PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

DAME HELEN MIRREN’s casting saved new movie BRIGHTON ROCK - because investors threatened to withdraw funding when CAREY MULLIGAN quit the project.
The An Education star was initially cast as the young female lead, Rose, in the picture, but dropped out to concentrate on Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Rising star Andrea Riseborough replaced Mulligan, but investors feared the film would not be able to pull in cinema audiences without a big name attached, and they threatened to drop out of funding the production.
Director Rowan Joffe set out to cast a famous face - and he was relieved when Mirren stepped in to play the older female lead, Ida.
He tells Britain’s Telegraph magazine, "(Mulligan) walked off to go and do Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, which is a perfectly respectable decision. She had to do what she thought was right. But that did cause us some quite serious problems.
"(Mulligan’s departure) seriously damaged the investors’ confidence in the project. (Distribution company) Studio Canal and (co-producers) Optimum Releasing were very supportive, but they basically said, ‘The movie isn’t happening unless you land us a name’. It was teetering on the brink.
"(I) went hell for leather in pursuit of Helen Mirren, whom I’d always imagined as an Ida, but who hadn’t been available to play the role initially. And thank goodness she was available to shoot the movie. Because that, in a sense, did greenlight us."

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

SIR ELTON JOHN is adamant he will teach his son ZACHARY "discipline and good manners" so he won’t grow up to be a spoiled showbiz child.
The Rocket Man and his partner David Furnish welcomed the tot via surrogate mother last month (Dec10), and they have now shown him off in their first family photoshoot.
Sir Elton admits that despite his wealth and reputation for lavish spending, he doesn’t want to spoil Zachary "materially", while Furnish insists he wants the youngster to learn "real working-class values" like his fathers.
Elton tells Britain’s OK! magazine, "I’m ready to have a child and lavish my love on our son and not spoil him but be there for him and to advise him…. We don’t want to spoil him materially, although he’s already been spoiled rotten by people buying him stuff. We just want to give him some wisdom… spoil him with love." Furnish adds, "(I want him to learn) the value of hard work. Nothing is handed to you. I’m sure, as he grows he might get a sense of entitlement, and I want to make sure he doesn’t."

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

British singer ADELE was so overwhelmed to find herself working in a recording studio in California with famed producer RICK RUBIN, she became homesick and "hysterical".
The Grammy Award-winner travelled to Malibu, California to collaborate with music mogul Rubin on new album 21, the follow-up to her smash-hit debut 19.
Adele, who grew up in the deprived London area of Tottenham, admits it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to team up with her idol, and she had to put on "a brave face" when she became emotional.
She tells Britain’s Seven Days magazine, "I got a bit overwhelmed. It all got a bit much. You know, born in Tottenham to a single mum, recording with Rick Rubin in Malibu. I try not to let it all sink in because I would just melt into a puddle.
"It caught up with me a little when I was about to start the studio sessions with Rick. I got a bit hysterical. I wanted my mum. She was in London so I went for a little walk, cleared my head and put on a brave face. It was such an honour to make a record like that so early in my career."

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

R&B star KEYSHIA COLE has fired her manager following poor sales of her latest album.
The singer took to her Twitter.com page this week (beg17Jan11) to announce she has parted ways with her longtime representative, Manny Halley.
She writes, "Would like for u guys to know tht (sic) Manny Halley is no longer my management… Someone said if the people around u (sic) won’t change, change the people around you." The news comes just weeks after her fourth studio album, Calling All Hearts, entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at a lowly number nine in late December (10), selling only 181,300 copies in America as of 9 January (11).
The figures will be disappointing for Cole, whose previous three records all went platinum.

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

THE HILLS star KRISTIN CAVALLARI has confirmed she is "in love" with her new boyfriend, American football player JAY CUTLER.
The reality TV star, who previously dated Avril Lavigne’s partner Brody Jenner, is now romancing the Chicago Bears sportsman.
She gushed about her feelings for Cutler during her 24th birthday celebrations in Las Vegas on Saturday (15Jan11), telling People.com, "I’m in love. Things are really good. I’m just enjoying my personal life and taking a little time away from the public eye, which is why Chicago is great for me. My mom and that whole side of the family is there. And Jay is there.
"It’s nice to be able to hang out with my mom, and, you know, I’m in love and it’s been great."

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

CHRIS COOPER suffered a bout of nerves during a prison visit to research his character for THE TOWN - he "freaked out" when he realised he was mixing with serious offenders.
The actor plays a convict in Ben Affleck’s acclaimed crime thriller and many of his scenes were shot in a real life jail.
Cooper visited the prison with his co-star Jeremy Renner before filming began, and admits he felt uncomfortable throughout the day.
He tells the New York Post, "I was nervous going into that prison. Everyone behaved. Kept their distance. Prisoners were ordered to march past hugging the wall. The place is colour-coded. Five grades of colour. Different uniforms for different crimes. The most serious offenders wear red.
"Guards took me to their boards, which show the inmates’ photos in groups - skinheads, rapists. I freaked out afterward for hours. I’m out in sunny California, and those guys are still there. We had one day to shoot in jail. I went for a day’s visit a month beforehand to meet the guards and warden. I spent five hours soaking up the atmosphere with Jeremy Renner. With no division between us and the prisoners, we got a real close look."

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

American shock jock HOWARD STERN has launched a scathing verbal attack on U.S. TV host JAY LENO, calling the funnyman "a crook" and accusing him of stealing jokes.
The foul-mouthed radio personality launched into a rant about The Tonight Show host during an interview with British newsman Piers Morgan on his new CNN talk show.
Stern insists Leno is not as good as rival TV star David Letterman, and claims the comedian relies on others to provide his gags.
He tells Morgan, "Jay is insane. And Jay is a crook. And the world knows exactly what he’s up to. He steals a tremendous amount of material. He’s not fit to scrub David Letterman’s feet. I don’t know how he’s beaten David Letterman in the ratings. It’s beyond my comprehension. America must be filled with morons who at night lay in bed - the ones who are watching him, they must be in a coma…
"This guy’s ripped off like 10 major things from my show." The Piers Morgan Tonight show featuring Stern airs in America on Tuesday night (18Jan11).

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

Veteran U.S. TV presenter REGIS PHILBIN is retiring from his daytime chat show LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY - after almost 28 years on air.
The beloved 79-year-old host announced his exit at the start of Tuesday’s (18Jan11) programme, which he now co-hosts with actress Kelly Ripa.
Philbin will step down from the show at the end of this summer (11), although he did not specify a departure date.
The news comes a year after Philbin underwent an operation to remove a blood clot that formed following hip replacement surgery and forced him off the air for several weeks.
Philbin’s daytime hosting duties began in 1983, with a local New York TV programme called The Morning Show with Cyndy Garvey as his original co-host. In 1988, it was reincarnated with actress Kathie Lee Gifford, and became Live with Regis and Kathie Lee until 2000.
Ripa joined as Philbin’s newest co-host in 2001 after Gifford’s departure.

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

The cast and crew of the latest TWILIGHT movie were left stranded on a Brazilian island recently after a heavy rainstorm stopped them from returning to their hotel.
The stars, including Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, have been busy working on the final installment in the vampire franchise, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two films.
The shoot has taken them through a range of diverse locations from Vancouver, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana, and they recently relocated to an island off the coast of Brazil to film key scenes with Pattinson and Stewart.
But one day of shooting ended in disaster when the actors and crewmembers were caught up in a heavy rainstorm. They were unable to leave the island and nearly 100 people ended up spending the night on the set.
Director Bill Condon tells the Los Angeles Times, "It was incredible. We got caught in the middle of this huge rainstorm - I’ll remember it forever. Eighty people sleeping on the floor of the set. We couldn’t leave."

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

Pregnant actress PENELOPE CRUZ reportedly invited all of her female friends over to her Los Angeles home on Saturday (15Jan11) for a baby shower.
The Spanish star is expecting her first child with husband Javier Bardem and is due to give birth in the coming weeks.
She is said to have hosted a party for her pals at her Hollywood mansion at the weekend (15-16Jan11), with guests including supermodel Bar Refaeli, who arrived with her boyfriend Leonardo DiCaprio.
After the shower on Saturday, Cruz and Bardem headed off for a three-day break in Palm Springs, California to relax before the imminent arrival of their baby, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.

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

Newsman-turned-TV personality PIERS MORGAN has bet OPRAH WINFREY he’ll land the first indepth interview with convicted dog fighter MICHAEL VICK before her.
Winfrey was the first guest on the Brit’s new CNN show Piers Morgan Tonight, which aired on Monday (17Jan11), and during the pair’s chat it became clear that both are after a big interview with the disgraced American footballer.
When Oprah refused to discuss what she would ask Vick if she landed him as one of her final Oprah Winfrey Show guests, Morgan offered her a wager.
He said, "One hundred British pounds says I get Vick before you." Winfrey offered, "Make it two." The two TV titans then shook hands on the bet.
And Morgan has already stepped up his bid to land the interview - he has written a message to Vick on Twitter.com pleading with the star to choose him over Winfrey and even offering Vick a cut of the winnings.
He writes, "If Michael Vick is reading this, pls (please) say yes… Hey Mike Vick - how about it? I’ll cut you in for $100."

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

SIR ELTON JOHN and his partner DAVID FURNISH have no idea which one of them is the biological father of their son - because they both "contributed" to the fertilisation process.
The couple welcomed baby Zachary on Christmas Day (25Dec10) via a surrogate mother.
They used donated eggs, from an anonymous woman, which were combined with sperm samples from both fathers - so they don’t know which of them is the baby’s true dad.
Furnish tells Britain’s OK! magazine, "We both contributed. For the time being, we don’t have a clue. We look at him every day and at the moment he has Elton’s nose… neither of us care. He’s our child." Sir Elton adds, "We have no clue, but in the end if he wants to know, we can do a DNA test."

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

Organisers of a series of shows in Australia featuring MARY J. BLIGE, SEAN PAUL and MAXI PRIEST have vowed to donate proceeds to a relief fund for victims of the country’s devastating floods.
The state of Queensland was plunged into a state of emergency this month (Jan11) as heavy rain caused massive flooding throughout the region - at least 25 people have died and thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes. The floodwaters have now also affected the state of Victoria.
Blige and Priest are among the stars due to perform at Brisbane’s Raggamuffin music festival on 30 January (11), and organisers have now renamed the gig Reggae For Recovery - Flood Relief Benefit Concert.
They’ve promised to donate money from ticket sales to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.
Event bosses have also pledged 10 per cent of proceeds from other Ragamuffin shows in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide to disaster funds.
Promoter Andrew McManus says, "Let’s hope we can raise a substantial amount of money to ease some of the pain and to aid in the rebuilding of Queensland."

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

SIR ELTON JOHN had to leave his partner DAVID FURNISH to meet with the surrogate mother of their baby boy during her pregnancy - because the superstar had to stay away for "confidentiality reasons".
The pair used a surrogate mother to deliver their son Zachary, who was born over Christmas (10), and they have now spoken for the first time about the complicated process.
They used a specialised agency in California to set up the surrogacy and the anonymous woman who eventually carried their child didn’t know the superstar couple’s true identities at first.
After the deal had been set up, Sir Elton had to be left out of the numerous meetings with the mother, because they wanted to keep the process top secret.
Furnish tells Britain’s OK! magazine, "One day she figured out who we were. She cracked it. And it didn’t make a bit of difference to her. She’s a lovely women who is not interested in media or fame… We exchanged emails and calls on a weekly basis, and I’d slip quietly into California. We didn’t want to bring Elton along, because he’d have got attention. We wanted to protect her anonymity… We’d meet in neutral locations, spend an afternoon together, have lunch…" Sir Elton adds, "I couldn’t be seen anywhere near her for confidentiality reasons. But we spoke on the phone… And I eventually met her, and we got on like a house on fire." Furnish reveals they kept up the veil of secrecy right up to the birth - even hiring a nanny who sneaked all of the baby items into their home.
He says, "Because of confidentiality, we couldn’t do anything to prepare for the baby’s arrival… We have a nanny… she quietly went around L.A. buying things… taking the packaging off and then putting it in Christmas wrap. Then we brought them in the building, looking like Christmas presents, because we couldn’t have anyone see baby stuff coming in the door."

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

Soul sensation ADELE got a bargain deal when she hired RYAN TEDDER to collaborate on her second album 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN - because he offered to work for free.
The Grammy-winning British star travelled to America to work with superproducer Rick Rubin on the follow-up to her smash-hit debut 19, and after a bizarre meeting with Tedder in a Los Angeles hotel elevator, the pair decided to write songs together.
And Adele was astonished when the OneRepublic frontman insisted he didn’t want to be paid for his efforts.
She tells Britain’s Daily Star, “I loved working with Ryan. And he came cheap. I didn’t pay him.
“He said he was a big fan and that was it. I’m very lucky. I met him in a lift one night in L.A.
“I was holding 100 balloons, so the lift was full, but he could hear me laughing from inside.
"He knew it was me because he recognised my… laugh. He got in the lift and started popping all the balloons and said we had to work together.
"We met again in London and I started telling him everything."

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

American boy band O-TOWN has reunited - four of the five original members have teamed up again to start work on new music.
The hitmakers, whose track All Or Nothing has been covered by Westlife, formed on the first season of MTV reality show Making The Band in 2000.
Jacob Underwood, Ashley Parker Angel, Erik-Michael Estrada, Trevor Penick, and Dan Miller went on to release two albums before they disbanded in 2003.
And now they are set to make a comeback - but Angel, who has gone on to carve out an acting career for himself, has refused to sign up, reports TMZ.com.

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

COLD CHISEL frontman JIMMY BARNES has paid tribute to his late bandmate STEVE PRESTWICH, insisting he is a "better person" for knowing the rocker.
Prestwich was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this month (Jan11) and underwent surgery on Friday (14Jan11), but he passed away two days later (16Jan11) after failing to regain consciousness following the operation.
The band announced the news on its website, and now Barnes has taken to Twitter.com to express his sadness at the drummer’s death.
He writes, "Dear Steve I will miss your friendship. 40 years happy and sad. But nothing as sad as losing you I am a better person for knowing you." Barnes also marked his pal’s passing by performing When The War Is Over, which was co-written by Prestwich, during a solo show in Victoria, Australia on Monday (17Jan11).
And he’s not the only star to offer condolences - Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst says, "Steve Prestwich and (his Cold Chisel bandmate) Phil Small together were one of our finest rhythm sections in Australian rock and roll and blues. He was a fine songwriter to boot and we will all miss him terribly."

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

LAURYN HILL has angered her fans for the second time in a month, after keeping an audience waiting for three hours at a comeback concert and changing her songs beyond recognition.
The reclusive singer was due to take to the stage in Atlanta, Georgia at 9pm (EST) on Friday night (14Jan11), but she didn’t begin her performance until midnight.
And the crowd at the Center Stage venue was unimpressed when Hill finally began her set - the singer reportedly declared she was tired of "playing the same music night after night" and performed several unfamiliar versions of her hit songs.
One fan told the Sandrarose.com blog, "Nobody could participate because NOBODY knew the music! Everybody was looking around like ‘What Song Is This?’ "It was new music completely. The lyrics were the same, but you had to be on ecstasy to follow the music!… Everybody just stood there with their arms folded. It was a waste of money, and a waste of time. If she did another show in Atlanta, no one would come!" A number of fans booed, while others walked out, according to the unnamed audience member, who adds, "They didn’t walk out - they stomped out!" Last month (Dec10), Hill, who is touring small venues across the U.S. as part of her musical comeback, annoyed concert-goers at a show in New York by keeping fans waiting for almost four hours and telling them she was "worth the wait".

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