Saturday 14 April 2012

Alec Baldwin Is NOT Leaving 30 Rock?But He Alludes That The Series May Soon End!

OKAY.
We've got some good news and some bad news, 30 Rock fans.
The good news is that despite some ominous-sounding Tweets, Alec Baldwin is NOT quitting the comedy series!
However, as Tina Fey previously suggested on The View, the end may be near!
Alec explained via 140 characters or less:
As far as I know, 30 Rock is back [...]

Dancehall Reggae

Ben Affleck And Justin Timberlake Team For New Movie About On-Line Gambling!

Justin and Affleck and Leo, oh my!
This is going to be QUITE the project!
Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck have reportedly been cast in a new thriller called Runner, Runner, which will focus on on-line gambling communities, and be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio!
The project is helmed by Brad Furman, written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, [...]

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NCIS Actor's Ex-Husband Charged With Violating Her Restraining Order Against Him!

What makes people think that they just ignore the law - especially in these cases?
Pauley Perrette, whom many may recognize from NCIS, has maintained a restraining order against her ex-husband, Coyote Shivers, since their divorce since 2006, and apparently, she has good reason!
The musician/actor has been charged with violating the court order and because he's [...]

Hip Hop

Best Dressed Celebs Of The Week!

Check out a photo gallery of the celebrities who ROCKED some seriously FABOOSH looks this week HERE!
Check out a photo gallery of the celebrities who ROCKED some seriously FABOOSH looks this week HERE!
Check out a photo gallery of the celebrities who ROCKED some seriously FABOOSH looks this week HERE!
Check out a photo gallery of the [...]

Music Video Hip Hop

Taylor Armstrong Is 'Freaking' The Flip Out!!!

Aww! Poor Taylor!!
Who knows how fragile she feels right now!!
Because you seeee, as soon as she heard Bravo execs wanted to phase her out of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she called them to get answers!!
And it wasn't pretty…
A close source reveals:
Taylor called because she was certain that there was [...]

Music Video

Steve Carell Joins Warner Bros. Mob Comedy

Steve Carell has lined up another comedy at Warner Bros., Deadline reports. The trade says that the Incredible Burt Wonderstone star will appear in the as-of-yet untitled film opposite Jake Johnson ("New Girl," Safety Not Guaranteed ).

Plot details are few, but Max Winkler ( Ceremony ) is attached to direct and the storyline is said to involve the mob and is based on a story by Johnson and Winkler, who will also produce. Rodney Rothman, meanwhile, will provide the screenplay.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement earlier this week that Carell is eyeing Lisa Choldenko's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at 20th Century Fox.

(Photo Credit: Robert Wallace/ WENN.com)

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Todd Phillips Is Producing Danny McBride's Clown

This is a comedy dream team we can't wait to see, we just wish Phillips would step up to direct!
Todd Phillips is producing Danny McBride's next movie called Clown, which he'll write and star in.
The comedy is a remake of a 2010 Danish film and features the Eastbound & Down star as a guy who [...]

Dancehall Reggae

Voltage Pictures and Killer Films Enter The Disappointments Room

Voltage Pictures ( The Hurt Locker ) is joining New York-based Killer Films ( Boys Don't Cry , "Mildred Pierce") on The Disappointments Room , an original screenplay by Wentworth Miller. Nicolas Chartier and Zev Foreman of Voltage will team with Killer�s Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon to produce.

The Disappointments Room is a dramatic thriller about a woman who moves into a mysterious old house in the country with her husband and young son, only to discover their new home comes with a dark past.

The project is currently out to directors.

Miller�s previous screenplay, Stoker , stars Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska and will be distributed by Fox Searchlight.

(Photo Credit: Apega/WENN)

Music Video Hip Hop

Exclusive Lockout Featurette

ComingSoon.net has a new featurette on Lockout , which opens in theaters today. Written and directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger, the sci-fi action thriller stars Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Lennie James, Vincent Regan, Tim Plester, Anne-Solenne Hatte, Yan Dron, Patrick Cauderlier, Milorad Kapor, Bojan Peric and Mark Tankersley.

Lockout follows a falsely convicted ex- government agent (Pearce), whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the President�s daughter (Grace) from rioting convicts at an outer space maximum security prison.

Hip Hop Videos

Tina Fey to Headline The Intern

Nancy Meyers will write and direct the Paramount Pictures comedy The Intern with Tina Fey set to star, Deadline reports.

The plot sees Fey starring as the founder of a successful company who, as part of a new program, takes in a senior citizen to be her intern.

The news arrives less than 24 hours after word broke that 20th Century Fox is planning a similarly-titled comedy, The Intership . Whether one project will cause the other to change its title remains to be seen.

To be produced by Scott Rudin, The Intern is planned to go into production early next year.

(Photo Credit: Apega / WENN.com)

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Friday 13 April 2012

Darren Aronofsky's Noah Arrives March 28, 2014

Officially announced last October , Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic Noah has been given an official release date of March 28, 2014.

"Since I was a kid, I have been moved and inspired by the story of Noah and his family's journey," Aronosky said of the film in a recent statement. "The imaginations of countless generations have sparked to this epic story of faith. It's my hope that I can present a window into Noah's passion and perseverance for the silver screen."

Russell Crowe is set to headline the Paramount Pictures and New Regency Productions film with Academy Award-nominated screenwriter John Logan ( Gladiator , The Aviator ) re-writing the script by Aronofsky and Ari Handel.

(Photo Credit: Ian Wilson/WENN.com)

Hip Hop

'American Idol' Judges Call Competition 'A Toss-Up'

In the wake of Jessica Sanchez's near-exit, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler say season 11 is anyone's to win.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino


Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler
Photo: MTV News

After "American Idol" voters tried their hardest to send presumptive front-runner Jessica Sanchez packing on Thursday night's shocking results show — only to have their plan foiled by the judges, who promptly used their save to keep her in the competition — the deck has been re-shuffled, and it appears that this season really is anyone's to win.

Following Sanchez's near-exit, two of those "Idol" judges spoke to MTV News, and they weren't shy about letting their opinions be known. Simply put, they were as surprised as everyone to hear Sanchez's name called.

"I think [America] thought she was safe," Randy Jackson said of Sanchez. "I think they thought she was safe ... and I think they thought [fellow bottom-three dweller] Joshua [Ledet] was safe, because those two alone ... have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot."

"There's just so many different singers out there. That's why it's hard for me now," Steven Tyler added. "I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong."

More than likely, they were. But the inclusion of Sanchez in the bottom three raises a larger question about the show: Is it possible for anyone other than a guy to actually win anymore? The previous four champions — David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery — have all been proud possessors of the Y chromosome, and a male contestant has won in five of the previous six seasons. (Jordin Sparks was the last female to be crowned champion, way back in 2007.)

And now, with Thursday night's shake-up — and the rise of Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips — it appears that history may repeat itself once again. Not surprisingly, though, neither Jackson nor Tyler seems to see it that way.

"I don't know, it's a toss-up right now," Jackson said. "I think it'll be a person."

"You gotta wait and see," Tyler added.

Of course, Jackson was also quick to admit that both Dixon and Phillips are strong contenders for the season 11 crown (which is probably why "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine spent so much time this week trying to pit them against each other), and he saved a particular bit of praise for Phillips and his, uh, unique approach to the competition.

"He's his own guy, that's what I love about him. He's an individual, Steven's an individual; that's what a real artist is made of," Jackson said. "An artist is not usually a follower; you want to be your own person. So I love that about him. I don't know if it's going to hurt him, but somebody's gotta go every week now. It's gonna be rough."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Leonardo DiCaprio Will Live By Night

Warner Bros. is bringing to the screen the upcoming Dennis Lehane prohibition-era novel Live By Night . Deadline has word that the project already has Leonardo Dicaprio lined up to star.

Set for release this fall, the crime novel is the second book in a trilogy that begins with Lehane's 2008 book The Given Day .

DiCaprio, who will also produce Night , recently starred in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar and can be seen later this year in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby , both of which are slated to hit on Christmas day.

(Photo Credit: WENN.com)

Music Video

Liza Minnelli Being Honored Lifetime Achievement Award!!

Well it's about time!!
Liza Minnelli is about to have a whole night of honor for being the fabulous queen she is!!
So mark your calendars!! Cause on Monday, June 4, the 30th Annual Astaire Awards will recognize her majesty with their Douglass Watt Lifetime Achievement Award. AND SHE WILL OWN IT!!!
We mean, the woman is [...]

Music Video Hip Hop

Bruce Jenner Talks About Kim & Kanye: "I'm Not That Excited"

No surprises here, folks!
It's common knowledge for men that in every new relationship it's the father who is usually the hardest to win over.
So when we heard Bruce Jenner tell folks in Boston he was "not that excited" about Kim's new boyfriend Kanye, we just smiled.
Because even though Bruce is Kim's stepfather, he [...]

Hip Hop

New Featurette on Marvel's The Avengers

IGN has debuted this new featurette on Marvel's The Avengers , opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on May 4. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the action adventure stars Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsg�rd, Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson.

Marvel's The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Music Video Hip Hop

'Girls': The Reviews Are In!

Critics praise HBO show while questioning whether it will connect beyond urban audiences.
By John Mitchell


Lena Dunham in "Girls"
Photo: HBO

HBO's new comedy "Girls" is easily the most buzzed-about series debut so far this year. From the almost uncomfortably realistic sex scenes and sharp dialogue to series creator/producer/writer/star Lena Dunham's Louis C.K.-style multitasking — not to mention the show's similarities to and differences from that other landmark show about four single females in New York — people cannot stop talking about "Girls." Luckily for everyone involved, most of the things being said range from good to rave.

"Girls," which premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO, has critics using words like "groundbreaking" and "revolutionary" to describe the series, about four friends (Dunham and co-stars Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke and Zosia Mamet) in their early 20s trying to get their lives off the ground in NYC.

Here in the MTV Newsroom, we're as enraptured with the show as everyone else seems to be, but in her otherwise rave review in Salon, Willa Paskin makes an observation about "Girls" that has come up often during chatter about the new series: that its specificity, minus the fantasy element that made middle America fall in love with "Sex and the City," may make the show unrelatable to those outside East Coast urban centers.

"My concern was that 'Girls' speaks so specifically and accurately to the experience of me and my census buddies — and to be clear, that's urban white girls with safety nets; have at us in the comments — that people would either write it off as navel-gazing, snark at the innate privilege undergirding the whole thing, or find it unrelatable," Paskin writes.

That concern doesn't diminish the show's quality, though, and the site goes on to call the show "smart, bracing, funny, accurately absurd, confessional yet self-aware."

"Few series come out of the box as brilliant as 'Girls' does," Tim Goodman rhapsodizes in The Hollywood Reporter. "The new HBO series from Lena Dunham ('Tiny Furniture') is one of the most original, spot-on, no-missed-steps series in recent memory. For her part, Dunham, who writes, directs, stars in, created and executive produces the series, is a talent as unique and refreshing to the medium as Louis C.K. — high praise indeed, as FX's 'Louie' is one of the most critically acclaimed series on television."

Sex factors heavily in "Girls," but unlike the glamorized romps we saw on its HBO foremother "SATC," the sex acts depicted here are graphic, button-pushing and realistic but not gratuitous. According to Verne Gay in Newsday, the sex serves as a visual manifestation of the characters' internal issues. In a four-star review, Gay writes, "Hannah [Dunham's character] and the show are all about internal conflict and so is the humor, while sex — and fair warning, it's pretty graphic here, which may be the handiwork of Apatow — is the metaphor for all that conflict. It's grotesque, malignant, unpleasurable and a particularly devious torture chamber, at least for the women, who still submit to it."

The Los Angeles Times isn't as unconditional in its praise, calling the show "nothing short of revolutionary" but "hard to love." "There is a cool cleverness to the show that is both attractive and off-putting," Mary McNamara writes. "The characters are flawed and hyper-aware of their flaws, the stories so bent on covering every angle of self-examination that there is no real role for the viewer to play. Which makes watching it an intellectual rather than emotional experience."

The show positions itself as being a far more realistic version of the girls in the big city trope that "SATC" glamorized, which the Atlantic Wire's Richard Lawson sees as a reflection of the times the two shows premiered in. " 'SATC' was fantasy and fable, with a few bits of relatable relationship stuff thrown to the commoners like chum. 'Girls' is something else; it's a very particular, very of the moment dissection of mundanely funny minutiae, of boredom and anxiety in these brownly grim times," Lawson writes. "Though I guess it's possible the difference really is merely generational — the rich late '90s gave us Sex, while the wobbly '10s give us Girls, a witty and occasionally touching glimpse into our immediate neighbors' lives. They've got something here, it just remains to be seen how big a thing it is."

That "Girls" could be the next big things seems like the consensus opinion of critics, but will this story of a group of friends struggling to discover themselves and succeed in the big city connect with audiences in Peoria, Illinois? Lawson seems to think it may. "Who knows, it could be that soon enough young women the nation over will be saying they're 'such a Hannah' or 'totally a Marnie,' " he writes. "Maybe fabulous is officially out. Maybe the new aspiration in these punishing times is, simply, to aspire."

Are you excited for the series premiere of "Girls" Sunday on HBO? Let us know if you'll be watching in the comments below!

Music Video

Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For Is Official

Who says Friday the 13th is an unlucky day?
This one surely isn't as Robert Rodriquez, the amazing filmmaker, has officially declared that the sequel to Sin City will begin production very soon and that Rodriquez will be co-directing it with Frank Miller.
The title will be Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For.
Somebody pinch us [...]

Music Video Hip Hop

The Trailer and Poster for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Twentieth Century Fox has debuted the trailer and poster for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days , coming to theaters on August 3rd.

Starring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Devon Bostick and Steve Zahn, the family comedy is based on Jeff Kinney's fourth "Wimpy Kid" book, which describes Greg's worst summer ever beginning with Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson going to Rowley's country club after school closes for the summer.

You can click the poster below for a bigger version.


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New Low Resolution Photos From The Dark Knight Rises

Entertainment Weekly announced on Thursday that Christian Bale's Batman and Anne Hathaway's Catwoman would grace the cover ( view cover ) of the magazine's new "Summer Movie Preview," and now new low resolution versions of the photos from the issue have come online as well.

You can check out the photos below and hopefully we'll get some better-quality versions soon.

Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20th.





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Ford, Hemsworth and Oldman Take Paranoia

Liam Hemsworth is set to headline Robert Luketic's Paranoia with Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman also likely to star, according to a report at Deadline .

The project has been in development for some time and will adapt the novel by Joseph Finder. Originally drafted by Barry Levy, the most recent version arrives from Jason Hall.

The story centers on a young man who funds a lavish retirement party for a co-worker with company funds and is caught by his boss. Accused of embezzlement, he agrees to spy for the boss to avoid prosecution. He is forced to infiltrate a rival company and steal information on a top-secret project.

Hemsworth recently appeared in The Hunger Games and is set to reprise the same character in at least two upcoming sequels. Ford, meanwhile, is currently...

Hip Hop

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Star Together in The Counselor ?

Deadline is reporting that Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem are in talks to join Michael Fassbender in director Ridley Scott's next film, The Counselor . Angelina Jolie was recently rumored to be eyeing a role in the film as well.

Cormac McCarthy, known for the novels-turned-films "All the Pretty Horses," "No Country for Old Men" and "The Road," wrote The Counselor specifically for the screen. It tells of a present-day Southwest lawyer who gets in over his head in the drug trade.

The site says that Twentieth Century Fox is negotiating to distribute the movie, which is scheduled to start filming in late June.

(Photo Credit: Adriana M. Barraza/ WENN.com)

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An Open Letter To Axl Rose And Guns N' Roses Fans Everywhere

Our columnist comes out in support of the last remaining rock star after Axl's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame kiss-off.
By James Montgomery


Axl Rose
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

To: W. Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,

Greetings from New York City, which is approximately 490 miles from Cleveland, site of this weekend's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and roughly 50 bazillion miles from whatever Bedouin caravan Mr. Rose is currently encamped with — though, to be honest, it feels much farther removed from both. Especially given the reaction most GN'R fans have had to Rose's open letter to the Hall of Fame, which he published Wednesday and which has subsequently turned him into the most hated man on the Internet.

Here's the thing (and, really, the reason I'm writing this letter): Despite the thousands of comments his letter has generated — which largely run the gamut from "YOU SUCK" to "Axl Rose is a freaking whiny-ass bitch" — I'm happy to be in the minority of people who seemingly have no problem with it whatsoever. In fact, I think it's pretty awesome.

Another boy-band explosion? James Montgomery takes a closer look at One Direction and the Wanted and what their popularity means for music.

Because I support Axl Rose. And yes, I am aware that, in the past, I have called him "the creepy old guy with the Raiders jersey who lives on top of the hill" and compared him to Lil Wayne. And sure, I realize his recent, uh, output might not be on par with Guns' previous efforts (anyone can have a bad 20 years). But after reading his letter, none of those things matter. Or, if anything, they actually made it better for me. Because Axl Rose is a rock star. Maybe the last one standing. He is an anachronism and an enigma. There will never be another like him, and really, his missive to the Rock Hall is just further proof of all those points.

To wit: There are a lot of words in Rose's letter (more than 1,000 of them), none of which are "apology." This is because Axl never apologizes. Because he doesn't have to, and he doesn't care if that offends you. He also never allows himself to be backed into a corner — and everything from his unrelenting blood feud with Slash to the 15-year wait for Chinese Democracy is basically proof of this — and he intimates at several points in his letter that everyone from the HOF committee to his former bandmates was basically attempting to do just that. So rather than be intimidated, Rose just decided to walk away from the whole thing. As he writes, "No one's taking the ball and going home. ... From my perspective ... the ball's never been in our court."

It's easy to call Rose a jerk for doing this, but, really, he is a jerk. It's what makes him who he is and why he's still able to sell out arenas around the world. We've come to expect nothing less, and yet we're willing to vilify him for acting the way he always has.

Katy Perry, beneath the crown: James Montgomery takes us inside his interview with the pop princess to see what she's really like off-camera.

In some bizarre way, by skipping the induction (and asking his name not be mentioned in absentia), Rose displays a supreme level of actual integrity. Unlike, say, Ozzy Osbourne, who previously asked that his band Black Sabbath no longer be considered for the Hall only to show up at the 2006 induction and call it an "achievement," Axl won't come crawling back. And unlike fellow 2006 inductees Blondie, he spared anyone the ugly onstage feud that surely would've erupted by simply saying, "No thanks." He does what he wants and only what he wants. And the same goes for that much-discussed GN'R reunion, which he shuts down in the letter because, really, it's "time to move on."

And that last quote should be taken to heart by all the Guns fans out there raging against Rose today. Because, really, it is time to move on. Move on from your misguided beliefs that Rose is ever going to change or suddenly have a moment of clarity. It's been, like, 20 years now, and he's never wavered from his original point: No reunion, not ever. Guns N' Roses are still a band and they still tour, and if you don't like it, then don't come out to the shows. Even though you probably still will.

So, sure, be angry with Axl today. Make claims of never listening to his music again (which would suppose he's ever going to make music again) and accuse him of putting himself before his fans. But don't take him to task for being the same person he's been for 25 years now, because, really, you wouldn't want him to change. Not for a reunion tour, not for an induction ceremony, not for anything. He will continue to blaze his own path whether you follow him or not. And I applaud him for doing so. He is Axl Rose, after all. He is rock and roll in an era where that phrase has increasingly less clout. We want him on that wall. We need him on that wall. It's about the only way we can sleep at night, knowing somewhere, Axl is watching over us all. And writing open letters to let us know he still cares.

Sincerely,
James Montgomery

Is Axl a jerk, the last real rock star or all of the above? Let us know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @positivnegativ!

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Dancehall Reggae

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson Reunite for The Internship

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, who last teamed in Wedding Crashers , will reunite in the 20th Century Fox comedy The Internship , to be directed by Shawn Levy, the studio announced today.

In the story, Vaughn and Wilson portray two old school salesmen who, finding themselves suddenly unemployed and passed-by in the digital world, try to reinvent themselves by becoming interns at a major tech company.

Levy�s 21 Laps Entertainment and Vaughn�s Wild West Picture Show Productions will produce the film that is based on Vaughn�s original script.

Filming is slated to begin on June 25.

(Photo Credit: PNP / WENN)

Dancehall Reggae Music Video

Child Celebrities Opposing Kirk Cameron!

HIGHlarious!!
A beautiful bundle of former child stars have come together to warn of the dangers of civil-right-hindering-opinions shared by those such as Kirk Cameron.
Recently under fire for his outspoken statements regarding the LGBT community, Kirk said he felt like he endured a public stoning.
Well that's funny because we're pretty sure every LGBT [...]

Music Video

Swizz Beatz, A$AP Rocky 'Make History' On 'Street Knock'

Allen Iverson joins duo for first video from Swizz's upcoming Limitless mixtape, featuring Nas, Rick Ross, DMX and the Lox.
By Sowmya Krishnamurthy


Swizz Beatz on the set of "Street Knock"
Photo: MTV News

Swizz Beatz is getting some assistance from newcomer A$AP Rocky on "Street Knock," the first single from his upcoming Limitless mixtape.

The super producer and Harlem's pretty boy invited MTV News to the music video set of the bouncy AraabMuzik-produced number in New York City. "Right now, I'm here at the shoot with the homey Swizz, about to make history," Rocky shared.

The two were joined by basketball veteran Allen Iverson, who showed off his crossover skills in one of the scenes.

"Music is a form of expression," Swizz said. "I just love to be here and being able to share that expression with the world."

Slated for debut later this year, Limitless is set to include a slew of additional features including Rick Ross, Nas, DMX and the Lox. "When the Rick Ross mixtape [Rich Forever] came out, that inspired me to do a mixtape, because sometimes people need to get back into the element of what you do, since they see you doing so many different ventures," Swizz explained to MTV News in early March.

"People have to know that you can take it back to the basics and keep it hip-hop and keep it fun and just do what made you the person that you are," he continued. "That's why I think this mixtape is important. I'm vibing with Nas on it, Rick Ross, DMX, the Lox — people that everybody asks, 'Man, when are you guys gonna do a track together?' and 'When is this happening?' I thought the mixtape was a great way to bring that to life."

Many fans were expecting the "On to the Next One" producer's next musical project to be the LP Haute Living, but Swizz is opting for perfection over expediency. "I know that everybody was looking for a whole album," he added. "But I'm a perfectionist, and I felt like I just wanted to put some more finishing touches on it and figured I don't have to rush anything."

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Thursday 12 April 2012

Justin Bieber Goes Country? Taylor Swift Joins JB In Studio

'You know, the whole album is just so different, there's so many different people collaborating,' Bieber says of Believe.
By James Dinh


Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber has added yet another A-list chart-topper to the collaboration roster for his new album Believe. Speaking with Capital FM earlier this week, the Biebster announced that he's hit the studio with his very own "Punk'd" victim Taylor Swift.

"You know, the whole album is just so different, there's so many different people collaborating," the 18-year-old pop star said of the upcoming release. Aside from name-dropping a few hip-hop heavyweights like Kanye West and Drake, the singer revealed that he penned a tune with Swift, admitting the cut will have a country vibe.

"It's crazy," Bieber explained. "I mean I even wrote a song with Taylor Swift, so the whole album ranges differently."

With the string of features, JB emphasized that the LP will have a mix of sounds, saying, "With my music, it doesn't only stay in a box. It's so out there. Everything is so different and that's why I'm so happy with this album."

No word on whether Swift's vocals will appear on the tune in addition to her writing credit.

Bieber's collabo with the singer/songwriter shouldn't be too much of a shock for fans. Late last year, the duo hit the stage together for Swift's L.A. gig on her Speak Now trek. Most recently, Swift was the subject of one of Bieber's "Punk'd" shenanigans when he convinced the singer she ruined a wedding.

Who else would you like to see Justin collaborate with on Believe? Tell us your suggestions below!

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Dancehall Reggae

New Featurette on Marvel's The Avengers

IGN has debuted this new featurette on Marvel's The Avengers , opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on May 4. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the action adventure stars Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsg�rd, Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson.

Marvel's The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Music Video Hip Hop

99 Photos From Marvel's The Avengers Premiere!

The world premiere for Marvel's The Avengers took place in Los Angeles last night and we now have a big gallery of photos from the event which you can check out by clicking here or on the photo below! You can also watch a replay of the red carpet underneath if you missed it last night. It starts at about the 9 minute and 30 second mark.

Hitting 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on May 4, the Joss Whedon action adventure stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsg�rd, Cobie Smulders  and Samuel L. Jackson.  Marvel's The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director...

Music Video

Sony Pictures Reimagining Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a Superhero

Deadline reports that Sony Pictures will be turning "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" into a superhero for a new live-action film. Created by George Cladir and artist Dan DeCarlo, "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" is a comic book series published by Archie Comics and follows the adventures of Sabrina Spellman.

The site says the movie "will be an origin story in the vein of Spider-Man, about a young girl coming to terms with her remarkable powers."

Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari will write the script, with Don Murphy and Susan Montford producing. Mark Waters may direct the project depending on scheduling. Archie Comics� Jon Goldwater will be executive producer and Jeff Stockwell will be co-producer.

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch" has been...

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Should Taylor Swift And One Direction's Harry Styles Date?

Fans had very strong reactions when MTV News reported about the rumored couple.
By Katie Byrne


Taylor Swift
Photo: Getty Images

Are Taylor Swift and One Direction's Harry Styles a couple? They're not talking — but you certainly are.

On Wednesday, we posted some compelling evidence that Swift and Styles might be linked up (Exhibit A: This video, in which 1D rib their bandmate about Taylor during an MTV News interview), and fans certainly had their opinions on the potential pair.

Many readers chalked it up to one more dude caught in the Taylor Swift rumor mill. "I think it's time to stop the Taylor Swift likes whoever nonsense," BrianC6234 wrote in the MTV News comments section. "First of all, why does it matter? But even if you care, these rumors have all been false. Isn't she dating that guy from 'Les Miserables'? I mean Zac Efron. Wait, no, it's Tim Tebow. Get the point?"

"These rumors have always been wrong," WeeRu chimed in. "Chord Overstreet, that guy from Parachute, Zac Efron and now Harry Styles? I don't think so."

RachV2389 added: "Guy after guy. Well ... she hasn't had a song about a British boy yet!"

A lot of Taylor fans out there are hopeless romantics, just like their idol, and have their fingers crossed that the One Direction heartthrob is "The One" for Swift. "Harry is a good guy," xLara_Stylesx wrote. "If you watch all his videos you will see that he has a good personality. And Taylor deserves a boyfriend like him (:"

"I love them both," mrs.worldwide said. "It would be nice if they were together." (BTW, should we get started on the joint nickname? We're thinking Haylor or Swiftles.)

But it wasn't all roses and sunshine: Some short-and-not-so-sweet reactions to the news included "SWEET BABY JESUS NO" and "no, please no!"

"Heeeck no," Stephanie Lynn Roberts posted on MTV News' Facebook page. "Harry has class. TSwift would just break up with him to get a new hit song."

Some fans pointed out the age difference between the 18-year-old boy bander and 22-year-old country superstar. "Come on, Taylor, the kid is only 18," Ariela M. Garcia wrote, which prompted Facebook user Holly McQuithey to point out Styles' 32-year-old ex. "Harry dated Caroline Flack. There is no age limit for that boy. Let him be happy."

But one reader, MinkenGjerald, really made us laugh with their reason the couple will never work: "Well... no.. Harry is a sex bomb and Taylor is so innocent."

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Hip Hop

Short Circuit Remake to Offer a More Menacing Johnny 5

As director Tim Hill's ( Alvin and the Chipmunks , Hop ) remake of 1986's Short Circuit moves towards production, Hill himself spoke with The LA Times , dropping a few details about what moviegoers can expect from his updated take. Chief among the proposed changes is an updated Johnny 5, which Hill says will carry a bit more menace than the robot depicted in the original (and in its 1988 sequel).

"I�m tempted to go back and grab the original,� Hill admits, �But I think it has to be closer to what modern design actually is. There are computer models and labs developing real machines like this... You�ve got to find the balance between something fierce and something endearing. The original was cute. But no one was threatened by it."

The new Johnny 5 will also...

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Bond Week: Skyfall On-Set Video Interviews

In addition to our set visit preview and new photos , we have new Skyfall on-set video interviews with Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and B�r�nice Marlohe in which they talk about the anticipated November 9 release. Stay tuned for lots more coverage from the set through next Wednesday!

In Skyfall , Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Directed by Sam Mendes, the action adventure also stars Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory, Ola Rapace and Tonia Sotiropoulou.

Hip Hop

New Photo From The Amazing Spider-Man

This new photo of a battle-damaged Spider-Man from The Amazing Spider-Man debuted in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly and is now available online, thanks to 'RealIrOnMaN'. Unfortunately his head falls right in the magazine's gutter, making it look a little weird. Hopefully Sony Pictures will release a better-quality version soon.

Swinging into 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on July 3, the Marc Webb-directed action adventure stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

Click the photo for a bigger version!

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J.K. Rowling's 'Blackly Comic' Post-Potter Book Gets Release Date

'The Casual Vacancy,' Rowling's first adult novel, will be released on September 27.
By John Mitchell


J.K. Rowling
Photo: Daniel Barry/Getty Images

It's been five long years since J.K. Rowling published "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," and now we finally have the name and release date for her first adult novel. "The Casual Vacancy" will be released by Little, Brown Book Group on September 27.

When Rowling signed her deal with Little, Brown in February, few details about the novel were made public, but now we know it is the "blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising" tale of what happens in an idyllic English village after a parish councilmember dies unexpectedly leaving a hotly sought after seat on the town council open.

"When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock," the official synopsis reads, going on to describe "a town at war."

"Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?"

At the U.K. premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," Rowling told MTV News that she had been writing actively since finishing the final "Potter" book, but wanted the film franchise to conclude before she moved forward with her writing career. "I'm writing, and I've done quite a lot since finishing 'Harry,' " she said. "I also felt I wanted the last film out of the way before I made any moves on the publishing front. 'Harry' is so huge and I suppose my involvement with the world has still been quite intense. This feels like a new beginning to me."

The seven "Potter" books represent the best-selling book series in history, with more than 450 million copies in print, and inspired the most successful film franchise ever, grossing more than $7.7 billion worldwide. Scholastic published Rowling's "Potter" books in the U.S. but does not publish novels for adult audiences.

Little, Brown said the 480-page "Casual Vacancy" will be available as a traditional hardcover, but will also be sold as an e-book and audio download.

Are you excited for Rowling's first post-"Potter" novel? Let us know in the comments below!

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Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Enjoy Picnic In The Park

Teen couple has a low-key date in Los Angeles' Griffith Park.
By Christina Garibaldi


Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber have a picnic at Griffith Park in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Photo: Clint Brewer Images/Splash News

Justin Bieber continues to prove he is the best "Boyfriend" around. The pop star treated his girlfriend of over a year, Selena Gomez, to a romantic picnic in the park.

The teen superstars decided to go for a low-key date, picking up Subway sandwiches and cuddling on a secluded hill in Los Angeles' Griffith Park.

This isn't the first time thethe teen superstars' dates have made headlines. Last year, Bieber rented out Staples Center for a private viewing of "Titanic." Recently, Bieber revealed his secrets to a successful relationship.

"To be a great boyfriend, you just have to have patience," Bieber told E! News. "You're always wrong when it comes to girls, you're always wrong, so just say sorry when things are rough."

Last week, the pair appeared at the Kids' Choice Awards, where Bieber got slimed after winning the Favorite Male Singer award. Yet, Bieber and Gomez haven't been able to spend too much time together lately, due to their hectic schedules.

Gomez recently returned from St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was busy filming her latest flick, "Spring Breakers," starring James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens. As for Bieber, he has been hard at work on his next album, Believe, and is enjoying the success of his latest single, "Boyfriend," which sold an impressive 520,000 downloads in its first week, making it the #2 most-downloaded first-week single.

On Tuesday, Bieber treated his fans to another brief teaser of the "Boyfriend" video. In the clip, fans can see Bieber floating underwater and standing in front of a burning tire swing.

On Wednesday, Bieber reached out to his fans again, thanking them for their continued support of his new song. "U have all been working so hard 4 the #1 spot on BILLBOARD and so have I," Bieber tweeted. "We will get it! #BELIEVE - in the meantime THANK YOU! U R AMAZING."

What do you think of Justin and Selena's picnic date? Let us know in the comments!

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Adam McKay Offers an Extensive Anchorman 2 Update

Last month, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) himself announced that Paramount Pictures now has plans to move forward with a sequel to the 2004 comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy . Just yesterday, director Adam McKay dropped a few hints about what fans can expect when Mr. Burgundy returns to the big screen and, today, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter , revealing even more information about the highly-anticipated sequel.

"We're going to start next week actually," McKay says of beginning the screenwriting process. "We're going to hole up... Usually in a month and a half to two months we can come up with the full draft, like a rough vomit-y draft. Then, you know how it goes, the real work is in the re-writing, so then we just pound it for the next...

Music Video

Megan Fox Tattoo Airbrushed For French Magazine Cover

French Grazia removes one of Fox's back tattoos in the April cover photo.
By Kara Warner


Left: Megan Fox in Hawaii in 2010. Right: The 2012 cover of <i>Grazia</i>.
Photo: Splash News/Arnoldo Mondadori Editore

When it comes to the world of magazines, it seems as though there is endless ado over the amount of airbrushing that is or is not involved in making models, actresses and other assorted cover subjects appear flawless. The latest alleged victim of seemingly unnecessary Photoshopping is actress Megan Fox.

We know what you're thinking, what on earth about Fox's genetically gifted visage needs any assistance from Photoshop? One of her eight tattoos, that's what. According to Styleite, one of Fox's back tattoos is a little too much for the cover of French Grazia.

In the photo, Fox is pressed up against a wall and has her head turned toward the camera so we see her face and back. One of her tattoos was left visible: "We will all laugh at the gilded butterflies," which is a quote from Shakespeare's "King Lear." The tattoo that was Photoshopped off Fox's back is a quote from German philosopher/existentialist Friedrich Nietzsche: "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Interestingly enough, the discerning editors at Grazia left the "Transformers" actress' tattoo visible within the pages of the cover story inside the magazine, but did away with it on the cover. Porquois? Nous ne savons pas! (Why? We don't know!)

Fox has never been shy about her ink. In fact, she once revealed to MTV News that the tattoo in question was partially inspired by actor Mickey Rourke, with whom she worked on the movie "Passion Play."

"I actually got a tattoo that is sort of in honor of him," she told us at the time. "It's on my ribs. I don't know if it's been photographed yet, but it'll come out eventually, I'm sure. I just love him very much and think he's very special."

Was Grazia's decision to airbrush Megan Fox's tattoo justified? Leave your comment below!

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Axl Rose Turns Down Guns N' Roses Rock Hall Induction

'I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' frontman posts on Facebook.
By James Montgomery


Axl Rose
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

Ever since Guns N' Roses were announced as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees in December, speculation has swirled about just who from the band's lengthy list of current (and former) members would show up at the ceremony.

Well, now we know who won't: mastermind Axl Rose, who announced Wednesday (April 11) that not only does he have no plans to attend Saturday's induction ceremony in Cleveland, but he wants nothing to do with the Hall at all.

"I won't be attending ... and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," Rose wrote in a Facebook message. "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized, nor may anyone be permitted, to accept my induction or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should imply, whether directly, indirectly, or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of 'Guns N' Roses.' "

Rose added that his reasoning behind the message was "personal" and "neither meant to offend, attack or condemn" any GN'R members who decide to attend the induction. He also hinted that, since Guns were announced as inductees, he'd worked with Hall officials to find an appropriate solution to the very real problem of who would be inducted under the name of Guns N' Roses, hoping to avoid "a complicated or awkward situation."

But, apparently, no solution could be reached.

"I feel we've been polite, courteous and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out," Rose wrote. "Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend, along with those the Hall — for reasons of their own — have chosen to include in 'our' induction ... and how those involved with the Hall have handled things ... [it] doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected."

"We are sorry Axl will not be able to accept his Induction in person," a spokesperson for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame told MTV News in a statement on Wednesday.

Rose also used his open letter to (once again) put to rest any and all speculation of burying the hatchet with former members — like guitarist Slash or drummer Steven Adler, to name a few — and launching a full-scale reunion tour, writing:

"Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you our own personal happy ending, especially at another's — or, in this case, several others' — expense," he wrote. "Maybe we can get the 'no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he-doesn't-care-about-the-fans crap out of the way ... no one's taking the ball and going home. ... From my perspective, in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.

"In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the [Rock Hall] board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction," he added. "More importantly, I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses' music. I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted, and to our fans, we look forward to seeing you on tour!"

What do you think of Axl's note? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Megan Fox Tattoo Airbrushed For French Magazine Cover

French Grazia removes one of Fox's back tattoos in the April cover photo.
By Kara Warner


Left: Megan Fox in Hawaii in 2010. Right: The 2012 cover of <i>Grazia</i>.
Photo: Splash News/Arnoldo Mondadori Editore

When it comes to the world of magazines, it seems as though there is endless ado over the amount of airbrushing that is or is not involved in making models, actresses and other assorted cover subjects appear flawless. The latest alleged victim of seemingly unnecessary Photoshopping is actress Megan Fox.

We know what you're thinking, what on earth about Fox's genetically gifted visage needs any assistance from Photoshop? One of her eight tattoos, that's what. According to Styleite, one of Fox's back tattoos is a little too much for the cover of French Grazia.

In the photo, Fox is pressed up against a wall and has her head turned toward the camera so we see her face and back. One of her tattoos was left visible: "We will all laugh at the gilded butterflies," which is a quote from Shakespeare's "King Lear." The tattoo that was Photoshopped off Fox's back is a quote from German philosopher/existentialist Friedrich Nietzsche: "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Interestingly enough, the discerning editors at Grazia left the "Transformers" actress' tattoo visible within the pages of the cover story inside the magazine, but did away with it on the cover. Porquois? Nous ne savons pas! (Why? We don't know!)

Fox has never been shy about her ink. In fact, she once revealed to MTV News that the tattoo in question was partially inspired by actor Mickey Rourke, with whom she worked on the movie "Passion Play."

"I actually got a tattoo that is sort of in honor of him," she told us at the time. "It's on my ribs. I don't know if it's been photographed yet, but it'll come out eventually, I'm sure. I just love him very much and think he's very special."

Was Grazia's decision to airbrush Megan Fox's tattoo justified? Leave your comment below!

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China Bans Kate Winslet's Boobs In Titanic 3D!!

Our hearts go out to Titanic fans in China! They won't be able to draw Rose like one of Jack's French girls!
The country's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has censored some of the more racier scenes in the film's 3D re-release - including Kate Winslet's infamous nude scene.
In the edited scene, [...]

Music Video

Join Ace Hood And Schoolboy Q On 'RapFix Live' Today!

Sway will also have an exclusive chat with Nicki Minaj producer Safaree 'SB' Samuels at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
By Rob Markman


Ace Hood
Photo: MTV News

When it comes to hip-hop hustle, Ace Hood is the hardest out. Today (April 11), the Florida MC is going to bring his hustle to "RapFix Live."

As a rising star in DJ Khaled's We the Best camp, Ace Hood dropped his debut Gutta album in 2008 and followed up a year later with Ruthless. In 2011 Ace made his biggest impact when he released his third LP, Blood, Sweat & Tears. The album's lead single, "Hustle Hard," became an inescapable street anthem and even spawned a remix with Rick Ross and Lil Wayne.

The fiery MC didn't rest on his laurels, either: Over the course of the past year, Ace released four mixtapes. His latest tape, Starvation, came after the tragic death of his daughter. Hood chose to pour out all his emotions throughout the mixtape.

Top Dawg Entertainment's Schoolboy Q will also appear on "RapFix Live." The L.A. rhyme slinger has emerged from the same camp that launched Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock. In 2011, he dropped his debut, Setbacks, and in January, Schoolboy released his second independent album, Habits & Contradictions. Then in March it was announced he signed to Interscope through TDE. Over the past several months, Schoolboy has risen as one of rap's most promising young talents.

Fans should also tune in to "RapFix" to see an exclusive MTV News interview with Nicki Minaj's Roman Reloaded executive producer, Safaree "SB" Samuels, and catch a sneak peek of MTV's new late-night weekly talk show "Hip Hop POV," premiering tonight at midnight ET.

Catch Ace Hood, Schoolboy Q and Safaree "SB" Samuels on "RapFix Live" today at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists @MTVRapFix! Also tune in to tonight's premiere episode of "MTV's Hip Hop POV" at midnight ET on MTV. The conversation-based show highlights some of today's hottest news and more from a cast of hip-hop tastemakers. Fans can also join in on the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #HipHopPOV.

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Wednesday 11 April 2012

Hannover House Plans Mother Goose! Movie

Hannover House announced today it is planning the fantasy motion picture Mother Goose! . Here is the full announcement:

Hannover House, Inc. has acquired the worldwide rights to the fantasy motion picture screenplay, "Mother Goose!" from Michael Snyder, and has assembled a co-production team and financing plan to put the film into production later this year. The film is expected to feature a major star in the title role of Mother Goose, along with several A-list celebrities in cameo roles as famous characters from children's folklore.

"Mother Goose!" tells the story of a young brother and sister, Jack and Jill, who are magically transported into a fantasy fairy land full of amusing characters and absurd situations. In order for them to return to their real...

Hip Hop Videos

Bond Week: Four New Skyfall Photos!

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of James Bond, British Special Service agent 007, on the silver screen, ComingSoon.net presents "Bond Week" with new information about production on Bond's 23rd film Skyfall , which has been taking place in London at the legendary Pinewood Studios and where we had a rare opportunity to visit them while shooting.

Our "Bond Week" begins with four new photos from the movie, Daniel Craig's third outing in the role of Ian Fleming's spy with four years having passed since we last saw him in Quantum of Solace .

While much of the story is still being kept at the utmost secrecy, we had a chance to walk around a few of the existing sets, which included a casino in Macao, a ghost town on Hashima Island in Japan, and they even...

Dancehall Reggae Music Video

Short Circuit Remake to Offer a More Menacing Johnny 5

As director Tim Hill's ( Alvin and the Chipmunks , Hop ) remake of 1986's Short Circuit moves towards production, Hill himself spoke with The LA Times , dropping a few details about what moviegoers can expect from his updated take. Chief among the proposed changes is an updated Johnny 5, which Hill says will carry a bit more menace than the robot depicted in the original (and in its 1988 sequel).

"I�m tempted to go back and grab the original,� Hill admits, �But I think it has to be closer to what modern design actually is. There are computer models and labs developing real machines like this... You�ve got to find the balance between something fierce and something endearing. The original was cute. But no one was threatened by it."

The new Johnny 5 will also...

Hip Hop Videos

Lil Wayne Visits 'Hip Hop POV' For Tonight's Premiere

Episode one, airing tonight at midnight ET on MTV, also features Akon and 2 Chainz.
By MTV News staff


The hosts of "MTV's Hip Hop POV"
Photo: MTV

MTV's brand-new late-night talk show "Hip Hop POV" premieres tonight (April 11) at midnight ET, featuring candid interviews with superstars Lil Wayne and Akon, along with an in-studio appearance and performance from Def Jam rapper 2 Chainz.

The weekly talk show stars a roundtable of music-industry insiders — Charlamagne Tha God, Bu Thiam, Devi Dev, Amanda Seales and Sowmya Krishnamurthy — who collectively bring their unique perspectives and experiences from the worlds of radio, record labels, journalism and artistry.

Radio veteran and Power 105 "Breakfast Club" co-host Charlamagne Tha God is known for his pointed (and often controversial) commentary, while Def Jam A&R Bu Thiam has earned his reputation for having a golden ear, working with artists ranging from Jay-Z and Kanye West to T-Pain.

Devi Dev can be heard on the "Sway in the Morning" radio show on Sirius XM, and she has garnered a multi-market radio perspective with stints in Los Angeles and Houston. Amanda Seales has dipped her hand into several ventures in the industry as an on-air personality and DJ, while social-media maven and burgeoning journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy is known for her critical writing, which has appeared in outlets including Vibe, XXL, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone and MTV's RapFix blog.

Tonight's debut episode features insider access as "Hip Hop POV" visits rapper Lil Wayne in Miami, as well as Akon on the set of his new music video featuring French Montana. 2 Chainz, who has caught the ear of everyone with his recent appearance on Kanye West's "Mercy," will perform two of his biggest songs and sit down with the entire cast for an interview.

Upcoming episodes will feature a veritable who's who of hip-hop, from Meek Mill and Pharrell to up-and-comers like A$AP Rocky.

Don't miss tonight's premiere episode of "MTV's Hip Hop POV" at midnight ET on MTV. The conversation-based show highlights some of today's hottest news and more from a cast of hip-hop tastemakers. Fans can also join in on the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #HipHopPOV.

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'Hunger Games' Not First Franchise To Go Through Director Shakeup

'Twilight,' 'Spider-Man,' 'Iron Man' among other high-profile series that changed directors along the way.
By Josh Wigler


Gary Ross
Photo: WireImage

"The Hunger Games" franchise, just like the fictional games themselves (minus all the death and bloodshed), has lost a much beloved player in director Gary Ross, who has decided not to return for the developing sequel, "Catching Fire."

Persistent rumors that Ross' days in Panem were numbered concluded with the director's official departure Tuesday night, leaving the continuing tales of Katniss, Peeta and Gale without a visionary to guide them for the time being.

Though Ross' decision is a blow for "Hunger Games" enthusiasts everywhere — yours truly included — it's certainly not the first time that a director has stunned fans by leaving a high-profile franchise at an unexpected time. From your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to the Boy Who Lived, here are five other filmmakers who parted ways with beloved franchises.

Sam Raimi and "Spider-Man"
After three films — two widely adored and one critically panned — Sam Raimi's days swinging alongside "Spider-Man" came to an end. In the midst of pre-production on a fourth Tobey Maguire-starring adventure, both Raimi and Maguire parted ways with Sony over creative differences. The result of their ousting: Sony rebooted the "Spider-Man" brand, with an all-new "Amazing" installment hitting theaters this summer from director Marc Webb and "The Social Network" co-star Andrew Garfield.

Jon Favreau and "Iron Man" Spidey isn't the only big-screen Marvel superhero who lost a crucial member of his creative posse. Director Jon Favreau, who helmed the first two "Iron Man" films for Marvel Studios, said his goodbyes to Ol' Shellhead in December 2010, opting to focus instead on another Disney property, "Magic Kingdom." Just as Ross contends there's no bad blood between him and Lionsgate, Favreau and the remaining "Iron Man" players appear to have left on good terms; indeed, the director appeared alongside Robert Downey Jr. at the Hero Complex Film Festival last June for an onstage reunion and geek-out. Tony Stark lives on even without Favreau, blasting off next summer for a brand-new mission under director Shane Black's watchful eye.

Paul Greengrass and the "Bourne" series Following "Bourne Ultimatum," the third film in the spy thriller series, two-time "Bourne" director Paul Greengrass walked away from the franchise to work on other films. Leading man Matt Damon left as well, out of loyalty to the director, leaving "Bourne" producers in a lurch. How do you make a Jason Bourne movie without Jason Bourne? You make "The Bourne Legacy," apparently. Longtime "Bourne" writer Tony Gilroy wrote the script and directed the latest installment, putting an all-new character played by Jeremy Renner in the hot seat this time around. With Renner in play, the door remains open for a future Damon-Greengrass "Bourne" return.

Catherine Hardwicke and "The Twilight Saga" Just as "The Hunger Games" lost Ross, so too did the "Twilight" series lose its original director. Catherine Hardwicke was the first filmmaker to bring the hotly anticipated love story of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan to life, but despite the success of that first film, Hardwicke decided not to direct "New Moon", due to what she described as "timing" issues. Even without Hardwicke behind the lens, "Twilight" continued to do massive business at the box office with different directors for each film; Bill Condon is the only filmmaker to tackle multiple "Twilight" movies, closing the series out with this coming November's "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."

Chris Columbus and "Harry Potter" There would be no Hogwarts without J.K. Rowling, of course, but there would be no Hogwarts-at-the-movies without original "Harry Potter" director Chris Columbus. He helmed the first two "Potter" films with wonderful whimsy, but that tone would not have fit with future movies in the franchise as Harry's world grows progressively darker. The boy wizard's war against Voldemort was therefore chronicled by several other directors following Columbus' post-"Chamber of Secrets" departure, with David Yates ultimately stepping in to helm the final four installments in the series.

Tell us what you think of Gary Ross' "Hunger Games" departure in the comments section!

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire."

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

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Wahlberg, Johnson, Mackie and Shalhoub on the Pain and Gain Set

Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie and Tony Shalhoub were spotted filming director Michael Bay's Pain and Gain in Miami, Florida and we've updated our gallery with more photos from the shoot!

Based on a true story, the Paramount project follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. First told in an article from the "Miami New Times," the film also stars Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Bar Paly, Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong and Yolanthe Cabau.

Click here or on the photos below to view the full gallery!



(Photo Credit: WENN.com)

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Charles Manson Denied Parole For The 12th Time

Sorry Charlie, but you're not getting out THAT easy.
Infamous murderer and cult leader Charles Manson was denied parole on Wednesday for the 12th and possibly final time.
He was convicted in 1972 for committing seven murders, including Sharon Tate, and was sentenced to death. Since California declared the death penalty was unconstitutional, he has just [...]

Hip Hop

New Chris Brown! Check Out 'Till I Die With Wiz Khalifa And Big Sean HERE!

Whether you like him personally or not, you can't deny that the quality of music he's been releasing as of late has been ABOVE and BEYOND!
And he's definitely pushing himself creatively outside of his comfort zone!
Check out the new single from Chris Brown, off of his upcoming album Fortune, called 'Till I Die, which also [...]

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Accepts Inevitable Divorce

Hasta la vista, baby.
In a perfect world Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver would reunite, but sources confirm that Schwartz has accepted the likelihood of divorce between himself and his longtime wife.
Shriver, at first, stalled the divorce proceedings because she still had strong emotional ties to her hubby. Also, divorce is frowned upon in [...]

Dancehall Reggae

Man of Steel to be 'Edgy' Like The Dark Knight

ClevverTV got a chance to talk to actor Dylan Sprayberry about playing young Clark Kent in director Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman movie, Man of Steel .

He said: "I just finished shooting 'Man of Steel.' That was in Canada and Chicago. I filmed that all last year."

When asked what people will love about Snyder's film, Sprayberry said that "when Zack [Snyder] and I were talking about it the first time, he was saying how Superman, they want to give it a more edgy feel like 'The Dark Knight' but also make it more realistic and emotional so it�s not just the all-american superhero that saves everyone. He has dilemmas and love and struggles throughout the whole movie, especially when he's a kid."

We'll get to see Sprayberry's Kent and Henry Cavill's...

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Adam McKay Hints at the Anchorman 2 Storyline

On March 28th, we got the surprise announcement that Paramount Pictures had given the green light to a sequel to 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy . Will Ferrell made the announcement in character on "Conan," but we didn't hear anything about the possible story for the follow-up.

Now, Adam McKay, who will write the comedy with Ferrell and will again direct, talked to Salon and dropped some brief bits.

Asked if he could reveal anything, McKay said: "I don't want to give away too much, but I'll just give a couple pieces of ideas that we�ve kicked around. Keep in mind we're still writing the story, but I'll say one phrase for you: custody battle. I'll give you that. I�ll give you one other one: bowling for dollars."

Steve Carrell and Paul...

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Gary Ross Officially Drops Out of The Hunger Games Sequel, Catching Fire

Just hours ago, The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson announced to ComingSoon.net his belief that writer/director Gary Ross would be returning to helm the sequel, Catching Fire .

"There is not much doubt in my mind he'll be doing it," he said. "I think so. I don't think there's a chance he won't. He killed the first one, absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everyone loved him. Myself, Jennifer and the others loved him. I couldn't imagine making another movie without him."

It comes as unfortunate news, then, that Ross has elected not to return to the hugely successfull franchise. Lionsgate has released the following statement from the director:

"Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I...

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Lady Gaga Taps The Darkness To Open Born This Way Ball

Re-formed British rock band 'honoured' to serve as openers on European leg of Gaga's tour, which kicks off August 14 in Bulgaria.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Joe Scarnici/ WireImage

Perhaps looking for some actual Heavy Metal Lovers, Lady Gaga has tapped reunited British rockers the Darkness as the opening act on the first — though we're willing to bet not last — leg of her Born This Way Ball, which kicks off August 14 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Darkness confirmed the news Tuesday morning (April 10) on their official site (which, in a very Darkness move, is called TheActualDarkness.com), writing that they were "honoured [British spelling, extra classy] to announce their addition to the bill as main support for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball tour 2012."

The glammy, hammy rockers — best known for theatrical hits like "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Growing on Me" — burned bright before imploding in 2006, but announced a reunion (and plans for a new album) just last year. And as a way of kickstarting the next chapter of their career, frontman Justin Hawkins appeared in a well-received Samsung commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLV, in which he starred as a Spandex-clad pied piper who rescued folks from the monotony of everyday life. So, you know, it was basically a documentary.

It's not clear if the Darkness will serve as the opening act on all of Gaga's Euro dates (a spokesperson for the band did not respond to MTV News' request for comment by press time), but, thanks to the Mother Monster herself, we now know that there are European dates for the much-discussed BTW Ball.

Gaga unveiled the first 21 shows early Tuesday morning on her Twitter account. After kicking off August 14 in Bulgaria, she'll make stops in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany, France and the U.K. before wrapping October 6 in Barcelona.

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Bella And Katniss: Analyzing Their Literary Appeal

For 'Twilight' Tuesday, we chat with experts about why young readers relate to the YA heroines.
By Kara Warner


Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: Lionsgate

No matter how you feel about "The Twilight Saga" as a film franchise, Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance inspired millions of young readers to pick up a book and read. Anything that gets young people to lose themselves in the written word — whether it's "Twilight," "The Hunger Games" or "Game of Thrones" — is a positive step.

This week's "Twilight" Tuesday is all about understanding what it is exactly about the characters in these books, particularly the very popular YA genre, that gets us obsessed and day-dreamy about them. Why do we love Bella and Katniss? What does that say about young readers today and the future of the genre? I took my questions to a few very informed experts.

"The thing with the Bella phenomenon, she was kinda like an empty vessel, and I feel like part of the appeal there was just a really blank slate on which people could project their own identities," said Lauren Oliver, best-selling author of "Delirium" and "Pandemonium." "It was fantasy. It allowed you to float up through it.

"In terms of heroines now, I think what's really interesting about them is that, many of them, for example 'The Hunger Games,' certainly in my books, the characters don't necessarily start out being so fierce and badass, which I think to some extent would be not even off-putting, but alienating," she continued. "Because I'm not sure that people feel that way. I do think what's significant is that these characters are portrayed as being very much at the start, normal girls, but very moral normal girls who because of a set of very extraordinary circumstances are able to step into strength that they didn't know they possessed. I think that really resonates with people because everybody I assume would like to feel that, if given the chance, they could be someone special."

Dr. Jenn Berman, host and therapist on VH1's "Couples Therapy" said the love for both types of heroines hearkens back to classic literary characters we've loved for centuries.

"Both characters are appealing on a very archetypal level. One is very much a damsel in distress, this sort of empty, insecure vessel, which I think is very identifiable for young women," she explained. "The other is sort of this superhero, strong, independent woman who doesn't need anybody, which I think is also something that is very inspirational for women. In each one of us we have both of those entities, and as a result, people are drawn to these characters."

Kristin Rens, senior editor at HarperCollins, pointed out that while Bella and Katniss are pretty different, they also share a few qualities to which a lot of teens relate.

"Bella and Katniss are obviously very different characters. But one thing they have in common is their drive — the fact that they both very much know what they want, and they won't stop until they reach their goals," Rens said. "When you're a teen, there are so many parts of life that are out of your hands, so there's something very aspirational and appealing about characters like Bella and Katniss who are able to take control of their own lives, even when the odds are stacked against them."

Dr. Berman added that we all have a little damsel in distress in us, as well as a superhero; the trick is balancing them.

"In order to become fully formed people, we have to find a way to both make friends with our damsel in distress and find a way to rescue her on our own," she said. "As long as you understand why and what you need to do with that archetype, it's OK, but to romanticize the damsel-in-distress archetype, you set yourself up for unhealthy relationships. What you do [to prevent that] is you say, 'Wow, there is a part of me that would really like to be rescued, but I'm not going to give into that part of me. I'm going to rescue myself instead.' "

The same goes for the superhero Katniss archetype, however, in that romanticizing that type of woman can also set you up for an unhealthy perspective.

"Healthy relationships aren't interdependent," Berman said. "If you are an island, then you're not having an emotionally intimate relationship, so the truth of a healthy relationship lies somewhere in between both of these archetypes."

How do you relate to Bella? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet me @karawarner!

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2."

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

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'Glee' Star Dianna Agron Talks About What's Next For Quinn

Tuesday's episode picks up in the aftermath of a car crash that left fans wondering the fate of Quinn.
By Christina Garibaldi


Dianna Agron
Photo: MTV News

The break is finally over for "Glee" fans, who, after a seven-week wait, may finally get their burning questions answered on Tuesday night (April 10). In the closing moments of the February 21 episode, Dianna Agron's character, Quinn, is driving to Rachel and Finn's wedding when she receives a text message. Her decision to reply resulted in a cringe-worthy crash and left viewers with a shocking cliffhanger.

"Well, I knew [the crash] was coming because Ryan [Murphy] called me and said, 'How do you feel about this?' " Agron told MTV News on Monday. "For me, the year after I graduated there were seven teens that died in car-related accidents, it was from drunk driving, texting and speeding ... so I did think it was something that was important to be explored and could have an impact on people, so I wasn't shocked or surprised."

It hasn't always been easy for Quinn, who gave her baby daughter up for adoption, but it seemed like things were starting to look up for her after she was accepted to Yale and offered her old spot on the cheerleading squad.

"I think everybody wants to know what happened because if that's the last we see of Quinn, it's very shocking," Agron said. "But again, I think that the way it turned out to be, I think people will be satisfied with it and hopefully it will resonate with some people."

SPOILERS AHEAD
So what happens to Quinn? "Well, they [Fox] released two songs yesterday for the next episode ... and that very well might be my voice on those songs, it sounds an awful lot like my voice," Agron laughed. The actress "has been filming the whole break," and while she couldn't give away too many details, she did say that Tuesday's episode will not pick up exactly where we left off.

"It's not supposed to be the next week, it's meant to be a couple months later," she said. "It's not the immediate aftermath." Until the finale, "Glee" will chronicle the final days of McKinley's High's seniors as they gear up for graduation.

"I think it will be fun and interesting for people to keep watching because it's a lot of our last couple of weeks before graduation and it really explores a lot of that, and those feeling and what that entails," Agron said. "I just think that everything that one experiences in that time period is what is going on there. For me, it's nice to know and relive and think about those times."

Yet, what fans really want to know, will we be reliving Finn and Rachel's wedding? "There's still a ring!" Agron said

Are you excited for the return of "Glee"? Let us know in the comments.

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