Actor in negotiations to join Chuck Russell's 3D adventure

Liam Hemsworth, who co-stars in Disney's upcoming Miley Cyrus drama "The Last Song," is jumping into action-movie territory with "Arabian Nights."

The actor is in negotiations to star in Inferno Entertainment's 3D adventure directed by Chuck Russell.

Inferno's Bill Johnson is producing with Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures. ROAR also is producing.
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Six companies invited to participate in second-round bidding

As many as a half-dozen companies are expected to place updated offers for MGM by March 19, the newly set deadline on second-round bidding for the beleaguered Lion.

That's only because six companies were invited to the latest round of due diligence, including management presentations of MGM financial data. It's an open question how many will be inspired to put their money where the...

New York festival kicks off in early April

New York's Gen Art Film Festival, celebrating its 15th anniversary, will kick off April 7 with a screening at the Ziegfield Theatre of Josh Radnor's "happythankyoumoreplease."

Winner of the U.S. dramatic audience award at the Sundance Film Fest in January, the film stars Radnor, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Tony Hale, Pablo Schreiber and Zoe Kazan in a tale of twentysomethings in the city.

David Chase also wrote music-driven feature for Paramount

"Sopranos" creator David Chase has unveiled the nature of the feature film he's written and will direct for Paramount Pictures.

Nearly two years ago, after his award-winning HBO series had run its course, Chase signed to write, direct and produce a drama for the studio. That directorial debut will be a music-driven coming-of-age story set in the 1960s.

The untitled film...

Kevin Dunn, Nick Nolte betting on horseracing drama

Kevin Dunn has been tapped to co-star on HBO's drama pilot "Luck," with "Rome" alumna Kerry Condon and Tom Payne also set and Nick Nolte in talks for the horse drama starring Dustin Hoffman.

"Luck," from Michael Mann and David Milch, takes a look at the worlds of horse racing and gambling through a diverse group of characters surrounding a racetrack. It centers on an intelligent, intuitive ...

Kathryn Bigelow wins best director; 'Avatar' takes home three

By reinstituting 10 best picture nominees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences set out to shake up its 82nd annual awards show and, in the process, ended up making history.

Summit's "The Hurt Locker," with just $14.7 million in domestic grosses, captured a leading six Oscars on Sunday night and defied the odds to emerge as best picture -- defeating five movies that had...

Suspense film also stars Terrence Howard, Charlie Hunnam

Liv Tyler and Patrick Wilson have been cast in the suspense film "The Ledge" from first-time writer-director Matthew Chapman.

The actors join Terrence Howard and Charlie Hunnam in the story of a man (Hunnam) standing on a high-rise ledge who insists he must jump by noon as the policeman below (Howard) tries to manage the situation.

The film, which is being produced by Mic...

Commentary: 'Hurt Locker' win to go down as controversial

It was the Little Engine That Could against the Big Kahuna that couldn't.

In what will go down as one of the more controversial Academy votes for best picture, Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" ran roughshod over James Cameron's

NEW YORK – An estimated 41.3 million people saw "The Hurt Locker" top the popular "Avatar" for best picture in the most-watched

RENO, Nev. – A Hollywood associate of Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis was fined $5,000 Monday but spared prison time for his role as the "bag man" in the bribery of jail guards to help Francis when he was held in Reno on

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentine President Cristina Fernandez is congratulating the director and actors of the "The Secret in Their Eyes," a local film that won the Oscar for best foreign-language film.

Fernandez called the film "a fantastic movie that I saw twice and that had a real impact on me."

The movie portrays the activities of the Argentine Anti-communist Alliance. That "Triple A" death squad ...

LOS ANGELES – Talk about fantastic finishes. Just when Hollywood figured James Cameron would win the directing and motion picture awards for his super moneymaker "Avatar," it didn't happen that way.

Sandra Bullock dressed the part at Sunday's Academy Awards: She wore a ...

LOS ANGELES – Christoph Waltz was a veteran TV and stage actor in Europe who was virtually unknown in Hollywood. Then he met Quentin Tarantino.

Walt...

Quotes from Sunday night's 82nd annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:

"Oscar and Penelope, that's an uber-Bingo." — Christoph Waltz, accepting the best supporting actor Oscar.

"Never did I dream that making a flip book out of my third-grade math book would l...

LOS ANGELES – The Academy Awards is without question Hollywood's biggest night, a time when the world stops to gawk at its celluloid heroes. Here's an insider's look from the

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Taylor Lautner isn't a member of the

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – In "Green Zone," director Paul Greengrass brings the frenetic, run-and-gun style with which he utterly transformed the movie thriller in the Jason Bourne series to a different kin...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The producer of the "Police Academy" movies is looking for some new recruits.

Paul Maslansky is developing a new iteration of the lowbrow comedy series at New Line Cinema; no writer or director are attached yet.

"Police Academy," which spawned seven films between 1984 and 1994, saw a city throw open the doors of its police force to any recruit, much to the chagrin o...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Warner Bros. is spreading the 3D love again.

The studio on Thursday revealed plans to release a pair of previously announced 2D pics in 3D: "The

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – If there's a lesson to be gleaned from "Stolen," it's that combining two essentially dull stories results in less than the sum of their parts.

Anders Anderson's sluggish thriller concerning two separate missing-children cases spanning 50 years has its intriguing elements, but despite a cast that includes Josh Lucas and the white-hot

NEW YORK (Billboard) – "American Idol" viewers sent four more contestants packing on Thursday, as Haeley Vaughn, Jermaine Sellers, Michelle Delamor and John Park were eliminated from...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Jeri Ryan has joined ABC's crime drama "Body of Evidence,"

The project centers on a brilliant, tenacious medical examiner -- a part Dana Delany is in talks for -- whose background as a neurosurgeon gives her a unique and refreshing crime-solving perspective but puts her at odds with near...

Matthew Greenberg to write screenplay for Paramount film

Matthew Greenberg, who wrote the Stephen King adaptation "1408," is heading back to King territory with "Pet Sematary."

Lorenzo di Bonaventura recently boarded as producer on the long-gestating project, which is set up at Paramount. Steven Schneider also is producing.

Published in 1983, King's creeper tale centered on a family that trades the city life for the country lif...

Original producer Paul Maslansky is back for the new iteration

New Line is looking for recruits for a relaunched "Police Academy" movie. Original producer Paul Maslansky is back for the new iteration, which has no writer or director attached.

"Academy" was a seven-film lowbrow comedy series from Warner Bros. that saw a city throw open the doors of its police force to any recruit, much to the chagrin of its serious officers. The misfit office...

Warner Bros. plans to release both films in three dimensions

Warner Bros. is spreading the 3D love again.

The Burbank studio on Thursday revealed plans to release two previously announced 2D pics in 3D: "The Green Lantern" and "Sucker Punch."

Zach Snyder's action fantasy "Punch" is still set to land in theaters on March 25, 2011, following its move into the third dimension. And Ryan Reynolds starrer "Green Lantern" will light u...

Twelve titles in lineup revealed; includes 'Winter's Bone'

The Dallas International Film Festival will present its Texas Avery Animation Award to Pete Docter, one of the writers and the director of "Up."

The fest, which runs from April 8-18, also unveiled a dozen titles in its lineup, including three world premieres. They are: Peter Rosen's "A Surprise in Texas," a documentary about the Van Cliburn International Piano Competion; Matthew Leuwyle...

David Anspaugh boards film based on an inspirational story

David Anspaugh has signed to direct the inspirational tale "Little Red Wagon," based on the story of 12-year-old Zach Bonner, an advocate for homeless youth.

Patrick Sheane Duncan ("Mr. Holland's Opus") is writing the screenplay about Bonner, who as a 7-year-old used his wagon to collect water and supplies in Tampa, Fla., for victims of 2004's Hurricane Charley. A year later, he form...

Oren Moverman's drama is up for two Oscars

LONDON -- Sales company the Works U.K. Distribution said Thursday that it has acquired U.K. distribution rights to Oren Moverman's double Oscar-nominated drama "The Messenger," starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and Samantha Morton, from international sales agent ContentFilm International.

Nominated for best screenplay by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman and best supporting actor for Harrelson, ...

Appeared in the three 'Ocean's Eleven' films

Book 'em, Scott!

Scott Caan, co-star in the "Ocean's Eleven" movie franchise, has been tapped for the role of Danny "Danno" Williams on CBS' updated version of "Hawaii Five-O."

The new "Hawaii," from CBS Studios, "Star Trek" writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and "CSI: NY' executive producer Peter Lenkov, centers on an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police headed by Steve McGa...

Nate Corddry, Robert Patrick also land pilot roles

Jeri Ryan has joined ABC's drama "Body of Evidence," Nate Corddry and Jonathan Sadowski lead the cast of NBC's comedy presentation "Our Show," "The Unit" alum Robert Patrick has joined ABC's drama "Edgar Floats," Allison Miller has landed a lead in the CW's drama "Betwixt" and Alan Ruck has joined the CW's untitled Wyoming project.

Additionally, "Friday Night Lights' " Matt Lauria and Devin ...

VIDEO: Tim Burton's film could earn $75 mil or more

Through the looking glass and into the oh-so-lucrative third dimension.

The winter boxoffice season's first 3D tentpole hits movie theaters at 12:01 a.m. Friday as Disney opens Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" after sorting out concerns about the pic'...

Takes on role as chief creative officer on Monday

March 3, 2010, 08:32 PM ET

Polish-German short documentary is up for an Oscar

Icarus Films has picked up North American rights to "Rabbit a la Berlin," a Polish-German doc that is nominated for an Oscar in the documentary short category.

Created by Bartosz Konopka, Piotr Rosolowski and Anna Wydra, the film recounts the history of the Berlin Wall through the eyes of wild rabbits that lived in its shadow for 28 years.

"Rabbit," which has screened at 32 fes...

'Hurt Locker,' 'Avatar' in virtual tie for best picture race

Those who are betting real cash on the Oscars have determined that "Crazy Heart's" Jeff Bridges is a lock for best actor, so much so that most online bookies will require you to risk $6 just to win $1.

But if there's an upset in that category, it wil...

Screen Association aims to hype behind-the-scenes industry

LONDON -- The U.K. facilities industries accounted for revenues of £2.7 billion ($4.1 billion) and employed 30,000 people in 2008, according to a major new report from the U.K. Screen Association that aims to highlight the importance of the sector.

The report found that the U.K. is host to 1,300 specialized companies as well as inhouse staff in the production sector and reckoned that...

Actress also will executive produce 'Wright vs. Wrong'

Debra Messing is making a return to half-hour comedy with a starring role in ABC's pilot "Wright vs. Wrong."

The Emmy-winning "Will & Grace" alumna also will serve as an executive producer and take up ownership on the single-camera project, from Sony TV and Tantamount.

Penned by actress-writer Stephnie Weir ("MadTV"), "Wrong" centers on Evelyn Wright (Messing), a driven con...

'True Beauty' premieres May 31; 'Wipeout' debuts June 22

ABC has booked the return of two summer reality shows: Season 2 of "True Beauty" and Season 3 of "Wipeout."

"Beauty" will debut at 10 p.m. Monday, May 31, following the "The Bachelorette." The duo proved an effective combination when paired last year.

The series, produced by Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, again will follow 10 attractive contestants participating in what t...

'Made in NY' program will learn basics, technical skills

NEW YORK -- New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, council speaker Christine Quinn, city film, commissioner Katherine Oliver and actor Anthony Anderson ("Law & Order") on Wednesday unveiled a pilot program to train women, minorities and struggling New Yorkers for jobs in film and TV production.

Participants in the "Made in NY" Production Crafts Training Program will learn production basics ...

Robert Rodriguez, Nimrod Antal to show footage at festival

Hometown hero Robert Rodriguez ("Planet Terror") and director Nimrod Antal ("Armored") will treat SXSW film festival attendees in Austin next week to a sneak peek at footage from their upcoming actioner "Predators," the next chapter in the venerable franchise.

The event will take place March 12 at the Alamo Ritz Theatre during the kickoff of the 2010 fest.

The world p...

Stefan Ruzowitzky in negotiations to direct period horror pic

Stefan Ruzowitzky, the Austrian director behind Oscar-winning foreign film "The Counterfeiters," is in negotiations to helm period horror "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" for Phoenix Pictures.

"Demeter" was the name of the ship that transported Dracula from Transylvania to London in Bram Stoker's classic tale. In that novel, it washes up on the shores of England, tattered and brok...

Chuck Norris to be honored

Billing itself as the first film festival devoted to action films, the four-day ActionFest will kick off in Asheville, N.C. on April 15 with the world premiere of Neil Marshall's "Centurion."

Created by Carolina Cinemas founder/Magnolia Pictures co-founder Bill Banowsky and action director/producer Aaron Norris, the festival will take place at the Carolina Asheville Cinema.

Chuck Norris will be honore...

New initiatives include online venture screening fest movies

As the indie distribution scene continues to reconfigure itself, the umbrella organization that oversees the Tribeca Film Festival said Tuesday that is launching two initiatives to forge new release patterns.

Tribeca Enterprises, established in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, will court a wider audience through a new unit, Tribeca Film, which is described ...

Actor replaces James McAvoy in Seth Rogen comedy

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is taking over the role that James McAvoy was to have played in the untitled cancer comedy that Jonathan Levine is directing for

Forlani, Perkins, Mangan to co-star in Showtime/BBC comedy

Claire Forlani, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Stephen Mangan have been tapped to co-star opposite Matt LeBlanc on Showtime/BBC's comedy series "Episodes."

The project, which has a seven-episode order, revolves around a successful British husband-and-wife comedy team (Forlani, Mangan) thrilled by the prospect of producing an U.S. version of their hit series. But they soon are forced to re...

Jason Ritter co-stars in Nick Wauters' dramatic thriller

Blair Underwood will play the U.S. President on NBC's drama pilot "The Event."

"The Event" is a thriller chronicled from multiple points of view that centers on Sean (Jason Ritter), a regular man fighting his way through the mysterious circumstances of a conspiracy to assassinate the U.S. president (Underwood).

The recently-elected President, originally envisioned as "a ...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Rachel McAdams is in negotiations to star opposite Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard in Woody Allen...

LOS ANGELES – Oscar producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic are bridging stage and screen with an advanced, automated set at the

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Those who are betting real cash on the Oscars have determined that "Crazy Heart's" Jeff Bridges is a lock for best actor, s...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The path to the altar twists predictably through strained high jinks and more convincing sentiment in "Our Family Wedding," a slightly fractured fairy tale that places Latino and black characters center stage.

As a spectator sport, wedding planning is hardly Olympic material, and this nuptials-focused comedy doesn't up the entertainment factor to any significant degree.

But though the intended hil...

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iranian security forces have detained film director Jafar Panahi, winner of many international awards, an opposition website said on Tuesday.

Panahi was held at his home together with his wife Mahnaz Mohammadi, daughter and 15 guests on Monday evening, opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi's website Kaleme said.

Panahi's hom...

LOS ANGELES – Cast members of the 1988 movie "Stand and Deliver" are appealing for donations to help the movie's real-life subject, an

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Sean Bean is starring opposite Luke Goss in "Death Race 2," a straight-to-DVD prequel to the 2008 Jason Statham thriller.

The film as serving as the origin story for the character named Frankenstein

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "The Crazies," a remake of George Romero's 1973 horror movie, opened at No. 3 at the

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Jason Winer, one of the key figures behind ABC's comedy "Modern Family," is set to direct Russell Brand in a remake of "Arthur."

The original 1981 movie followed a boozy playboy rascal, played by Dudley Moore<...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Julie Benz, currently appearing on "Desperate Housewives" as a lesbian stripper who seduces Dana Delany's character, will play the wife of Michael Chiklis in ABC's drama pilot "No Ordinary Family."

The show revolves around a typical American family led by Jim (Chiklis), a once aspiring artist-turned-police artist, w...

Cameron Diaz also stars in Jake Kasdan comedy

Justin Timberlake has nabbed the coveted role of the male lead in "Bad Teacher," the Cameron Diaz comedy Jake Kasdan is directing for Columbia.

Molly Shannon and Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family") are also joining the cast.

The script, by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, follows a foul-mouthed, gold-digging seventh-grade teacher who, after being dumped by her boyfriend, sets her ...

'The Circle' helmer supported opposition leader

TEHRAN -- Iranian security forces have detained film director Jafar Panahi, winner of many international awards, an opposition website said on Tuesday.

Panahi was held at his home together with his wife Mahnaz Mohammadi, daughter and 15 guests on Monday evening, opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi's website Kaleme said.

Panahi's home was searched and some of his belongings seized...

Universal film is a prequel to 2008's Jason Statham starrer

Sean Bean is starring opposite Luke Goss in "Death Race 2," the prequel to Universal's 2008 Jason Statham starrer.

Universal is putting out the feature, now shooting in South Africa, as part of its DVD Originals banner. "Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball" was the label's most recent release.

Also in the cast are Lauren Cohan, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo and Frederick Koehle...

Sells equipment to Mid-Atlantic exhibitor Bow Tie Cinemas

Technicolor said Monday that it has made its first sale of film-3D equipment, with Mid-Atlantic regional exhibitor Bow Tie Cinemas set to outfit 25 of its 150 screens with the systems.

Film-based 3D allows exhibitors to install 3D adapters on conventional 35mm projectors. A separate conversion from conventional movie screens to so-called silver screens still is required, just as with ...

Agrees to remove unpermitted sign for DWA film in Hollywood

A Los Angeles businessman who was arrested for investigation of draping a building with a massive billboard for DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" near the site of Sunday night's Oscars agreed to remove the sign Monday in exchange for a drastic reduc...

Actor-producer will receive Chaplin Award at May 24 gala

Actor-producer will receive Chaplin Award at May 24 gala

Julie Benz cast in 'No Ordinary Family'; other pilots expanding

"Dexter" alumna Julie Benz has been tapped to star opposite Michael Chiklis in ABC's drama pilot "No Ordinary Family."

In other pilot castings, Christina Chang also has come aboard "No Ordinary Family," Jaime King and Mehcad Brooks have joined ABC's hourlong "Generation Y," Fran Kranz has landed a role on NBC comedy "Friends With Benefits," Alexandra Breckenridge has come aboard ...

Nine episodes plus the pilot have been ordered

HBO has greenlighted highly anticipated fantasy series "Game of Thrones."

The premium network has picked up the project for a first-season debut next spring. Nine episodes plus the pilot have been ordered. Production will begin in Belfast this June.

The pickup comes on the heels of another HBO big ticket series order, for Terence Winter and Martin Scorsese's drama "Boardwalk Emp...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Dermot Mulroney is NBC's new Jim Rockford.

In his first regular TV role, Mulroney is set to play the iconic private eye in the network's updated take on the hit 1970s drama that starred James Garner in the title role.

The new Jim Rockford is described as "slightly crumpled, wry humored, cynical, world we...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The world premiere of "Shrek Forever After" will raise the curtain at New York's Tribeca Film Festival on April 21.

The

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Angelina Jolie and Darren Aronofsky are in discussions to develop a big-screen adaptation of Ron Rash's 2008 period tome "Serena: A Novel."

The project would be a star...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Adam Brody is in talks to join the cast of "The Oranges," an indie comedy-drama starring

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – With the Vancouver Olympics near an end on Sunday, Hollywood began charting its own path to glory at the Oscars, and though the film honors feature shoo-in contenders in several key races, industry watchers still expect some ...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Universal is getting into the Broken Lizard business, picking up a college caper and an untitled project from the comedy group.

"Rogue Scholars," the college comedy revolving around five unruly professors played by the members of Brok...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Tim Burton's trademark winsomely outlandish style doesn't prepare you for the thoroughly enjoyable spectacle that is his "Alice in Wonderland." A fantastical romp that proves every bit as transporting as that movie about the blue people of Pandora, his "Alice" is more than just a gorgeous 3D sight to behold.

Armed with a smartly reshaped but still re...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Woody Harrelson, who's on a roll thanks to his Oscar-nominated turn in "The Messenger" and a crowd-pleasing one in "Zombieland

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – A lesser-known entry in the George A. Romero living-dead oeuvre, 1973's "The Crazies" has been given the remake treatment to surprisingly satisfying effect.

Part zombie movie, part apocalyptic bioterror...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Nicole Kidman will exercise her comedy chops in "Just Go for It," a movie starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.