Sharon Stone Does Esquire UK

SNEAK PEEK THE TRAILER HERE

"Stoned"- The Brian Jones Story

CW Hooks Hartley To Play TV "Aquaman" ...

SNEAK PEEK

The CW network's "Aquaman" project, titled "Mercy Reef" has netted a new leading man.

In a major recasting, actor Justin Hartley has been hired to play 'A.C. Curry', aka 'Aquaman' in the upcoming pilot.

Hartley replaces actor Will Toale, who originally was cast as the lead when the pilot was ordered up by The WB.

Hartley joins Ving "Pulp Fiction" Rhames who plays 'Atlantean' lighthouse keeper 'McCaffery', and "Smallville" beauty Denise Quinones, as fighter pilot 'Rachel Starling'.

"Mercy Reef" starts production mid-March in Florida.

"X-Men: The Last Stand" ...

Swank The new Muse For Guerlain

SNEAK PEEK

February 21, 2006

Maison Guerlain has signed actress Hilary Swank to a 3-year contract as company spokesperson for a new fragrance to be launched September 2006.

In recent years, Guerlain has turned to its historical values to attract customers in search of more refined and more contemporary luxury.

Recent successful launches of 'L'instant de Guerlain', 'Kiss Kiss' lipstick and 'Orchidee Imperiale' skincare cream, along with the reopening of a boutique on the Champs- lysees, are proof of the company's new momentum.

"Guerlain expands its international presence by associating its name with a muse," the company said.

"More than just a face, Guerlain searched for a personality and character embodying the Guerlain spirit. Both a muse and a spokesperson, Hilary Swank will inspire...Hilary is bold and confident, yet full of emotion and truly genuine. It is this remarkable spirit that appealed to the directors of Guerlain."

Swank, will present at the 78th Academy Awards ceremony March 5th.

In addition to the Oscar for her performance as 'Brandon Teena' in "Boys Don't Cry", Swank won the Golden Globe Award for 'Best Actress in a Drama'. She then appeared in supporting roles opposite Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves in Sam Raimi's "The Gift" and opposite Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Christopher Nolan's "Insomnia".

Swank recently starred as 'Alice Paul' in HBO's "Iron Jawed Angels" and honoured with both SAG and Golden Globe nominations.

Swank was most recently seen starring opposite Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman in Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby", winning a second Academy Award for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role'.

She will next be seen in a supporting role opposite Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett in Brian De Palma's "Black Dahlia" and starring in "The Reaping" for Warner Brothers.

Swank is currently shooting "Freedom Writers", the true story of Long Beach schoolteacher, Erin Gruwell.

Ladies First For "Y-The Last Man" ...

Click image to enlarge...

Vertigo Comics' title "Y-THE LAST MAN", continues in development as a feature film.

Premise of the story is set in the summer of 2002, when a plague of unknown origin destroys every fully developed mammal on earth with a 'Y' chromosome - with the exception of amateur escape artist 'Yorick Brown' and his male monkey companion 'Ampersand'.

The male 'gendercide' annihilates 48% of the global population, or approximately 2.9 billion men.

Mindful of his unique status in the new world order, Yorick undertakes a continent spanning quest to find his missing exchange student girlfriend, trapped somewhere in Australia.

Along the way he meets a variety of women, each with their own voracious agenda, including a combat soldier, a congresswoman, and one of the planet's premier bio-engineers.

Debuting July 2002, "Y-The Last Man" was created by writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Pia Guerra, inker José Marzan, Jr. and cover artist J.G. Jones.

Take A Look At "A Scanner Darkly" ...

February 21, 2006

Premise of the rotoscope-animated feature "A Scanner Darkly", focuses on 'Bob Arctor', a detective and user/dealer of the narcotic 'Substance D'.

Arctor's personality begins to fragment as a result of his constant use of the illegal drug.

"A Scanner Darkly" is a production of Warner Independant Pictures, Thousand Words and Section 8 Ltd .

Starring Keanu Reeves,Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Robert Downey Jr., "A Scanner Darkly" was adapted for the screen by writer/director Richard Linklater, produced by Tommy Pallotta, Jonah Smith, Erwin Stoff, Anne Walker-McBay and Palmer West. Executive Producers are John Sloss and Steven Soderbergh, with animation supervised by Bob Sabiston.

Based on the novel by author Philip K. Dick, "A Scanner Darkly" was revered by Dick as a deeply personal novel and the film has been made with the co-operation and approval of his estate.

Quinones Splashes Down On Aquaman's "Mercy Reef" ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 18, 2006

Actress Denise Quinones, a recent guest star on "Smallville", has now joined the cast of the CW Network's "Aquaman" television pilot.

The pilot title is now "Mercy Reef".

Quinones will play a Navy Top Gun pilot and Aquaman's love interest.

25-year old Quinones, winner of the 'Miss Universe' title in 2001, portrayed the character 'Maya' in the "Smallville" episode "Vengeance."

Actor Ving "Pulp Fiction" Rhames, recently seen as an updated TV "Kojak" will play 'McCaffrey', originally from 'Atlantis', now a lighthouse keeper at 'Atlas Point', familiar with creatures unknown to man, that inhabit the ocean's dark waters.

Production of "Mercy Reef" starts mid-March 2006 in Florida.

Suit Yourself As "Batman" or "The Rocketeer" ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 18, 2006

Hollywood Auction 24

The next auction of rare Hollywood memorabilia by Profiles In History is scheduled for Friday, March 31, 2006 in Beverly Hills.

Auction highlights include:

Screen-used costume of the "Rocketeer" from The Rocketeer

Original filming miniature of the "Alien Queen" used in Aliens

Star Trek: The Original Series William Shatner "Captain Kirk" parallel universe tunic used in the classic episode "Mirror Mirror"

Star Trek: The Original Series Klingon Battle Cruiser filming model

Star Trek: The Original Series screen-used "Gorn" mask used in the classic episode "Arena"

Star Trek: The Original Series Klingon Disruptor weapon

The Tom Jung Collection including the original concept art for The Empire Strikes Back Style B poster

Archive of original Cinefantastique cover art from the Estate of Fred Clark including the trade-mark art by Vincent Di Fate of "Klaatu" and "Gort" from The Day the Earth Stood Still

Original rare one-sheet poster of Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus (1928)

George Clooney hero costume from Batman & Robin

"Road To Perdition" Writer Developing "Captain America" ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 18, 2006

According to reports, screenwriter David "Road To Perdition" Self is currently working on a treatment for the developing Paramount/Marvel feature film production "Captain America."

Self has previously scripted screenplays for other upcoming Marvel features including "Namor: The Sub-Mariner" and "Deathlok: The Demolisher".

The new "Captain America" film has been slated for a 2009 theatrical release.

"Superman Returns" Fashion Taking Off ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 17, 2006

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, in partnership with Priorities, a division of StefiT Inc., will produce a line of tees, tanks, thermals and zip hoodies inspired by DC Comic characters 'Superman', 'Supergirl', 'Lois Lane', 'Wonder Woman' and 'Batman'.

The items, embellished with Swarovski rhinestones are contemporary fashion, yet have the classic look of the comics, according to both companies. The line features pieces for both men and women, as well as tween boys and girls.

A highlight of the collection is a tank with the S-Shield logo, inspired by the upcoming film "Superman Returns".

Retail prices of the collection range from $48-$150.

The line will be seen at the MAGIC show in Las Vegas, February 21-24, and appear in department/specialty boutiques April 2006.

The Latest Casting From "Casino Royale" ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 16, 2006

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc, and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced that actress Eva Green has now been cast to play 'Vesper Lynd' opposite Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale".

Actor Jeffrey Wright has also joined the cast as 'Felix Leiter', with Mads Mikkelsen as 'Le Chiffre'.

"Casino Royale" reunites Wilson and Broccoli with Martin Campbell, who directed 1995's "GoldenEye".

The MGM/Columbia Pictures production began shooting in January and will be released worldwide November 17, filmed on location in the Czech Republic, Bahamas, Italy and the UK. "... Eva is one of France's most accomplished young actresses, now receiving international acclaim," said Eon.

"She brings to the complex role of 'Vesper' an exciting combination of enigmatic and seductive beauty. Likewise Mads has such a compelling onscreen presence and his riveting performances in 'Open Hearts' and 'Adam's Apples' convinced both us and director Martin Campbell that he was ideal for the role of 'Le Chiffre'."

Neal Purvis and Robert Wade wrote the screenplay of "Casino Royale", based on author Ian Fleming's first novel. Additional writing was contributed by Academy Award-nominated writer, Paul Haggis of "Crash" and "Million Dollar Baby" fame.

"Vesper is a pivotal role in 'Casino Royale' and it takes much more than beauty to make this role work," said Amy Pascal, Chairman of the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture Group.

"When you think about the great James Bond adventures, of course you think about action and espionage, but you need to have palpable sexual tension in the movie and in casting Vesper, we really needed to up the ante, because this character is very much an equal to Bond and central to our story."

Described by Bernardo Bertolucci as "so beautiful it's indecent," Eva Green was born in Paris, France, making her film debut in Bertolucci's "The Dreamers". She then starred opposite Kristin Scott Thomas and Romain Duris in Jean-Paul Salome's French-language "Arsene Lupin". In 2005 she made her Hollywood debut, starring as the female lead in Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven".

Mads Mikkelsen co-starred alongside Clive Owen and Keira Knightley in "King Arthur". Mikkelsen is also noted for his starring role in Susanne Bier's "Open Hearts".

Wright, who played doomed artist 'Jean Michel Basquiat' in "Basquiat", gave an Emmy-winning performance in HBO's miniseries "Angels in America".

The rest of the cast of "Casino Royale" include Giancarlo "Seven Beauties" Giannini as 'Mathis', Caterina Murino as 'Solonge', Simon Abkarian as 'Dimitrios', Tobias Menzies as 'Villiers', Ivana Milicevic as 'Valenka', Clemens Schik as 'Kratt', Ludger Pistor as 'Mendel' and Claudio Santamaria as 'Carlos'.

Happy Birthday Michael Stevens !!!

Eidos Hits On the Next "Lara Croft" ...

SNEAK PEEK

February 14, 2006

20-year old London UK model Karima Adebibe has been chosen by Eidos games as the new international face of action hero 'Lara Croft'.Karima was chosen from thousands of hopefuls, and will now embark on a gruelling training programme to prepare for the role, including an SAS survival, combat and semi automatic weapons firing course.

The actress will also receive classes in archaeology, deportment, elocution and etiquette lessons in order to portray 'Lady Lara Croft', the 11th generation Countess action hero.

Once completely trained in the ways of video gaming's leading lady, Karima will be lined up for a host of international modelling assignments, starring in TV commercials, appearing on chat shows and travelling the globe well into 2008.

"This is an incredible opportunity for me and one which I plan to grasp with both hands" said Karima.

"It's a huge challenge to follow in the footsteps of people like Nell McAndrew and Angelina Jolie, but life is all about challenges and this is perhaps the biggest one for a model and actress."

"Karima has all the assets needed to accurately portray the world's favourite female action hero", said Matt Gorman, Brand Controller for Tomb Raider.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, "Tomb Raider" is one of the best selling videogames of all time, spun off into action figures, comic books, adventure novels and two major motion pictures.

LEGO Extends "Star Wars" Deal To 2011 ...

SNEAK PEEK

The LEGO Group, leaders in the 'construction toy' business, have announced it has reached agreement with Lucasfilm Ltd. to extend its "Star Wars" franchise license to 2011.

Under the agreement, the LEGO Group will continue its construction toy rights to the entire "Star Wars" galaxy, including an all new "Star Wars" animated television series currently in development.

In 1999, "Star Wars" became the first licensed property in the LEGO Group's portfolio and it continues to be the one of the company's best-selling properties.

Since the LEGO Group translated "Star Wars" into the construction play pattern, the line has generated more than $1 billion in retail sales around the world.

"LEGO 'Star Wars' has been a blockbuster success for us year after year, so we are thrilled to solidify our partnership with Lucasfilm through 2011," said Jay Bruns, director of global licensing, LEGO Group.

"The evergreen appeal of 'Star Wars' and its strong following among children and adult collectors fits perfectly with the LEGO community of builders and collectors."

"Putting 'Star Wars' and LEGO together has proven to be one of the greatest examples of co-branding ever achieved," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing.

Since its launch in 1999, more than 125 different LEGO 'Star Wars' sets have been developed and sold, offering replicas of more than 60 vehicles and spacecraft and LEGO minifigure versions of nearly 80 characters and droids from all six episodes.

This year, seven new LEGO "Star Wars" sets join the LEGO portfolio, including 'V-wing Fighter', 'A-wing Fighter', 'TIE Interceptor', 'B-wing Fighter', 'Slave I', 'Jabba the Hutt's Sail Barge' and 'Imperial Star Destroyer'.

Lego Group is a privately-held, family-owned company.

Gale Anne Hurd Has Faith In "The Magdalena" ...

SNEAK PEEK

Gale Anne Hurd, founder of Valhalla Motion Pictures continue to develop Top Cow's 'spiritually themed' comic book series "Magdalena" as a feature film.

Kevin Taft is writing the screenplay, focusing on a young woman named 'Patience' who discovers she is part of a lineage of female warriors descended from the biblical 'Mary Magdalene'.

The film's present-day action-adventure storyline is being compared to "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown.

"'Magdalena' is exactly the kind of project we love," said Hurd.

"A strong female lead character, a story with rich mythology, and compelling characters ... The religious overtone adds a new dimension to the adventure story ..."

"Magdalena" the comic book series has been translated into 26 languages for 55 countries.

Paramount Lends Marketing Muscle To Big Screen "Captain America" ...

SNEAK PEEK

"Without giving too much away, obviously there'll be a little bit of the origin and then we come into our real world," Marvel's Avi Arad recently said about the Marvel/Paramount big screen adaptation of Simon and Kirby's "Captain America".

"What makes 'Captain America' such a compelling character is that it allows you to judge history so you see where he came from and you see what he stood for."

Although the script is still in development, Arad doesn't anticipate the new "Captain America" movie to be ready for theatres until 2009.

"One of the things our movie is going to deal with is what happened in 60 years," says Arad.

"Which world was better? Sixty years ago or now? Within, obviously, a kick-ass plot and all the stuff that you've come to expect from a superhero movie."

December 7, 2005

Marvel Studios are in active development on the big screen feature "CAPTAIN AMERICA", based on the Marvel Comics' superhero character.

Brad "Fight Club" Pitt is interested in playing the lead role of 'Steve Rogers' aka 'Captain America'.

Created by writer Joe Simon, artist Jack "King" Kirby and publisher Martin Goodman, 'Captain America' debuted in Timely's "Captain America Comics" #1 (1941).

The premise focused on 'Steve Rogers', a frail child born during the Great Depression.

Attempting to enlist in the US Army during WW II, Rogers was rejected as being too sickly, but 'General Chester Phillips' offered him the opportunity to join the war effort via the 'Operation: Rebirth' program.

Rogers was taken to a secret lab in Washington, D.C. and introduced to 'Dr. Abraham Erskine' (aka 'Prof. Reinstein'), creator of an experimental 'super-soldier' formula.

Rogers is administered a serum, doused with a ray and pumped up into a perfect specimen. But an inflitrated saboteur kills Erskine who dies with the secret formula locked in his head.

Hustled into an intense physical training program, Rogers accepts his destiny and comes to grips with the fact that he is the only one of his kind.

Planted secretly as a potato-peeling private in the Army, Rogers first assignment is to stop the Axis agent "Red Skull". When company mascot 'Bucky Barnes' accidentally learns of Rogers alter ego, he joins 'Cap' on numerous missions behind enemy lines.

Towards the end of the war, Rogers tries to stop 'Baron Heinrich Zemo', from detonating a bomb-rigged drone, but the plane explodes, killing Bucky and throwing Cap into a cold ocean.

Cap's super metabolism freezes him into suspended animation, riveted into an ice-block, until he is revived, 20 years later by superhero team the "Avengers".

Cap's only weapon is his shield, a concave disk 2.5 feet in diameter, weighing 12 lbs and composed of a 'vibranium-adamantium' alloy, cast by metallurgist 'Dr. Myron MacLain'.

Studio Shooting For "The Red Star" ...

SNEAK PEEK

Universal Pictures have acquired film rights to Christian Gossett's award-winning graphic novel series "The Red Star".

Director Timur "Night Watch" Bekmambetov will develop the property, with a call out to screenwriters.

Debuting November 2000 via Image Comics, "The Red Star" was subsequently published in 2002 by CrossGen Comics through Gossett's self-imprint, Archangel Studios.

Premise of the stories, set in a reimagined Soviet Union, follows an epic battle in a world of militarized sorcery and monolithic technology, where the ghosts of old soldiers fight alongside the living.

Marc Platt will produce with Bekmambetov, Jim Lemley and Jason Netter.

Creator Gossett and Ken Levin will executive produce.

Singer Stepping Up "Logan's Run" ...

SNEAK PEEK

At this year's San Francisco WonderCon, director Bryan Singer said he is continuing to develop a remake of "Logan's Run" as his next picture, following "Superman Returns" currently in post-production.

Singer's "Usual Suspects" writer Chris McQuarrie, who did uncredited rewrites on the first "X-Men" feature is currently writing "Logan's Run".

To be distributed in 2007 by Warner Brothers, the Silver Pictures production of "Logan's Run" will be produced by Joel "The Matrix" Silver.

The novel "Logan's Run" by William F. Nolan & George Clayton Johnson was originally published during the 1960's by Dial Press and Dell books.

From the back cover of a 1969 paperback version:

The Youth Rebellion Had Triumphed ...The young long since had taken over the Earth. Sex, drugs, kicks were unlimited. But the trip from grove to grave was quick. No one was allowed to live past 21. Logan was a Sandman, one of the elite police who hunted those who refused to accept their fate. Then Logan turned 21-and suddenly he was desperately running, searching, in a world of cities beneath the sea, frozen arctic prison colonies, great hollowed-out mountains, abandoned cities...through a labyrinth of terror that lay between him and safety . . . between him and ultimate triumph...

Premise of the story follows 'Logan' and 'Jessica', who escape their fate through an underground railroad of mazes and shady characters, in their quest for long life and 'Sanctuary'.

The second novel "Logan's World" was released in 1976, followed by "Logan's Search" in 1980.

In the early 1990's Dove released a cassette version of "Logan's Run", read by author Nolan.

In 2000 Nolan electronically published the first three novels and a novella called "Logan's Return", self-publishing it into manuscript form in 2001.

Nolan also wrote two "Sam Space" novels, but it is not known at this time if that property has been optioned for film.

Singer's take is to be a faithful re-make of the 1976 feature, produced by Saul David and directed by Michael Anderson, starring Michael York as 'Logan 5', Jenny Agutter as 'Jessica 6', Farrah Fawcett as 'Holly 13' and Peter Ustinov as 'The Old Man'.

The Latest "Casino Royale" News From The Prague Press Conference ...

SNEAK PEEK

Director Martin Campbell has announced that the central villain of the upcoming James Bond 21, "Casino Royale" is now officially cast, with the character of 'Le Chiffre' to be played by actor Mads Mikkelsen.

The 40 year-old Mikkelsen is noted for his role as 'Tristan' in "King Arthur" (2004).

Also at today's late afternoon press conference at the Czech Republic's Barrandov Studios,

Campbell said the new Bond girl casting is down to "two or three" and "you'll just have to wait to find out."

Actresses Eva Green and Olivia Wilde are considered finalists.

New Bond Daniel Craig assured reporters that although the $100 million-plus Sony feature is already shooting without a love interest, "We haven't got there so it's all fine."

Dame Judy Dench, who plays the charcter of 'M', said her work with Craig on the Prague shoot usually begins with a few jokes, "and that seems to be vital. I only started working with Daniel yesterday, but we found common ground."

Audiences will learn more about M's back story, with a scene set in her London apartment, constructed in modernist beige by Barrandov with Asian art and Tanqueray gin cocktail service.

Campbell said Bond will show his more 'sensitive' side and reveal "the Bond we all know and love."

Cast and crew will soon re-locate to the Bahamas to shoot a chase sequence at a seaside construction site, then back to Prague, Italy and UK's Pinewood Studios.

Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of Eon Productions and directed by Martin "GoldenEye" Campbell, "Casino Royale" is scheduled for release November 17, 2006.

Principal photography started January 30th 2006.

This will be actor Daniel "Road To Perdition" Craig’s first outing as James Bond, the sixth actor to play '007' in the Eon film franchise.