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Hugh Jackman to Star in Lee Daniels's 'Selma'

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Mar 4th 2010 11:26AM
Filed under: Movie News
Wolverine is headed for the deep South.

In an interview with USA Today in advance of Sunday night's Academy Awards, 'Precious' director-producer Lee Daniels confirmed that Hugh Jackman will star in his next project, 'Selma,' which reflects upon the 1960s struggle for civil rights through the lens of the three legendary Alabama marches, from Selma to Montgomery, in 1965.

"I had to do a lot of homework on the script, and I spent a lot of time writing," Daniels said. "I feel like I'm caught up a little bit with that." Then he added, "I have to really start casting the movie because we're shooting it soon. The only person I've nailed in for sure is Hugh Jackman. It's all over the place."
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The 10 Most Powerful African Americans in Hollywood

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 26th 2010 7:00PM
Filed under: Features, Black History Month

Unlike Forbes' annual lists of the richest in Hollywood royalty, determining who possesses the most power is very much a subjective task. So much depends on perception: If you think someone has power, they probably do, regardless of whether their last film was a box-office hit or a bomb. In fact, power in Hollywood is as much about how people choose to wield it as it is about how they managed to acquire it.

African Americans in Hollywood, meanwhile, remain something of a subset of the industry, despite the obvious fact that there are more black actors, writers, directors and producers than ever before, and no one denies the clout that people of color can exert at the box office.

Still, developing a list of the 10 Most Powerful African Americans in Hollywood is a challenge. For example, no one under 30 made the top slots, and it really says something significant that the man-woman ratio here is an unsatisfactory 8-to-2. What we know is that ground continues to be broken each year.
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Nicole Kidman Will 'Just Go For It' in New Adam Sandler Comedy

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:15AM
Filed under: Movie News
Nicole KidmanNicole Kidman is going for it -- literally.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kidman will appear in the Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy 'Just Go for It,' co-written by Sandler, Allan Loeb, Tim Dowling and Tim Herlihy. Filming will reportedly begin next month in Los Angeles.

The size of Kidman's role is unclear (THR suggested it would only be a cameo), but we do know that the plot centers around a single mom (Aniston) who pretends to be Sandler's soon-to-be-divorced wife so that he can win back the love of his life, played by Sports Illustrated cover girl Brooklyn Decker. (Five bucks says that Sandler and Aniston wind up together in the end.)
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Disney Finds a 'Prom' Date

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 18th 2010 1:00PM
Filed under: Movie News
With 'High School Musical' moving toward a fourth installment and 'Glee' one of the hottest shows on TV, the pre-college years are suddenly saturating the zeitgeist. No wonder Disney is aiming to celebrate another timeless rite of teenage passage.

Per Variety, 'Prom' concerns -- well, a high school prom and all the pre-dance prep work and angst-ridden drama that makes it a memorable event. Unlike 'HSM,' however, it won't be a musical pic but a comedy: the script is being inked by the teen-friendly Katie Wech ('Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience').

Joe Nussbaum, helmer of several post-puberty pics (2004's 'Sleepover,' 2006's 'American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile' and 2007's 'Sydney White'), will direct.
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Pierce Brosnan, Ed Harris Seek 'Salvation'

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 11th 2010 10:45AM
Filed under: Movie News
A holy trinity of actors -- Pierce Brosnan, Ed Harris and Jim Gaffigan -- will star in the upcoming indie comedy 'Salvation Boulevard.'

According to Variety, George Ratliff will helm the pic from a screenplay by Ratliff and Douglas Stone. The pic is based on the novel by Larry Beinhart, who wrote the Oscar nominated film 'Wag the Dog.'

It follows a born again-Christian on the run from his mega-church members, all of whom will do anything to protect him.
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Awards Recap: 'Up,' 'Up in the Air' Win Major Precursors

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 8th 2010 11:00AM
Filed under: Movie News, Awards
Best Picture nominees 'Up in the Air' and 'Up' each snagged major precursor wins over the weekend, making them the frontrunners in two of Oscar's top categories.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount's recession dramedy (starring George Clooney, pictured) took home the top prize at Saturday's 22nd annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards, which honors the author of a literary work and the screenplay adapted from it. This year's recipients were Walter Kirn, who penned the 2001 novel of the same name, and Golden Globe-winning screenwriters Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.

The film triumphed over a crowded field that included 'Crazy Heart,' 'District 9,' 'An Education' and 'Precious.'

The Scripters also acknowledged Eric Roth ('Forrest Gump'; 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button') with its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

Meanwhile, Pixar's 'Up' moved that much closer to winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature with a Best Feature win at the 37th annual Annie Awards.
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Three Join Robert Pattinson in 'Bel Ami'

By Leonard Jacobs (Subscribe to Leonard Jacobs's posts), Posted Feb 3rd 2010 12:00PM
Filed under: Movie News
Three of Hollywood's finest actresses will join Robert Pattinson in the upcoming adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's 'Bel Ami.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci have all signed up for the project, with Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod on board to co-direct.

The film chronicles the womanizing and manipulative Georges Duroy (Pattinson) who rises from an insignificant military position to become one of the most powerful men in Paris. Thurman will play Madeleine Forestier, wife of Duroy's army friend Charles (played by Philip Glenister) and whom Duroy eventually marries.
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