Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed he’ll be playing Gandalf the Wizard in the Hobbit movies to be released in 2010 and 2011. “It’s not a part that you turn down. I loved playing Gandalf,” he told the BBC recently.

New Line Studios says the first film will be an adaptation of The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The second will be an original story covering the 60-year period between The Hobbit’s conclusion and the beginning of LOTR.

The films will be directed by Guillermo del Toro, who is replacing Peter Jackson. Like the previous films, they will be shot in New Zealand, back-to-back.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Amy Winehouse is working on a song for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Not that she’s been hired to do so, mind you. The six-grammy winner is just auditioning and, according to her producer, is only one of several acts the movie’s directors are considering.

What do you do when your acting career has tanked, your music career has become largely unmemorable, and no matter how hard you try your husband will always weigh half of what you do?

If you’re Jennifer Lopez you get create, write and produce your own reality TV show because, presumably, no one else would.

The show, which will run on TLC, is set to revolve around Lopez’s career and role as a new mother. “I’m looking forward to sharing this exciting journey together,” she told People Magazine.

You know, because nothing helps new mommies bond with their babies like having a television crew filming them 24/7.

Since we can’t think of any legitimate reason a bona fide celebrity would be on Celebrity Apprentice, we assume they’re all interested in reviving an otherwise flagging career.

So what explains OJ Simpson’s interest in appearing on The Donald’s show?

The truly sick part is that NBC is considering it. “There’s a certain amount of heat associated with Simpson,” a source told Page Six.

Yeah, the rest of us call it Hell.

Crazy former choreographer and usually unintelligible American Idol judge Paula Abdul is apparently recovering from her woes over that whole Bratz movie thing. Now she wants to put on her ballroom slippers and start Dancing with the Stars.

But does the show want her?

“I’d be honored, but that does not confirm or deny anything that’s out there right now,” she told OK! Magazine recently. The singer blames DWTS host Tom Bergeron for telling the press that Paula wanted to be on his show, but that’s not stopping her from puckering up to make it happen. This season of DWTS, she says, is “fantastic. Unbelievable. Out of the ballpark.”

Then, in typical Paula fashion (which means she might sober up before her words hit the press) she immediately tacked on: “Ask me tomorrow night and I’ll deny I said one thing!”

Frankly, we’d love to see the perky pint-size pill popper on the show. We just love a good train wreck.

Daniel Radcliffe, famous for his role as Harry Potter, has been wowing audiences across the pond with his portrayal of a mentally disturbed stable boy in Peter Shaffer’s play, Equus. His physique, which is revealed in its full naked glory, has been rocking more than a few worlds, too.

Now that he’s over 18, he’s legally old enough to appear naked on stage in the U.S., too. Fans in the States can get their chance to check out Daniel’s danglies now that Equus will play on Broadway beginning September 5.

(Source)

Actor Patrick Swayze is responding well to treatment for pancreatic cancer, his doctor says.

The actor credits his “excellent” response to the treatments — which consist of chemotherapy but not radiation — to the prayers and well wishes sent from friends and fans.

Swayze, 55, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month.

(Source)

Cuteness and big brown eyes may not be the only things American Idol contestant David Archuleta and his puppy have in common. If TMZ is to be believed, David’s father treats him like a dog, withholding water during rehearsal to the point where David was in tears.

Friends of the Archuleta family say that the gossip rag’s reports are ridiculous:

Why would he be yelling and screaming at David when he has been doing so well? It doesn’t make sense,” says one friend who asked not to be named.

David’s supporters say the smear campaign all began when Simon Cowell asked who picked the song, “You’re the Voice” (by John Farnam) that David sang on Tuesday night. Although David repeatedly said he loves the song, Simon wouldn’t believe him.

Frankly, we don’t think it’s that hard to believe. After all, this kid was rockin’ Alicia Keys‘ tune, Fallin’ when he was just 12 years old on Star Search.

Video below the fold! (Turn those speakers on, folks.)

continue reading "David Archuletta: A Puppy On A Leash?"

People magazine has the exclusive photos of Jennifer Lopez and her twin babies, Max and Emme, born on February 22. This week’s issue features a 12-page spread on Lopez, her husband Marc Anthony, and their adorable infants.

Lopez purportedly received a $6 million payment for the photos, which no doubt helped defray the $1.4 million bill for their births.

A 48-year-old construction worker committed suicide by hanging himself at Mel Gibson’s home in Agoura Hills, near Malibu. The home has been under heavy construction for some time. The body was found hanging in the addition being added to the house and was described by law enforcement officers as being in a state of rigor mortis.

Neither Gibson nor anyone in his family have lived at the house at any point.

(Source)