Monday, February 21, 2011

Daniel Radcliffe To Star In Indie Comedy 'The Amateur Photographer'

At the same time that Daniel Radcliffe readies to return to Broadway — previews of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" begin on February 26 — the 21-year-old actor is continuing to plot his post-"Harry Potter" career on the big screen.

Radcliffe is now attached to star in "The Amateur Photographer," an indie comedy from writer/director Christopher Monger, according to Variety . Monger shared writing credits on HBO's "Temple Grandin," the biopic that earned him an Emmy nomination and Claire Danes a Golden Globe win.

Set in a New England mill town during the 1970s, the movie will follow Radcliffe as a young man who finds in himself an unlikely artistic streak when he begins photographing the "most intimate moments" of the townspeople's lives, as Variety puts it, and ends up battling "local authorities while bringing a bit of a velvet revolution to the community."

Radcliffe has already wrapped production on his first film following the completion of the "Harry Potter" series. "The Woman in Black" is a thriller in which Radcliffe plays a lawyer who travels to a strange town filled with supernatural secrets. The Brit has also lined up another big-screen project in "All Quiet on the Western Front." He's set to play a German soldier during World War I when the production kicks off in the spring of 2012. And come July, he'll be busy with promotional duties for the final part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

For now, though, Radcliffe is settling in on Broadway. After a month of previews, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" will officially open on March 27.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Footage Leaks Online

50 Cent To Star In Crime Drama 'Freelancers'

Like many before him, 50 Cent is making the transition from hip-hop to Hollywood. The rapper, who has a finger in various projects — from his own film-production company, called Cheetah Vision Films, to distributing a line of earphones — has signed on for yet another movie role.

According to Variety , Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will star in an upcoming crime drama called "Freelancers," in which he'll play the son of a murdered New York City police officer who joins the force and finds himself "on a team of rogue Gotham cops."

The movie will reportedly be directed by Jessy Terrero ("Soul Plane"), who has previously worked with 50 on some of his most-memorable videos such as the MTV Video Music Award-nominated "Candy Shop."

The latest news is just another step in 50 Cent's plan to move from music to movies. Making his big-screen debut in 2005's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," the star shocked fans a few years later when he tweeted a picture of himself looking frighteningly thin in preparation for his role in his passion project "Things Fall Apart."

In fact, the 35-year-old seems to be continuing to take his craft very seriously. When MTV News caught up with him at this year's Sundance Film Festival — which he attended alongside his friend, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., to promote their newly launched film company, Mayweather Productions — 50 seemed as ambitious as ever.

He not only said he feels as though he's "growing" as an actor, but also that he hopes to have a career akin to trailblazing Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier. As 50 put it, "Shoot for the stars if you would do that."

Does 50 Cent have the acting chops to make it in Hollywood? Sound off below!



Ryan Gosling Calls ‘Blue Valentine’ A ‘Cautionary Tale’ For Couples

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

'Prometheus' Has 'Definite Connection' To 'Alien,' Michael Fassbender Says

Ever since a Deadline New York report last month, there has been a lot of confusion about Ridley Scott's newest "Alien" film, which marks the director's return to the franchise more than 30 years after he brought the first "Alien" movie to the big screen.

After word of the project first broke in the summer of 2009, the new report suggested the film was in fact not an "Alien" prequel but rather a film born of "Alien DNA" that is "unique, large and provocative." Yet at the same time, contrary to this new spin, we were hearing that the film — titled "Prometheus" — was in fact a prequel to the franchise. Now, this all might be a matter of semantics (not to mention movie marketing), but there's no doubt that confusion has surrounded the exact nature of the production.

So when we had the chance to speak with one of the stars of the new film, Michael Fassbender, while he was promoting "Jane Eyre," we asked him to shed some light on these conflicting judgments. And as he told us, "Prometheus" is most definitely an "Alien" movie.

"Absolutely," he said. "There's a definite connecting vein. You realize you're part of something else. But it's definitely in keeping with the old ones."

What's more, Fassbender said the new film is more closely related to the slow-burning "Alien," which Scott directed, than James Cameron's more action-oriented follow-up, "Aliens."

"It is more sort of the original one," Fassbender explained. "There's things happening and building, and the intelligence of the first two-thirds of the film gets you ready for the action ... it's creeping, it's sinister, things are happening and building, all the different intrigues and politics going on between the different relationships onboard."

That's not to say Damon Lindelof, who worked on the script with Scott, was blowing smoke when he said things to Deadline like, "In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, I was incredibly struck by just how original Ridley's vision was for this movie."

Fassbender told us that while "Prometheus" fits squarely within "Alien" mythology, the film delivers "a whole new revelation."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



Ridley Scott Plans User-Generated YouTube Documentary

'Just Go With It' Narrowly Defeats Justin Bieber At Box Office

A real-life wholesome teen did battle against a fictitious over-the-hill womanizer at the box office over the weekend as "Never Say Never" and "Just Go With It" fought a close contest for bucks. The economy was the real winner, as ticket sales surged overall by more than 30 percent, according to estimates. Disney's CG-animated "Gnomeo & Juliet" rounded out the top three with more than $25 million in revenue.

Justin Bieber's most die-hard Beliebers came out in droves to put the singing sensation's 3-D documentary into the #2 slot with a $30.3 million opening. As of press time, the figure was just a well-coiffed hair away from the estimated $31 million earned by "Just Go With It."

"I feel great," Bieber told MTV News backstage at the Grammys, where the 16-year-old Canadian sensation was both a nominee and a performer, shortly after news of his movie's huge opening hit. "I have so many amazing fans and they've been so supportive over these past few years and will continue to be supportive with my movie. I'm just excited. I have the best fans in the world."

"Never Say Never" was produced by Paramount (which, like MTV, is owned by Viacom). The studio worked tirelessly to activate Bieber's rabid fanbase in support of the movie, which focuses on his rise from obscurity to stardom. Special ticket packages costing $30 per head added an extra $700,000 to the film's opening, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" opened strongly but will still have some distance to go in order to recoup its estimated $80 million production budget. Set in Hawaii, the romantic comedy-of-misunderstandings co-stars Jennifer Aniston and longtime Sandler pal Nick Swardson ("Grandma's Boy") but suffers from a 19 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, which averages reviews from critics.

And while it may sit atop the box office, "Just Go With It" attracted fewer people opening weekend than recent Sandler flicks like "Grown Ups" and "You Don't Mess With the Zohan."

"Gnomeo & Juliet," the other G-rated movie in the top 10 in addition to "Never Say Never," was bolstered by Elton John tunes and voice acting from James McAvoy and Emily Blunt in the title roles.

The only other new film widely released over the weekend was the Roman Army movie "The Eagle," starring Channing Tatum ("G.I. Joe"), which opened at a distant #4 with just $8.6 million.

"Single White Female" retread "The Roommate," starring Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" alongside Minka Kelly of "Friday Night Lights," came in at #5 with $8.4 million for a $26 million two-week total. "The Roommate" was made for just $16 million, making that a solid number.

Driven by renewed interest thanks to its multiple Oscar nominations, Best Picture front-runner "The King's Speech" came in at #6 with $8.4 million for a cumulative $93 million total. The English historical drama was made for even less money than "The Roommate" and is closing in on the $100 million mark — a feat commonly reserved for explosion-driven summer blockbusters.

"No Strings Attached" was #7 with $5.6 million. The Natalie Portman/ Ashton Kutcher rom-com has made $59.8 million since it opened four weeks ago. Portman is nominated in the Best Actress category at the Academy Awards for "Black Swan," which was #14 this weekend with $2.1 million. The award-winning art-house flick is even closer to $100 million than "The King's Speech," with $99 million.

"Sanctum" followed "No Strings Attached" at #8 with $5.1 million. Executive produced by James Cameron, "Sanctum" has earned $17.5 million in two weeks with a production budget of $30 million.

Oscar contender "True Grit" and action-comedy "The Green Hornet" rounded out the top 10 with $3.7 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The Coen Brothers remake of the John Wayne Western has made $160 million in the past two months, while co-writer and star Seth Rogen's 3-D version of newspaper-heir-turned-vigilante "The Green Hornet" has made $92 million in the past five weeks.

Check out everything we've got on "Just Go With It" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



Justin Bieber Gets Help Promoting ‘Never Say Never’ From Pauly D, Kardashians

'Just Go With It': The Reviews Are In!

Like the iPhone 4, Adam Sandler movies are basically review-proof. His comedies never engender the sort of critical praise that, say, Judd Apatow's often do, yet crowds reliably show up to watch Sandler do his thing.

So perhaps we shouldn't pay much mind to the often harsh reviews that have greeted his latest laugher, the Jennifer Aniston-co-starring rom-com, "Just Go With It." After all, even in the face of stiff competition from Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never," Sandler's flick is expected to win the weekend's box-office crown.

Possibly, though, you want to know a little more about "Just Go With It" than whose face fills nearly every scene. In that case, read on to find out what the critics have to say!

The Story
"Sandler plays Danny, a plastic surgeon and schlub who marries a shrew but discovers post-divorce (and post-nose job) that the gold band is a magnet for bar chicks. That changes when he meets Palmer (the stunning Brooklyn Decker), which prompts him to shove the ring in his pocket to woo her beachside. Everything's hunky-dory until Palmer discovers the ring in Danny's pocket and naturally assumes he's married. Here's where the film takes its first characteristic step: Instead of explaining himself, Danny concocts a bizarre lie that he's separated from his wife and close to a divorce. To maintain that lie, he persuades his assistant, Katherine (Aniston), to not only play his soon-to-be-ex-wife but to come with her two children to Hawaii to, well, make the movie feature length." — Scott Bowles, USA Today

The Look and the Laughs
"[Director Dennis] Dugan constantly shoots their paid vacation and indeed the entire film like a commercial, and with the rampant product placement, it's hard not to believe that's the case. Cuts are sloppy, dialogue looping is obvious, and although they must've seemed fresh after every take on set, Sandler's perpetual off-the-cuff name checks become a monotonous crutch in scene after scene. The man can't resist ethnic stereotypes, plastic surgery mishaps, shots to the groin or sheep resuscitation gags (a moment any other film would've played off as something funnier said than shown), and the film runs nearly two hours for all its allegedly comedic indulgences." — William Goss, Cinematical

The Chemistry
"[Aniston] has got expert comic timing when all those around her have none; she's got lightness and finesse when everyone else is being indulgently silly. She plays like a grown-up; she looks fab. And she gets a real commitment out of Sandler -- her performance makes him grow up, too. Amidst the wreckage of 'Just Go With It,' Aniston and Sandler have a real chemistry. They should go elsewhere with it." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

The Dissenters
"Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production team has rarely put much stock in the rules of classical storytelling, but its newest project, 'Just Go With It,' manages to misfire in two seemingly incompatible directions. A puerile kiddie-comedy without the anarchic energy, and a schmaltzy romantic comedy without the sweetness, this Hawaii-set farce is too frantic and too lackadaisical a take on the oft-adapted French play 'Cactus Flower.' Working with longtime director Dennis Dugan, Sandler and the rest of the film's marquee cast could nonetheless steer it toward good returns." — Andrew Barker, Variety

The Final Word
"It had been one of the minor inducements to longevity, this crazy hope of one day actually seeing Jennifer Aniston in a good movie. That day arrives with 'Just Go With It,' a very funny romantic comedy that nicely combines Adam Sandler's acerbic sweetness with Aniston's down-to-earth warmth -- and that finds an excuse for Aniston to both play an average person and yet dress like a movie star. The screenplay has a setup that borders on farce, but the romantic heart of it is strong and expresses something unusual. It's a movie about the romance of familiarity, about the satisfaction and spiritual necessity of actually knowing someone and being known. So much of movie romance is usually about the opposite of that, about going off into the unknown, about adventure in the form of, not physical danger, but emotional danger. 'Just Go With It' makes a feint in that direction, but not enough to fool anybody." — Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Check out everything we've got on "Just Go With It."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



Ryan Gosling Calls ‘Blue Valentine’ A ‘Cautionary Tale’ For Couples

'X-Men: First Class' Trailer: Professor X And Magneto, The Way They Were

We all know where this is going: Professor X and Magneto will one day be the deepest enemies. How they get to that point is the story told in "X-Men: First Class," and if the first trailer is any indication, how they get there is going to be totally badass.

This is an origin tale, after all, as the trailer makes clear. The footage begins with an appropriately edgy, slow-building score in the background, then a shot of Professor X's office, with his empty wheelchair in the foreground. The words "Before he was Professor X" appear over a shot of what looks like Patrick Stewart as X, hooked up to Cerebro, then, continuing the first phrase, the words "He was Charles" are shown over a shot of James McAvoy as our young Chuck Xavier.

The next sequence opens with "Before he was Magneto" over shots from previous "X-Men" films and Ian McKellan wearing the famous helmet and cape, then "He was Erik" over a clip of serious/brooding Michael Fassbender as young Erik Lehnsherr.

Cut to Marvel's recognizable movie insignia, the shuffling comic book pages with the logo, followed by McAvoy's Xavier and Fassbender's Lehnsherr walking together in a prison. The next clip shows the famous "School for the Gifted," with the words of JFK speaking to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the background and the rest of the cast/X-Men crowded around the television listening to Kennedy's televised address.

Next up we get brief character intros, with JFK's words — "The cost of freedom is always high" — still echoing in voice-over as Emma Frost (January Jones), Angel Salvadore (Zoe Kravitz), Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Alex Summers/Havok (Lucas Till), Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) and saucy shape-shifter Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) all flash in succession onscreen.

The last half of the 1:51 spot kicks up the action, with shots of fighter jets (Beast in the cockpit!), missiles launching, young mutants learning how to use their powers to fight and Lehnsherr taking hold of the famous helmet and stepping into the black-and-red suit of Magneto, followed by stern words from Xavier.

"Listen to me very carefully, my friend," Xavier says to Lehnsherr/Magneto. "Killing will not bring you peace."

"Peace was never an option," he responds, which is followed by quick teases of some of the big action scenes, including one where Lehnsherr is pulling a submarine out of the water and into the air.

The last thing we see is a revamped and slightly imposing logo for "Xavier's School for the Gifted Youngsters," First Class, followed by the June 3 release date.

Check out everything we've got on "X-Men: First Class."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.



‘Eclipse’ Star Xavier Samuel Doesn’t Feel Pressured By Movie’s Success

Emma Watson Confirmed For 'Perks Of Being A Wallflower' Film

It's been nine months since Variety first announced that Emma Watson might be starring in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and now Watson's first post-"Harry Potter" leading role has been confirmed. Both she and Logan Lerman will headline the adaptation that Summit Entertainment recently picked up.

Watson confirmed the casting on her Facebook page, saying, "Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that the rumours are true - I'm going to be playing Sam in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' opposite Logan Lerman. Love Em xx."

Chbosky will both write and direct the film, with John Malkovich executive-producing it. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" follows 15-year-old wallflower Charlie (Lerman) who writes a series of letters to an unknown person about his life, including his love for a girl named Sam (Watson), the suicide of his best friend and his struggle to find a group of friends in which he belongs. It is considered to be one of the best interpretations of adolescence in the 1990s out there.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" isn't the only film on Watson's slate. She's filmed a small but important role in the upcoming Michelle Williams-starring film "My Week With Marilyn" and is also a top contender to star opposite Taylor Lautner in the adaptation of the young-adult novel "Incarceron." There's also the last "Harry Potter" film, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which is scheduled to hit theaters July 15.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



Emma Watson ‘Very Proud’ Of ‘Deathly Hallows - Part 1′

Rumored 'Dark Knight Rises' Star Marion Cotillard Praises Christopher Nolan

Another week, another report of an "Inception" star potentially joining Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises." Tom Hardy has already signed on to the project, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is reportedly in talks and now it seems Marion Cotillard is in discussions to accept a role, as well.

In addition to their shared screen credits, the three actors have at least one more thing in common: a whole lot of love for Nolan. Hardy has previously told us that working with the writer/director was akin to being "swept up on this carpet of love," while Gordon-Levitt has called Nolan "a genuine artist" and "a master." Cotillard, too, has spoken effusively about her experience with Nolan, so it's no surprise that she might sign on for what is widely thought to be his third and final "Batman" film.

"The guy is so interesting," she told us back in June of 2009, shortly before production on "Inception" began. "He writes his own scripts. He seems to be, from what I saw and what I read, so rich inside. He's got so many things to say and share and he's a very, very smart guy. You really can feel it in his writing."

As he did on "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," Nolan is sharing screenwriting duties on the new film. He also earned an Oscar nod for his "Memento" script a decade ago and is nominated again this year for his writing on "Inception." While Cotillard confessed to us that she didn't exactly understand everything in "Inception" when she first read the script, the French-born actress put her faith in Nolan's talents as a writer of uncommon depth.

"Most of it really moved me and touched me, even though I didn't get everything," she told us last summer. "But I felt that it was something filled with so many things and that when you read a script like this, the first thing is it is Christopher Nolan's movie. He's a writer. I had a lot of questions, but I knew that I would have answers.

"I think it's the kind of movie that each person will have their own interpretation, and that's a good thing because it creates conversations about it and you can share what you think," she added. "It's a beautiful way to gather people and share something."

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.



‘Dark Knight Rises’: A History Of Rumors

Sunday, February 13, 2011

'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never': Everything You Need To Know

Last August we discovered that pop superstar Justin Bieber was working on a 3-D movie. While details about the project were scant, the basic plot was outlined as footage that was a mix of Bieber's personal life and concert performances.

Soon after the movie was announced though, Oscar-winning "An Inconvenient Truth" director Davis Guggenheim dropped out, leaving the project in peril. But it was back on again a few weeks later when Jon Chu came onboard to helm the flick.

"[It's] a movie for his fans, a movie for people who don't know him, and we're gonna tell the underdog story of where he came from," Chu explained in August. "Because it's a really fascinating story and it has a lot to do with our sort of digital lifestyle now. He was able to do what corporations try to do now when they use YouTube and they don't even know what to do with it yet. It's a pretty cool story for our time."

With the project in full swing, Bieber hit New York's iconic Madison Square Garden on August 31 to shoot the film's concert footage. Lucky fans at that show got an early teaser knowing that superstars like Miley Cyrus and Usher would appear in the film.

The film remained without a title until mid-October, when Bieber's team slowly rolled out an epic puzzle that revealed the project would be called "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never." A few weeks later, first trailer the dropped and it included interviews with fans and family and vintage Bieber video.

In November, MTV News caught up with Bieber at his book signing and he described the film as "inspiring." The following month, he revealed that he'd seen some of the film and that it was "amazing."

"I mean, I'm always nervous. We're always trying to make our movies better," Chu told us in December. "[Justin's] been very supportive, he and his family and his team. I'm excited to share it with the world and show another side of 3-D. With 'Step Up 3D,' we learned a lot of lessons and we discovered a lot of things, and it's just the beginning."

After obsessing over the trailer for weeks, fans were treated to a "Never Say Never" poster in late January.

"Especially for this generation of kids, [it's important to show] that they could make it on their own without a big corporation," Chu told us when we caught up with him earlier this month. "I thought it was an exciting way to tell it: through his music."

On February 3, Bieber hit the Big Apple to premiere the flick, which features a new track, "Born to Be Somebody." A week later he premiered the movie in Los Angeles, where even the star's celebrity fans admitted to having Bieber Fever

So what does Bieber think fans will take away from the flick?

"People didn't really know," the Biebs told MTV News in L.A. "They didn't understand that I've been playing music ever since I was born and it's always been in me. And this movie is really going to show that I'm not just some packaged thing that some A&R put together. It was actually just me living my dream and just making music."

Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



‘Never Say Never’ Director Says Justin Bieber Haters Have Come Around

'Gnomeo And Juliet' Stars Talk 'Overacting' For Animated Flick

From the outside looking in, the world of voice acting holds an allure that seems glamorous in a different way than traditional acting. There's no wardrobe to fit, no hair and makeup to arrange, no far-off location to travel to, and so forth. All an actor has to do is show up and speak into a microphone. According to the lead voices behind "Gnomeo and Juliet" (an animated take on Shakespeare's classic), James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, there are indeed a few benefits.

But it's definitely not as basic as some might think. MTV News recently spoke to Blunt and McAvoy, who told us effective voice work requires a few tricks.

"I feel like you have to overact the entire time because you don't realize how flat your voice sounds when it's faceless and expressionless," Blunt said. "So you actually have to over-enunciate and really leap around to add some kind of liveliness to the way you speak," she explained. "It was interesting. We were told often to smile while we were talking because it actually lightens your voice up. It was interesting."

McAvoy added that you can actually hear the smile in the voice. "It was quite interesting. Even when the character is not supposed to be smiling, they'd like to hear the smile," he said.

Blunt also revealed that a few of her scenes were a bit embarrassing because she had to run in place in order to act out certain action sequences.

"They need reactions from you falling on something or swinging or grabbing a hold of something," she explained. "So that's when you have to emanate every kind of sound you can ever muster up. It's very strange."

Check out everything we've got on "Gnomeo and Juliet."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ Director Explains Movie’s Plot

Saturday, February 12, 2011

'Iron Man 3' To Be Directed By Shane Black?

Six years after making his directorial debut with the noirish dark comedy "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," Shane Black might be reteaming with Robert Downey Jr. for the actor's third Marvel superhero adventure.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Black is "in contention" to direct "Iron Man 3." What's more, he'd likely get a crack at penning a draft of the script too. Black is far from a lock to take over franchise directing duties from Jon Favreau though, and other filmmakers are being eyed as well.

MTV News' requests for comment to Disney and Black's rep were not returned as of press time.

While the possibility of Black taking on one of Marvel's most valuable franchises is surprising — he has only one directing credit on his résumé — it makes a certain amount of sense. Black and Downey were said to strike up a close creative relationship during "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," and following Favreau's departure from the franchise, Marvel execs could well be looking for a sense of creative continuity on "Iron Man 3."

Black is primarily known for his talents as a screenwriter. He penned the script for "Lethal Weapon" while just out of UCLA, and went on to write "The Last Boy Scout" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight," among other scripts. He's recently been tapped to write "Death Note," an adaptation of a manga series, and a film based on the Doc Savage pulp novels.

Downey will next appear as Tony Stark and Iron Man in the Joss Whedon-directed "The Avengers," which hits theaters on May 4, 2012. Disney has set a May 3, 2013, release date for "Iron Man 3."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.



Robert Downey Jr. Calls ‘Due Date’ Director His ‘Soul Mate’

On Taylor Lautner's 19th Birthday, Let's Take A Look Ahead!

A very happy birthday shout-out goes to Taylor Lautner, who, just one year into adulthood, is the highest-grossing member of "The Twilight Saga" trio and one of the hottest young adult stars in Hollywood. This coming year will undoubtedly be one of the biggest years of the 19-year-old's career as he finishes filming "Breaking Dawn" and embarks on his journey as a leading man after "The Twilight Saga" is finished.

In honor of his big day, we're taking a look at all the projects Lautner has on the horizon. If his current trajectory is anything to judge by, we have a feeling he will be even more popular and earning even more box-office gold at this time next year.

First up is "Abduction," which is being described as a thriller along the lines of the Jason Bourne films. He's done intense amounts of training for the film and it will be his first chance to show off his chops as an action star. It also helps that his co-star, Lily Collins, is another big up-and-comer (she'll star in the adaptation of "City of Bones") and that their combined star power should propel his first major starring role post-"Twilight Saga."

Rounding out 2011 is the much-anticipated release of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which will feature Lautner more than any other film in the series. If the film stays true to the book (and there's no guarantee that it will), about half of it will be shown from his character Jacob's perspective, and it will be up to him and his wolf pack to carry the film. He also ends up with certainly one of the most interesting love interests he's likely to have onscreen during the course of his career.

Aside from the release of "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in late 2012, Lautner has a couple of other big films on the horizon as well. He returns to the young adult genre in the upcoming adaptation of "Incarceron," and he's shaping up to land a pretty hot co-star for the film. Last we heard, Emma Watson, Blake Lively and Jennifer Lawrence are short-listed for his romantic lead.

And though it's been about a year since we heard major news on Lautner's other upcoming film "Stretch Armstrong," it's likely that he'll start filming it once he's done with "Breaking Dawn" in the next couple of months. It's slated for 2012 and will also likely be his first film in 3-D. It's a good thing, then, that he will "not wear a shirt" during the entire film.

Last but not least, Lautner has his third action film in the form of "Cancun." It's being described as "Taken" meets "Die Hard" and will be produced by Lautner's own production company, Tailor Made. Again, there hasn't been a lot of news on the film recently, but we're excited to see him show off his martial arts skills some more on the big screen.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



‘Breaking Dawn’ Star Mackenzie Foy Gets Props From Onscreen Grandmother

Monday, February 7, 2011

Justin Bieber Weighs In On Super Bowl Matchup

During Sunday's Super Bowl, we know celebrity fans like Snoop Dogg, Diddy and Wiz Khalifa will be rooting for their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, and Lil Wayne will be going hard for the Green Bay Packers. However, there's one superstar who probably won't care either way which team goes home with the shiny Vince Lombardi Trophy: Justin Bieber.

The pop megastar stopped by the MTV Newsroom on Friday (January 4) to chop it up with Sway, and when asked which team he wants to see rule the gridiron Sunday night, the Canadian native admitted that he doesn't have an allegiance to the Packers or Steelers.

"I'm not, like, a fan of either teams," Bieber conceded. He was similarly noncommittal about who he thought might dominate the field, shrugging, "I don't know," when pressed about he thought would win.

The football rivalry hasn't been entirely out of the teen idol's orbit. Bieber dished that he was feeling Wayne's recently released Packers tribute "Green and Yellow."

"Did you hear Lil Wayne's song ... 'Green and Yellow'?" he asked Sway of the New Orleans MC's remix of Khalifa's "Black and Yellow." "I saw it today and I thought that was pretty cool."

Even with each team heading into the championship face-off with dueling hip-hop anthems, Bieber maintained that the final score card won't faze him.

"Either way, whatever team wins, it's not my team," he said.

While Bieber may not show his sports-fanatic side during the Super Bowl, the "Baby" singer will be seen by millions during the game. The Biebs has teamed up with metal legend Ozzy Osbourne in a futuristic Best Buy ad that the company said in a statement will "showcase creativity and humor to millions of football and advertising fans throughout the country." Plus, viewers will get an additional dose of Bieber fever when a promo clip for the star's upcoming 3-D movie "Never Say Never" airs during a post-Super Bowl episode of "Glee."

Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments!



‘Never Say Never’ Director Says Justin Bieber Haters Have Come Around

'Transformers' Super Bowl Trailer: Explosions! Robots! Victoria's Secret Model!

Just in case there wasn't enough testosterone coursing through Super Bowl XLV, the preview trailer for "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" should have done the trick.

The new 30-second trailer for the third "Transformers" installment brought with it a bevy of battling robots, concerned-looking humans (the movie's stars Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, and Megan Fox's replacement, Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), and the general destruction director Michael Bay tends to bring along with any project.

Unlike the movie's first trailer, which has already hit theaters and features Neil Armstrong's journey to the moon in 1969 turning out a little differently (apparently in Bay's world, one small step for man was one giant step for sneaky robots), this spot was short, and for "Transformers" fans, pretty sweet.

With a tagline that warns "On 7/1/11 Earth Will Go Dark" spliced in with all the action (and that's really all there is, as not a single line of dialogue is uttered in the spot), viewers only saw blips of what can be expected on the big screen this summer.

The preview for the not-yet-rated flick featured scenes of disarray and panic on the streets (at times looking awfully reminiscent of another summer blockbuster with a Super Bowl ad: "Battle: Los Angeles"), burning cities, helicopter collisions and a car crash, which transforms into, well, Transformers. And, of course, there's the return of both Bumblebee and Optimus Prime.

All this in the span of about 30 seconds, America!

What did you think of the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" trailer? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



‘Eclipse’ At The Box Office: What Does The Future Hold?

Justin Bieber Talks Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus At NYC Fan Q&A

NEW YORK — As Bieber fever was taking over New York City on Wednesday night, the boy wonder himself, Justin Bieber, watched "Never Say Never" alongside fans at a premiere screening of his new 3-D film. Afterward, Bieber stayed to chat with his faithful followers about the movie and answered several questions in an unexpected Q&A.

He told the crowd, "Yo, yo, yo ... I need everyone to sit down.[Director] Jon Chu, can you come over here ... doesn't he look spiffy? Did you guys like the movie? Do you feel like you know me a little bit more now? Since I'm here, I'm gonna answer five questions."

Bieber eventually fielded more than five queries, while giving some insight into the making of the film. "My favorite part was probably going back to my hometown and being with my friends," he revealed. "And I also like giving always all the tickets to the fans."

Sharing with his fans that he's "extremely happy" these days, he said that the movie took two months to shoot. He also laughed as he mentioned one fan included in the film that gave him a bit of the heebie-jeebies.

"You know what creeped me out?" he quipped. "When that girl was like, 'I will be his wife.' "

The film includes footage of a concert stop at New York's Madison Square Garden that featured cameos from Miley Cyrus and a number of other celebrities. Bieber explained that he loved singing his track "Overboard" with Cyrus. "It was great. She was really nice and everything," he said. "I loved performing with Boyz II Men, too."

While audience members were asked to stick to questions about the movie, one fan did have the guts to inquire about Bieber's reported relationship with Selena Gomez. "I think anyone would be lucky to date her," the pop star explained. "She's a great person."

Justin had a few final words for the adoring crowd before leaving the theater. "I feel very honored and happy because without you guys I wouldn't be here. I love you guys and I got to go. Thank you to the [production company] Magical Elves, but most of all I want to thank Chuck Norris, without him I wouldn't have been born," he joked. "He's not my dad. Swag."

Are you excited to see "Never Say Never"? Tell us in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



Justin Bieber Gets Help Promoting ‘Never Say Never’ From Pauly D, Kardashians

'Never Say Never' Director Says Justin Bieber Haters Have Come Around

Those who pay close attention to the trembling, always-excitable pulse of Justin Bieber fans (like we do) likely know that February 11 is a very special day: the release date of "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

But for the rest of the world, those who don't have young kids, particularly daughters, or who've yet to be stricken with Bieber fever, the idea that a full-length feature film has been made about a curiously coiffed 16-year-old pop star is a bit of a head-scratcher.

No one understands those confused sentiments more than Jon Chu, who directed the film (as well as "Step Up: 3D"). When MTV News caught up with him recently to talk about his filmmaking adventure with the Biebs, we asked him what kind of harassment he got from his friends when he signed onto the project.

"There's always people [giving me flak], whether it's the 'Step Up' movies, dance movies or the Justin Bieber movie," he said. "People will make fun of you, but now they truly have the fever, for sure," Chu said of his friends who've since come to understand the power of the teen phenom. "Since [I signed on], he's won four American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, he's nominated for two Grammys he's on the cover of Vanity Fair, and I think they've fallen for him as well."

Chu also explained that Bieber's story is just plain inspirational, haters or no.

"Especially for this generation of kids, [it's important to show] that they could make it on their own without a big corporation," Chu added. "I thought it was an exciting way to tell it: through his music."

Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.



Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ Director Explains Movie’s Plot

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Justin Bieber Gets Help Promoting 'Never Say Never' From Pauly D, Kardashians

In case you haven't heard, Justin Bieber has a new movie to promote. He's set to release his 3-D documentary concert film "Never Say Never" next week. So, he's wrangled up some of his celebrity pals to help him promote his glossy, Jon Chu-directed film.

Kim and Khloé Kardashian appear in one of the promos, saying that the film is the best way to spend Valentine's Day weekend. "We decided that for the weekend leading up to Valentine's Day, us girls, we gotta stick together," Khloé says in the ad.



Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ Director Explains Movie’s Plot

Ricky Gervais Not Invited Back To Host Golden Globes

The confusing war of words between British comedian Ricky Gervais and his two-time bosses at the Golden Globes appears to have reached an end.

First, the acerbic funnyman was blasted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his take-no-prisoners hosting gig at the awards show, which he later claimed was well-received and no big deal. Then, Gervais was reportedly not invited back to host a third time, but denied that report in a magazine interview in which he claimed he was asked to return in 2012.

But on Tuesday, HFPA president Philip Berk released a statement that said in no uncertain terms, "There is no truth to this rumor. We have not asked him to come back. Nice try, Ricky."

Gervais, though, a master of stirring the pot, muddied the waters yet again on his blog late Tuesday, writing, "You may also have read that I am hosting next year's Golden Globes. This is not true. Not yet anyway. The TV show organizers said they were happy with everything and asked me to not rule out a third gig. However, it is not entirely up to them. The Hollywood Foreign Press and various other committees need to meet and agree. I have no idea if they want me back again. It depends whether they care about fifty delicate egos in the room or the 200 million people watching at home who want a laugh. Also, even if they did want me back, at the moment I'm pretty sure I shouldn't do it. But I'll tell you this. If they do invite me back and I accept, I'm going to pull exactly the same sh-- again or even worse. Once again, everyone has been warned."

Gervais clarified his comments later to The Hollywood Reporter, explaining explaining that he was mistaken when he referred to organizers and should have specified that he'd been asked by an executive at NBC, which aired the show.

"[The executive] called me and said he loved [the show], that it was great," Gervais told the Reporter about his January 16 hosting gig. "He said don't rule out a third gig. I said I don't think I'll do it again. I doubt I'll be invited back. And he said, just don't rule it out."

Gervais said he called Berk to explain the confusion because he was angry that the HFPA's statement made it seem like he was not telling the truth. "It's not fair," Gervais said. "I always tell the truth. ... So that's the thing that bothered me."



Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Support Co-Star James Franco As Oscar Host