Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- E.L. James Wants More Control Over 'Fifty Shades' Sequel: Report
- Eddie Murphy Declined to Play Bill Cobsy in 'SNL 40' Skit
- #TBT: Stars of Oscars Past (PHOTOS)
- Mo'Nique Claims She Was 'Blackballed' After Winning Oscar
- 'Mad Men' Final Season Teaser Promises the Sweetest Hangover (VIDEO)
- 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2' Unscripted: Adam Scott, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke (VIDEO)
- Weekend Movies & TV: 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2,' 'The Oscars,' & More (VIDEO)
- Oscars 2015: 16 Things You'll See at This Year's Academy Awards
- Oscar Predictions 2015: Who Will Win Best Actor?
- 'District 9' Director Neill Blomkamp Talks About His 'Alien' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
- 9 Mistakes From Best Picture Oscar Winners
- Oscars 2015: The 10 Best Reasons to Watch This Year
- Best of Late Night TV: Will Smith's 'Gettin' Jiggy With It' Rap and Ashton Kutcher's Prosthetic Penis
| E.L. James Wants More Control Over 'Fifty Shades' Sequel: Report Posted:  Following a report that director Sam Taylor-Johnson wants out of her "Fifty Shades of Grey" shackles comes word that author E.L. James wants more control over the film series moving forward. James, who penned the best-selling trilogy on which the hit film is based, already wielded lots of power over the production of the first flick, scoring casting approval and working closely with filmmakers to give input on the movie. She and Taylor-Johnson reportedly got into numerous heated arguments on set, and the author demanded that the film be more faithful to the book than producers wanted. Now, according to Variety, "James is seeking more control over the sequel by writing the script herself." But, the trade says, studio Universal Pictures is "resistant to the idea." Production on sequel "Fifty Shades Darker" has stalled, Variety says, due to the studio's negotiations with James. Both Taylor-Johnson and screenwriter Kelly Marcel are doubtful to return, and that creative tumult has put the greenlight of the second film in the series in jeopardy, especially since production would have be delayed to allow for more time for James to pen a screenplay, a medium in which she has no prior experience. Variety explains Universal's problem with James thusly:
It's unclear how that contract could affect James's alleged demand to pen the "Darker" screenplay herself, but so far, Universal has declined to speculate publicly about the possibility. "The studio had always intended to sit down with the author after the film opened and discuss next steps and that has not yet happened," a Universal spokesman told Variety. Stay tuned to see how this latest "Fifty Shades" drama plays out. [via: Variety] Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Eddie Murphy Declined to Play Bill Cobsy in 'SNL 40' Skit Posted:  One of the most surprising moments from this weekend's "SNL 40" special came when cast member Kenan Thompson briefly popped up to play Bill Cosby during a "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketch. Unbeknownst to viewers, though, was who was originally supposed to portray the embattled comedian. In a lengthy series of tweets posted on Wednesday, former "Saturday Night Live" star Norm Macdonald, who starred in numerous "Celebrity Jeopardy!" parodies during his "SNL" stint in the early '90s, revealed that the Cosby impression was initially supposed to be performed by Eddie Murphy. Murphy, who made his first return to Studio 8H after more than 30 years in honor of the show's anniversary, is well-known for his Cosby impression, and as Macdonald wrote on Twitter, he was offered the gag for Sunday's event. "It's my job to talk him in to doing Jeopardy," Macdonald wrote of Murphy, detailing the planning and writing that went into the sketch in the days before "SNL 40" was set to air. "We talk in his dressing room a good hour. When it's over, I'm convinced he'll do it. He doesn't." The reason, Macdonald said, was that Murphy didn't want to "kick a man when he is down," alluding to the multiple rape and abuse allegations that have swirled around Cosby in recent months. And while Macdonald declined to comment on what he thinks about Cosby's recent troubles, he said he respected Murphy's decision, saying it proved that Murphy was not a self-serving comedian. Cosby later released a statement to NBC News thanking Murphy for declining to play him. "I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions," the statement said. [via: Norm Macdonald, NBC News, h/t Esquire] Photo credit: YouTube This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| #TBT: Stars of Oscars Past (PHOTOS) Posted: The 87th Annual Academy Awards go down this Sunday and we're chomping at the bit to see some of our favorite celebs step out for film's biggest night. In honor of the occasion, we've decided to open up the vault and check out some epic throwback moments from Oscars past. Take a journey through the Award show's storied past and see some of the planet's biggest stars (and their fashion choices) in action. It's worth it for some of those hairstyles alone...  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Mo'Nique Claims She Was 'Blackballed' After Winning Oscar Posted:
For more from the actress, read the entire exchange over at THR. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Mad Men' Final Season Teaser Promises the Sweetest Hangover (VIDEO) Posted:  A new teaser for the second part of "Mad Men"'s seventh and final season is here, and it looks like Don Draper and co. are in for plenty of hookups and hangovers in the final stretch of episodes. As is usual for the secretive series, the promo is short on plot, but chock full of funky fashion and lots of furtive glances between our characters. Pete and Peggy share a moment at a party, while Don and Megan appear to still be on different wavelengths; there's also split screen shots of Betty and Sally, and one of Joan and the men of the Sterling Cooper & Partners office, including a singled out Roger. What does all this mean for the last few episodes of the show, though? It seems we're being pointed into expecting resolutions between these characters, including the likely (official) end of Don and Megan's marriage, Betty and Sally finally communicating, and Peggy and Pete potentially getting back together after their season one hookup. And could Joan and Roger be ready to give a real relationship a shot? There's no telling what creator Matt Weiner has up his sleeve, but we'll be tuning in no matter what happens. The final season of "Mad Men" continues on April 5 on AMC. [via: Mad Men] Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2' Unscripted: Adam Scott, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke (VIDEO) Posted: "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" goes Unscripted! Stars Adam Scott, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke answer fan questions -- and make up a few of their own -- in hilarious fashion. Obviously. Watch the full episode -- along with some exclusive clips too hot for Unscripted -- below. You can catch "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" when it hits theaters everywhere Friday, February 20.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Weekend Movies & TV: 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2,' 'The Oscars,' & More (VIDEO) Posted: This weekend, rewind the clock because your favorite time-traveling comedians are back in "Hot Tub Time Machine 2," Kevin Costner transforms an unlikely California cross country team into championship contenders in "McFarland USA," and Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 87th Annual Academy Awards live Sunday night at 7 ET / 4 PT on ABC.  Also in theaters this weekend:
Also on TV this weekend:
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| Oscars 2015: 16 Things You'll See at This Year's Academy Awards Posted: Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony should actually be pretty exciting, in a Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots kind of way. Like the Super Bowl contenders earlier this month, the two top movies are pretty evenly matched, and the victory won't be decided until the final seconds. The same is true in the Best Actor contest, where Stephen Hawking fights it out with a guy running through Times Square in his underwear. It could go either way. Perennial Oscar show producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan have a lot going for them this year. Besides the genuine suspense in the "Birdman" vs. "Boyhood" and Eddie Redmayne vs. Michael Keaton contests, they have awards-show pro Neil Patrick Harris hosting. They have all the "American Sniper" fans encouraged to tune in (don't worry, folks, the Academy won't let your film go home empty-handed; they'll give it at least Best Sound Editing in order to prove that they love America and the troops). And if they're smart, they'll have tyrannical "Whiplash" music teacher J.K. Simmons conducting the orchestra, ready to play off any winner whose rambling speech threatens to further elongate the already overstuffed ceremony. Whether you're watching the Feb. 22 ABC telecast out of genuine rooting interest in the nominated films, out of fondness for all the glitzy excess, or out of laziness and boredom, here's what Zadan, Meron, Harris, and the Academy are cooking up for you.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Oscar Predictions 2015: Who Will Win Best Actor? Posted:  With the 2015 Oscars almost here, Moviefone will be releasing a set of staff predictions each day this week (in countdown fashion) for the four major categories. We kicked it off yesterday with Best Actress, and now turn our attention to a hotly-contested race: Best Actor.We've already given you the beat on the 2015 Oscars race, so now let's break down our favorites to win the award. Here, we've listed the actors we expect to win, and then, more importantly, who we think should win. Tim Hayne Who Will Win: Eddie Redmayne. The actor's transformative performance as physics genius Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything" is, perhaps, the most talked about of the year, and it's already earned him a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. The only person who could possibly upset the race at this point is Bradley Cooper, whose performance in "American Sniper" has been celebrated by audiences to the tune of more than $300M at the box office. Who Should Win: Michael Keaton. If not for his performance in "Birdman," than for his career as a whole. Keaton is the dark horse in this race, for sure, but his dramatic (and comedic) turn as, basically, a version of himself in Alejandro González Iñárritu's dark comedy is fantastically nuanced and powerful. No disrespect to Redmayne, but it's pretty early in the 33-year-old's career; let's give the Oscar to someone who's filmography includes iconic turns in "Beetlejuice," "Batman," and, one my personal favorites, "Mr. Mom." Alana Altmann Who Will Win: Eddie Redmayne, but by a narrow margin. A physically transformative portrayal of a real-life figure will most likely trump an actor playing an... actor. (Hello, "Birdman.") The visually stunning "Theory of Everything" is the kind of Oscar-friendly biopic that lands its leading men gold. See: Colin Firth in "The King's Speech," Jamie Foxx in "Ray," and Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Left Foot" and "Lincoln." The same logic could be used for Bradley Cooper and Benedict Cumberbatch's roles, but Redmayne's face looked all different and stuff. Who Should Win: Michael "Birdman" Keaton. He flies high (JK -- I'll spare you those bird puns!) shines while bringing tormented washed up Hollywood actor Riggan Thomson to life in a way we couldn't imagine another actor doing. Whether you enjoyed the overwhelming, chaotic meta-ness of "Birdman" or not, it's hard to deny his riveting performance. Keaton musters his own special blend of magical manic restlessness while embodying vulnerability, bitterness, and the universal fear of failure. To not give him this award would be a total fowl. (Sorry, we had to.) Jonny Black Who Will Win: Michael Keaton. "Birdman" director Alejandro González Iñárritu said prior to the film's release that he wanted Keaton for the role because he could navigate drama and comedy, adding "a meta-dialogue to the film." Keaton was thrown the perfect pass and he delivers, beautifully handling the self-loathing and struggles of former superhero star Riggan Thomson. There's no denying Eddie Redmayne's momentum leading up to the Oscars after taking home a Golden Globe and a SAG award and, frankly, there's no denying his talent -- he's unbelievable in "The Theory of Everything." Redmayne could take the Oscar home and it would hardly be a steal, but Keaton's long history with the Academy will give him the win by a nose. Who Should Win: Michael Keaton. Ehhh... Eddie Redmayne? Redmayne turns in a hell of a performance, one that is now getting the backlash label of "physical acting," but who are we kidding? The young Brit let Stephen Hawking's struggles, emotional and physical, seep into his being and he delivers a raw and moving performance. Ultimately, though, Michael Keaton just is Riggan Thomson. Is there anyone else you can even imagine in that role? It's impossible to take your eyes off him and he should take home the Oscar. Who's your pick? Tell us in the comments below, and find out which star wins Best Actor when the Oscars air live Sunday, February 22 at 7 ET / 4 PT on ABC. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'District 9' Director Neill Blomkamp Talks About His 'Alien' Movie (EXCLUSIVE) Posted:  Over the past few months director Neill Blomkamp, whose robotic crime movie "Chappie" opens next month (and who, contrary to Twitter scuttlebutt, is very good indeed), has released a series of cryptic images over his Instagram account that suggest he was in the process of developing a new movie set within the "Alien" universe. Well, it looks like that is very much the case, as Deadline is reporting that Blomkamp has been hired to direct a new installment in the franchise, to be produced by series overlord Ridley Scott. True to form, Blomkamp took to Instagram, posting a photo of the xenomorph and saying it's "officially my next film." Zounds!Deadline was quick to point out that Scott is still actively developing a sequel to "Prometheus," which he will once again produce and direct. There is no timeline on either project but both are moving forward (even without workable scripts). We chatted with Blomkamp a couple of weeks ago and asked him about those "Alien" images. Read what he had to say below! Moviefone: What were those "Alien" images you put up on Instagram? Neill Blomkamp: I spent a lot of 2014 on post-production on "Chappie," coming up with an "Alien" film that I wanted to make. But then I wasn't sure that I wanted to do any film. I'm still not sure I'm going to do any film at all. But I figured that I might as well put some of it out because it's cool stuff. I probably put out 5-10 percent of what I developed. It's pretty far along actually. Have you pitched this to Fox? No. But Fox would make it in a second. It's just a case of deciding to move forward or not. Why wouldn't you? I wouldn't. Not because of "Alien." Because if I was the younger me, I would kick myself in the head for not doing an "Alien" movie. It's more a case of making sure that Hollywood and film is the right platform for me. It's more a Is film the right place for me? question than it is specific to the project. Why are you having these doubts? Because Hollywood is lame. It's corporately run. It's not very artistic. And if it is artistic you have to fight. You have to shed blood to make it artistic. There are other platforms where you can just be artistic. You'd reach a lot less people but that's okay. I'm not saying I'm leaving film because I probably won't but I'm just assessing. Did you talk to Sigourney Weaver about it? Yes. Speaking to her about what she thought about Ripley and where she went in the movies and her thoughts on it are what led to that concept. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 9 Mistakes From Best Picture Oscar Winners Posted: Movies are prone to make mistakes -- that's just the nature of production. However, when a film has won the Oscar for Best Picture, people can't help but hold it to a higher standard. With Oscar night less than a week away, we take a look at a few of the most recent Best Picture winners. We could certainly focus on the beautiful direction, the (near) perfect production, and the astounding acting of these winners, but today we highlight the films' noticeable blunders to remind everyone that even the best filmmakers make mistakes. From "The Godfather" to "Chicago," here are nine best picture blunders. As usual, all photos are courtesy of MovieMistakes.com.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Oscars 2015: The 10 Best Reasons to Watch This Year Posted: There's always a lot of nay saying before the annual Oscar telecast rolls around, with prestige fatigue setting in even for those who haven't been covering the various awards, nominees, and campaigns for the past few months. But there is a silver lining to every gloomy, awards show-shaped cloud, and this year's broadcast, hosted by affably goofy song-and-dance man Neil Patrick Harris (who, it should be remembered, co-starred in the Oscar-nominated "Gone Girl"), could be really, really great. But if you're saying to yourself, I really don't want to watch this year. It will be boring and repetitive. But I sure could use a Top 10 list to really lay things out for me, have we got the top 10 list for you. Read on for the top 10 reasons to watch the Oscars this year.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  If you're like us and value your sleep, you probably nodded off into your Ambien dreamland before the party started on post-prime time TV. Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here's the best of what happened last night on late night. Will Smith is a multi-talented guy, but let's be honest. We love him best for "Gettin' Jiggy With It" (not to mention the "Fresh Prince" theme song), and he entered the "Late Show" stage rapping his biggest hit. '90s dream come true! Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Oscars, and he visited "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to chat about his process for coming up with jokes. Basically, all his good topical zingers have been stolen by Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and every late night show ever, and now he's hoping for a last minute scandal he can work into the show. You guys! Jimmy Kimmel teamed up with his buddy Anthony Anderson to debut a new friend-finding app for white people. Welcome to "Brothr: The App for Black Friends," which will help bridge the racial divide in the most awkward way possible. As Kimmel says, "we've solved racism." Bravo legend Andy Cohen swung by "The Tonight Show" and revealed his "Real Housewives" tag-line: "I may be a man, but I fight like a girl." Oh, and he also brought some tag-lines for Jimmy Fallon, including "When I walk into a room, I host it" and "I'm about to 30 rock your world." Simply put: amazing. Finally, Ashton Kutcher visited "Conan" and revealed that he offered to wear a huge prosthetic penis on the set of "Two and a Half Men" so the studio audience didn't actually see him naked during a nude scene. Turns out Ashton had it ready and waiting in his trailer, no big deal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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