Shia LaBeouf, Frustrated With Hollywood, Reveals Plans to Make His Broadway Debut
Now that he’s conquered Hollywood (and expressed dissatisfaction with the way it’s run) Shia LaBeouf is leaving the silver screen and venturing into new territory. For the first time in the 26-year-old’s impressive career, he will be appearing on a Broadway stage.
LaBeouf is making his theater debut this spring in a revival of Lyle Kessler’s 1983 play “Orphans” . Co-starring Alec Baldwin, it tells the tale of a wealthy man kidnapped by two desperate Philadelphia brothers. Shia’s part in “Orphans” will be of the older sibling, who takes care of his younger brother. When the wealthy captive (played by Baldwin) turns on the two brothers, things get unexpectedly complicated.
Like Baldwin, LaBeouf has never been one to keep his opinions – or his frustrations with Hollywood – to himself. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August, the actor proclaimed that there is zero room for “being a visionary in the studio system. It literally cannot exist.” Then, determined to showcase his craft in smaller budget indie films and take greater creative control, he badmouthed past blockbusters like “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and instead began concentrating on such recent flicks as “Lawless,” “The Company You Keep,” and Lars von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac”, set to release in May 2013. The boundary-pushing Von Trier has cast the former Disney-friendly child actor in a film rumored to depict actual sex between the co-stars.
“He’s dangerous; he scares me,” LaBeouf said of Von Trier, summing up his general attitude towards Hollywood these days as he ventures out onto the stage for the first time. “I’m only going to work now when I’m terrified.”
Superman Returns In New “Man of Steel” trailer – Is it Everything You’ve Hoped For?
When I heard a few weeks ago that a full-length trailer for Zack Snyder’s reboot of Superman, entitled “Man of Steel,” was going to be shown at screenings for “The Hobbit,” I can honestly say I let out a minor squeal of fan-girl joy. So you can imagine my insane reaction when said full-length trailer hit online.
My reaction is totally rational, however, since the teaser dropped in July looked more like a Terrence Malick -“Tree of Life” homage than anything we’ve seen before from director Zack Snyder before (“300”, “Watchmen”). With the teaser being extra teaser-y, giving us only glimpses of pretty nature shots, a voiceover, and a bearded fisherman version of Clark Kent, I had high expectations for the time when we would finally get a little more information to go on for the highly-anticipated reboot.
The new clip does not disappoint. In the span of two-and-a-half minutes, the trailer quite wonderfully lays down what I’m anticipating to be the central theme/struggle for our favorite Kryptonian: just because he has the abilities to change the world, should he? Is he doing the right thing by playing the hero? Based off young Clark’s conversation with his adoptive dad (well hello there, Kevin Costner) after he rescues a bus full of kids, Papa Kent isn’t so sure. It seems the consequences of interfering with the course of events are something that will plague the guy for quite some time (our superheroes are nothing if not faced with angst-filled life choices at all times). Besides, isn’t that a shot of Superman in handcuffs we see briefly there? Perhaps the citizens of Metropolis aren’t such a fan of our flying friend…
Other observations: Henry Cavill fits the bill of Superman in a physical sense so perfectly; I can only hope his acting will as well. That shot of him taking off, faster than a speeding bullet? Ridiculously awesome. The special effects look top notch, with the inevitable explosions and destruction keeping with the trailer’s overall tone. My only complaint? Not nearly enough footage of Michael Shannon (playing villain General Zod) or Amy Adams (Superman’s gal pal Lois Lane).
I also have to give out props to Warner Bros. for really milking Christopher Nolan’s involvement in this project. If you’re going to do a superhero reboot these days, having the guy who just made the most critically-acclaimed reboot of all time producing your newest franchise is a good way to go. Snyder definitely seems to be following in the footsteps of Nolan, with a grimmer and more foreboding outlook on life than we’ve probably seen from Supes before. Fingers crossed that come next June, the payoff will be as great as anticipated.
Beyonce is the New Beverage Queen, Thanks to Ground-Breaking $50 Million Pepsi Deal
Beyonce Knowles is a busy woman these days – and now, thanks to Pepsi, she has 50 million new reasons to smile.
The former Destiny Child’s front woman and “Single Ladies” songstress is adding another job to her extensive and varied resume: Pitch Woman. The new mother has entered into a large endorsement deal with Pepsi that seems certain to provide baby Blue Ivy with a decent college fund.
This lucrative soda pop deal comes on the heels of Beyonce revealing her directorial debut, a very personal untitled HBO documentary set to
air on February 16, 2013. The doc focuses on her guarded and much gossiped about life with rap artist/mogul/husband Jay-Z and Blue Ivy who will celebrate her first birthday in January.
In another strategic move potentially furthering her cause of ruling the planet, Bey has taken the reigns of her career and showcased just how much power she already has with this Pepsi deal. Forbes.com reports: “The unconventional multi-year deal includes standard advertising like commercials and print ads.” Media analysts are already saying that the deal is so expansive, in fact, that it may usher in a new era of artists seeking control over their overall brand.
Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, the general manager of Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s company, told The New York Times in an interview that the deal marked a great day for artists’ independence. “It’s wise for a brand like Pepsi to give an artist the ability to truly express herself,” said Longo, “instead of just the old-school way of, ‘Do you want to be in an advertisement?”
Could the move backfire? Although Pepsi has a long history of headline-grabbing celebrity-fueled commercials ranging from Britney Spears to Michael Jackson to Cindy Crawford and Shakira, it’s still difficult to think of such commercials without remembering the Madonna fiasco. In January of 1989, the then-biggest-female-artist in the world was given $5 million to sell the soft drink for a year – only to release a commercial that ran once. Playing off the controversial “Like a Prayer” video that would soon be the talk of MTV, with the singer having sex with a black Christ-figure in a church; by the time the Pope was speaking out against Madonna, Pepsi had decided to end the partnership.
Of course, Beyonce isn’t nearly as much of a button-pusher as Madonna was in her prime – but the young diva has been given tremendous power with the deal, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
From the Pepsi commercial planned to accompany her already buzz worthy Pepsi sponsored Super Bowl halftime performance, set to air on February 3rd to special edition Beyonce Pepsi cans, there is a lot going on here. Beyonce is being crowned as the official global brand ambassador, and print ads include a slimmed-down, yet still bootylicious Beyonce in sleek Mary Janes and a bedazzled black jacket. I’m guessing pants were optional for this particular shoot.
Bey has made a lot of money over the years; last year’s “I Am…” tour alone grossed over $119 million dollars. However, this Pepsi deal will ultimately make Queen B a mainstay from continent to continent, a living legend, immortalized on those small blue cans that represent a significant part of the American tapestry. Not too shabby when you consider that she hasn’t yet reached the ripe age of 32.
Reese Witherspoon on Losing the Baby Weight: “I’m Crawling Back”
She’s been dazzling us on the red carpet recently with her post-baby body – but according to Reese Witherspoon, appearances can be deceiving! The actress admitted recently that the weight isn’t exactly coming off easy.
“I don’t know if I’m bouncing back,” the “Sweet Home Alabama” actress joked. “I’m slowly crawling back.”
“All of your joints feel wobbly,” she said of the first weeks after giving birth. “And your head is sort of confused.”
Of course, Witherspoon welcomed son Tennessee James, her first child with husband Jim Toth, in late September. She also has kids Ava, 12, and Deacon, 8, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.
The new mom recently accepted the Grace Kelly Award, which recognizes role-model celebrity parents who exemplify the March of Dimes’ commitment to healthy babies and families. While accepting her award, Witherspoon couldn’t resist gushing about her “perfect baby,” telling the audience: “Somehow heaven has opened up and delivered us an angel.”
Witherspoon is so in love with her new baby she’s even had his face printed on her iPhone case, a pillow, and a bag. Sounds like she can’t get enough of him!
Witherspoon also admitted she’s still dealing with a bit of “baby brain.” She joked she’d been so out of it recently that she forgot what a refrigerator was called!
While Hollywood moms know all too well the pressure to lose the baby weight as soon as possible, Witherspoon isn’t stressing about it. “You just have to be gentle and patient with yourself,” she explained. “And slowly get back to your health.”
These days, the blond beauty is focusing more on spending time with her new son and the rest of her family. But then it’s back to work – she has a busy schedule coming up, with three movies going into pre-production early next year.
“Hobbit” Star Ian McKellan Reveals He Has Cancer
Sad news, it seems, has hit Middle Earth. Sir Ian McKellen, award-winning thespian and star of such blockbuster franchises as “Lord of the Rings” and “X-Men,” has revealed that he is suffering from prostate cancer.
Although the news sounds scary, in actuality the star of the upcoming “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has apparently been battling the cancer for six or seven years and is very optimistic that it won’t take him out.
“When you have got it, you monitor it, and you have to be careful it doesn’t spread,” the knighted actor said of his affliction. “But if it is contained in the prostate, it’s no big deal.”
There are 241,740 new cases of prostate cancer in the US every year, but only about 28,170 deaths as a result. Screenings are highly recommended, as early detection and treatment is vital.
Despite the fact that McKellen has been ill for some time, he has not been required to receive any radiation or even surgery for the cancer. Still, he is taking the diagnosis seriously. “Many, many die from it,” he reasoned. “But it’s one of the cancers that is totally treatable, so I have ‘wasteful watching.’ I am examined regularly and it’s just contained, it’s not spreading.”
Honestly, his fans are probably more upset about this news than the 73-year old appears to be! It’s not scientifically proven that having a good attitude will help people overcome illness, but it certainly can’t hurt.
Besides playing the good wizard Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the now-launching “Hobbit” series of prequels, McKellen is also slated to return as the villainous mutant Magneto in the next “X-Men” film, entitled “Days of Future Past.”
But the actor is no mere fanboy favorite – a two time Oscar nominee and three time Oscar nominee, he has played everyone from King Lear to James Whale in one of this blogger’s most favorite films, “Gods and Monsters.”
Sir McKellen, please get better soon! We’re not ready to face a cineplex without you!
“Alice in Wonderland” Gears Up For a Sequel – But Is Johnny Depp Still Mad Enough to Star In It?
It looks like Disney’s ready to once again take a journey down the rabbit hole. Variety is reporting that the studio wants to prepare a follow-up to its 2010 Johnny Depp-starring smash hit “Alice in Wonderland.” Linda Woolverton, who has written numerous Disney classics over the years like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King,” is in line to continue the story.
While there are few details to report, other than the mere fact that this will happen in the foreseeable future, it seems to be running with Disney’s latest theme of big-budget retellings of classic children’s stories. The studio already has “Maleficent” in the works, with Angelina Jolie filling the wicked shoes of the “Sleeping Beauty” villain, and there has been casting buzz galore the last few weeks regarding their live-action version of “Cinderella.” It’s been rumored that Cate Blanchett is close to signing on as the evil stepmother, and 2008 “Atonement” Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan is apparently one of the front-runners for that coveted glass slipper
in the new adaptation from “One Hour Photo” director and music video pioneer Mark Romanek.
Well, enough about Cinderella and her footwear woes for the time being, all in due time. What more news of Alice and her Mad Hatter friend, you say?
Sadly there isn’t that much, as it hasn’t been addressed whether Tim Burton will once again return to the helm, or whether stars Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp will reprise their roles.
Even if all involved want to take a journey back to Wonderland, it may be difficult to get there, as all of the above-listed stars have pretty packed schedules. Wasikowska, whose star has risen exponentially since “Alice” came out, has 6 films in various stages of production; Depp has commitments to other popular franchises like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the as-yet-unreleased “The Lone Ranger.” Tim Burton hasn’t announced any future projects so far, but personally I’d love to see him get back to some original material for the next venture. Maybe we’ll finally get that long-rumored “Beetlejuice” sequel??? A girl can dream.
Kim Kardashian Pays Tribute To Her Deceased Kitty
Sad news today for Kim Kardashian fans and animal lovers alike: Kim K’s little kitten Mercy has passed away. The adorable cat was a gift from the reality star’s boyfriend Kanye West, and her abrupt passing has left Kardashian in mourning.
“Rest in peace my little Mercy,” Kim wrote on her Twitter account recently, linking to a page with several pictures of the cat and some touching words from the most famous of the Kardashian sisters.
“It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you all that my kitten, Mercy, has passed away. My heart is completely broken,” she writes. “When I first got Mercy, I had never lived with a cat before and so I had no idea that I was allergic. I thought that it might pass, but after a few weeks I decided to go visit two separate allergists, one of whom said my allergies wouldn’t get any better unless I started taking injections.”
Despite Kim’s body rejecting the cat, however, her spirit insisted that she do everything in her power to make sure the cat remained happy. “I had fallen SO in love with Mercy that I wanted to try everything I could to keep her, but I didn’t think it was safe to resort to injections, and it wasn’t fair on Mercy, because I couldn’t play with her or give her as much attention as I wanted to,” Kim explains. “Mercy deserved a mom who could really give her the time and affection she deserved. I knew that Sydney, Khloe’s assistant, who had recently lost a cat she had loved and cared for for 17 years, would be the perfect mom for Mercy and Sydney was so excited to have Mercy as her own!”
The apparent happy ending, however, has since yielded to a sad end for the cat. “Sydney gave Mercy a loving home, but after a couple of weeks Mercy got really sick and Sydney had to rush her to the vet,” Kim explains. “They discovered she had a stomach problem that we weren’t aware of. Her stomach had filled with fluid, and the doctor said she had a rare stomach cancer and that there was nothing we could do for her.”
“Poor little Mercy died the very next day,” Kim adds. “It broke not only my heart that little Mercy died at only four months old, but Sydney’s too.”
“Mercy was a gentle and loving kitten, and we are all going to miss her so much,” Kim concludes. “Thanks to Sydney for making Mercy’s short life one filled with love.”
Mercy was named after Kanye West’s song, “Mercy.” It’s so hard to lose a pet, and our hearts go out to Kim. Despite her untimely passing, at least it seems that she was well cared for and was very loved in her brief life.
Kevin Clash “Sesame Street” Saga Gets Worse as 4th Accuser Emerges – Here’s a Timeline of the Whole Mess
Ugh, bumming me out!
Just when we thought we were safe from any more heartbreaking Kevin Clash news, another accuser has stepped forward.
The fourth alleged victim filed a lawsuit against the ex-voice of Elmo in NY federal court under the name John Doe. Doe says he met Clash in Miami Beach in ’95 or 96’ when he was 16 or 17 years old. Clash would have been in his mid-thirties.
Doe stated that Clash flew him to NYC, paid for his stay, put him up, and had sex with him on several occasions. The suit specifically mentions the transportation of a minor across state lines according to Doe’s attorney, Jeff Herman.
Doe claims he’s suffered emotional, mental, and psychological damage from the episode.
This news is sad, but hardly unexpected after the past few weeks in the famed voice actor’s life. Here’s the depressing timeline so far:
November 11th – Clash takes a leave of absence from “Sesame Street” in the wake of allegations of underage sex from Accuser #1.
November 13th – Accuser #1 recants his story, saying the relationship was consensual, but also receives a financial settlement. “I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest,” Clash states. “I will not discuss it further.”
November 20th – Accuser #2, Cecil Singleton, files a lawsuit against Clash, claiming they had a sexual relationship in 2003 when Singleton was 15. Singleton is asking for more then $5 million, because of adverse psychological and emotional effects.
November 20th – Kevin Clash resigns from Sesame Street.
November 26th – Accuser #3 comes forward, saying Clash had sex with him when he was 16 and that they met on a gay chat line. He files a lawsuit for unspecified damages.
December 10th – Accuser #4 comes forward. Due to the “Sesame Street” shooting schedule, Clash’s voice will appear in the PBS program into 2014.
We truly hope these lawsuits will help the alleged victims get the relief and closure they are looking for, not only for their sake – but if for no other reason than the fact that they are simply bumming the rest of us out.
Casting Call: Spider-Man, Kristen Wiig and Brooklyn Decker Making Hollywood Waves
Don’t miss the latest and greatest in casting news – tune in at the end of every week for the latest edition of Nicerazzi’s “Casting Call,” where we keep tabs on who will be playing who in Hollywood’s hottest new movies and tv shows. Without further ado, here’s our latest installment of juicy casting news…
Movies:
“Chronicle” standout Dane Dehaan has been cast as Harry Osborn in “The Amazing Spider-Man” sequel. The role, made famous by Renaissance man James Franco, will now be portrayed by Dehaan, an up-and-comer known primarily for the breakout hit about teenage kids transformed into quasi- superheroes; he also continued a strong 2012 with minor roles in “Lincoln” and “Lawless.” Dehaan joins an already star-studded cast that includes Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Shailene Woodley, and Jamie Foxx.
The world has been buzzing with excitement over the return of Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone in “Anchorman 2,” and now fans have even more reason to get pumped. “SNL” and “Bridesmaids” veteran Kristen Wiig has been cast as a love-interest to Steve Carell’s character, Brick. Guess that means he’ll have to break things off with Lamp!
James Marsden is set to appear opposite Elizabeth Banks in “Walk of Shame.” Marsden will play Gordon, the love interest of Banks’ character. Meanwhile, the “40-Year-Old Virgin” blonde will play a news anchor facing the biggest interview of her life, only to find herself scrambling when she has a particularly big night on the town and wakes up the next morning at Gordon’s apartment with no wallet, ID, phone, or recollection of the night before. All she knows is that she has to get to the interview, and ASAP.
Television:
Kramer is back on TV! No, Michael Richards won’t actually be reprising his role as Seinfeld’s eccentric funnyman Kramer, but he is making a return to the boob tube. Richards has been cast alongside other significant sitcom superstars of days past, Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman, in TV Land’s new sitcom “Giant Baby.” Alley stars as Maddie, a Broadway star whose life is turned upside-down when her biological son suddenly enters her life. Richards will play Maddie’s trusty limo driver.
Supermodel-turned-actress Brooklyn Decker will have a short stint on Fox’s “New Girl.” The “Battleship” beauty will play a thirsty damsel-in-distress at the bar where Nick works. Nick (Jake Johnson), Winston (Lamorne Morris) and Schmidt (Max Greenfield) will, of course, engage in some friendly competition to try and win her affections.
Jay McGuiness of The Wanted Sticks Up For His Band’s Most Troubled Fan: “Free Lindsay!”
Looks like Lindsay Lohan has an unexpected ally in her corner. Surprising fans, The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness wore a “Free Lindsay” t-shirt on stage, making a statement about the plight of the troubled former teen star.
The T-shirt was his own design, says the 22-year-old British pop star. “I’m a little bit of an artist, so I got the old sharpie out,” he explained recently. “After a small scuffle that went down, I felt very sorry for her. I wanted to cheer her up and I think she said she liked it, right?”
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The “scuffle,” as he calls it, was the now-infamous November 29th fight between Lohan and a fellow patron of Avenue, a club in New York City.
Lohan was arrested, and has been dealing with the fallout ever since. “At 4 am we responded to club Avenue on 10th Avenue,” Detective Mark Nell of the NYPD said of the incident. “There was a 26-year-old white female who assaulted a 28-year-old white female. Lindsay Lohan was arrested, and charged with assault.”
The incident followed a night at The Wanted/Justin Bieber concert at Madison Square Garden, which Lindsay attended with her younger sister Ali.
The Wanted was in the club when the brawl broke out, and McGuiness says the incident was sort of…confusing, but it didn’t stop the fun. “It’s a bit of a blur actually,” he remembered. “We actually carried on partying after that. It was reported that [the fight] was about [bandmate] Max [George], but I don’t think it actually was.”
Nevertheless, the boy-bander had nothing but positive things to say about the troubled “Liz and Dick” star. “[Lohan] was a total sweetheart on the night, so our experience [with her] is quite positive.”
The unfortunate incident is simply the latest in a long line of legal issues for Lindsay, who according to Us Magazine has been in rehab five times, arrested seven times now, and spent 20,274 minutes (or 337 hours) in jail over the last several years.
This scuffle follows Lindsay’s latest pledge to stay on the straight-and-narrow, just weeks ago. “I want to be known as an actress, not a troubled starlet,” she said in mid-November. “I have it tattooed: ‘Live Without Regrets.’ I’m not saying I wanted to go to a jail cell, but I’ve drawn from all of it.”