FILM/ "HOBBIT" PICS NAMED ALONG WITH RELEASE DATES: Peter Jackson's 2 upcoming movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" have now been given official names and release dates. The 1st of the 2 films, which are currenly being filmed back to back in New Zealand, will be called "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and will be released in theaters via Warners on December 14, 2012. The sequel, which will follow on December 13, 2013, will be known as "The Hobbit: There and Back Again". The 2 prequels to Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy follow the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, to be played by Martin Freeman, with Ian Holm reprising his role as the elder Bilbo, in his quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug. The huge cast includes a number of other Rings veterans: Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey; Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes Richard Armitage, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner. Jackson has written the screenplays along with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
Disney’s "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" crossed the $600 million mark at the worldwide box office on Sunday, matching the industry record for speed set by the last Pirates film. Both "On Stranger Tides" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End" reached $600 million in only 12 days. "On Stranger Tides" is nearing a cumulative world box office total of $650 million, and continues to be a massive player overseas, where it set an international record in crossing the $300 million plateau only in 6 days. The film’s foreign totla through Monday is an estimated $485.1 million, nearly 3 times its domestic total. Much of that has to do with the booming appetite for 3D titles in markets led by Russia, China, India and Brazil. "On Stranger Tides" is already the top grossing Disney title of all time in Russia and China, earning $49.8 million and $44.2 million, respectively. "Pirates" is easily the top worldwide total of 2011, followed to date by Universal’s "Fast Five" ($543.6 million), 20th Century Fox’s "Rio" ($457.3 million), Paramount and Marvel Studios’ "Thor" ($415.5 million) and Paramount’s "Rango" ($241.2 million).
The pivotal role of President Snow has been cast in Lionsgate’s film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, "The Hunger Games". In a statement today, Lionsgate said that Donald Sutherland will star as President Snow, alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson. In Collins’ novel, President Snow is described as “cruel and ruthless in his intimidation and control tactics,” ruling over Panem and its contained districts for 25-plus years. He and District 12 tribute Katniss (Lawrence) have a contentious relationship throughout the series. Also starring in "Hunger Games," slated for a March 23, 2012 release, is Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Malcolmson and Wes Bentley. Sutherland can be seen in the upcoming films "Sofia" and "Horrible Bosses," as well as the "Treasure Island" TV adaptation.
TV/ NEW UK X FACTOR" JUDGES NAMED: After being unceremoniously dropped from the US show, ITV and Simon Cowell have announced that Cheryl Cole will not be part of the lineup of the British version of "X Factor" either. The announcement, which came as Cowell returned to British TV screens for the semifinals of "Britain's Got Talent," made no reference to Cole, despite her apparent availability after being axed from the US version of the show. "These 4 will be totally up for it, and each of them bring a different attitude," Cowell said in a statement last night, announcing that Take That singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavious of British urban hip-hop band N-Dubz, Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland, pictured left. The veteran boy-band impresario Louis Walsh, returns as a judge, and will head the show. The 1st auditions will be in Birmingham tomorrow, then on to Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, London and Liverpool. Cole is rumored to have refused to take calls from Cowell and ITV bosses after being dropped from the US show that will bow on Fox in the fall. Her accent, weight and low profile in the US are have all been cited as reasons for the departure, but neither the star nor her reps have made any comment.
Armistead Maupin's San Francisco-set work "Tales of the City," takes on a new life of its own as a world-premiere musical that opens Wednesday night at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" book writer Jeff Whitty adapted the stage production, based on the 1st 2 novels in Maupin's series, which trace the intertwining lives of colorful San Francisco residents in the 1970's. Jake Shears and John "JJ" Garden, of the pop band the Scissor Sisters, authored the score for "Tales of the City". Tony Award nominee Jason Moore directs the production that began previews May 18, preview pictures above, and will play an extended run through July 10. Tony Award winner Judy Kaye leads the cast as enigmatic pot-smoking landlady Anna Madrigal, with Betsy Wolfe as Ohio native Mary Ann Singleton, Mary Birdsong as the free-spirited Mona Ramsay and Wesley Taylor as Michael "Mouse" Tollivar. If reviews are good, the muscial could be Broadway bound.
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