Filmmaker Bill Condon is set to rewrite the script for a planned movie musical starring Hugh Jackman as circus showman PT Barnum.
	The "X-Men" star originally signed on to play the three-ring circus pioneer in "The Greatest Showman on Earth" in 2009, but the project stalled and now "Dreamgirls" writer/director Condon has been brought in by studio bosses at 20th Century Fox to give Jenny Bicks' draft a revamp, the Hollywood Reporter said.
	Michael Gracey will take charge of the biopic, with Jackman onboard as co-producer.
	The actor's "Les Miserables" co-star Anne Hathaway had previously been linked to portray Barnum's love interest Jenny Lind, who the singer dubbed the Swedish Nightingale, but her name is no longer attached.

Bill Condon brought in to rewrite PT Barnum biopic

PTI Automatic

'True Blood' actor Luke Grimes has been cast opposite Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the movie adaptation of the EL James' novel 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.
	The movie has found its Christian Grey in Dornan and Grimes has been cast as Elliot Grey, the brother of Christian Grey. Johnson will play Anastasia Steele, according to Hollywood Reporter.
	Sam Taylor-Johnson is directing from a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. The project will go on floors in November.
	Grimes plays Wes on the long-running vampire show 'True Blood'. He appeared in "Taken 2" and is a lead in "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane", the cult horror movie that just finally got released after years of sitting on the shelf.

Luke Grimes joins 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Disney star Tiffany Thornton is pregnant with her second child.
	The actress announced the happy news with a cryptic note on her WhoSay account, accompanying a photo of herself and a group of friends, reported E! onlie.
	"Guess what? Hint: why am I holding my stomach?" she posted.
	The 27-year-old 'Sonny with a Chance' star and her husband of two years, Christopher Carney, welcomed son Kenneth James, last year.

Tiffany Thornton pregnant with second child

The characters from "The Hobbit" sequel are set to appear on stamps and minted coins in New Zealand.
	Mail officials have created the postage and currency items, featuring Bilbo Baggins, Thranduil and Azog, to mark the release of the second movie in the trilogy - "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug", reported Contactmusic.
	Last year, bosses at the agency released stamps ahead of the first film and this year they will feature new characters, including warrior Tauriel and Bard the Bowman.
	A statement from the New Zealand Post's head of stamps and collectibles Simon Allison, read, "We had orders from Kazakhstan, Iceland, Libya, Bolivia and the Canary Islands - there are Hobbit movie fans literally around the globe that can't wait to get hold of the New Zealand Post-produced stamps and coins.
	"Based on last year's experience, we know news of this release will spread far and wide and the orders will start pouring in. We'll be shipping Gandalf the Grey to Greece and they'll be going ...

'The Hobbit' characters on stamps, coins in New Zealand

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is planning another collaborative album with a number of Latino stars.
	The 66-year-old musician has tasted great success with his albums Shaman and Supernatural and now he is planning another star-studded release full of acts and artists with ties to South America, reported Contactmusic.
	Corazon, which will be released next year, will feature tracks with Gloria Estefan, Pitbull, Juanes, Lila Downs and Miguel as well as a song Santana has recorded with his son Salvador.
	Many of the guests on the album will perform their tunes with Santana at a concert in Guadalajara, Mexico on December 14, which will take place a week after the guitarist joins Billy Joel among this year's Kennedy Center honourees.
	US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will salute the two musicians, among others, at the 36th annual ceremony in Washington, DC on December 7.

Carlos Santana plans all-latino collaboration album

Rob Letterman has been roped in to direct "Captain Underpants", which is based on children's book series by Dav Pilkey.
	Nicholas Stoller has written the script for "Captain Underpants", which centers on two fourth graders who are best friends and draw comics that they sell on the playground, the Hollywood Reporter said.
	Their creation, "Captain Underpants", becomes real when the duo accidentally hypnotize the school's mean principal who turns into an actual superhero.
	Scholastic first launched the book in September of 1997, and there are now more than 50 million Pilkey books in print in the US alone.
	DreamWorks Animation's development executive Damon Ross is overseeing the project, which does not have a release date yet.
	Stoller may have started off on the raunchy side of the film business (he wrote and directed "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek") but has lately been spending time with the fuzzily funny Muppets, co-writing 2011's "The Muppets" and next year's .

Rob Letterman to Direct 'Captain Underpants' for DWA

Actress Emma Thompson has revealed she had a crush on Prince Charles and would have gladly dated him.
	The 54-year-old Oscar winner counts herself as one of the Prince of Wales' celebrity friends, but there was a time she would have liked to have been much more, reported Daily Express.
	"There is a long history of relationships between Princes of Wales and actors - not just actresses, not just the rude relationships as he would say, though God knows I have tried. He wasn't having any of it," Thompson said.
	Thompson, who dated Hugh Laurie at university and was wed to newly-knighted Kenneth Branagh, is married to actor Greg Wise.

Emma Thompson's big crush on Prince Charles

Actress Jessica Lange is planning to walk away from hit drama series 'American Horror Story' next year, as she prepares to wind up her acting career.
	The 64-year-old Oscar-winning actress has played a meddling neighbour, witch and a nun on co-creator/producer Ryan Murphy's creepy show.
	Lange said she is serious about retiring, but there are a number of final projects she would like to complete before bowing out of the spotlight for good, reported Huffington Post online.
	"I am coming to the end of acting. I have a list: another stage production, maybe one or two more movies, one more season of 'American Horror Story'... And then that is it for me. Because I think that's enough. I want to go out with a bang... Or should I say, a scare?" she said.
	Lange credited the supernatural thriller with giving her a new lease of life on-screen, although it has taken a little adjustment to get used to the attention she has garnered from younger viewers.
	"It (American Horror Story) re-energised .

Jessica Lange to quit 'American Horror Story' after season 4

Music impresario Quincy Jones, credited with producing some of Michael Jackson's biggest hits, has sued the singer's estate for USD 10 million, US news reports said today.
	Jones filed a USD 10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit in connection with Michael Jackson projects released after the singer's death, the Hollywood Reporter wrote.
	The entertainment industry Bible reported that Jones filed his suit yesterday in Los Angeles against Sony Music Entertainment and MJJ Productions, a song company controlled by Jackson's estate.
	Jones, a legendary producer who has won 27 Grammy Awards during a half century in the music business, produced Jackson's biggest hits, including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad."
	The suit alleges that Jones has not been compensated for work released posthumously by Jackson's former handlers, citing the "This Is It" concert film and soundtrack album, Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil productions and a 25th anniversary edition of the late pop icon's "Bad" ...

US music legend Quincy Jones sues Michael Jackson estate

British director Antonia Bird, known for films such as "Face," "Priest" and "Mad Love," has died. She was 54.
	The BBC, citing Bird's agent, said today the director had been suffering from anaplastic thyroid cancer and had died in her sleep.
	Bird worked for several years at the Royal Court Theater before switching to TV in the mid-1980s. She racked up a string of credits on shows such as "Spooks" and "EastEnders."
	Actor Robert Carlyle, who appeared in a number of Bird's films, tweeted today that it's "such a sad day... Farewell to my beautiful friend."
	"Priest," Bird's 1994 debut feature about a traditional Catholic who begins questioning the church's values, won awards at the Toronto, Berlin and Edinburgh film festivals.

British director Antonia Bird dies at 54

Model Candy Brar and actor Ajaz Khan are all set to be a part of the celebrity reality show 'Bigg Boss' as wild card entrants.
	Brar, who is the ex-girlfriend of current captain of the house Kushal Tandon, said her main aim to enter the house is to present her real self after evicted contestant Vivek Mishra maligned her reputation during his stay on the show.
	"Vivek Mishra had said a lot about me without knowing me personally. I am not a reality show buff but I am entering the show to present my real self," Brar told PTI.
	Brar also cleared that she is not entering the show to have a close tab on Kushal's proximity with Gauhar Khan.
	"I am happy for Kushal if he is really serious about Gauhar. She is a nice girl. Kushal and I are still friends and I am always the first one to know about his long list of girlfriends. He is not commitment phobic. He is just too career oriented," said Brar, who was the winner of Gladrags 2004.
	For short-tempered Ajaz, his stint in the show will have ...

Candy Brar, Ajaz Khan to enter Bigg Boss house

Actor Ranveer Singh is likely to be the special guest for the grand finale of Mallika Sherawat's reality dating show 'The Bachelorette India- Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika'.
	The grand finale of the show, to be aired on the Life OK, is around the corner and seven contestants (suitors) who remain in the fray are waiting with a bated breath to see who wins Mallika's hand.
	Buzz is that Ranveer Singh has been approached to be the special guest.
	"Ranveer Singh, who has made hearts of several women flutter, has been approached to be a special guest for the finale episode. However, there is no surety whether or not he would agree to be a part of the show," sources said.

Ranveer Singh to be special guest on finale of Mallika's show?

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is all set to perform a classical mujra in her upcoming film 'Rajjo'.
	Kangana will be seen playing the role of a nautch girl in 'Rajjo' and the actress has even undergone rigorous Kathak training to perform the mujra.
	The mujra dance form has featured prominently in a number of Bollywood movies. Some of the most memorable ones are 'Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya' from the film 'Mughal-e-Azam' in which actress Madhubala pulled off the hit Mujra number with elan.
	Rekha's 'Dil Cheez Kya Hai' and 'In Aakhon Ki Masti Ke' from the 1981 film 'Umrao Jaan' are also the most remembered murja numbers in Bollywood.
	The mujra queen Meena Kumari swayed the audience with her dance on 'Chalte Chalte', 'Inhi Logon Ne' and 'Thare Rahiyo' from the classic hit 'Pakeezah'.
	Aishwarya Rai Bachchan performed on 'Salaam' in the remake of 'Umrao Jaan'. In 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising', Rani Mukherjee played the part of a prostitute, who falls in love with the protagonist. The mujra .

Kangana to perform classical mujra in 'Rajjo'

Guneet Monga, who is counted among the most prolific filmmakers in Bollywood today, believes film industry needs more producers who can think with the directors.
	Monga, who has taken her films 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Peddlers' and 'The Lunchbox' to festivals around the world, was recently called the "most prolific producers of a new wave of cinema" by The Hollywood Reporter and was also placed amongst "12 international players to watch" list.
	"I think this country needs more producers. There are lot of directors but we need producers who can really think with the director on where the film can go.
	"Usually, people think what to do when the movie is ready, but that's too late. It is a full time job and it is so powerful because at that position you can be a part of many stories. I love the chaos around me as a producer," she told PTI in an interview on the sidelines of Dharamshala International Film Festival
	Monga, 29, is the co-founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a film production ...

We need more producers who can think: Guneet Monga

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has received death threats over the phone from a man, who claims to be fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, police said today.
	"The caller recently threatened Akshay and talked about a domestic help, who was sacked by the actor a few days ago," said a crime branch officer.
	Police suspect that it was just a prank call. "Prima facie it appears that it was a prank call," the officer said adding that the investigation was on.
	Introducing himself as gangster Ravi Pujari, the caller threatened the actor, saying he made a mistake by removing his domestic help, the officer added.
	The 46-year-old actor sacked his domestic help for some undisclosed reasons.
	Despite repeated calls, Akshay's manager was unavailable for comments.
	Recently, producer Boney Kapoor, producer-director Karan Johar, director Ram Gopal Varma and singer-composer Sonu Nigam had received threatening calls from underworld, police said.
	Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Chief Satyapal Singh plans to convey 

Actor Akshay Kumar receives death threats

Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz is close to finalising a deal to star in 'Horrible Bosses 2' as the father of Chris Pine's character.
	'Django Unchained' star and Pine would play the new set of mean employers in the sequel to the 2011 hit comedy.
	Sean Anders and John Morris are directing and producing the comedy, respectively, said the Hollywood Reporter.
	Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day and Jamie Foxx are set to reprise their roles in the workplace comedy.
	Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Spacey are also returning for the sequel.
	The company is hoping to release the movie in November 2014.
	Waltz reportedly had declined to play the part but eventually, a deal was sorted out.

Christoph Waltz joins 'Horrible Bosses 2'

Following the twin treats for his die-hard fans for the upcoming festival seasons, top Tamil star Ajith Kumar will join hands with filmmaker Gautham Menon to deliver a "mass stylish entertainment fest."
	Menon will wield the megaphone for the venture starring Ajith for Sri Satya Sai Movies, shooting for which will start in 2014, a release sent by the production house said.
	"Ajith Kumar will sport an unseen look in the movie" it said, while quoting Menon as saying that his film "will be a mass stylish entertainment fest."
	Ajith commands a large fan base in the state and his multi-star cast film, "Aarambam" (The Beginning) is all set for a Diwali release. The Vishnuvardhan-directed film has created much anticipation due to its stylish promotional stills, featuring the actor and another star, Aarya. It also stars Nayantara and Taapsee.
	He is now busy shooting for 'Veeram' which is likely to be released for Pongal next year.

Ajith to join hands with Gautham Menon for mass entertainer

After acting in mythological shows like 'Mata ki Chowki' and 'Mahabharat', TV actress Riya Deepsi Maurya wants to shed her image by starring regular soaps.
	"I would like to play different kind of roles. I would like to do fiction on TV. I do not want to typecast myself in one particular genre," Riya told PTI.
	Riya is currently seen on Star Plus's show 'Mahabharat', where she is playing the character of Gandhari, the wife of King Dhritarashtra.
	The actress said playing the legendary blindfolded character in the mythological show has been an exciting experience for her because she is playing a character that is mature beyond her age.
	"I was excited that I would be doing a different role where I have to shoot blindfolded. But at the same time I was nervous about potraying the character. When you are doing a mythological show, it gets difficult to make the audience accept you. I was concerned about that," she said.
	Riya began her acting career with theatre but has found her groove on 

Riya Maurya wants to do fiction

Newly engaged couple Kim Kardashian and fiance Kanye West are celebrating the reality TV star's birthday in Las Vegas.
	The couple were also joined by Kourtney Kardashian and Jonathan Cheban, reported Us magazine.
	"Vegas... We've arrived!!!" Kim, who turned 33 on October 21, posted on photo-sharing website Instagram along with a picture.
	In the photograph, Kim is wearing cropped jeans and a black T-shirt and a peach-colored coat draped over her arm.
	She is expected to have a party at the Asian bistro and nightclub Tao, which are celeb-beloved locations around the world.
	Kim and West, 36, started dating in April 2012 and welcomed daughter North West in June 2013.

Kim Kardashian arrives in Las Vegas for birthday party

Singer John Mayer talked at length about his career, education and also imparted worldly advice to the students of Oxford University.
	Mayer, 36, turned up in Oxfordshire, England, where he gave an address at Oxford University's Student Union on October 25, reported E! online.
	The singer looked dapper in khaki pants and a preppy cable knit sweater and shirt.
	Many students in attendance took to Twitter to express their excitement about Mayer taking time out from his current British trek to talk to them.
	"Studying at Oxford just became worth it after seeing John Mayer at the Union today! Amazing," tweeted incoming masters candidate Rebecca Miles.
	Added another student, "Great to see John Mayer in Oxford - excited to hear the next album!"
	Mayer was thrilled by the invitation. "Thank you to the Oxford Student Union for this afternoon. It was a great event," he tweeted.

John Mayer speaks at Oxford University

Jessica Simpson is reportedly planning to have her wedding on the Italian island of Capri after she and her fiance Eric Johnson fell in love with the place while on a holiday.
	The 33-year-old star has decided to keep the ceremony an intimate affair, with only close friends and family members present on their big day, reported Contactmusic.
	"She seemed very excited about it. There will probably only be 75 to 100 guests. Jessica will definitely not invite more if she can help it. She wants to have only really close family and friends - the kind of people she speaks to on regular basis," a source said.
	The couple had previously planned to tie the knot in Hawaii at a beach ceremony over the Christmas holiday period in 2012, but postponed their nuptials after Simpson got pregnant with the second child.

Page 3715 -