Movies
Movies
Elizabeth Pena has died.
According to her nephew, Marino-Francisco Robles, the 'La Bamba' star passed away aged 55 in Los Angeles on Tuesday (14.10.14) after suffering from a brief illness.
Elizabeth enjoyed a career spanning four decades and following her performances in a New York theatre, landed her first professional role in Leon Ichaso's "El Super' in 1978.
She then went on to star in 'Batteries Not Included', animated series 'American Dad', 'I Married Dora', 'Rush Hour' and Disney-Pixar's 'The Incredibles'.
She also had a recurring guest role on the hit ABC show 'Modern Family' in which she starred as Pilar, Sofia Vergara's character Gloria's mother.
Elizabeth had recently finished filming the action series 'Matador' for the El Rey network - who said they were "deeply saddened" by the loss of the actress.
They said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague, Elizabeth Pena.
"She was a role model, a truly extraordinary performer and an inspiration in every sense of the word. Our thoughts are with Elizabeth's family and friends during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed."
Elizabeth leaves behind her two children and husband Hans Rolla, reports Variety.
Elizabeth Pena dies
Elizabeth Pena has died.
According to her nephew, Marino-Francisco Robles, the 'La Bamba' star passed away aged 55 in Los Angeles on Tuesday (14.10.14) after suffering from a brief illness.
Elizabeth enjoyed a career spanning four decades and following her performances in a New York theatre, landed her first professional role in Leon Ichaso's "El Super' in 1978.
She then went on to star in 'Batteries Not Included', animated series 'American Dad', 'I Married Dora', 'Rush Hour' and Disney-Pixar's 'The Incredibles'.
She also had a recurring guest role on the hit ABC show 'Modern Family' in which she starred as Pilar, Sofia Vergara's character Gloria's mother.
Elizabeth had recently finished filming the action series 'Matador' for the El Rey network - who said they were "deeply saddened" by the loss of the actress.
They said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague, Elizabeth Pena.
"She was a role model, a truly extraordinary performer and an inspiration in every sense of the word. Our thoughts are with Elizabeth's family and friends during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed."
Elizabeth leaves behind her two children and husband Hans Rolla, reports Variety.
Movies
Christian Bale is in talks for the title role in a Steve Jobs biopic.
The 'American Hustle' actor has reportedly been in discussions with Sony who want Christian to play the Apple co-founder in a biopic based on his life.
Famed director Danny Boyle has already signed up to direct the film, while Aaron Sorkin has been busy writing the script.
The writer - who has also worked on 'The Social Network' - has revealed that the movie will be split into three parts, including the launch of the Mac computer, the start of his computer company NeXT and the birth of the iPod.
Talking to the Daily Beast, Aaron said: "It's a little like writing about the Beatles. There are so many people out there that know him and revere him."
Leonardo DiCaprio has also been contacted about the role. However, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' actor has reportedly turned down the job offer leaving the path clear for Christian.
If everything goes according to plan, the as-yet-unnamed movie will reportedly start shooting in the spring before Christian starts filming for his other project, 'The Deep Blue Goodbye'.
Christian Bale to play Steve Jobs?
Christian Bale is in talks for the title role in a Steve Jobs biopic.
The 'American Hustle' actor has reportedly been in discussions with Sony who want Christian to play the Apple co-founder in a biopic based on his life.
Famed director Danny Boyle has already signed up to direct the film, while Aaron Sorkin has been busy writing the script.
The writer - who has also worked on 'The Social Network' - has revealed that the movie will be split into three parts, including the launch of the Mac computer, the start of his computer company NeXT and the birth of the iPod.
Talking to the Daily Beast, Aaron said: "It's a little like writing about the Beatles. There are so many people out there that know him and revere him."
Leonardo DiCaprio has also been contacted about the role. However, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' actor has reportedly turned down the job offer leaving the path clear for Christian.
If everything goes according to plan, the as-yet-unnamed movie will reportedly start shooting in the spring before Christian starts filming for his other project, 'The Deep Blue Goodbye'.
Movies
Matthew McConaughey "carries the audience through" 'Interstellar'.
Producer Emma Thomas insists the Hollywood hunk - who plays lead character Cooper in the film, which follows a team of space travellers as they go through a wormhole - was the perfect protagonist because viewers easily warm to him and he can make the complicated concepts accessible.
She said: "There are some pretty massive concepts that the audience have to deal with in the film, some pretty out there stuff that happens.
"So it was really important that whoever your protagonist is it's somebody that you're with, because they have to carry the audience through.
"Matthew is entirely that guy. You're with him all the way and he carries everyone through."
McConaughey stars alongside Sir Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway in the movie - which is written by brothers Christopher and Jonah Nolan - and Emma is hopeful people will relate to the human story in the film as well as being wowed by the special effects.
She added in an interview with SFX magazine: "My hope is that people will go and see this film and be wowed by the adventure and the look of it and the worlds that they're taken to, but at the same time be emotionally engaged by the much more tangible story that they're watching, that the characters are living through."
Matthew McConaughey makes Interstellar accessible
Matthew McConaughey "carries the audience through" 'Interstellar'.
Producer Emma Thomas insists the Hollywood hunk - who plays lead character Cooper in the film, which follows a team of space travellers as they go through a wormhole - was the perfect protagonist because viewers easily warm to him and he can make the complicated concepts accessible.
She said: "There are some pretty massive concepts that the audience have to deal with in the film, some pretty out there stuff that happens.
"So it was really important that whoever your protagonist is it's somebody that you're with, because they have to carry the audience through.
"Matthew is entirely that guy. You're with him all the way and he carries everyone through."
McConaughey stars alongside Sir Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway in the movie - which is written by brothers Christopher and Jonah Nolan - and Emma is hopeful people will relate to the human story in the film as well as being wowed by the special effects.
She added in an interview with SFX magazine: "My hope is that people will go and see this film and be wowed by the adventure and the look of it and the worlds that they're taken to, but at the same time be emotionally engaged by the much more tangible story that they're watching, that the characters are living through."
Movies
Ewan McGregor is the favourite to be cast as Doctor Strange in Marvel's film of the same name.
The 43-year-old actor is reportedly Marvel Studios' first choice for the role of the powerful magician who serves as the Sorcerer Supreme protecting Planet Earth.
According to website Badass Digest, McGregor has been researching the role and has been reading various comic books detailing the superhero's feats and powers.
However, Variety is reporting that McGregor faces competition from five other actors, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and 'Star Wars Episode VII' star Oscar Isaac, for the part.
Phoenix had at one stage been the frontrunner for the role but discussions are said to have broken down because the Oscar winner was unhappy with the terms of his Marvel contract.
A casting announcement is expected soon as shooting on 'Doctor Strange' is due to start at the beginning of 2015 with the movie scheduled for release in July 2016.
The character - who first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1963 - is a former neurosurgeon who after a car accident irreversibly damages his hands decides to search the globe for a cure but instead meets the Earth's Supreme Sorcerer and is trained to take on the responsibility to protect the planet from threats.
Strange draws his powers from various magical artefacts such as the Cloak of Levitation - which enables him to fly - and the Eye of Agamotto, whose light is used to negate evil magic.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has previously stated the film will be a gateway to the company's supernatural characters and stories.
He said: "With Strange, it is a classic Marvel origin story because he's got one of the best origins ever. And it's our opportunity to take that left turn into the supernatural. Now, what is the definition of supernatural? It varies. We like the idea of playing with alternate dimensions ... and traveling through other realms is something that we think is very, very cool."
Ewan McGregor set for Doctor Strange role
Ewan McGregor is the favourite to be cast as Doctor Strange in Marvel's film of the same name.
The 43-year-old actor is reportedly Marvel Studios' first choice for the role of the powerful magician who serves as the Sorcerer Supreme protecting Planet Earth.
According to website Badass Digest, McGregor has been researching the role and has been reading various comic books detailing the superhero's feats and powers.
However, Variety is reporting that McGregor faces competition from five other actors, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and 'Star Wars Episode VII' star Oscar Isaac, for the part.
Phoenix had at one stage been the frontrunner for the role but discussions are said to have broken down because the Oscar winner was unhappy with the terms of his Marvel contract.
A casting announcement is expected soon as shooting on 'Doctor Strange' is due to start at the beginning of 2015 with the movie scheduled for release in July 2016.
The character - who first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1963 - is a former neurosurgeon who after a car accident irreversibly damages his hands decides to search the globe for a cure but instead meets the Earth's Supreme Sorcerer and is trained to take on the responsibility to protect the planet from threats.
Strange draws his powers from various magical artefacts such as the Cloak of Levitation - which enables him to fly - and the Eye of Agamotto, whose light is used to negate evil magic.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has previously stated the film will be a gateway to the company's supernatural characters and stories.
He said: "With Strange, it is a classic Marvel origin story because he's got one of the best origins ever. And it's our opportunity to take that left turn into the supernatural. Now, what is the definition of supernatural? It varies. We like the idea of playing with alternate dimensions ... and traveling through other realms is something that we think is very, very cool."
Movies
Johnny Depp disrupted re-shoots on his movie 'Mortdecai' when he failed to show up because he was ill.
The 51-year-old actor was due to be on set at Pinewoood Studios in Buckinghamshire, South East England, this week to film scenes again for the light-hearted thriller - an adaptation of Kyril Bonfiglioli's comic crime novels from the 70s.
Crew, production staff and his co-stars were left waiting for hours for Depp - who plays title character art dealer Charlie Mortdecai - to show up, but he never made it on set because he had a "headache".
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The re-shoot is only meant to last seven days, so missing a whole day is a really big deal. Johnny must've been really under the weather not to arrive at all. Everyone will have to work extra hard now to get it done."
A spokesman for Depp - who is in a relationship with Amber Heard - said: "He was sick and production were aware he would not be working."
The Hollywood heartthrob also stars in the film with Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Goldblum and it is due for release in January 2015.
Johnny Depp misses Mortdecai re-shoots
Johnny Depp disrupted re-shoots on his movie 'Mortdecai' when he failed to show up because he was ill.
The 51-year-old actor was due to be on set at Pinewoood Studios in Buckinghamshire, South East England, this week to film scenes again for the light-hearted thriller - an adaptation of Kyril Bonfiglioli's comic crime novels from the 70s.
Crew, production staff and his co-stars were left waiting for hours for Depp - who plays title character art dealer Charlie Mortdecai - to show up, but he never made it on set because he had a "headache".
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The re-shoot is only meant to last seven days, so missing a whole day is a really big deal. Johnny must've been really under the weather not to arrive at all. Everyone will have to work extra hard now to get it done."
A spokesman for Depp - who is in a relationship with Amber Heard - said: "He was sick and production were aware he would not be working."
The Hollywood heartthrob also stars in the film with Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Goldblum and it is due for release in January 2015.
Movies
Michael Keaton would reprise his role as Batman if he could work with Tim Burton again.
The 63-year-old actor played The Caped Crusader in 1989 movie 'Batman' and the 1992 sequel 'Batman Returns' and admits he would be prepared to create a new cinematic story if Burton wanted to.
When asked by Entertainment Weekly if he would don the Batsuit again, he replied: "If it was Tim Burton directing? In a heartbeat."
Keaton also praised Burton, 56, for being the first director to create "dark" superhero films, something which directors like Christopher Nolan - who helmed 'The Dark Knight' trilogy with Christian Bale as Batman - have been lauded for.
He added: "Tim, in the movies, really invented the whole dark superhero thing. He started everything, and some of the guys who have done these movies since then don't say that, and they're wrong."
Keaton decided to exit the Batcave after the second film, handing the famous cape over to Val Kilmer for 'Batman Forever', despite being offered $15 million to star in a third film.
Explaining his decision to walk away from the franchise, he said: "It sucked. Yeah, it was just awful."
Despite having played the character, Keaton has never watched Nolan's films properly and has no words of advice for current Batman Ben Affleck, who will make his debut as the DC Comics character in 'Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice'.
He said: "Chris Nolan is great, but I've never seen any of the Batman movies all the way through. I know they're good. I just have zero interest in those kinds of movies. I mean, people are asking me, 'Is Ben Affleck going to be any good?' And my attitude is, First of all, why would you ask me? Second, he's probably going to be very good, and third, frankly, it's all set up now so that you're weirdly kind of safe."
Michael Keaton would reprise Batman role
Michael Keaton would reprise his role as Batman if he could work with Tim Burton again.
The 63-year-old actor played The Caped Crusader in 1989 movie 'Batman' and the 1992 sequel 'Batman Returns' and admits he would be prepared to create a new cinematic story if Burton wanted to.
When asked by Entertainment Weekly if he would don the Batsuit again, he replied: "If it was Tim Burton directing? In a heartbeat."
Keaton also praised Burton, 56, for being the first director to create "dark" superhero films, something which directors like Christopher Nolan - who helmed 'The Dark Knight' trilogy with Christian Bale as Batman - have been lauded for.
He added: "Tim, in the movies, really invented the whole dark superhero thing. He started everything, and some of the guys who have done these movies since then don't say that, and they're wrong."
Keaton decided to exit the Batcave after the second film, handing the famous cape over to Val Kilmer for 'Batman Forever', despite being offered $15 million to star in a third film.
Explaining his decision to walk away from the franchise, he said: "It sucked. Yeah, it was just awful."
Despite having played the character, Keaton has never watched Nolan's films properly and has no words of advice for current Batman Ben Affleck, who will make his debut as the DC Comics character in 'Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice'.
He said: "Chris Nolan is great, but I've never seen any of the Batman movies all the way through. I know they're good. I just have zero interest in those kinds of movies. I mean, people are asking me, 'Is Ben Affleck going to be any good?' And my attitude is, First of all, why would you ask me? Second, he's probably going to be very good, and third, frankly, it's all set up now so that you're weirdly kind of safe."
Movies
'Annabelle' has been withdrawn from French cinemas after sparking riots.
The horror film about a demonic doll - which stars 'X-Men: First Class' actress Annabelle Wallis and 'True Blood' star Alfre Woodard - has been a huge hit internationally but has had to be taken off screens in France after teenagers watching it at a number of cinemas across the country started fights in the audience, The Times newspaper reports.
Didier Tarizzo, who owns the Les 3 Palmes cinema in Marseilles, says over a thousand people turned up for a screening on Saturday (11.10.14) despite there only being 450 seats.
He said: "Some didn't have the most elementary notion of how to behave.
"They were throwing popcorn and talking at the top of their voices or walking round."
Mr. Tarizzo says he decided to stop showing the film because "it's not up to me to teach young people how to respect the law".
He added: "What worried me was that a cinemagoer irritated by all the noise could have had a go at an adolescent."
Following a number of incidents in which the film's core audience of under 16s began throwing insults and popcorn at each other, as well as ripping up theatre seats and starting fights, film critic Alain Grasset said 'Annabelle' attracted a "very young audience for whom the film represents a way to let their hair down".
Annabelle withdrawn from French cinemas after riots
'Annabelle' has been withdrawn from French cinemas after sparking riots.
The horror film about a demonic doll - which stars 'X-Men: First Class' actress Annabelle Wallis and 'True Blood' star Alfre Woodard - has been a huge hit internationally but has had to be taken off screens in France after teenagers watching it at a number of cinemas across the country started fights in the audience, The Times newspaper reports.
Didier Tarizzo, who owns the Les 3 Palmes cinema in Marseilles, says over a thousand people turned up for a screening on Saturday (11.10.14) despite there only being 450 seats.
He said: "Some didn't have the most elementary notion of how to behave.
"They were throwing popcorn and talking at the top of their voices or walking round."
Mr. Tarizzo says he decided to stop showing the film because "it's not up to me to teach young people how to respect the law".
He added: "What worried me was that a cinemagoer irritated by all the noise could have had a go at an adolescent."
Following a number of incidents in which the film's core audience of under 16s began throwing insults and popcorn at each other, as well as ripping up theatre seats and starting fights, film critic Alain Grasset said 'Annabelle' attracted a "very young audience for whom the film represents a way to let their hair down".