throw them in the crib and they just play with each other."

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

Newlyweds PORTIA DE ROSSI and ELLEN DE GENERES have become vegans - because they both love animals so much.
Former Ally McBeal star De Rossi reveals she and her wife went meat and dairy-free late last year (08) - and De Generes’ healthy diet choice is already paying off for her.
The actress explains, "We just made that shift in our lives. The benefit of it is weight loss. For her more than me. Her body responded to it very well. It is amazing.
"We are just both very happy. It feels like such a compassionate choice. We are such animal lovers, why stop short of cows and chickens? It didn’t make any sense." And De Rossi admits she and her wife have been working towards becoming vegans since their very first date.
She adds, "When Ellen and I first got together I was wearing fur and Ellen was wearing very expensive Italian calfskin leather. She was giving me a hard time about wearing the fur and I said, ‘Why is a fox any more important than a cow?’ "We took that idea and went all the way with it. We are doing what we can."

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

Celebrated Russian conductor VERONIKA DUDAROVA has died, aged 92.
Dudarova led Moscow orchestras for 60 years after becoming a conductor at the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in 1947.
She was named chief conductor and artistic director in 1960.
In 1989, Dudarova retired from her post, and began leading the Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
A memorial service will be held in her honour on Monday (19Jan09) in the Moscow Conservatory.

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

The actor who plays NOTORIOUS B.I.G.’s manager in the tragic rapper’s new biopic almost gave up the role - because he feared the film wouldn’t live up to expectations.
Actor Kevin Phillips plays Mark Pitch in the movie, Notorious, and admits he was on the verge of turning his back on the project - because he’s such a big fan of the slain rapper.
He tells WENN, "I did have some reservations for months before the actual offer
. I was first approached to play the role of Puffy (Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs)
. I didn’t think it made any sense to be involved in the project because I didn’t have Puffy’s walk." But Phillips cast away every reservation after meeting B.I.G.’s mother, Voletta Wallace, adding, "She was on the set everyday
. I don’t understand how she was there scene after scene
. It takes a strong woman to do that." And now he’s thrilled with the end result, and glad he didn’t walk away: "Being a part of this project was being a part of history, not just a payday, and that is what drew me to it."

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

Newlywed pop and country star JEWEL has fuelled speculation she’s pregnant by starting work on an album of original lullabies.
The singer wed rodeo star TY MURRAY last year (Aug08) and admits she can’t wait to be a mum.
In a recent interview, Jewel said, "We want to start a family." And, talking of her 2009 plans, she revealed, "I hope to tour… and start a family."

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

British glam rockers MOTT THE HOOPLE are to reunite to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary.
The All the Young Dudes hitmakers will perform two shows in London in October (09) to mark their 40th year.
The concerts will mark the first time the original line-up, consisting of Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Dale Griffin and Overend Watts, has performed together in 35 years.
Hunter says, "I can’t speak for the others, but I’m doing it just to see what it’s like."

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

COURTNEY LOVE discovered she had met her actor grandfather three times after taking a DNA test to discover who he was.
The rocker refuses to name him and admits she’s still upset by what she had to do to make sure her brother’s account of who her grandfather was was accurate.
She tells Heeb magazine, "It’s a whole story that involves me having to get somebody really scummy to go into someone else’s garbage can and get my DNA out.
"It’s upsetting, because my brother eventually told me, and I’d already met this man on three occasions, and I had no idea he was my grandfather… He’s an actor… He’s very iconic, or he was. He’s dead now." After getting the DNA confirmation of who her grandfather was, Love took the information to pal Warren Beatty, who left the rocker thinking she has stepbrothers and stepsisters dotted all over Hollywood.
She recalls, "I said, ‘You know, my brothers tell me I have this great grandfather,’ and he goes, ‘Well who isn’t he the grandfather of? The guy’s got more f**king bastard f**king kids running around than anyone."

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

PETA bosses have closed their investigation surrounding BEYONCE’s pet shih tzu after learning reports the singer has abandoned her dog are nonsense.
Internet reports suggested the pop star had dumped Munchie with staff at her record label in New York a year ago after growing tired of his misbehaving ways, but officials at the animal rights group have discovered there’s no truth to the rumours.
The PETA people wanted to make sure Beyonce hadn’t abandoned her pet - and that the pedigree mutt wasn’t just a music mascot at Columbia, so they made calls and investigated.
And now they’re happy in the knowledge Beyonce hasn’t dumped her dog.
A spokeswoman for PETA says, "We’ve had an up and down relationship with Beyonce over her past fur-wearing, but lately it’s been on the ups, as she hasn’t been seen in fur the past two winters.
"We were happy to learn from Beyonce’s rep that, as we suspected, the Munchie tale is far from the truth, and that the dog hasn’t even been to the record company’s offices in months." The singer’s publicist has told the PETA researchers that Munchie is "a pampered pooch whom everyone adores," adding Beyonce and her cousin, the dog’s main caretaker, are "still crazy in love with him".
The spokeswoman says, "Because they travel quite a bit, Munchie is usually left with family or friends. Never at the record company.
"We are glad to hear that Beyonce isn’t leaving her baby boy behind, and we’re certainly happy to hear that Munchie is irreplaceable to his guardians."

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