PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

Funnyman EDDIE MURPHY is set to tackle a controversial new role playing shamed U.S. politician MARION BARRY in an upcoming biopic.
Filmmaker Spike Lee will direct Murphy in the as-yet-untitled movie about the former Washington D.C. mayor, who hit headlines after he was caught smoking crack in 1990.
Barry, who was mayor of the city from 1979 to 1991 and from 1995 to 1999, served six months behind bars after he was arrested on drug charges.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lee, Murphy and screenwriter John Ridley will serve as executive producers on the HBO Films project.

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

KATE BECKINSALE has bad memories of her early days in Hollywood after one "shady experience" with a talent spotter who attempted to ply her with alcohol.
The Underworld star was a teenager when she attended a meeting about her career, and claims a male scout offered her a bottle of whiskey-based liqueur Baileys.
Beckinsale fled the room, and she’s still upset about the "horrible situation" she found herself in.
She tells Total Film magazine, "I did have one slightly shady experience. Someone asked me to come to a meeting very late at their hotel, and I went along and was told how incredibly talented I was on the basis of very little.
"But if you’re 17, you’re thinking, ‘Ooh, he can tell - he’s spotted me’. Then he wanted me to drink a bottle of Baileys, and just when he got a bit close, I said, ‘Well, it is a school night and I’ve got double Russian (lessons) in the morning so I’d better go’.
"It wasn’t until about five years later that I realised I’d really narrowly escaped a horrible situation. And he was so much older than me and deeply unattractive."

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

KATY PERRY has sought advice from her husband RUSSELL BRAND ahead of her stint hosting U.S. comedy show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE this weekend (10Dec11).
The I Kissed a Girl hitmaker is preparing to make her presenting debut on the programme on Saturday and she’s regularly calling her funnyman partner for tips following his success on the series earlier this year (11).
She tells MTV News, "I’ve only ever hosted, like, dinner parties and birthday parties. This is a bit more than that. It’s not as intimidating when you get here because it’s a bit smaller than it looks on TV, and I’m up for a challenge, for something new. I love to be challenged… I married Russell Brand.
"My husband, of course, every day I call him and I’m like, ‘This happened,’ and he’s like, ‘I know what that means and here’s the next play-by-play for tomorrow,’ so he’s gotten me really prepared for this week, thankfully." And there’s another star who’s inadvertently helping Perry with her preparations - comedy actress Melissa McCarthy.
She adds, "I saw the Melissa McCarthy episode and I thought she did a great job. She’s so fun to watch and she really brings it, so that’s what I was soaking in this week - Melissa McCarthy and all of her nuances."

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

Rockers FOREIGNER have cancelled an upcoming concert due to "scheduling conflicts".
The I Want to Know What Love Is hitmakers were due to take their Acoustique Tour to the State Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 20 January (12) but they have postponed the show until a "future undetermined date" to tend to other commitments.
The band has apologised to fans, while organisers are offering ticket-holders a full refund.

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

THE CLASH star MICK JONES teamed up with former bandmate PAUL SIMONON and PRIMAL SCREAM on Thursday (08Dec11) for a gig dedicated to the victims of Britain’s worst ever sporting disaster.
Jones took to the stage at London’s Scala club to play 12 Clash songs as part of his Hillsborough Justice Campaign tour, a series of fundraiser concerts for the families of the 96 people killed in a crush at a soccer ground in Sheffield, England in 1989.
Simonon joined him to provide lead vocals for Guns of Brixton, and the duo later played back-up for Primal Scream as they performed their hit Rocks.
Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer also made a surprise appearance at the event to play on the 1979 Clash track Clampdown.
But the evening’s most poignant moment came as Jones dedicated the finale, a cover of The Farm’s All Together Now, to John Lennon to mark the 31st anniversary of the Beatles star’s death.
Last week (02Dec11), Stone Roses stars Ian Brown and John Squire reunited on stage for the first time in 16 years for a show on the Hillsborough Justice Campaign tour.

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

LMFAO star SKYBLU has pulled out of the pop duo’s upcoming appearances after sustaining a back injury.
The rapper’s bandmate RedFoo was left to perform solo at the Q102 Jingle Ball concert in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday (07Dec11) as SkyBlu recovers.
Speaking backstage, RedFoo told reporters his colleague is undergoing treatment to strengthen his back.
RedFoo tells iHeartRadio, "He hurt his back and he’s in rehab right now with his back. He’s got some herniated discs… He’s getting back in shape because… you know he’s been performing with it and the doctor just said you got to chillax (sic)… So it’s a pain but we got him in the bed, legs up, you know." It is not known when SkyBlu will return to the stage.

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

PITBULL is set to make his TV debut - the rapper is in talks to star in GLEE.
The Give Me Everything hitmaker has been approached to play the big brother of lesbian cheerleader Santana, who is played by Naya Rivera.
According to EW.com, Pitbull will make his debut in the same episode as Cuban superstar Gloria Estefan, who will play his mother.
Pitbull and Estefan aren’t the only Latin stars who have recently been cast in the hit TV musical - Ricky Martin has signed up to play a high school Spanish teacher.

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

Country legend GLEN CAMPBELL has rescheduled a concert after falling ill with laryngitis.
The Rhinestone Cowboy hitmaker was due to perform at the Grand Theater in Wausau, Wisconsin on Thursday (08Dec11) but he postponed the show until the New Year (12) after the illness left him unable to sing.
Several members of his touring entourage have also been sidelined by laryngitis in the past week (begs05Dec11), according to a statement from Campbell’s representative.
Tickets will be honoured when Campbell returns to the venue on 22 January (12).
Earlier this year (11), Campbell stunned fans after announcing he has Alzheimer’s disease. The star plans to retire after his current farewell tour.

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

JUSTIN BIEBER appears to have suffered a mystery leg injury after he was photographed with a bandaged left calf.
The Baby hitmaker is on holiday with girlfriend Selena Gomez in the luxury resort of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico as he takes a break from promoting his Christmas album.
But he’s sparked speculation he has suffered an injury after a series of pictures of the couple frolicking in the sea and chatting and laughing on sun loungers showed Bieber with a bandage on his left leg.
On Thursday (08Dec11), a representative for Disney star Gomez denied reports they are engaged after Gomez was seen wearing a diamond ring.

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

BRADLEY COOPER jumped at the chance to star in the movie adaptation of JOHN MILTON’s PARADISE LOST after becoming fascinated with the epic poem as a youngster.
The Hangover star is set to play the devil Lucifer in the film, which revolves around the biblical tale of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden - and he’s sure the project will court controversy.
He tells Britain’s Metro, "I can really relate to the story of Paradise Lost. I did a Milton course as part of my English degree and fell in love with that character because I couldn’t believe how appetising he is in that poem. Satan is the hero.
"It’s a story we can all relate to - Dad’s gone crazy and he wants us to worship the dog and then his brother says: ‘Dad’s right.’ It’s about the father betraying the character.
"You bet it’s going to be criticised. You’re taking one of the greatest pieces of literature of the past 300 years but who cares? It really is a wonderful experiment."

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

WILL FERRELL signed up to star in adverts for an American beer because he’s a "big fan" of the brew, according to the company’s boss.
The Blades of Glory actor is the unlikely face of the Pabst Brewing Company’s Old Milwaukee drink and appears in the firm’s comedy TV promos, which show Ferrell in towns across the U.S. promoting the beer.
In one clip, he says, "When I’m not too busy being a big time Hollywood phoney, I like to come out here to Davenport, sit on my favourite log and crack open an ice cold Old Milwaukee. Truth be told I’ve never been to Davenport… but it’s something I wanna do." Pabst CEO Bryan Crowley tells the Quad City Times, "Will approached Old Milwaukee because he’s a big fan of the beer and thought it would be fun to make the commercials, and we couldn’t be more excited that he did."

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

A dreadful far-fetched festive caper from 1964 is on course to top the first WENN/Fandango.com Worst Christmas Movie Ever Made poll in the week it’s set to be re-released in the U.S.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is regarded by many critics as the jingle bomb of Christmas flops, and it appears film fans agree.
Thousands of moviegoers have responded to the poll on website Fandango.com and 21 per cent have picked director Nicholas Webster’s so-bad-it’s-good film, which cost a mere $20,000 (£12,500) to make - and it shows.
Ironically, the film, which opened in just 100 theatres almost 50 years ago, is set to open in more than 200 select cinemas across the U.S. beginning this weekend (09Dec11).
With a week to go before the poll closes, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians leads with three per cent more than festive horror film Silent Night, Deadly Night, while Michael Keaton’s Jack Frost comes in third with 12 per cent of the vote.
Also making the top five: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jingle All The Way and Hulk Hogan’s Santa With Muscles.
The final results of the poll will be revealed by WENN next week (16Dec11).

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

GOSFORD PARK writer JULIAN FELLOWES is creating a musical adaptation of classic tale THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS for the London stage.
Fellowes is teaming up with composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe for the new West End project.
He says, "The Wind in the Willows is one of our greatest classics and as true and entertaining now as it has ever been. I am delighted and tremendously flattered to have been asked to write the book (narrative) for the new musical.
"In fact, I suspect this is something I’ve been wanting to do subconsciously for many years." It is not yet known when or where the musical will debut.

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

American actress ALISON BRIE relied on London-born EMILY BLUNT to be her "unofficial vocal coach" while filming THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT - because she wanted to sound exactly like the Brit.
The Community star struggled to play an English woman while starring as Blunt’s sister in the upcoming romantic comedy, so she repeatedly turned to her onscreen sibling for accent advice.
She tells The Insider, "I think it went well, I’m nervous to see it. I had a great vocal coach here in L.A. for a few weeks but when I got out there, Emily became my unofficial vocal coach. It was more important that we sound alike than me studying a super proper British accent.
"The hardest part was that there was so much improv (improvisation) in the movie that the biggest challenge became thinking of an idea and process (sic) it through the accent quickly."

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

SAOIRSE RONAN has thrown herself into piano lessons to portray a vampire musician in upcoming movie BYZANTIUM.
The teenage actress stunned director Neil Jordan after mastering a complicated piano piece in just 12 weeks.
Jordan had planned to film Ronan miming a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 3 but the determined star began practising two hours a day to learn the classical work in its entirety.
Ronan explains, "There’s this scene in the film where my vampire character sits down to play an old piano and entrances everyone with her playing. My vampire Eleanor is 200 years old in the film and had been playing piano that long, so there was a bit of pressure but I wanted it to look real." The 17 year old’s music teacher Yvonne Collier is amazed with her progress and hopes she will continue to study the piano.
Collier tells the Irish Independent, "I started teaching Saoirse the piano with little exercises so she could learn the notes. Then we did lots of Lady Gaga pieces before moving on to Beethoven. Since her very first piano lesson it is truly remarkable what Saoirse can now do on the piano.
"The E minor middle section of the piece involves the left hand crossing over the right; a technique very difficult to master even with years of experience but one that Saoirse has mastered within a few weeks. She can master anything she puts her mind to."

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

French officials have decided not to press charges against director LARS VON TRIER for remarks he made about Nazis at the Cannes Film Festival in May (11).
Public prosecutor Jean-Michel Cailleau confirms the case has been officially closed after the Danish filmmaker was charged in August (11) with "justifying war crimes" by joking about his German ancestry at the event.
Von Trier faced a maximum five-year jail sentence, but Cailleau has made his recommendation to the French Ministry of Justice that the charges should be dropped.
Cailleau tells the Hollywood Reporter, "There was no intention on the part of Mr. Von Trier to commit the act of ‘justifying war crimes’. He expressed himself in a language that wasn’t his own and also under very stressful circumstances." Von Trier was declared persona non grata at the festival, where he was promoting his latest movie Melancholia.
He told reporters, "I found out I was actually a Nazi. My family was German… which gave me some pleasure. I understand Hitler. He certainly did some wrong things, but I can imagine him sitting in his bunker toward the end… Now how can I get out of this sentence. OK, I’m a Nazi."

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