Thompson on Hollywood

CASTING WATCH: Brit Go-To-Guy Benedict Cumberbatch Rides into Star Trek

News

Benedict Cumberbatch can ride that "War Horse" all the way into production on J. J. Abrams' "Star Trek" sequel. The actor ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "Atonement," voices in the upcoming "The Hobbit") has boarded the Paramount franchise, and rumor has it it's to play to play the villain...

By Sophia Savage
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January 5, 2012 10:56 AM
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Santa Barbara Film Festival 2012: 'Darling Companion' and 'Where Do We Go From Here?' Bookend Fest; Full Lineup

Festivals

The Santa Barbara Film Festival announces the lineup for its 27th edition, running January 27 - February 5, and set to open with Lawrence Kasdan's "Darling Companion" (world premiere) and close with Nadine Labaki's "Where Do We Go Now?"...

By Sophia Savage
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January 5, 2012 10:46 AM
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CASTING WATCH: Hooper's 'Les Miserables' May Add Seyfried & Swift; Trending Mainstream?

News

While we have high hopes for Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables," we've also noted our concern. Earlier, we noted that the films eclectic mix of talent could be volatile. Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anna Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne may now be joined by Amanda Seyfried and Taylor Swift...

By Sophia Savage
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January 4, 2012 4:20 PM
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Berlinale Announces 20 Films for Panorama Program; 'Elles,' 'Indignados,' 'Keep The Lights On' & More

Festivals

The Berlin International Film Festival has slated twenty films to play in the fest's Panorama Program, which will include fifty across three sections (Main Programme, Panorama Special and Panorama Dokumente series) by the time the fest launches February 9 for ten days.

By Sophia Savage
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January 3, 2012 12:15 PM
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Holiday Box Office Winners & Losers

Box Office

The short holiday boxoffice season is always one of the year's most lucrative. The seven-week period, which runs from mid-November through New Year’s weekend, contributes a proportionately high percentage to the annual total.

By Brian Fuson
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January 2, 2012 6:53 PM
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EXCLUSIVE: De Palma’s Passion Heading for March Start in Berlin

News

Brian de Palma is wasting no time moving forward on "Passion," his remake of the 2011 French psychodrama, "Crime d'Amour," which is shaping up for a March 5th shoot date in Berlin. Word is that Rachel McAdams is in talks to join Noomi Rapace in the film based on Alain Corneau's twisted murder tale starring Kristin Scott Thomas as an older executive who takes revenge on her protege (Ludivine Sagnier). Rapace and McAdams also co-star in the upcoming "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which opens stateside on Friday.

By Liza Foreman
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December 14, 2011 7:11 PM
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CASTING WATCH: Ramirez for Star Trek, Hopkins & Mirren for Making of Psycho, Lovelace Goes Blonder

News

J.J. Abrams is eyeing Edgar Ramirez to play the villain in the upcoming "Star Trek" sequel. Benicio del Toro was attached, but that's fallen through. The "Carlos" star now has a chance to make a grand franchise entrance into the mainstream.

By Sophia Savage
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December 8, 2011 2:14 PM
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Radcliffe Named EW's Performer of the Year; Plus Fincher on Pitt, Streep on Davis, Carell on Gosling

Awards

The "Harry Potter" finale gets a boost during its last award season push from EW's Entertainers of the Year issue, out December 9, which names Brit Daniel Radcliffe Performer of the Year, for his work in the global blockbuster "Harry Potter" as well as his Broadway musical success, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Of facing challenging roles, the actor says: "When it becomes clear to me that something is going to be really hard work, there’s a voice inside my head that says, 'You shouldn’t probably do this, because you probably can’t do this'—but there’s another, much louder voice that becomes bullying and belligerent and wants to prove that other voice wrong."

By Sophia Savage
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December 8, 2011 12:51 PM
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Disney Chief Bob Iger to Chair Academy Museum Fundraising Campaign with Tom Hanks and Annette Bening UPDATED

News

Not wasting any time getting the fundraising effort started on the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, AMPAS president Tom Sherak and CEO Dawn Hudson have landed a big fish to chair their capital fundraising effort: Walt Disney President and CEO Bob Iger (whose ABC network happens to air the Oscar telecast), along with fellow Academy members Annette Bening and Tom Hanks as co-chairs.

By Anne Thompson
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December 7, 2011 1:42 PM
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In The Land of Blood & Lawsuits: Jolie, GK Films and FilmDistrict Sued Over Film's Similarities to Croatian Book

News

Angelina Jolie (along with GK Films, FilmDistrict and Scout Film) is being sued. Croatian journalist James Braddock alleges that her film, "In The Land of Blood and Honey," has similarities with his 2007 book, "The Soul Shattering." For two years beginning in 2008, he states that he consulted with Edin Sarkic, a co-producer on the film (on points including "plot and character development and the story's cultural significance and historical accuracy"). The two allegedly discussed the possibility of adapting his book, but that's as far as it went until Braddock learned of Jolie's film.