Cinema

Schwarzenegger to play himself in Stallone film

Art will imitate life when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spends a few hours playing himself later this year in a movie by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone's publicist, Sheryl Main, revealed more details Tuesday of Schwarzenegger's rare big-screen appearance. The governor said he has done just three cameos for friends since becoming governor in 2003. Shooting on the film, "The Expendables," will begin March 28 in Brazil and move to New Orleans for two months. Main says the governor will shoot his scene in Los Angeles. His role will be a familiar one: California governor. Stallone writes, directs and stars in the movie, a film about a group of mercenaries trying to overthrow a South American dictator. It also stars Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker.

 

Leonardo DiCaprio Movie Buzz

Leonardo DiCaprio might be on the verge of teaming up with the director of 'The Dark Knight.' DiCaprio is in "final negotiations" to star in 'Inception,' an action-packed sci-fi film to be directed by Batman-helmer Christopher Nolan, says Variety. Filming will begin this year and the movie is expected to hit theaters in summer 2010, says the trade. Next up for Leo? 'Shutter Island,' a mysterious thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and due out this October.

 

Watchmen's "Decent" Midnight Box Office

Watchmen grossed an estimated $4.6 million in Friday midnight screenings, Exhibitor Relations reported today. "It's not high. It's a decent gross for the [two-and-a-half-hour-plus] running time," says Jeff Bock, a box-office analyst for the company. The numbers, he adds, "don't tell us it's going to be a huge blockbuster." Bock says the take signals somewhere around a $46 million to $50 million three-day gross, a debut that would put it in the neighborhood of Batman Begins, Superman Returns and Wanted, to name three comic-book releases, but leave it out of the reach of director Zack Snyder's 300, which bowed with $70.8 million in 2007. Among other recent midnight-launched movies, Watchmen came up short of Twilight ($7 million), and, unsurprisingly, a very long ways away from The Dark Knight (record $18.5 million.)

 

Drew Barrymore Tapped for 'Twilight'?

Drew Barrymore says she is excited about the possiblity of joining the hugely popular 'Twilight' franchise. Barrymore, 34, confirmed in a recent interview that she's being considered for 'Eclipse,' the third movie in the blockbuster vampire saga that began with 'Twilight' last year, the Associated Press reports. "I'm one of the directors that is being talked about, which is great, because I'm a director now," Barrymore said. "But, you know, they'll make their choice." Chris Weitz ('The Golden Compass') is directing 'New Moon,' the second film based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling series, after taking over the franchise from 'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke. 'New Moon' hits theaters this November, while 'Eclipse' is set for a summer 2010 release. Barrymore made her feature directorial debut in the upcoming film 'Whip It,' which she also stars in along with Ellen Page, Jimmy Fallon and Juliette Lewis.

 

Clive and Julia Talk Steamy Love Scenes at 'Duplicity' Premiere

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen steam up the screen in the smart, sexy romantic thriller 'Duplicity,' and they brought their chemistry to the red carpet Monday night in New York! Owen and Roberts who worked together previously in the 2004 drama 'Closer' tell ET what it was like to be reunited on the big screen. "It was fun," Roberts says. "It's silly to call what I do work, but it's my job." "We did laugh the whole time," Owen says about the love scenes between the two stars. "We've got a very similar sense of humor. Poor Tony Gilroy had to have a lot of patience. The steamier it got the funnier we found it." In theaters Friday, 'Duplicity' finds Clive and Julia as an MI6 agent and a former CIA officer, respectively, now working as corporate spies in order to cash in on a highly profitable cold war raging between two rival multinational corporations. Engaged in a secret love affair, they play a game of cat and mouse in order to secure the secret formula for a product that will bring a windfall fortune to the company that patents it first.

 

Star Trek to get Sydney premiere

The new Star Trek film will have its world premiere in Australia, studio bosses have announced. The movie, directed by Lost creator JJ Abrams, will open on 7 April at the Sydney Opera House. It will then kick off a world tour that will stop in countries including France, Japan, New Zealand and the UK. The film chronicles the early days of the USS Enterprise and stars Chris Pine as Captain James T Kirk and Heroes' Zachary Quinto as Mr Spock. The re-imagined story based on creator Gene Roddenberry's original TV 1960's series also features British actor Simon Pegg as Enterprise engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott. Leonard Nimoy, 77, who first portrayed Spock is the only original cast member who has a cameo in the new film. He had joined a campaign for the movie to hold its premiere in the small Canadian farming town of Vulcan, Alberta but it proved unsuccessful - partly because the town has no cinema. A trailer for the new movie broke records when it was downloaded 1.8 million times in the first 24 hours after being released earlier this month.

 

Cage rattles US box office chart

Nicolas Cage has topped the North American box office with sci-fi film Knowing, according to early figures. The movie, in which the 45-year-old plays an astrophysicist racing to save the world, made an estimated $24.8m (£17.1m) in its first three days. Male bonding comedy I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd, opened at number two with just over $18m (£12.4m). Spy thriller Duplicity, which re-teams Julia Roberts with British star Clive Owen, was third with $14.4m (£9.9m). The pair last played opposite each other in the acclaimed relationship drama Closer in 2004. Last weekend's top movie, Race to Witch Mountain, which stars former wrestling champion Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, fell to fourth place with receipts of $13m (£8.9m). Graphic novel adaptation Watchmen rounded out the top five with weekend takings of $6.7m (£4.6m), adding to it's worldwide tally of $139m (£95m). Knowing was far from Cage's best opening weekend - his biggest being 2007's Ghost Rider, which grossed $45.4m (£31.1m) its first three days, followed by his two National Treasure adventures, which took $44.8m (£30.7m) and $35.1m (£24.2m) respectively. Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian said the film's end-of-the-world plot offered an ideal antidote for moviegoers weary of gloomy economic news. "In a doomsday scenario, dollars and cents don't really matter anymore, and I think that's really appealing to people," he said. "Who cares about mortgages anymore if the world's going to blow up?"
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'Monsters' Storm Box Office

The animated blockbuster 'Monsters vs. Aliens' debuted at No. 1 this weekend with $58.2 million, studio estimates showed. The film follows a ragtag group of monsters enlisted by the military to save the world from aliens. Among the actors lending their voices to the movie include Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and Rainn Wilson. Opening at No. 2 was the horror flick 'The Haunting in Connecticut,' which brought in an estimated $23 million. The film follows a family forced to relocate for their son's health but they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home. Nicolas Cage's mystery thriller 'Knowing' came in third place with $14.7 million, while the romantic comedy 'I Love You, Man' -- starring Paul Rudd, Jason Segal and Rashida Jones -- finished fourth with $12.6 million.
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Enough in the Tank for Another Fast, Furious Sequel

In light of the green dust left swirling when Fast & Furious came roaring out of the gate with a record $72.5 million last weekend, Universal has confirmed to E! News that a sequel (or, technically, a fifthquel) is in the works. The studio weighed in after Paul Walker, aka FBI Agent Brian O'Conner of F&Fs 1 and 2, said during a Friday-morning interview with MYfm's Valentine that, "without question," he and Vin Diesel are coming back for more. "This was supposed to be it," he said of their latest go-round. "There wasn't supposed to be the open-ended closing like there was. When I first read the screenplay, I was like, 'Man, look what they're doing.' But without question, with the way things opened up, Vin and I will be coming back, we're making a fifth one, and we're going to Brazil, that's it." When asked how he ended up signing on for Fast & Furious, Walker basically said he owed it to the fans. "Vin didn't do the second one, and fans would always ask me, 'Why didn't Vin do the second one?' I didn't really have an answer for them," he said. "And then I didn't do the third one. And guys would come up to me on the street and be like, 'Hey, why weren't you in the third one?' And when they ask the question, it's kinda like they got that look…saying, 'Don't tell us you're too good for us now.' "When they started talking about making the fourth one, I was like, man, I don't really have a choice now, because if I don't do it I know I'm gonna be pissing people off, because this is the opportunity to come back and make the first true sequel." Valentine suggested the producers follow up The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast & Furious with "Fast and Furious: Car Pool Lane." Surely he brings up a good point: The overall plot possibilities are endless...but how to further manipulate the original title?

 

'Hannah Montana' Tops Box Office

Miley Cyrus has something to celebrate as her film 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' debuted at No. 1 at the weekend box office. The film -- based on the Disney Channel television show about a teenage girl living a double life-- opened with $34 million in ticket sales. The adrenaline-fueled blockbuster 'Fast & Furious' roared into second place this weekend making 28.8 million, studio estimates showed. The animated comedy 'Monsters vs. Aliens' came in 3rd with $22.6 million. The film -- about a ragtag group of monsters enlisted by the military to save the world from aliens -- uses the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and Rainn Wilson. Coming in at No. 4 was another movie with Seth Rogen, 'Observe and Report,' making $11.1 million.
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'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' In Action!

Muggles rejoice! 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' finally arrives on the big screen this July 15. In what could be the darkest, scariest and most exciting 'Potter' movie yet, the specter of the evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) hangs over Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and the students of Hogwarts as Dumbledore (Sir Michael Gambon) sets out to prepare our hero for the final battle (with a little help from new professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who may hold crucial information). Meanwhile, hormones are racing among the students thanks to a powerful love potion and Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) find themselves drawn to some, avoiding others and grappling with growing jealousy… Directed by David Yates ('Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'), the film also stars 'Potter' perennials Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Dame Maggie Smith, David Thewlis and Helena Bonham Carter.

 

Ron Howard: 'Angels & Demons' Not Anti-Catholic

Oscar-winning director Ron Howard responds to criticism that his highly anticipated film 'Angels & Demons' unfairly portrays the Roman Catholic Church. In an article for The Huffington Post, Howard writes that William Donohue of the Catholic League is on a mission "to paint me and the movie I directed, 'Angels & Demons,' as anti-Catholic." Howard says Donohue is selling a booklet, in which he asserts that the director and others involved in the movie "do not hide their animus against all things Catholic." "Let me be clear: neither I nor 'Angels & Demons' are anti-Catholic. And let me be a little controversial: I believe Catholics, including most in the hierarchy of the Church, will enjoy the movie for what it is: an exciting mystery, set in the awe-inspiring beauty of Rome." Howard goes on to say that religious criticism of the film is unwarranted because it is clearly a work of fiction. "Mr. Donohue's booklet accuses us of lying when our movie trailer says the Catholic Church ordered a brutal massacre to silence the Illuminati centuries ago. It would be a lie if we had ever suggested our movie is anything other than a work of fiction (if it were a documentary, our talk of massacres would have referenced the Inquisition or the Crusades)." 'Angels & Demons,' the the prequel to 'The Da Vinci Code,' stars Tom Hanks as world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, who confronts the shadowy secret society, the Illuminati, to uncover a conspiracy that may put the Vatican -- and the world -- in explosive jeopardy. The movie hits theaters May 15.

 

Beyonce Talks Babies and Broadway

Beyonce reveals that she wants children with Jay-Z and even envisions a stint on Broadway! Broadway is "my ideal job," Beyonce tells Reuters. "I'll be able to go to the theater every day and drop my kids off and maybe make some food -- maybe I'll know how to cook by then -- and then go do what I love and have some normalcy and have a regular schedule." The star's new movie, 'Obsessed,' is in theaters Friday.

 

Übercool Zac Efron Invades Berlin!

Heartthrob actor Zac Efron demonstrates his worldwide star power in Germany's capital, Berlin. The 21-year-old Efron poses with fans and waves to the crowd after arriving on the red carpet for the premiere of his latest film '17 Again.' The movie hits theaters across Germany on May 14.

 

Swine Flu Delays Mexico 'Wolverine' Premiere

Hugh Jackman's highly anticipated film, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' will not be premiering in Mexico City this week due to the outbreak of a new flu dubbed the "swine flu." The premiere, which was set to take place this Wednesday, has been postponed. Movie theaters, schools, and more have been closed in Mexico City, which has been hit hard by the outbreak. A rep for the film tells ET it's possible that the premiere could be rescheduled and that the studio is monitoring the situation.

 

'Star Trek' Mexico Launch Hit by Swine Flu

Earlier this week the Mexico premiere of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' was postponed due to reported outbreaks of Swine Flu -- and now 'Star Trek' is the next film to fall victim to the epidemic. The Mexico launch which was scheduled for May 8 has been postponed by Paramount, Variety reports. According to the trade paper, Mexico City has virtually shut down. As of now the studios do not feel the flu epidemic will affect moviegoers in other areas.

 

Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber's Son Briefly Hospitalized

Liev Schreiber had a good reason for missing Tuesday's Los Angeles premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine: His 21-month-old son, Sasha, was sick, PEOPLE has learned exclusively. Schreiber, who plays Sabretooth in the film, immediately flew from L.A. to New York to be with his partner, Naomi Watts, and their two children. Sasha, who was hospitalized overnight for respiratory issues, was released Wednesday morning. "Sasha got home today and is feeling much better after being hospitalized on Tuesday night with respiratory problems," Schreiber's rep Ina Treciokas tells PEOPLE.

 

Wolverine Wolfs Down $34 Million Friday

Wolverine has a little bit of Iron Man in him after all. X-Men Origins: Wolverine kicked off the summer box office with an estimated $34 million Friday, Exhibitor Relations reported today. The gross put the star-crossed superhero flick—leaked print, swine-flu scare, bad reviews and all—in the neighborhood of Iron Man, which began last summer with a $35.2 million bang. Exhibitor Relations was calling for Wolverine to close out the weekend with $85 million, a haul that would make it the fourth- or fifth-biggest summer starter this decade, depending on whether it tops its own relation, X2: X-Men United ($85.6 million in 2003). Iron Man posted a $98.6 million three-day opening weekend.
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Jennifer Aniston Talks Future in Late Night Hosting

Jennifer Aniston tells ET's Thea Andrews she loved her role reversal with "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon "a little too much" -- but the actress plans to keep her day job, starting with promoting her new film 'Management' alongside her costar Steve Zahn. Aniston says she would consider filling in for Fallon somewhere down the line, but right now she's enjoying movies! "We had so much fun it was shocking that we were at work," the actress said of working on 'Management.' In the film, Aniston plays a traveling saleswoman who sells cheap art to small companies and motels. During one of her stops, she has a fling with an aimless assistant motel manager played by Zahn, who subsequently pursues her around the United States. The film is set to hit theaters May 29.

 

Star Trek on Course After "Solid" Opening Night

The revamped Star Trek grossed an estimated $7 million from Thursday night screenings. "Just about everybody who's seen it thinks it's going to make $100 million [this weekend]," Exhibitor Relations' Jeff Bock said today. "And just about everybody who [doesn't have much] interest in it thinks it's going to do $60 million." According to Bock, the film's Thursday take puts the sci-fi action movie on course for the more widely expected $60 million to $70 million weekend debut. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Or its Thursday performance, which was twice as big as the $3.5 million Iron Man took in from its opening-night Thursday shows last May. Said Bock: "It's definitely a solid number…And it still leaves the weekend pretty wide open."

 
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