Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker is all set to start off with the cast of the action film ‘The Expendables’.

The film will be a first writing and directing effort by Stallone.

Whitaker will be playing a CIA liaison for a group of mercenaries (played by Stallone, Jet Li, Randy Couture and Jason Statham) who are secretly sent for overthrowing a South American dictator.

Stallone has been striving hard to get Forest’s dates. The shooting is scheduled for a February start.

Nu Image/Millennium Films is producing the film. Stallone has a two-picture deal with Nu Image/Millennium.

‘Expendables’ is the first project of Stallone’s deal. Whitaker is a fine choice as the powerful actor won his Academy for “The Last King of Scotland”.

Whitaker next appears in “Hurricane Season” and “Repossession Mambo.”

Tags: Forest Whitaker, Sylvester Stallone
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Emma Thompson

Emma Thomson has revealed that she had to fight hard with her depression when she was in her twenties. The Oscar winning star admitted how hard it was to fight the dark days of her career. The ace actress said that the bout of depression struck her during her stint on the London stage.

Emma’s long struggle with depression was curable only with creative therapy techniques. She says, “I’m prone to depression and to all sorts of mental illnesses. I did a musical in the West End - I became clinically depressed even though I was being paid to be cheerful. I had no life at all. I lived like a nun. I didn’t drink. I didn’t have sex. I was 24 for crying out loud. No wonder I was depressed.”

Emma has come a long way from her darkest nightmare days. She struggled to get pregnant. During the time her daughter Gaia was born Emma struggled the most. Emma Thompson has found a novel way to fight her depression and be at peace.

Emma added: “I discovered something about writing recently. With writing, you can pick up a pen and say, ‘I have to write’. And you should certainly write your early experiences because they are fascinating. Writing has freed me a lot.”

Writing frees her mind. Emma also said that she manages her mood when she writes. It is like a therapy for her.

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Kate Beckinsale

Speculations are rife that Kate Beckinsale would love to play CATWOMAN in the next BATMAN movie. Kate is determined to take more action oriented roles. After “Underworld” had a massive success that put Beckinsale on a firm action footing,the actress wants to enjoy her actions!

According to internet gossip, Angelina and Kate are fighting for the contender’s role for the upcoming Batman movie. Kate had earlier said that she would take up the role if she was cast opposite Christian Bale in a new film about the Caped Crusader. She said she could agree upon her role as the villainess in a follow-up to this year’s (08) The Dark Knight only if she chanced upon a role opposite Christian Bale.

She tells MTV.com, “Absolutely, that would be awesome. I’d love to do that.” She explained why she was more keen to star in action oriented films and her career did not take on full on even after successfully playing a vampire’s role in “Underworld”. “One of the things I’ve done wrong with my career is not have a massive game plan for it. I was very surprised to ever find myself even considered for an action movie. I’m like the literary, academic geek who’s not very good at sports, so it was amazingly shocking that anyone would ever do that. I like to be surprised,” Kate added.

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Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer  Aniston wants to gift her a very special film on her 40th birthday. Jennifer has started requesting and calling up major movie bosses to rethink about ‘Friends’. She wants to recreate the magic of the popular TV series into a film. She has started urging movie bosses to simply “hurry up” before her co-stars decide on the negative and they become a cast of “geriatrics”! All along there have been rumours of a possible movie coming up. But Friends stars have denied all such rumours suggesting an impossible remake of the series.

In 2004 ‘Friends’ came to an end. But rumours kept on and are kept alive til today. Aniston said in a recent interview with People magazine that her co-stars would jump into doing ‘Friends’ all over again in any form that came their way.

“We know how much people want that, and we would of course do it if it’s right. But I say do it way before we get to be geriatric Friends. “Let’s hurry it up,” Aniston added.

Rumours of screen adaptations have been galore. Aniston felt that the six characters simply waited to be put on screen. It was just upto the powers that be that the wait would be determined of how long or short it would turn out to be.

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Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves believes that there are other life forms outside the earth. He strongly believes in the existance of ET or alien life. Keanu stars in a movie where he stars as a being from outer space. His upcoming film is “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. He says that the existence of other life forms beyond the earth seems very “likely” to him.

Keanu who stars alongside Jennifer Connelly in the remake of the famous 1951 film also spoke about the possibilities of his return as ‘Neo’ in another movie in ‘The Matrix’ film franchise.

The 44 year old actor has told US TV show ‘Extra’ that although Neo died in the last Matrix flick, ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ the film’s return was a definite possibility in the near future. When asked, how was it possible for Neo to return when he himself unplugged to save both the humans and the Machines in the alternative world, Reeves was quick to reply : “Never say no but I don’t think it’s going to happen, and besides, I’m dead”, which sure has something !

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Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody wants to move his career from parallel to mainstream films. Brody who is regarded by directors as an actor best suited for character roles wants to shift his base and image. Brody said that he is sick of landing quirky roles. He put in front his desires of working with directors who would atleast consider him for the ‘mainstream’ roles.

Brody who won his Best Actor Academy Award for playing the role of a Jewish Pianist in 2002 drama of Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”. He has always stuck to a genre that was not much taken by the mainstream actors. His roles in “The Village” and “Hollywoodland” were offbeat. He struck mainstream with 2005’s “King Kong”. Brody wants to expand his career just like he did in “King Kong”.

“What I still crave more of is great roles. I wish the studios would see me in more mainstream movies but there are a handful of actors that routinely get that chance because they are supposedly safe bets. In that sense, Hollywood is a business. It’s not really about the work”,Brody explained. He has urged the “Hollywood Movie Bosses” to consider him for more “mainstream” roles.

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Emma Watson

Emma Watson alias ‘Hermione Granger’ of Harry Potter fame feels that she wants to get naked if the role suits her. Emma has expressed her wish to work for Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. She revealed that she would not stop herself from stripping for a director like Bernardo Bertolucci.

She also told that shedding her clothes was part of her job so she would never shy away from it. She would get naked but only for the right role.

She told The Sun: “I’m not getting my kit off any time soon, but it is part of my job.” Emma is heading towards Daniel Radcliffe’s path who had shown his fully naked body in ‘Equus’. Emma will have to wait for her wishes to come true! She will be attending university to study English Language and for the time being she wants to concentrate on studies.

She revealed her present state of mind: “I’m not going to take a job just because, s***, I’m not doing anything else. I’m going to have a battle on my hands, because after Harry Potter has finished, I don’t know. I definitely want to go to university…” Emma also felt that she had a life that was far away from the world of Harry Potter. Emma also said that she “WOULD NOT” take up anything so big as Harry Potter.

The movie in the Harry Potter series “The half Blood Prince” is scheduled for release next summer and the final story in the franchise “Deathly Hallows” will be split into two movies.

Tags: Bernardo Bertolucci, Emma Watson, Harry Potter
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Daniel Radcliffe

The boy who took the world by storm accepts the fact that whatever he is today is all because he was cast as the lead in the “Harry Potter”series. Daniel Radcliffe who presently wants to shed his boyish charm has stripped for a full frontal nude seen on London and New York stages in Equus. His role in the play was marvelous as anticipated earlier.

He is ever thankful for his magical role in the blockbuster franchise. His present star status and massive fan following along with his bank balance is all because of Harry Potter.

Daniel has revealed that he might never get over his wand-wielding character in Harry Potter because he believes (and rightly so) that his role in the film has “given him everything”, everything that an actor could ask for in his entire life and career. He says, “It’s a reality you have to come to terms with - rather than letting it bother you, just accept the fact that there will always be some people who will forever see you for the one part you are most famous for.

Later he explains, “It’s not that I want to distance myself from it because… they’ve given me everything… it’s just a matter of being an actor rather than a character”. Daniel’s coming to terms with Harry Potter has gained him an honest image and a strong recognition. He said he would love to be associated with Harry Potter all his life as it has become his identity and a way of living.

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Sean Penn

Sean Penn had demanded more love scenes from writers of his new movie “Milk.” Sean had just one kissing scene with his co-star James France on their new movie “Milk”.
Sean Penn’s character Harvey Milk portrays a gay man whose partner is played by James France. France appears as Franco, Penn’s partner in the film.

The actor told Elle magazine: “In the original script I read, there was only one real kissing scene. A month after the director Gus Van Sant asked me to do it, they sent me another script, and on page five there was a full-on love scene.” Sean  had asked for more raunchy love scenes from the scrip writers of “Milk”. This could well bring in more gripping form for the film. Sean had been a part of films that had a social dimension and relevance. The actor par excellence has a niche audience and an aurafor his well carved out character portrayals.

“Milk” is up in the run for Oscars. Penn’s character is already gaining a strong platform in the critics’ minds. Penn is the hot favourite this year and is all set for the Oscar race. This time a political film like “Milk” will surely be on the top and secure a nomination for his role. In 2003 Penn took home the award for stunning portrayal in “Mystic River”.

The countdown suggests that James Franco and Josh Brolin could also find themselves nominated for Best Supporting actor. “Milk” weaves a magical story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. The story would be inspiring and powerful.

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James Jagger

The famous Rock and Roll superstar Sir Mick Jagger’s son, James Jagger is opening up his acting career. James does not want to follow the footsteps of his father. James’ mother is a Texan model Jerry Hall.

James landed from London stage. He bagged his first movie role in a  historical biopic of composer Vivaldi.

James turned his back to the music industry in the hope of making it big as an accomplished actor.

Jagger has once claimed that his father’s surname was “more of a curse than a blessing”, has proved strongly with the cast and crew on his first film, Vivaldi - The Red Priest.

James will be playing a pal of the Venetian priest famous for his Four Seasons composition. The movie is all set to see a grand release in 2009.

Mick Jagger

A source tells Britain’s Daily Express newspaper, “James doesn’t want to trade on his father’s name. He never mentions it, which is really good, but it is not hard to see the family resemblance”.

Tags: James Jagger, Sir Mick Jagger
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Clint Eastwood

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has decided to retire from acting. The Hollywood star’s career spanned for more than 50 years.

The 78-year-old had limited acting success in the 1950s. But the 60s brought him fame in varied roles. He was the formula for instant hits in Western movies such as “For a Few Dollars More” and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.

His role as hard-edged police inspector Harry Callahan in 1971 classic “Dirty Harry” and four sequels is regarded as one of the most nicely cut and enacted roles of all times.

Eastwood extended his career and was successful in doing so. He shifted from acting in movies to directing and has received Academy Awards for his work on “Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby”.The ace actor/director has been idolised as a masculine icon. Most of his films have received rave reviews and a significant degree of critical acclaim.

The director’s appeal spanned generations. He still enjoys success. His latest much talked about venture being this year’s movie Changeling, which has Angelina Jolie, receiving praise from critics and fans alike.

Eastwood has just finished starring in and directing “Gran Torino”, a drama about a racist veteran of the Korean War. The filming being over, he is hanging up his acting hat for good.

He tells Britain’s Sunday Express, “That will probably do it for me as far as acting is concerned.”

“You always want to quit while you are ahead. You don’t want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until you’re not performing at your best.”

But the star is adamant he will keep sitting in the director’s chair: “I’ve got no plans to stop making films.” With his directorial brilliance, Eastwood will surely keep on spinning his ace film making formula even after he fades from acting world.

Clint Eastwood would remain a popular sex symbol.

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Christian Bale

Christian Bale reportedly told the director of ‘Terminator: Salvation’ , McG to literally “f**k off” when the ‘Dark Knight’ star was approached by the director to star in the new ‘Terminator’ movie.

Director McG is the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ director. It was revealed that although in the initial stages Christian Bale had refused to portray John Connor ‘Terminator: Salvation’ but after going through the scropt Christian Bale was superbly fascinated and won over by the script.

McG revealed: “I met Christian when he was shooting ‘The Dark Knight’. He told me to f**k right off, he didn’t want to do it. He said, ‘Write it so that it could be read cold on stage and I’ll think about doing it.’ ”

The ‘Charlie’s Angels’ director had hinted on Arnie’s cameo role. But the present political status of Arnold Schwarzenegger who was the original star, can at the moment offer his cameo and nothing more than that. Though insiders believed that Arnold was to deliver more than just a cameo but the governor of California is all but being present on the sets of ‘Terminator: Salvation’, sparking speculation he was set to film a cameo in the movie but it is now believed he was there to be motion captured for the computer-generated character.

Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear in the film - as a CGI character. This is what the director of the film had hinted on. McG added to Total Film: “We’re trying to synthesise a human character with a CGI character and that may or may not have something to do with the T800.”

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Twilight

“Twilight” saw a grand opening With teenagers shouting at the top of their voices to get a glimpse of the author. It sure sounds a massive affair. Like never before, Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series of books, draws screams and lunging teenagers as she signs autographs and takes pictures before walking into the theater. Twilight’s World Premiere rocked Los Angeles with thousands of fans in every corner of the Westwood Village. Surely they were loud.

For a vampire love story tickets are literally selling like hot cakes. The upcoming midnight shows are being sold and at a random pace.Summit Entertainment film has already sold out hundreds of performances four days before its Friday opening in about 3,400 locations. Movie Ticket sellouts were definitely more than 400  of various show times.

Going by the ticketers the movie has more than 85% of pre-sales. With industry hearsay suggesting an overdose of spice is already ringing with spectacular advance ticket sales.

Several marketing heads of the industry are simply awestruck at the tremendous effect and with the film itself. Until now Summit Entertainment was just another name with no such movie to go by. With dim and modest success streak with its martial arts film “Never Back Down,” the teen comedy “Sex Drive,” Summit Entertainment had nothing to fall back on. BUt this time around Summit Entertainment has an amazing ace up its sleeve - “Twilight.”

Robert Pattinson Kristen Stewart

“Twilight” is the first in a series of enormously popular vampire love stories written by Stephenie Meyer. They now rest in peace before the final show stealing and probably one of the hottest Hollywood literary franchises since “Harry Potter.” The film, directed by Catherine Hardwicke stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and the band Paramore, who have a song on the soundtrack. The young actors,Stewart and Pattinson are treated with The Beatles style mania by fans. Last week, 10,000 kids literally mobbed them in a Dallas mall. They’ve been on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and several teen tabloids as well as all over MTV. Before the film actually hits the masses the stars are a real hit.

Industry speak suggests that half of Hollywood’s biggies missed “Twilight” and just let it go. The project was stalled for over a year. Twilight” was originally at Paramount’s MTV Films. Paramount reportedly wasted two years in developing before actually letting it all go. Paramountallowing the film slip through its hands brought it good times for the film. Former Paramount benefactors helped the film to develop. Karen Rosenfelt, a longtime Paramount production executive, and a veteran became attached with “Twilight” as a producer in fall 2006. There were several others like Summit Chief Executive Friedman, who’d been a top Paramount executive for years who came together. And the rest of “Twilight” remains to be seen if a history is in the making.

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Fergie

The Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie has put on 13lbs for her role in musical movie ‘Nine’. She stars alongside Nicole Kidman.  She had to be on calorific diets to get her perfect weight for her role as a prostitute Saraghina.

She said: “I have to give the bad food up now! So, yeah - I’m in that phase! Back to diet designs - my food delivery service!…”

33 year old singer found it hard to maintain her strict food regime. She said everything else seemed just fine except for the fact that she loved pumpkin pie.

She added to Usmagazine.com : “I like a good pumpkin pie - that’s my favourite - with homemade whipped cream. Whipped cream from scratch. I’ll eat it for breakfast, always.”

Fergie revealed her desperate attempt to lose weight before she weds fiance Josh Duhamel. She admitted she had to have several things that she never could have before. She ate all things fried like fish and chips.

Her mouth-wattering reminiscence of good food resounded in her words : “You can do creative things with food though. You know, turkey isn’t fattening - you can do that. A little bit of gravy. Or have a nice big salad!” She singer was sad for being able to indulge herself in good food/food of her choice.

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Isaiah Washington

Actor Isaiah Washington has lashed out at his former bosses of hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy. He decided to stand up against their decision to write Brooke Smith’s character out of the show, which he felt was simply “disgusting”.

Washington’s contract on the ABC medical drama was halted from being extended. He has allegedly used homophobic language during a 2006 on-set row with co-star Patrick Dempsey.

And this time he has launched a campaign in defence of Smith after bosses announced her character, who’s engaged in a lesbian storyline in the show, would be written out.

He says, “I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs. For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting…”

“The fact is that, just before the holidays, you have a mother, a wonderful actress removed from a steady income without the proper reasoning behind it… You look at the way another consummate professional (is) being treated because her character, her storyline (has) potentially made producers uncomfortable.

“Now that I see what they’re doing to a show that I love and I care about, I think it’s disgusting. The fact that (creator) Shonda (Rhimes) has been put in this position is extremely unfair. It’s unfortunate because it was probably, at the time, the most progressive show on television. Now I see it (being) systematically torn apart.”

But despite his disagreement with the show’s new direction, Washington insistantly admitted that he was keen to return to the series. Asked if he’d consider reprising his Dr. Preston Burke character, he thrillingly says, “Absolutely!”

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