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6 articles from 2008

19 May 2008 5:08 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne is set to bring best-selling book The Alchemist to the big screen - directing and starring in a new Hollywood adaptation.

Fishburne has teamed up with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to get the $60 million (GBP30 million) project into production.

The tome, by Paul Coehlo, which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 67 languages, focuses on the story of a shepherd boy who travels across the Egyptian desert in search of treasure, but meets an alchemist who teaches him the meaning of life.

And Weinstein believes the movie's themes could help heal rifts between the Western world and the Middle East.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, he says, "It is a book I have been truly inspired by and I have agreed to personally produce it. The Alchemist is simple and spiritual, and the screenplay will reflect that. The book means so much to people on a spiritual level yet there is also a great love story in it. It is an incredibly moving, emotional story.

"I think this story will act as a bridge to the Middle East. In the Middle East, the book has been an overwhelming success. That is a world that we need to know more about an extend a bridge to. This movie could be a healer in that region, bringing the West and the East together, especially the Middle East."

Fishburne is set to play the alchemist of the title, and Weinstein is keen to cast Penelope Cruz in his latest project: "One way or another I'm finding a part for Penelope Cruz."

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8 May 2008 10:30 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

The Cannes Film Festival announced plans on Wednesday to pay tribute to Warner Bros. on the studio's 85th anniversary by screening a classic movie from the studio's archives during each night of the festival. The festival said that it will also premiere film critic Richard Schickel's documentary, You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story, narrated by Clint Eastwood, as well as a night of Looney Tunes shorts. The tribute begins with a screening of Mervyn LeRoy's 1932 I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang and ends with 1999's The Matrix. Somewhat surprisingly, the film series does not include a screening of The Jazz Singer, the first sound film, produced in 1927 and starring entertainer Al Jolson.

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2 May 2008 6:35 AM, PDT | From Digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news

Rick Yune has been cast in Ninja Assassin, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The martial arts film focuses on a man who is brought up in an orphanage used to train ninjas. When the protagonist (Korean actor-singer Rain) turns his back on the tradition, he clashes with another member of the clan, played by Yune.

Ninja Assassin will be directed by James McTeigue. The Matrix's Larry and Andy Wachowski are producing along with Joel Silver.

"Not . . .

Simon_Reynolds_imdb_@digitalspy.co.uk (Simon Reynolds)

28 April 2008 4:06 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Movie star Laurence Fishburne hates Hollywood's celebrity culture - insisting his counterparts are too consumed by the limelight to make intelligent decisions that keep them out of trouble.

Fishburne claims too many stars are more interested in making headlines than making great films, because their stardom is so celebrated.

He says, "I live mostly on the West Coast, where people treat me like I just stepped off the movie screen in The Matrix. People think of me as a celebrity. What's bad about that is, if you're a celebrity, everybody wants to celebrate you.

"Celebrities are more interested in talking about who they are. I don't think I'm that interesting, but I love what I do. You have to make a choice to be levelheaded. When you're in my position, it's easy to make a wrong turn and wind up on (website) Tmz.com."

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2 April 2008 9:15 AM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news

Move over, Justin. Jessica Biel has found a new No. 1 fan in Christina Ricci. The 5-foot-tall actress – who had to fill out a pair of barely-there hot pants for her upcoming role in Speed Racer, directed by The Matrix's Andy and Larry Wachowski – is full of praise for Biel's famously fit physique. "I asked my trainer, 'Can you give me Jessica Biel's butt?'" the actress – who starred with Biel's beau Timberlake in last year's Black Snake Moan – tells the U.K. edition of Elle. "I want a bigger butt." Alas, because of her tiny frame, "they said I couldn't,

7 March 2008 9:29 AM, PST | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Soccer star-turned-movie tough guy Vinnie Jones is the frontrunner to land the lead in Guy Ritchie's movie adaptation of his The Gamekeeper comic book series.

Jeff Parker, the acclaimed writer, who has helped turn the director's strong and silent hunter, Brock, into a comic book hit, is keen for Jones to take the lead in the film Ritchie is making with The Matrix mogul Joel Silver.

Parker says, "Vinnie Jones would be perfect. He has such presence and, in every movie I've seen him in, I can't wait for him to show up."

And the writer also has another Brit in mind to play The Gamekeeper's villain, who leads a gang of assassins, called The Soccer Club.

He adds, "I just keep thinking about Terence Stamp. He'd be perfect."

But Parker admits Ritchie is refusing to reveal anything about the casting of the movie, which went into pre-production last year.

If the writer's casting dreams come true it won't be the first time Jones and Ritchie have teamed up - the Gone In 60 Seconds star had roles in the director's Snatch and Lock, Stock + Two Smoking Barrels.

Jones also shares something else with Ritchie - both stars are country gents with tough images, just like the lead character the director and Jeff Parker have created.

The plot of the film revolves around Brock's efforts to escape his violent and mysterious past as the caretaker of a small Scottish estate of Glen Morgan.

The first series of the Virgin comic book has been a big success and Parker has just completed work on a second series with Star Wars and Star Trek artist Ron Randall.

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6 articles from 2008