May 18, 2012

The star of one of the hottest films at Cannes couldn’t be at the movie’s screening, because he’s currently serving time in prison for murder, according to reports.

Forbes reports that Aniello Arena, who stars in the Italian drama Reality, was plucked from his prison theatre troupe by director Matteo Garrone. Now, he’s the toast of Cannes.

With a skewed perspective on the effects of reality TV, Reality features Arena as Luciano, a fisherman invited to appear on the Italian version of the reality TV show Big Brother.

In actual reality, Arena is reportedly serving twenty years to life locked away in an Italian prison for murder, though publicists have declined to further explain his crimes or sentence.

Director Garrone explains that Arena was allowed out of his cell to shoot the drama as part of a work release program.

Now, word is the prisoner could find himself the recipient of the major French festival’s Best Actor award for his work on the film. Should he win, however, don’t expect to see Arena at the ceremony, as Italian officials refused the new star permission to travel to France for the festival.

(Image: Fandango / Archimede)

Report a Typo or Correction. Thank you.

May 18, 2012

Brooke Shields is set to star in a new stage version of the 1970s Hollywood horror classic The Exorcist.

The Wrap reports that the Pretty Baby and Freeway star will join Richard Chamberlain in the production to be staged at the Geffen Playhouse.

Shields will reportedly play the mother of Regan, the possessed young girl at the centre of the story. Chamberlain will star as Father Merrin, the Exorcist himself. Emily Yetter will play Regan.

The theatrical show is playwright John Pielmeier’s adaptation of William Friedkin’s 1973 horror film which is itself an adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel.

Pielmeier says his play – directed by John Doyle – won’t try to compete with the film’s gruesome visual effects.

“The story of the battle between faith and evil needed no spinning heads or green vomit,” Pielmeier says. “The horror should unfold instead on a simple set with an incredible cast (which we absolutely have), and the central conflict between doubting Father Karras and the demon should be a series of debates, in which the young girl possessed is the least of the figures present.”

The Exorcist opens at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, July 11.

(Photo by PR Photos)

Report a Typo or Correction. Thank you.

May 18, 2012

Naomi Watts says she almost said no to playing Princess Diana in the upcoming drama Caught in Flight.

The beautiful Hollywood star tells the Press Association she thinks so highly of the late princess that she considered refusing the role out of fear. Watts will star in the film that focuses on the last two years of the beloved royal’s life.

“She is a part of our history, an incredible woman and fascinating but (suffered) a tragic ending,” Watts says. “The filmmakers came to me and it’s a good script and it’s very scary and I kind of wanted to say no but I couldn’t.”

The UK-born Australian actress says she’s always admired the late Princess of Wales.

“I saw the wedding and everything and she is a very inspiring woman and it’s kind of impressive how she sort of changed the whole gearing of the tradition of the royal family and opened it up and brought warmth to it,” she says.

Watts says she knows she’ll face a challenge capturing the charisma and grace of Diana, but hopes to do the best she can with the challenging role.

“I’m doing all the research and there is so much to read, I just hope we make a good film and people can learn something new about her that’s interesting… It’s going to be a tough one, it’s a big beast to take on, I just try to do my best.”

(Photo by PR Photos)

Report a Typo or Correction. Thank you.

May 18, 2012

The Dictator star Sacha Baron Cohen says he was almost stoned by an angry mob while visiting Jerusalem.

Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph reports that Cohen says that while he was dressed as an over-the-top version of a Hasidic Jew in Israel – the sort of thing he does – he was chased by the enraged, stone-wielding mob.

“A bunch of Hasidic Jews ran after me with rocks and I ended up hiding in a bathroom store,” the funnyman says.

Cohen reveals he normally has an escape plan for such stunts, but that this time, his co-conspirators failed him. “Normally in dangerous situations I have a getaway car,” he says. “But as I ran towards the getaway car it drove away.”

The star says he attempted to placate the angry crowd by revealing that he himself is Jewish.

“I found myself running down the street, running for my life, and being chased by these Hasidic nutcases,” Cohen recalls.

“I turned round to calm them down, and I shouted in Hebrew ‘I am Jewish’, which apparently is the worst thing ever you can tell Hasidic Jews. It was then they decided that they wanted to really kill me.”

Fortunately, the star escaped with his life.

The Dictator is in theatres now.

(Photo by PR Photos)

Report a Typo or Correction. Thank you.

May 18, 2012

The screenwriter of the original Blade Runner is gearing up to re-team with director Ridley Scott on a sequel to the 1980s sci-fi masterpiece.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hampton Fancher has entered into negotiations to develop an idea he’s got for the follow-up to the Harrison Ford cult classic. Scott has already signed on to helm the pic some thirty years after directing the original.

Based on the Phillip K. Dick story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the original script was attributed to Fancher and writer David Peoples.

Neither Scott nor Fancher are talking about their plans for the follow-up, except to say the story will be set “some years after the first film concluded.” Star Wars star Ford played “blade runner” Rick Deckard in the original, though there’s no word yet on whether or not he’ll return for the sequel.

Set in a dystopian future where rogue robots called “replicants” are hunted down by the “blade runners,” the original film was a box office disappointment upon first release, though it’s acquired a huge following since and today is recognized as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.

Scott seems to be having fun returning to his past work lately. In addition to Blade Runner, the director just revisited his other 1980s sci-fi classic, Alien, with his new blockbuster Prometheus.

(Image: Warner Bros.)

Report a Typo or Correction. Thank you.