PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

MATT DAMON’s dreams of playing real-life alien expert BOB LAZAR are back on - a new biopic about the scientist has been greenlighted.
Damon was reportedly onboard to play Lazar four years ago when movie executives at New Line were hoping to turn his life story and his recollections of working at S4, a secret military base located at Papoose Lake in Nevada, into a movie, but film plans stalled.
Now Curmudgeon Films - the company behind Cameron Diaz’s movie My Sister’s Keeper - has taken over the project and Kenneth Yakkel is adapting TV interviews Lazar conducted with Las Vegas reporter George Knapp for the movie.
A spokesman for the project says, "2009 marks the 20th anniversary of Lazar’s amazing account of back engineering one of nine alien flying saucers recovered by the U.S. military.
"Threats on his (Lazar) life forced him to go public with the story. The film is based on his amazing eyewitness accounts of working at S4.
"Matt Damon would be at the top of our list to play Lazar. I had heard he was interested in it years ago when New Line was going to do the Lazar story."

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

New mum M.I.A. is upset she’ll no longer be supporting the BEASTIE BOYS at the upcoming Outside Lands festival in San Francisco, California and regrets she can’t pull out of the show.
In a Twitter.com blog, the Paper Planes hitmaker reveals she only signed up for the 30 August (09) concert because the Beastie Boys were on the bill, but Adam Yauch’s cancer battle has forced the trio to scrap all commitments for the immediate future, and Jack Black’s comedy rock duo Tenacious D has replaced the Sabotage stars.
Upset M.I.A. writes, "I ORIGINALLY BOOKED ON SHOWS COZ BEASTIES WERE HEADLINERS (sic)… CANT BELIEVE THEY REPLACED BEASTIES WITH TENACIOUS D?????????????????????? AND IF I PULL OUT THEY SUE! SO REALLY? TENACIOUS D AFTER ME?" And she plans to stage a mini-protest at the festival, stating, "YOUR (sic) ALL WELCOME ON STAGE FROM THE GET GO."

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

N-DUBZ rapper TULISA ‘TULA’ CONTOSTAVLOS has been forced to pull out of the group’s latest performances, amid fears she has contracted swine flu for a second time.
Tula was missing from N-Dubz’ most recent gigs at the V Festival in Britain and Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival, after coming down with a sickness doctors suspect is the swine flu virus.
The setback comes just three months after the star was hospitalised with the flu after collapsing on a flight.

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

Rockers SLIPKNOT scrapped a second weekend show on Sunday night (23Aug09) after a band member fell ill.
The masked band’s headlining spot at the Pain In The Grass festival in Washington was cancelled on Saturday (22Aug09) after drummer Joey Jordison was hospitalised.
He was expected to take the stage at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington on Sunday, but that concert was postponed when a bandmate fell ill.
The group plans to reschedule Sunday’s show.
Reports suggest Sunday’s cancellation had nothing to do with Jordison, who was treated for a "severe medical emergency" on Saturday.

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

TOOL frontman MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN performed at Saturday’s (22Aug09) Epicenter Festival in California on crutches - because he refused to become the latest injured rocker to pull out of a show.
The star apologised to fans repeatedly during the group’s headlining slot at the Pomona event, explaining he had injured his leg while harvesting grapes at his vineyard.
He joked, "I want to make sure you get drunk and run into each other… All I ask for is acknowledgement of my sacrifice." Keenan has added his name to a bizarre list of rockers who have been forced to hobble around at shows or cancel them completely due to injury or illness.
Oasis pulled out of headlining Sunday’s (23Aug09) V Festival in England to allow frontman Liam Gallagher to recover from laryngitis, Rod Stewart scrapped a show in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week (20Aug09) when he fell ill and a mystery illness to drummer Joey Jordison forced Slipknot to scrap a headlining spot at the Pain in The Grass festival in Washington.
Previously this summer, Tommy Lee was forced to sit out of Motley Crue shows after burning his left hand and Aerosmith scrapped their summer tour after frontman Steven Tyler fell from the stage and broke his collar bone.

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

Miss Venezuela STEFANIA FERNANDEZ was crowned Miss Universe at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas on Sunday night (23Aug09).
It’s the second year running a Miss Venezuela has won the global beauty pageant - Dayana Mendoza was last year’s victor.
Fernandez beat 50 other competitors to win the contest. Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee de la Cruz was named first runner-up and beauties from Kosovo, Australia and Puerto Rico were also named among the runners-up.
Venezuela has produced five previous Miss Universe winners in 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996 and 2008.
Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland performed at the pageant.

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

STEVEN SEAGAL is at the centre of a legal battle between rival TV bosses over a new reality show.
Bosses at production company The Idea Factory claim network chiefs at America’s A&E network stole their idea to make a show about the action man’s life.
They allege A&E executives went behind their backs, after dismissing suggestions for a series of shows - and signed a deal with Seagal.
One of the ideas pitched to the TV bosses was a show featuring Seagal, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme all living together.
According to TMZ.com, Idea Factory producers have sent A&E bosses a huge bill for their services, and threatened legal proceedings if they don’t pay up.
The threats have prompted A&E bosses to file legal papers asking a judge to rule in their favour.
The network bosses are currently shooting Steven Seagal: Lawman, which charts the star’s work as a deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana.

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

The former beauty queen who stripped on camera for ERIC DANE and REBECCA GAYHEART’s leaked nude romp tape was once a madam, according to her CELEBRITY REHAB co-star MINDY MCCREADY.
Kari Ann Peniche made headlines last week (ends21Aug09) when footage of her frolicking naked with the acting couple at their home leaked online - and now there’s even more scandal coming her way.
Country star McCready, who shared a room with Peniche on Celebrity Rehab, has revealed the brunette beauty once told her about her sordid past.
McCready, tells the New York Daily News, "Did she say she’d been a madam? She sure did." Her claims are echoed by author Mark Ebner, who alleges Peniche told him she "subcontracted" for madam Michelle (Nici) Braun. Braun pleaded guilty to money laundering and prostitution earlier this year (09).
Ebner says, "Kari Ann said that, unlike Nici, she’d only take 40 per cent of what a girl brought in." McCready’s accusations have also been backed up by bodyguard Joey Gonzalez, who claims Peniche attempted to hire him during her alleged time as a sex worker.
Gonzalez adds, "Kari Ann wanted to hire me to follow a girl who worked for her - who she said was skimming (stealing) money and stealing clients. I declined. But she bragged about how her girls could make $15,000 (GBP10,000) a month. She introduced me to one girl who told me she’d just gotten a boob job Kari Ann had paid for." Peniche and her manager, David Weintraub, have declined to comment on any of the charges. Weintraub adds, "I don’t know her whole past." Peniche, who was briefly engaged to pop star Aaron Carter, recently insisted she is not part of the police investigation into alleged possible illegal activity surrounding the leak of the Gayheart/Dane naked romp tape, stating, "Nobody raided my house; I haven’t had any contact with LAPD."

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

Bidding for the crypt above movie icon MARILYN MONROE’s final resting place has reached $4 million (GBP2.6 million).
Elsie Poncher put the crypt where her husband Richard has been buried since 1986 up for auction on eBay.com earlier this month (Aug09) for $500,000 (GBP333,300) - and the price has spiralled into the millions.
Bidding ends on Monday (24Aug09), and 28 people have vied for the crypt at the Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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

Hollywood’s top leading ladies are battling it out to play the role JANE FONDA made famous in a remake of 60s hit BARBARELLA.
Legendary producer Dino DeLaurentiis has confirmed the movie is his number one priority, after director Robert Rodriguez cancelled plans to rework the film with his girlfriend Rose McGowan in the starring role.
Legally Blonde movie maker Robert Luketic is now in the hot seat, and Lorenze De Maio, the boss of De Laurentiis’ production company, reveals stars like Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood are vying to play the sexually adventurous space traveller.
De Maio tells Daily Variety, "Every young actress in town is interested in playing that Barbarella part."

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

A British wig company is suing a costume maker over licensing rights to MICHAEL JACKSON wigs, costumes and accessories.
Bosses at R.H. Smith & Sons claim they are under license from MJ Licensing LLC to market the products, in a lawsuit filed in New York federal court.
Executives accuse competitors at Rubie’s Costume Company of damaging sales by sending emails claiming it also has exclusive worldwide rights to the fashion items.
According to TMZ.com, R.H. Smith & Sons is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction. Company chiefs are also asking a court to order Rubie’s bosses to contact recipients of the emails and admit the alleged error.

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

Hollywood director SPIKE LEE has hit out at music executives who encourage rappers to pretend they have a criminal past to boost their career.
The filmmaker’s newest movie Passing Strange follows a middle-class man forced to pretend he’s from the ghetto to succeed.
Lee insists the trend has become a common practice among rappers desperate to earn respect from urban audiences.
He tells the New York Daily News, "I think what we talk about really applies more to rap artists. I always thought about this experiment: two rappers who have the same, identical skills lyrically and rapping, trying to get a label deal. One says, ‘I graduated Harvard (University),’ and the other says he just got out of Rikers (Island, prison). The label will sign the guy that just came out of Rikers.
"A lot of these cats come from middle-class backgrounds, but say, ‘I was on the corner, slinging, caught up for gun possession,’ making s**t up literally. It’s crazy, this whole gangsta mentality. If you’re college-educated, you’re trying to be white, talk white."

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

British singer-turned-reality-TV star KERRY KATONA has been cautioned by police for possessing drugs.
The former Atomic Kitten vocalist has been at the centre of a storm after a U.K. tabloid pictured her snorting cocaine earlier this month (Aug09).
On Monday (24Aug09) she attended a police station near her home in Wilmslow, north-west England, for a pre-arranged interview with officers and accepted an official caution for possessing a controlled substance.
In an interview with a British newspaper on Sunday (23Aug09), Katona confessed to taking cocaine, saying she was "ashamed" of her actions and adding: "I know I let everyone down - my fans, my family and people I work with."

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

British rockers THE CHARLATANS have been forced to cancel their forthcoming North American tour so drummer JON BROOKES can undergo shoulder surgery.
The band was due to perform a string of gigs across the U.S. through September and October (09), but doctors have advised Brooks go under the knife to fix a longstanding complaint.
A statement on The Only One I Know band’s website reads, "(Jon) has been strongly advised by doctors against undertaking 23 concerts in 28 days as this could cause severe damage to ligaments in the affected area. He will start a course of treatment starting in September and in the coming months to rectify the condition.
Once again the band wish to apologise to people who have purchased tickets and those that had made travel arrangements. We are as disappointed as you are, due to this unavoidable situation."

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

SLIPKNOT star COREY TAYLOR is helping young people in the U.K. battle depression.
The shock rocker recently spoke out about his own battle with the illness, admitting it almost drove him to attempt suicide.
Now that he’s recovered Taylor wants to help others, and has teamed up with London-based children’s mental health charity YoungMinds to record a video message for youngsters struggling with depression.
In the tape, Taylor says, "Anything you’re feeling right now, no matter how strong you feel it, it’s temporary. You have incredible lives ahead of you. You have incredible things you can accomplish. If you feel that you will have an amazing life. Do not let anything build a wall too high for you to get over it - I know that might seem very cliched but I’ve had a lot of friends who’ve hurt themselves, but all of that stuff is so temporary. You can get through it; you’re stronger than you think. You’ll always be stronger than you think."

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

LIAM GALLAGHER has apologised to fans for cancelling an OASIS gig at the weekend, after the frontman lost his voice.
The band pulled out of a performance at the V Festival in Chelmsford, England on Sunday (23Aug09).
It was later revealed Gallagher was suffering laryngitis, and he now claims he has lost his voice completely.
Addressing fans on his Twitter.com page, the singer writes, "Voice may of (sic) disappeared but I’m still here. First things first, V, I’m gutted, you’re gutted, I’m sorry. What can I say? F**k all at the moment!" The singer also thanked other bands performing at the event, who performed Oasis covers, to help fans get over their disappointment. He adds, "Respect to those bands who covered Oasis last night, even though I might of (sic) given some of you s**t in the past." And Gallagher blasted reports in the British press that Oasis’ performance at the V Festival in Stafford, England on Saturday (22Aug09) was the band’s last ever in the U.K. Referring to a report by The Sun’s showbiz columnist Gordon Smart, he writes, "Reports in smarta**e’s column about Oasis’ last British gig ever. The kids talking out his a**e."

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

Funnyman ADAM SANDLER was relieved to finish filming new movie FUNNY PEOPLE - because he found it difficult shooting serious scenes.
The Wedding Singer star plays a stand-up comedian who only has a year to live after finding out he has an untreatable blood disorder in the upcoming picture.
Sandler struggled so much with the dark subject matter compared to his usual light topics, he was relieved to wrap the film up and return to his happy home life.
He says, "I’d rather be funny. When I have to do stuff like that I’m glad when the day’s over. It was a lot of work, and when I finished it, I hugged the director and I was very relieved to take a break. I don’t know how these other actors go movie to movie and lose their mind in their roles and have a real life. I was happy to jump into my real life - be with my kids and wife."

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

Actress JANE LYNCH has turned her back on theatre since becoming a TV and film star - insisting she has "no desire" to return to the stage.
The 39-year-old started her career in theatre and has become an award-winning star thanks to the success of her own play Oh Sister, My Sister and starring roles including her turn as Carol Brady in The Real Live Brady Bunch.
However, since moving on to TV and film, with recent roles including Judd Apatow’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Julie and Julia, starring alongside Meryl Streep, Lynch insists she has no plans to perform in front of a live audience again.
She tells the New York Daily News, "I’ll be honest with you. I have no interest in going back to the stage. I love the immediacy of it, but no, I have no desire to return to the theatre."

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