Emmy Winner Peter Falk Passes Away at Age 83
Peter Falk, who marshaled actorly tics, prop room appurtenances and his own physical idiosyncrasies to personify Columbo, one of the most famous and beloved fictional detectives in television history, died on Thursday night at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 83.
Warren Beatty to Return to the Big Screen
in Howard Hughes Biopic
From Entertainment Weekly:
In a week where unsettling May-December romances have made headlines (jilted groom Hugh Hefner is filming a special about getting dumped by ex-fiance Crystal Harris, a woman 60 years his junior, while we all tried to scrub off the news that Lost actor Doug Anthony Hutchinson married a 16-year-old), it’s fitting that Warren Beatty’s upcoming film surrounding the latter years of Howard Hughes’ life will feature his affair(s) with much young women.
Beatty, 74, will not only be stepping behind the camera for the first time in 13 years, but he’ll also be portraying the infamous Hughes, who despite becoming a germophobic recluse, still found time to seduce — and carry on affairs with — much younger women. (The rest of the film’s cast will reportedly include Alec Baldwin, Shia LaBeouf, Andrew Garfield, Jack Nicholson, Annette Bening, as well as Rooney Mara and Evan Rachel Wood.) While there’s no indication of who the supporting cast will play yet, if Mara, 26 and Wood, 23, were to play one of Hughes’ conquests, it’s anyone’s guess as to which one they would be. While there’s plenty of Hughes’ documented lovers in his younger years (Ava Gardner, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, to name a few), it seems the younger ladies he carried on affairs with kept pretty mum about being with a guy who, for lack of a better word, went a little off the rails.
EW’s First Look at Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”!
Ten years ago, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy took audiences and the Academy by storm. The trilogy was nominated for a record 30 Academy Awards, winning 17, including Best Picture and Best Director for The Return of the King (along with 9 other Oscars, the first clean sweep since 1987's The Last Emperor), became the first film trilogy since The Godfather to have all three films nominated for Best Picture, and amassed $2.6 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
Next Christmas, New Line is set to continue their box-office and Oscar success with the first installment of The Hobbit. Entertainment Weekly has provided the first three official photos from the films, including a look at stars Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins) and Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield).
Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” Films Get Titles, Release Dates
From Warner Bros., 
New Line Cinema, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer:
New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM have announced the titles and release dates for filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece THE HOBBIT. The first film, titled “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, titled “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013.
Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The adventure of THE HOBBIT follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.
Filming Begins on Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”
From New Line Cinema/Warner Bros.
Production has commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, on "The Hobbit," filmmaker Peter Jackson's two film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's widely read masterpiece.
"The Hobbit" is set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
The two films, with screenplays by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, will be shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming will take place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.
The Shape of Things to Come at Tomorrow’s Ceremony…
Here is a rundown of what to expect from tomorrow night's ceremony. Note that Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz will not be presenting in either Supporting category.
From Deadline Hollywood:
Hosts James Franco (127 Hours and a Best Actor nominee this year) and Anne Hathaway (Love And Other Drugs) will open the show with a Billy-Crystal-originated comedic filmed piece where they appear in scenes from the year's 10 Best Pictures real or not. Then they welcome the audience in the first "Scenic Transition" -- this one, from the 1939 movie Gone With The Wind.
Tom Hanks is the first presenter, handing out the Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography Oscars. But almost all the other Academy Award presenters are stars from 2010's crop of movies or upcoming 2011 pics.
Next comes the Best Supporting Actress Oscar but the presenter's name is not on the rundown.
Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) and Mila Kunis (Black Swan) present the Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short Film Oscars.
The next "Scenic Transition" takes audiences back to the very first first Academy Awards ceremony held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor the 1927/1928 film season. That segues to Javier Bardem (Biutiful) and Josh Brolin (True Grit) awarding the Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay Oscars.
Christopher Nolan to Finally Direct “Citizen Hughes”?
From New York Magazine:
After shooting The Dark Knight Rises, we’re told Christopher Nolan plans to return to reality — even if it’s one stranger than fiction. Insiders with knowledge of his plans tell Vulture exclusively that Nolan next wants to direct a long-shelved Howard Hughes biopic he’d abandoned when it became clear that Martin Scorsese would beat him to the screen with The Aviator in 2004.
But while Scorsese’s film is understood to have been heavily based on Charles Higham’s biography Howard Hughes: The Secret Life and centered largely on the early years of Hughes' life up to 1947, we hear Nolan’s movie is based on Michael Drosnin’s Citizen Hughes: The Power, the Money and the Madness (first published in 1985), and would focus on the freakier decades of Hughes remarkably secretive and OCD-addled life.
Precursor: Razzie Nominations
The Golden Raspberries have announced the nominees for its 31st Annual Film Awards. Below are the results.
Nomination Tallies
(9) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Last Airbender
(7) Sex and the City 2
(4) The Bounty Hunter, Vampires Suck, Valentine's Day
(3) Little Fockers
(2) Jonah Hex, Clash of the Titans, The Spy Next Door
The Nominations
Worst Picture
The Bounty Hunter
The Last Airbender
Sex and the City 2
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Vampires Suck
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Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and Elijah Wood
Board Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”
From The Hollywood Reporter
By Borys Kit
Ian McKellen has signed on to return as wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit, the two-pic adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel being directed by Peter Jackson.
The dealmaking on Hobbit for a slew of Jackson veterans from his Lord of the Rings trilogy has been coming fast and furious and comes on the heels of Andy Serkis finally inking his deal to reprise Gollum.
The Hobbit book introduced Gandalf and Gollum, with both characters going on to become part of literature’s most popular characters. Gandalf sets the adventure going in the story and appears throughout the novel. Gollum appears in a chapter that has gone on to be one of the most memorable in all of fantasy literature.
Elijah Wood signed his deal to return as Frodo last week, and Cate Blanchett will play Galadriel once again. Orlando Bloom has an offer to return as elf archer Legolas, though it’s too early to tell if a deal will be made.
McKellen, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Gandalf, has spent recent years doing mostly voice work for film and TV, although he did star in the remake of AMC's The Prisoner. His last major film role was in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand.
Hobbit starts shooting Feb. 14 in New Zealand.
Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett Returning to Middle-Earth
Los Angeles, CA—December 7, 2010—Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Mikael Persbrandt and have joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Hobbit.” Also joining them are Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher. The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit” in two parts from a screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
Cate Blanchett (“Lord of The Rings” trilogy, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) will reprise her role from “Lord of The Rings” trilogy as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Ken Stott (“Charlie Wilson’s War”, TV’s “Rebus”) will play the Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (TV’s “Doctor Who”) will play the wizard Radagast the Brown and well-known Swedish actor, Mikael Persbrandt (“Everlasting Moments”, “Day and Night”) will play the shape-shifter Beorn. British actor Ryan Gage (“Outlaw”, TV’s “Doctors”) will play Drogo Baggins, with New Zealand actors Jed Brophy (“Lord of The Rings” trilogy, “District 9”) playing the role of the dwarf Nori, and William Kircher (“Out of the Blue”; TV’s “Legend of the Seeker”) rounding out the company of Thorin Oakensheild in role of the dwarf Bifur.
The Hollywood Reporter: “The Hobbit” Cast Announced
From The Hollywood Reporter:
by Borys Kit
Martin Freeman is set to star as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's two-movie adaptation of The Hobbit.
New Line confirmed the Freeman news, rumored for months, and also took steps to clear up other casting rumors by announcing a slew of other names, many of whom will play key roles of as part of the Company of Dwarves.
Richard Armitage, who stars on the U.K. series MI-5 and will appear in Captain America: The First Avenger, is set to play Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves, who set off to reclaim the lost dwarven kingdom under the Lonely Mountain from Smaug, a thieving dragon.
Aidan Turner (Being Human) and Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) will play Kili and Fili, respectively.
The remaining dwarves will be Graham McTavish (Secretariat, 24) as Dwalin, John Callen as Oin, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Mark Hadlow as Dori and Peter Hambleton as Gloin.
L.A. Times: WB Gives “The Hobbit” the Green Light
From the Los Angeles Times:
By Ben Fritz and Claudia Eller
Following a multitude of delays, Warner Bros. and co-financing partner Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. have agreed to start production in February on the two films that serve as a prequel to the blockbuster "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, people familiar with the situation said.
Only one hitch remains, however, and it may not necessarily be a small one. The studios are waiting to announce the greenlight because a labor dispute between director Peter Jackson and the Screen Actors Guild and other performers unions is not yet resolved. The unions have advised members not to work on "The Hobbit" because they claim it's a non-union production. The parties are hopeful that a resolution is imminent, which would pave the way for the movies to be shot in Jackson's home country of New Zealand, where "Lord of the Rings" was made and preproduction for the new films is underway.
Academy Award nominee Tony Curtis dead at 85
From Variety:
By RICHARD NATALE
Tony Curtis, leading man of the 1950s and '60s who gave impressive perfs in comedies such as "Some Like It Hot" and "The Great Race" as well as dramas including "Sweet Smell of Success" and "The Defiant Ones," died Wednesday at his home near Las Vegas of cardiac arrest. He was 85.
His daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, said in a statement to the Associated Press: "My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world."
Peter Jackson In Talks to Direct “The Hobbit”
From Entertainment Weekly:
Almost one month after Guillermo del Toro dropped out of directing The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is in talks to helm the two films in the franchise. While we wait for the studios involved or Jackson’s manager to confirm, there are lots of questions that remain before The Hobbit can actually begin production, let alone reach the big screen.
First, MGM, the debt-laden studio that owns 50 percent of the rights to the classic tale, is facing an uncertain future. The studio failed to attract bids high enough to satisfy its creditors during an auction earlier this year, and the latest plan may see Spyglass Entertainment running the studio in a prepackaged bankruptcy, according to the Wall Street Journal. Talks are continuing and no decision has yet been made, though some resolution is needed before the studio’s debt waiver expires in mid-July. Some Hollywood insiders question whether production could actually proceed if there’s a chance that those rights could wind up in bankruptcy court along with the rest of MGM’s assets (it’s the same reason why the Bond franchise is tied up since MGM owns half of those rights, too), but sources close to the Hobbit project insist that MGM’s financial woes aren’t a factor in this production.
The Hollywood Reporter: Batman 3 Set for July 20, 2012 Release
From The Hollywood Reporter:
Warner Bros. has set July 20, 2012, as the release date for the third Christopher Nolan-directed Batman movie.
The studio has barely begun the process of developing the movie; Nolan is in postproduction on “Inception,” but is hammering out a story with David Goyer.
There is no title as this point and no start date.
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