PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

X-MEN and VALKYRIE director BRYAN SINGER is set to revive the legend of King Arthur by remaking JOHN BOORMAN’s epic EXCALIBUR.
The moviemaker has signed up to produce the medieval blockbuster for Warner Brothers and may direct the project, according to Daily Variety.
Boorman’s 1981 Excalibur was adapted from Thomas Malory’s bestseller and featured Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne and Patrick Stewart. Nigel Terry played King Arthur in the original.

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

Residents of FRANK SINATRA’s hometown have started a bizarre campaign to elect outrageous comic ARTIE LANGE Mayor.
Lange, a New Jersey native, has lived in Hoboken since 2001, and residents have launched a grassroots movement to elect the star as their new representative.
Campaign manager, Bob Abouey, is brushing off the controversial comedian’s troubled past - a week before Lange is due in court (26Aug09) after pleading not guilty to charges of drink and careless driving following a July (09) car crash in the state.
Abouey says, “Hoboken has not received the respect it deserves from past and current politicians. Corruption, incompetence and political grandstanding have taken the place of a sincere caring for its residents.
"Instead of a candidate peddling hope, we want Artie to cut through the politics. A former longshoreman with a rap sheet should have no problem getting elected in Hoboken. It’s practically a requirement."

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

Oscar winner ROGER AVARY faces jail time after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter and driving drunk.
The Pulp Fiction screenwriter is accused of causing the death of a passenger in his Mercedes, while driving under the influence.
Avary, who shares his Best Screenplay Oscar with Quentin Tarantino, will be sentenced in California next month (Sep09).
The 43-year-old writer’s wife was injured when the Mercedes he was driving hit a telephone pole in Ojai, California in January, 2008. A friend, Andreas Zini, was killed. Avary has previously apologised for the accident.

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

British stars CATHERINE ZETA-JONES and ANGELA LANSBURY are to team up on Broadway for a revival of STEPHEN SONDHEIM’s A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.
Lansbury only agreed to sign up for the production, which will open in December (09), if producers lined up a big star to play her daughter in the show, according to the New York Post.
Zeta-Jones agreed to take on Glynis Johns’ beloved role of Desiree in the musical, which features hits like Send in the Clowns and Every Day a Little Death.
The Welsh actress started out as a star on London’s West End and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in movie musical Chicago.

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

MICHAEL JACKSON’s grieving mother KATHERINE has hit back at the tragic star’s longtime friend MARK LESTER - insisting allegations he donated his sperm to the King of Pop "lack legal standing".
Lester is the godfather to Jackson’s two children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe - Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11 - and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket - delivered by an unknown surrogate.
The 51 year old claims he could be Paris’ biological father, after he agreed to give a sample of his sperm to the late superstar in 1996.
The former child star has revealed Jackson, who married Rowe the same year, spoke to him at length over the phone as they discussed his request.
In an interview on Friday (21Aug09) he told U.S. TV show Today, "We had conversations on the telephone and Michael was very shy when it came to women and he confided in me that he found it very difficult to actually do the sexual act. He knew I had three, at the time, lovely girls (daughters), so I jokingly said, ‘Michael if you don’t want to do it, why don’t I do it for you.’ "(I don’t know) whether he just wanted to increase the chances of the artificial insemination, but he just said he was very, very nervous and said he wasn’t up to going through with the act." However the Jackson family matriarch, who was awarded permanent custody of her son’s children earlier this month (Aug09) following his sudden death in June (09), is challenging Lester’s motives.
A statement from her lawyer reads: "These newfound efforts appear to be self-serving, lack legal standing and do not serve the best interests of the children."

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

MICHAEL JACKSON’s burial has been pushed back another three days - the King of Pop will now be laid to rest on 3 September (09).
The pop star’s family had hoped to say their final farewells to Jackson on what would have been his 51st birthday (29Aug09), but that date was scrapped to allow them to make better burial plans.
Now, the family’s publicist, Ken Sunshine, has revealed there will be no burial on 31 August (09), as previously planned.
Sunshine says, "The date for Michael Jackson’s burial has been changed to Thursday, September 3, 2009, at 7pm PST (Pacific Standard Time).
"The private ceremony - at Holly Terrace in The Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California - will be limited to family and close friends." Jackson died on 25 June (09).

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

LINDSAY LOHAN lost her cool in a New York City delicatessen on Thursday night (20Aug09) - when an employee refused to hand over her cell phone.
The actress misplaced her mobile at the Mott Corner Deli and when she returned to reclaim the phone, the cashier refused to give it back until he was sure it was Lohan’s.
The deli worker insisted on checking a security tape to make sure it was hers, according to TMZ.com.
His actions left Lohan upset and fuming, and after threatening to call the police, she followed through and asked a friend to phone the cops.
But, by the time police arrived at the deli, the situation had already been "diffused".
According to the website, the deli worker had no idea who Lohan was.

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

BRAD PITT has declared battle against TOM CRUISE for the title of best World War II movie - branding the Hollywood actor’s recent film VALKYRIE "ridiculous".
Pitt teamed up with director Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds, which was released this month (Aug09) - less than a year after Cruise’s 2008 drama about a plot to kill Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
However, the actor insists his portrayal of Nazi hunter Aldo Raine in Tarantino’s violent film is no comparison to his rival Cruise’s character.
He tells German magazine Stern, "The second World War could still deliver more stories and films, but I believe that Quentin put a cover on that pot. With Basterds, everything than can be said to this genre has been said. The film destroys every symbol. The work is done, end of story… (Valkyrie) was a ridiculous movie."

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

Former THE CORRS star ANDREA CORR has wed her billionaire fiance in a star-studded Irish ceremony.
The singer-turned-actress exchanged vows with her longtime partner Brett Desmond on Friday (21Aug09).
The 35 year old was joined by her sisters, and The Corrs bandmates, Sharon and Caroline and their elder brother Jim Corr at the ceremony.
The couple tied the knot at St Joseph’s Church in the Irish village of Miltown Malbay in County Clare.
U2 star Bono and his wife Ali Hewson were among the guests.
Desmond proposed to Corr at Christmas (08) during a holiday in Barbados.

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

Country star LEANN RIMES has been accused of a misdemeanour hit and run after reportedly failing to stop after a traffic accident in California.
Los Angeles police officers visited the singer at her home on Thursday night (20Aug09) after reports she had been involved in an accident earlier in the evening.
No further details were available at press time.
Rimes has been in the headlines recently after reportedly dating married actor Eddie Cibrian, her co-star in a recent U.S. TV movie.
The actor recently split from his wife and he and Rimes were spotted playing golf together in Valencia, California, earlier this week (beg17Aug09). Cibrian was also snapped leaving Rimes’ home in Santa Monica, California on Thursday morning (20Aug09), according to RadarOnline.com.

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

Colombian pop star JUANES has received Twitter.com death threats over a planned Cuba concert.
Cuban-Americans criticised Juanes for his plans to perform in Havana on 20 September (09), claiming the gig endorses the Communist-led government of Fidel and Raul Castro.
And now the police have been called in after the criticism turned nasty.
In a police report dated 15 August (09) and obtained by Billboard.com, Juanes claims someone sent him a message on Twitter.com, which read, "I hate what you are saying but you will die for defending your right to say it." Police are taking the threats seriously and keeping a watch on Juanes’ home in Florida.
Juanes has considered scrapping the concert, but his spokesman, John Reilly, tells Billboard.com the show will go on.
He says, "The vast majority of communication Juanes is receiving from both fans on Twitter and everyday people he comes into contact with in Miami continues to be overwhelmingly supportive."

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

Hollywood actress RENEE ZELLWEGER gave U.S. TV audiences a late night laugh on Thursday (20Aug09) - when she tested her batting skills on a guacamole-stuffed pinata.
The Bridget Jones star narrowly avoided a messy exit after comedian David Letterman challenged her to take a swing at a colourful papier-mache creation stuffed with the green dip on his show.
Zellweger was surprised to learn the treat, which "includes bats and wet naps" can be ordered off the menu at her New York taco restaurant the Blue Parrot - blaming the zany idea on her business partner, Jon Bon Jovi.
But the star was a good sport, swinging at the flying pinata until it fell to the ground and cracked open.
Admitting she wanted to taste the treat, the actress mused, "Where’s the chips?"

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

Actress JULIA STILES has launched a new comedy website, poking fun at stars who become eco warriors.
On JuliaStilesStyles.com, the Bourne Supremacy star teams up with comedy troupe The Vacationers to promote her new "all-green clothing line", which features suits made out of newspapers and ties created using disposable floor cloths.
But it’s her "shants" that stand out in a spoof video on her website.
Talking about the inspiration behind her shirts that double up as pants, Stiles says, "I met this homeless man who had never owned a shirt in his life. He had taken his pants and worn them as a shirt and I thought it was so creative.
"He was liberated from the conventions of fashion." The actress also found odd inspiration for her newspaper suit, joking, "I saw all these children sleeping on the streets and they only had newspapers to cover them up and I just wish that Americans could be so open-minded."

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

Award-winning movie producer CLIVE PARSONS has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66.
Parsons, who produced and developed 20 feature films with partner Davina Belling, passed away on 12 August (09) in his native England.
His work on 1974 film Inserts, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Bob Hoskins, began a string of production credits including Britannia Hospital, Scum, Breaking Glass, A Business Affair, True Blue, I Am David and director Franco Zeffirelli’s films Tea With Mussolini and Callas Forever.
Parsons also served as president at Kings Road Productions in the U.S. and later moved to Warner Bros, Europe as head of business affairs.
In 1971, Parsons and Belling formed Film and General Productions, continuing to pursue movie projects while also producing childrens’ British TV series The Queen’s Nose and The Giblet Boys, which won a BAFTA award for Best Children’s Drama for 2005/2006.

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

The murder of a Playboy model has taken a grisly turn - JASMINE FIORE was reportedly found dumped in a trashcan missing her fingers and teeth.
The swimsuit model’s former husband, U.S. reality TV contestant Ryan Jenkins, has been charged with her murder and an arrest warrant is out on him as he continues to evade police capture in his native Canada. An international manhunt is underway.
Reports suggest Jenkins strangled his ex, before putting her in a suitcase and dumping her in a Buena Park, California trash bin.
But it has now emerged there’s more to the killing than first reported.
In a statement released on Thursday (20Aug09), prosecutors explained police officers were stunned when they first found Fiore’s remains: "The officers found a large bloodstained gray suitcase containing the body of a Caucasian female. The victim had been badly beaten, all of her fingers had been cut off, and all of her teeth had been forcibly removed." The latest report from prosecutors has further upset Fiore’s grieving family and her ex-boyfriend Robert Hasman, who tells the Los Angeles Times newspaper, "He (Jenkins) is an animal." Jenkins, a contestant on the VH1 reality show Megan Wants a Millionaire, pleaded guilty to assaulting a girlfriend in 2006 and was sentenced to 15 months’ probation and 80 hours of community service. He also had to undergo domestic violence and sex addiction counselling.
He wed Fiore in March (09), but the couple split after Jenkins allegedly struck the model at a hotel in Las Vegas.
In June (09), he was charged with battery constituting domestic violence. The pair’s marriage was annulled earlier this summer (09).

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

Hollywood heavyweights TOMMY LEE JONES and SAMUEL L. JACKSON are reteaming for the first time in nearly a decade after signing on to co-star in upcoming film THE SUNSET LIMITED.
Jones is set to direct and executive produce the HBO movie, an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 play, about two men who debate the worth of their own lives.
Jackson - who previously worked with Jones on 2000’s Rules of Engagement - will save his co-star’s character from throwing himself in front of a New York subway train in the film.
This is Jones’ third project based on McCarthy’s work - he starred in the 2007 adaptation of No Country for Old Men and is currently reworking McCarthy’s novel Blood Meridian for the big screen.
Production is set to begin next month (Sep09) in New Mexico.

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

BARBRA STREISAND is tangled in a legal battle with her ex-boyfriend as he prepares to auction off recordings of her early performances for over $1 million (£666,670).
Barry Dennen published his memoir My Life with Barbra: A Love Story in 1997, detailing his romance with the entertainer over 50 years ago.
Dennen, 67, claims he coached Streisand after they shared the stage in 1959 off-Broadway play The Insect Comedy, and admits he refused Streisand’s request to return three performance tapes he recorded during their relationship.
The recordings include a rehearsal at a New York nightclub of songs including Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now, I Want To Be Bad, Lover Come Back to Me and Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? He tells the New York Post, "I (refused to give the tapes back). I said ‘No. They are the only thing I have left of our collaboration’ I’m a little trepidatious. I don’t know what the fallout will be. I don’t like upsetting Barbra, and I don’t want her fans angry at me." The tapes are set to be auctioned off on MomentsInTime.com, but Streisand is moving to block the sale.
A spokesman for Streisand says, "Our lawyers are dealing with this."

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

MICHAEL JACKSON’s longterm friend MARK LESTER has opened up about his decision to donate his sperm to the superstar - insisting the singer confided in him about his "difficult" sex life.
Lester claims he could be the biological father of Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter Paris, after he agreed to give a sample to the late superstar in 1996.
The former child star has revealed Jackson, who married his kids’ mother Debbie Rowe in 1996, spoke to him at length over the phone as they discussed his request.
Lester claims the singer wanted his pal to donate sperm, because he was "nervous" about sex and found it "difficult".
He tells U.S. TV show Today, "We had conversations on the telephone and Michael was very shy when it came to women and he confided in me that he found it very difficult to actually do the sexual act. He knew I had three, at the time, lovely girls (daughters), so I jokingly said, ‘Michael if you don’t want to do it, why don’t I do it for you.’ "(I don’t know) whether he just wanted to increase the chances of the artificial insemination, but he just said he was very, very nervous and said he wasn’t up to going through with the act." Lester also used the opportunity to hit back at his ex-wife, Jane, who recently accused the him of exaggerating his friendship with Jackson and insisting he couldn’t have fathered Paris.
He adds, "My wife and I were having a lot of issues, although we were living together, we were living separate lives. Whatever I did - she would do the opposite, she was a difficult lady. She didn’t like the Michael thing, she didn’t like the idea of me being with Michael, the idea of us having fun together seemed to be alien to her. It was very sad. So this (sperm donation) was completely confidential. Nobody knew. I think it’s probably because she wasn’t informed and she felt left out of it in some way."

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