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Warner Bros apologise for delayed Potter film (21 August 2008)

Warner Bros has issued an apology for the delay of the forthcoming film Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince. Originally slated for release in November, the eagerly-awaited sixth film in the franchise has now been pushed back by eight months. The development has left fans of the stories bitterly disappointed, especially since trailers for the film have already been released. "Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any...

Affleck to join Mike Judge comedy (21 August 2008)

Ben Affleck has signed up for a role in Mike Judge's forthcoming comedy movie Extract. Affleck – who recently received favourable reviews for his directorial debut Gone Baby Gone – will play an ambulance chasing lawyer in the Miramax film about a factory owner with terrible luck. According to Variety, Forgetting Sarah Marshall actresses Mila Kunis and Kristen Wiig are already on board for the project, which is due to start shooting next week in Los Angeles. It will be the first...

Rings team to script Hobbit films (20 August 2008)

The writing team which penned the Lord of the Rings trilogy are to join director Guillermo del Toro on two films based on The Hobbit, it has been confirmed. Peter Jackson, his partner Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will script the two movies with del Toro, according to statement from New Line Cinema, Initially, it was thought hat Jackson – who directed the Rings trilogy – would be unable to commit to the project due to scheduling clashes. According to the Hollywood Reporter,...

Trio donate fees to Ledger's daughter (20 August 2008)

The three actors who have replaced Heath Ledger in his final film have donated their salaries to his daughter. Filming on Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was suspended when the Australian actor was found dead from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in January. However, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law shot remaining scenes in the film following Ledger's death. Speaking to the Sun newspaper, Gilliam said: "The great thing about it was when Heath died...

Crowe to play Bill Hicks? (19 August 2008)

Russell Crowe is considering playing bill Hicks in a biopic about legendary stand-up comedian. According to Empire Online, the Gladiator star is hoping to start work on the venture before commencing filming on Ridley Scott's Nottingham next year. New Zealand writer Mark Staufer has already written a treatment for the proposed project and is now developing a draft script. Hicks was one of the most acclaimed comedians to come out of the US and regularly caused controversy with his routines...

Twilight to fill in for Harry Potter (19 August 2008)

New movie Twilight is to be released early in order to plug the gap left by the delayed Harry Potter film. The film – which is an adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's teen vampire novels – was originally scheduled for December 12th in the US, but will now open on November 21st. Meyer's books have caused a similar splash in the US as the Harry Potter novels in the UK, but she is still relatively unknown in this country. Speaking to Hollywood Reporter, Summit Entertainment's Rob Freidman...

Tropic Thunder topples The Dark Knight (18 August 2008)

Tropic Thunder has knocked The Dark Knight from the top of the US box office. Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr and Jack Black star in the comedy about the making of a Vietnam film, which has raked in some $26 million (£13.9 million) since being released on Wednesday Christopher Nolan's second Batman movie The Dark Knight slipped to second place after a four-week reign at the top of the chart. However, the movie is still breaking records – with Media By Numbers reporting that it has...

Pegg forced to pull out of Tarantino film (18 August 2008)

Simon Pegg has reluctantly pulled out of Quentin Tarantino's forthcoming movie Inglorious Bastards. The Shaun Of The Dead star was set to take the role of Lieutenant Hicox – a British soldier – in the World War Two film. However, Pegg has said other work commitments have now scuppered the plans, reports the Guardian. "Much to our mutual disappointment, I won't be appearing in QT's forthcoming Inglorious Bastards", he wrote on his blog. "We really tried to make it...

Sequel for Kung Fu Panda (15 August 2008)

Dreamworks is in negotiations to make a follow-up to the hit animated adventure Kung Fu Panda, the studio has confirmed. The first film was a huge success and featured the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu. It raked in some $560m (£299m) around the world, which made it Dreamworks most successful movie to date Chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg told Reuters an official announcement about the sequel would be made in the next two months.. "We've...

Ritchie's RocknRolla movie 'in jeopardy' (15 August 2008)

The future Guy Ritchie's new film RocknRolla is reportedly in question after it emerged that it may not get a release in the US. According to reports, Warner Bros are not confident that the movie will find favour with American audiences and are considering dropping the project. Starring Thandie Newton, Gerard Butler and Gemma Arteton, the film tells the story of London gangsters who are trying to get in a property scam. Warner Bros. president Alan Horn told the Daily Mirror: "It's a...

Rocky Horror to be remade without O'Brien (14 August 2008)

Richard O'Brien has denied that he will contribute to the forthcoming remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, saying he will not be involved "in any way". It was previously reported that O' Brien – who wrote the original stage play on which the 1975 film was based – would co-produce the new project. However, he told the BBC: "I have no view on whether it should be remade but it doesn't have my blessing," "I'm not co-producing it and I won't be involved...

Conan to get Batman-style revamp (14 August 2008)

Conan The Barbarian is to be the latest franchise to receive a revamp for today's cinemagoers, it has been confirmed Following the huge success of The Dark Knight, Dirk Blackman and Howard McCain have been hired to redraft the script for Lionsgate's barbarian epic Conan. According to producer Fredrik Malmberg, it will be a return to the original stories written by Robert E Howard in the 1930s and – as Christopher Nolan achieved with with Batman – will reflect the darker nature of...

The Mummy no match for Batman (13 August 2008)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor has not been able to claim the top spot on the UK box office from The Dark Knight. Starring Brendan Fraser, the movie went straight in at number two, having made some £2.9 million during its opening weekend. However, The Dark Knight still sits at the top for the third week, with takings of more than £4 million. After an underwhelming first week, the new X-Files film has now slipped back to tenth place. Batman is refusing to be toppled, with X-F

Rocky Horror to be remade (13 August 2008)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is set to be the latest film to get the remake treatment, it has been confirmed. Sky Movies and MTV are to co-finance a new version of the cult classic, but a director and cast members have yet to be decided upon. The original 1975 musical – which starred Tim Curry as Frank N Furter - is now the longest-running theatrical release of all time, having taken more than $140 million (£70 million) at the box office. Lou Adler, who was the executive producer

Angelina 'to take Cruise movie role' (12 August 2008)

Angelina Jolie could be about to replace Tom Cruise in the lead role of a forthcoming action film, according to reports. The script for the espionage thriller Edwin A Salt was originally written for a male lead, but the role has been changed after Jolie expressed an interest. Jolie has already proved her worth in action films, having starred in high-octane fare movies such as Tomb Raider and Wanted. It is thought the 33-year-old actress is close to accepting the lead role in the film, which...