ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

FILM/ WEINSTEIN NABS "IRON LADY" FOR US: After a heated bidding war that lasted into the early hours of today, Pathe closed a deal with the Weinstein Co. for US rights to Margaret Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady," starring Meryl Streep, who is pictured above as Thatcher. The Weinstein Co. is partnering with Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies on the acquistion. "Iron Lady" will be completed by September in time for a fall or winter launch. The filmmakers and the Weinstein Co. are planning on a major awards run, particularly for Streep's performance.The Weinstein Co. released Oscar winner "The King’s Speech" in the US. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed Streep in "Mamma Mia!," the film stars Streep as the British prime minister and Jim Broadbent as her husband Denis. The film was written by Abi Morgan.

FILM/ DIANA DOC PANNED: The 1st reviews for the documentary, "Unlawful Killing," which investigates the death of Princess Diana, have been released. And the reviews, for the already condemned film that has premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, are scathing. Among others, The Hollywood Reporter said: "The Bottom Line: Preposterous documentary offered up by Mohamed Al Fayed about the conspiratorial killing of Lady Diana and Dodi Fayed". THR calls the film "balderdash," "absurd" and a "dodo-headed documentary". At a stormy media conference in Cannes after its premiere, director Keith Allen was repeatedly asked to explain what new evidence he believes the film contains, most of which was dismissed by critics on hand. Allen disagreed with suggestions he should have made it clear on screen that the film was funded by the businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, saying it would have interrupted the film's flow.

FILM/ MEYER'S "HOST" MOVES AHEAD: "The Truman Show" writer Andrew Niccol has been hired to direct Inferno Entertainment's big-screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's non-"Twilight" drama "The Host," it was announced Thursday. "Hanna" star Saoirse Ronan has been cast in the leading role for the film.

FILM/ PETTYFER JOINS "MAGIC MIKE": Alex Pettyfer has been cast as the lead in Steven Soderbergh’s male stripper pic, "Magic Mike". Pettyfer will play a young stripper, a character based on the experiences of Channing Tatum, who stripped before his career as an actor launched. The comedy is slated to begin production in August in Los Angeles.

TV/ KUTCHER JOINS "TWO AND A HALF MEN": Ashton Kutcher will join "Two and a Half Men" this fall, as a replacement for Charlie Sheen.  Kutcher, a sitcom veteran from his days on "That '70s Show," admitted today that he has big shoes to fill, "I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!" Media reports say "Men" creator Chuck Lorre has crafted a storyline to introduce Kutcher in a way that satisfies the network and studio. Production on the revamped "Two and a Half Men" begins this summer for fall broadcast.

TV/ ABC ADD'S NEW SERIES, CANCELS OTHERS: ABC has begun to announce its fall schedule, and with a 9 new series, the net has had to cancel several fan favorites. Cancelation slips have gone to "Brothers & Sisters," "V," Detroit 187," "No Ordinary Family," "Mr Sunshine" and "Off The Map". New comedy "Happy Endings" has been renewed. New series orders went to "Charlie's Angels," "Last Man Standing," "Pan Am," "Apartment 23," "Good Christian Belles," "Revenge," "Once Upon A Time," "Scandal" and "The River".

TV/ NBC ANNOUNCES MORE SERIES ORDERS: The Peacock network has announced more new series pickups, that will join the schedule this fall. Comedies "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," "Free Agents," "Bent" and "BFF" have been picked up. NBC also announced today that "Chuck" will return this fall for its 5th season. Late yesterday, NBC picked up drama's "The Playboy Club," Awake" and "Grimm". These were in addition to the already added "Whitney," "Up All Night," "Smash" and "Prime Suspect". NBC also announced yesterday that "Parenthood" and "Harry's Law" would also be returning.

TV/ MARY TYLER MOORE TO UNDERGO BRAIN SURGERY: Mary Tyler Moore will undergo brain surgery to remove a tumor."At the recommendation of her neurologist, who has been monitoring this for years, and a neurosurgeon, Mary decided to proceed with this fairly routine procedure," her rep said. Doctors will remove a meningioma, a benign tumor in the brain's tissue.

MUSIC/ EUROVISION FINAL'S SET: With the semi-finals of Eurovision 2011 concluding last night, bookmakers indicate that this year, France's Amaury Vassili is the favourite to win with his opera-pop effort "Sognu" ("I Would Dream About Her"), sung in the Corsican language. France automatically qualified for the grand final, expected to be watched on television by 125 million people around the world, along with Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy, since they pay the lion's share of the costs. After the semi-final rounds, the remaining finalists are:  Finland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Denmark, Lithuania, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, Estonia, Greece, Russia, Switzerland, Moldova, Romania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Iceland, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia. Among those not surviving the cut, was Dana International, the Israeli transsexual pop star who won the contest in 1998.

THEATRE/ RETURN OF "SPIDEY" REPORTS GOOD: The revamped version of musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" had its 1st preview Thursday evening with just a few glitches, a new original song from U2’s Bono and the Edge and the addition of iconic Spidey scenes and classic comic book sensibilities. For example, the new production now includes the famous line "with great power comes great responsibility" and an upside-down kiss between the superhero and his love interest, according to the Wall Street Journal. “Aside from a couple of technical glitches and one late entrance, the show unfolded fairly smoothly,” the New York Times reported. The paper also highlighted “a streamlined plot pitting young love against duty, and a conflicted superhero against a droll super villain". According to the "Journal," snippets of classic U2 songs, including "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Beautiful Day," are now also woven into the production. The revamped production is scheduled to formally open on June 14.

THEATRE/ "MORMON" TO BEGIN US TOUR IN DENVER: The national tour of "The Book of Mormon," the new Broadway musical that recently nabbed 14 Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical, will begin its national tour in Denver in December 2012. Additional cities and 2013 dates will be announced soon.

THEATRE/ "GODSPELL" EYES BROADWAY AUTUMN REVIVAL: A Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's "Godspell" is aiming for a Broadway bow in fall 2011. Daniel Goldstein, who had been scheduled to direct a "Godspell" revival that was to begin previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in September 2008, but later postponed, will helm the upcoming production. Casting has yet to be announced.