Columbus Short Is Not Green Lantern

We’re getting to the point where it almost seems cooler to have rejected a role in the upcoming JLA movie than to have accepted one. Look at the amount of talent that has said, “no,” to the powers behind the movie: Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jessica Biel for Wonder Woman, Tyrese Gibson for Green Lantern, and, of course, the heavies Christian Bale and Brandon Routh as Batman and Superman respectively.

A new name has been added to the list – not as a cast member but as an actor who has turned down a part in the Justice League movie: Columbus Short (Stomp the Yard). Reportedly, Short was offered a shot at wearing the ring of the Green Lantern, but opted not to take part.

Short told MTV Movie Blog that he thinks JLA is going to be huge, but isn’t a movie he wants to be a part of due to the popcorn factor. As the actor isn’t the first actor to mention that (and probably won’t be the last), I can’t help but worry that the movie will suffer from a rushed script.

Think about it: Batman Begins, Spider-Man 2, X-Men United, these are all high-bar superhero movies. They also all manage to survive with a significantly low cheese factor. They’re just good stories that are about superheroes. It sounds like JLA is trying to be a good superhero movie, which almost always leads to cheesy plot elements.

Rhames To Hit Audience With Phantom Punch

The story of Sonny Liston is both uplifting and heartbreaking. The son of a sharecropper with twenty-four siblings spent his early years in jail before rising from the ashes and claiming the world heavyweight title in 1962. His ferocious title reign should have lasted the better part of a decade, enshrining him alongside Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson, but instead his legacy was forever tarnished by an over-exaggerated injury and a phantom punch.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ving Rhames has signed on to portray Liston in a biopic entitled Phantom Punch. The green light finally came after a lengthy battle with Hollywood studios to get funding. On top of baring a striking resemblance to the fallen champion, Rhames has publically claimed numerous times to be fascinated by Liston’s fall from grace. It truly may be the role the former Con Air star was born to play.

Filming is yet to begin and no definitive time table has been announced; so, I’d expect the final product to be more than a year away. I’m already getting excited. I’m one of the few people who still love boxing, and Liston’s unnecessary and conspiracy-ridden demise has always fascinated me.

Alanis Morissette Is A Fan Of Dick

I’ve always had this thing for Alanis Morissette. It’s not that she’s necessarily all that pretty, or that I think her music is that great (though come on she’s crazy talented), she’s just always seemed like one of those really cool chicks; the type you’d want to marry and spend the rest of your life trying to save the whales with… even if you hate whales and love carving tie tacks out of whale bone and even though you probably wouldn’t have to because she’s cool enough to simply let you be you. But you wouldn’t be you, you’d rather be her vision of you, so for her you’d give up the endangered species arts and crafts. As a bonus, if you ever screw up and dump her, she’ll write a song about how much you suck. Who wouldn’t want that? I would.

HR says she’s trying to launch some sort of film career, but since she’s Alanis she’s picked something worth doing instead of something that people will actually see. She’s joined the cast of Radio Free Aftermath, a semi-biographical movie about famed and fascinating science fiction author Philip K. Dick. The film incorporates the crazy visions of what’s going on in Dick’s head along with the reality of what’s happening around him, so Alanis will be in a sense playing two roles. She shows up as a glamorous singer named Sylvia in one of Dick’s visions of a record executive. Meanwhile in the real world Sylvia’s an ordinary secretary in remission from lymphoma.

Morissette’s not just in the movie, she claims to actually have read a book. Rare among musicians, but true. She says, “I am a big fan of Philip K. Dick's poetic and expansively imaginative books… I feel blessed to portray Sylvia, and to be part of this story being told in film.”

Jason Statham Still Crankin

A sequel to Jason Statham’s adrenaline junky movie Crank was being talked about earlier this year, and now it looks like it’ll happen. Variety says that Jason Statham will be back and kicking people in the head for the sequel. They’re calling it Crank 2: High Voltage instead of the much more logical title I suggested: Crank 2: Still Crankin.

The original film starred Statham as an assassin injected with a poison which would kill him if his heart-rate dropped. It was kind of like Speed, but on foot. In Still Crankin, Statham’s Chev Chelios character is stuck in an unbelievably similar situation. This time a Chinese mobster steals his heart and replaces it with a battery-powered heart which requires regular jolts of electricity to continue functioning. I don’t know if the movie will be any good, but I look forward to watching Jason Statham electrocute himself repeatedly. Payback’s a bitch Jason, you never should have made that awful piece of crap The Transporter.

George Clooney For GI Joe?

With JLA close to finally announcing a cast, the next movie likely to start beating you down with an endless supply of incorrect casting rumors is the Paramount movie adaptation of GI Joe. The latest bit of casting gossip on the film involves a name so big, it’s almost stupid to believe its true.

IESB claims that George Clooney has been offered the role of Duke in GI Joe. Originally word was that the production’s producers wanted Mark Wahlberg for the part. But, as a way of applying logic to this situation, they’re throwing out the idea that after a string of bad box office performers like Michael Clayton, Clooney walked away from Joe Carnahan’s White Jazz in order to latch onto a guaranteed Hollywood blockbuster and GI Joe could be it.

I don’t buy it. With all due respect to the great guys at IESB, their record on GI Joe casting rumors isn’t exactly spotless. They’re responsible for circulating that old Jason Statham for Action Man rumor which Statham recently blew to pieces by saying he had no connection of any kind to the project. And by the way, this is George Clooney we’re talking about here. I really doubt if the guy cares about how much money his movies are making. For the past few years he’s been pretty content to focus on doing work that he believes in rather than movies which will make tons of money. Clooney’s made it fairly clear that he has his wad of cash and now he’s making his way through Hollywood doing quality work. If he did want to do a blockbuster, he’d have his pick, and he’d be more likely to pick something that… oh I don’t know… isn’t based on a cartoon which was invented primarily as a platform for selling war toys to 8-year-old boys.

Lenny Kravitz Marks Feature-Starring Debut in Indie Flick Push

Taking foray into film industry, Lenny Kravitz will make his big screen acting debut in an independent film feature titled "Push", Variety has reported.

The rocker is being lined up alongside the likes of Mo'nique, Paula Patton, and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in the cast, all coming under the direction of "Shadowboxer" helmer Lee Daniels. Here he will play a male nurse who shows kindness to lead character Clareece "Precious" Jones, an overweight, illiterate African-American teen in Harlem.

Billed as Jones is Sidibe, who beat out 300 young girls to win the role in the casting calls held around the States. Meanwhile, Mo'nique will act as her mother and Patton a teacher at an alternative school who helps her find an alternative path in her life.

Project, scripted by Geoffrey Fletcher based on the bestselling novel by Sapphire aka Ramona Lofton, is a co-production of Lee Daniels Entertainment and Smokewood Entertainment Group, which is also financing the flick. Shooting is just getting under way in New York with Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Lisa Cortes, and Tom Heller all executive producing.

Daniel Craig Bound to Four More Bond Movies

The suave British super-spy will still go blond at least for four more installments of his adventures. MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan recently stated to The Hollywood Reporter that Daniel Craig has signed on to play 007 in four more James Bond films.

It is unclear, however, whether the number includes "Bond 22" which has already been in pre-production for a December start. Nevertheless, this will make Craig the third actor to reprise the character most after Roger Moore and Sean Connery, that's if he does sticks to the contract.

Craig was confirmed to be the sixth acting talent to portray James Bond on October 14, 2005 and subsequently made his first appearance as the agent in last year's "Casino Royale." His portrayal of a more rugged, muscular style Bond proved to be a hit among the audience, boosting the movie's total gross to over $594 million worldwide.

Alanis Morissette Takes Acting Turn in Radio Free Albemuth

Amidst her state of being busy preparing her new album, "Flavors of Entanglement", Alanis Morissette appears to have enough space to add an acting stint into her schedule. The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that the Grammy Award-winning singer is about to star in "Radio Free Albemuth", a big screen adaptation of the Philip K. Dick semi-autobiographical novel.

Morissette is learned to play a woman named Sylvia who shows up in the vision of Nick, a record label executive played by Jonathan Scarfe, as a glamorous singer. In reality, she, however, turns out to be an ordinary woman in unexpected remission from lymphoma who, after appearing in Nick's visions, gets a job as his secretary.

"I am a big fan of Philip K. Dick's poetic and expansively imaginative books," so she said in expressing her delight upon securing a slot in the project. "I feel blessed to portray Sylvia, and to be part of this story being told in film."

The Canadian native is therefore joining other talents in the cast that include Shea Whigham, Katheryn Winnick, and Hanna Hall, recently spotted in Rob Zombie's "Halloween." Pic has already started production in and around Los Angeles with John Alan Simon helming from his own script.

George Clooney in Line for G.I. Joe's Duke?

Initial possible candidate to play Duke in "G.I. Joe", or "Untitled Stephen Sommers Project" as Paramount Pictures refers to, has popped up to the surface. The actor in question surprisingly turns out to be Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney, according to IESB.net.

The site appears to have heard whispers from industry sources saying that the A-list actor has been offered the part and is quite sure that the tidbit is legit though it does advise its readers to take it with a grain of salt.

Rumor has been circulating that Clooney's departure from Joe Carnahan's "White Jazz" was not solely because of scheduling conflicts, but also due to his intention of looking for a blockbuster title he could star in. It is thereby possible that "G.I. Joe" could be the one fitting the bill.

As for the character Clooney is speculated to be up for, Duke is the code name of First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser and one of the key characters in the original military-themed toys line. He is described to be fluent in English, French, and German, as well as several Southeast Asian dialects while once served as an instructor in four different Special Forces schools.

Peter Jackson-Directed Lovely Bones Set Pics Put Online

Peter Jackson's new drama flick "The Lovely Bones" has already started its principal photography, and first pictures from the movie's set in Willistown Township, Pennsylvania now are delightfully available online to grab, thanks to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In one image, as seen on the above left, Jackson was captured to seriously discuss a scene with the flick's cast member Rose McIver, who was holding onto a Golden Retriever called Brava. Other images show the crews' preparation in shooting the project with local residents going out of their houses to witness the filming.

Pic, based on the Alice Sebold' best-selling novel, recently created headline as actor Ryan Gosling was suddenly replaced by Mark Wahlberg for the role of Jack Salmon. Speculations then rose guessing Gosling was fired from the film due to his demanding nature, but the 26-year-old quickly denied it, stating he was just too young for the part, the father of a murdered teenage girl.

"The age of the character versus my real age was always a concern of mine. Peter and I tried to make it work and ultimately it just didn't," he told Parade magazine. "I think the film is much better off with Mark Wahlberg in that role. Peter Jackson is an incredible filmmaker and I'm here to tell you that he has things up his sleeve that are going to blow peoples' minds. I'm going to be the first person in line to buy tickets."

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X Files Sequel Locks Its Filming Start Date

At last a fixed date to get the cameras rolled on "The X Files" follow-up has been picked up. Completing David Duchovny's previous statement which said shooting would start in December, ComingSoon.net has reported that the whole process will take off on December 10 this year for sure.

Filming is going to take place in Vancouver, Canada under the direction of Chris Carter, the creator of the original TV series, which pic is adapted from. Duchovny is set to reprise his role as Special Agent Fox Mulder with Gillian Anderson being expected to again play Special Agent Dana Scully as well.

20th Century Fox as the studio producing this second installment of the hit franchise is said to refer to the sequel as "Done One." No word yet about the plot details and other cast members, but it has been confirmed that pic will be developed from the script written by Carter and Frank Spotnitz.

First Official Movie Stills from Angelina Jolie's Wanted

We've already got several on-set videos and pictures from the star-studded "Wanted (2008)", but it's undeniably great to have those from the source itself, like we are being presented with now.
That's right, Universal has delightfully sent Empireonline.com the first batch of the production stills from the fantasy action thriller, based on Mark Millar's graphic novel series. Five in total, they allow us to get our first look at the principal cast members: Angelina Jolie as Fox, James McAvoy as Wesley, Morgan Freeman as Sloan, and David O'Hara as the villainous Mr. X.

Directed by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov for a scheduled March 28, 2008 release, "Wanted (2008)" also features Terence Stamp and rapper Common in the cast with Marc Platt, Jason Netter, Jim Lemley, and Iain Smith producing. Principal photography began last April using locations in Chicago before moving to the Czech Republic in May then back to Chicago again by August.

Kanye West Makes His Literay Debut, Thank You And You're Welcome

It appears that Kanye West is attempting a new career reinvention. The rapper-producer is bringing his ego to the bookshelf, making his literary debut with a book titled "Thank You and You're Welcome."

According to Kanye's Website, the book, co-written by author and journalist J. Sakiya Sandifer, contains "creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating his path to success." It, moreover, "captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics."

Kanye himself tend to label "Thank You and You're Welcome" as an entertaining volume of "Kanye-isms."

"Thank You and You're Welcome" cost only $10 and is due to hit shelves January next year. The first 500 copies will be signed by both Kanye and Sandifer.

Tommy Lee Requested That Kid Rock Not Be Prosecuted for VMA Fight

It's been a month that the unfortunate took place, but it was not until Monday October 29th that Las Vegas authorities confirmed Kid Rock will not be charged in the fight with Tommy Lee at the MTV Video Music Awards last month.

TV show "Extra" was the first to make public the news after reportedly speaking with Las Vegas authorities. "The Clark County District Attorney's Office will not pursue a battery charge," Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Bloxham was quoted by "Extra" as saying.

"It should be noted that Tommy Lee has requested that there be no prosecution relating to the incident and there were no injuries to either person," Bloxham revealed further.

Rock and Lee sent shock to the audience at the MTV Awards ceremony when they involved in a fight in the middle of the show. The former rocker was then cited by the Las Vegas police for misdemeanor battery because of which he could face up to six months in jail.

Gwen Stefani Pledged to Donate Proceeds of Concert to Wildfire Victims

Is in her best giving mood these days, Gwen Stefani has made public her pledge to donate all proceeds from her Tuesday October 30th show to the San Diego Foundation, a local charity which is helping the community recover from the wildfires that have raged across Southern California for the past week.

Stefani, a Southern California native, made the announcement alongside San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders on local radio station 93.3 KHTS on Monday morning October 29th. "San Diego has always been so supportive of me throughout my entire career ... living in Orange County, it has always been like a second home to me," she said.

"When I heard about the devastation of the fires at first I felt I should cancel my show out of respect, but then it occurred to me there might be a more useful solution," the singer added.

Stefani's Tuesday concert has been scheduled to take place at San Diego's Cox Arena and Mayor Jerry Sanders thanked her for the donation, saying the San Diego Foundation will use the funds to support its After-the-Fires Fund 2007 effort.

Could It Be True? Cate Blanchett Pregnant with Third Child

Words got around just now that Cate Blanchett might be pregnant with child number three.

Not without reason but speculation on the actress getting pregnant popped out after she was spotted sporting a baby bump while out in NYC this past weekend.

Blanchett was first seen with a bumping belly while she left her midtown Manhattan hotel to perform in the play "Right You Are (If You Think You Are)" held at the grand rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on Saturday October 27th.

Then again, Blanchett was spotted with a growing belly during an appearance on UK chat show "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross" as apparent through the photo on the left.

Blanchett has had two sons with screenwriter husband Andrew Upton, they are Dashiell John and Roman Robert. The movie beauty has in an interview with W Magazine for its October 2007 issue stated her willingness to have more children, saying "We're not going to wait forever. God, I'd love it to be now. I'd love it to be next week."

David Beckham Is Planning a Charity Football Match Against a Team of Actors

David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates are planning a charity football match with proceeds go to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army to benefit those affected by the wildfires in Southern California.

The soccer god, alongside his Galaxy teammates, will take it to the field to face the so-called "Hollywood United FC" on November 4th at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

"Everyone's expected to play, including David," Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas said Friday October 26th. "This is a great opportunity for our organization to do something positive for our area, our home, and for our friends and neighbors who have been impacted by these incredibly devastating wildfires."

Alexi then went on adding, "Our players are residents of Southern California. This is a great way through soccer for us to bring some attention and, most importantly, raise some money. And, in the process, give the people another opportunity to see the stars we have here with the Galaxy."

As for the "Hollywood United FC," the team will among others comprise of actors Anthony LaPaglia, Jimmy Jean-Louis and Costas Mandylor; musicians Steve Jones and Vivian Campbell; and former World Cup players Frank Leboeuf and Richard Gough.

Britney Spears Mingled with Tony Romo, Giving Him a Lap Dance

What is going on between Britney Spears and Tony Romo? It appears that things got a little bit too deep for them. Words are circulating all over the net that the mother of two was spotted giving the Dallas Cowboys quarterback a lap dance.

While People reported earlier that Britney and her cousin Alli Sims were surprisingly spotted with Romo at Los Angeles restaurant Ketchup on Friday October 26th, Usmagazine.com brings out a more shocking news, quoted Ryan Seacrest who claimed to have seen the singer at Hollywood club Les Deux on October 26th, giving Romo a lap dance.

Seacrest broke the news on his KIIS radio show Monday morning October 29th, saying "I spoke to her for a minute. She seemed to be in a very, very good mood. She had her sunglasses on. I said, 'Busy day, huh?' She kind of smiled and laughed and said, 'Yeah.' And then I believe I saw her and Tony Romo frolicking."

"Lap dancing?" a co-host asked him. "I mean some would say," Seacrest said, adding that she was on his lap.

Meanwhile, another source in the know told Usmagazine.com, Spears "was dancing and talking a lot with Tony." She is said to be "in a really good mood and was super happy when [one of her] songs came on."

Pregnant Nicole Richie Seen Smoking Cigarette

Has been keeping things low key over the past months following her brief stint in jail, Nicole Richie has created media abuzz yet again with her being reported to be spotted smoking cigarette.

Cindy Adams from the NY Post claims to have seen the mother-to-be smoking a cigarette outside DaSilvano restaurant in NYC.

Then three hours later she was spotted at Nobu with her baby daddy Joel Madden, still smoking.

"Mommy-to-be Nicole Richie. 3:30 p.m. Pony tail, black jeans, waistcoat. Exits DaSilvano with one young girl, one middle-age lady. On the sidewalk, after checking who's at which outdoor tables, she lights up. They jump into a waiting black Caddy Escalade, Nicole into the front seat. Still smoking. Three days later, 7:30 p.m., Nobu. For somebody who doesn't eat, she sure frequents lots of restaurants. She's there with the baby in the bun's father. They leave. Outside she lights up again," so Adams wrote.

It's hard to believe that Nicole does smoke cigarette while carrying a bun in the oven. Doesn't she realize it could endanger the not-yet-born baby's life? I think Joel should do something about that should the report of Nicole smoking is to be believed.