On Gear Live: 2024 Nissan Z Nismo Review

J.K. RowlingJ.K. Rowling is writing a series of Harry Potter spin-off films.

The best-selling author is making her screenwriting debut with a series of movies loosely based on her world-famous franchise about the teenage wizard and his battle against the Dark Lord.

The first film, entitled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is an original story based on the adventures of Newt Scamander. Fans will recognize the fictional author's name from the Fantastic Beasts textbook used by Harry and his fellow students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry's gets underway," she explained.

Click to continue reading J.K. Rowling to Pen Harry Potter Spin-Off Films


Advertisement

Amy WinehouseAmy Winehouse's parents will "never" allow a biopic of her life to be made..

Mitch and Janice Winehouse - who are separated - would not be comfortable to see their late daughter's life story told on the big screen and would not sanction a film. Janice insists she wouldn't feel comfortable seeing a Hollywood actress portray Amy - who tragically died from alcohol intoxication at her home in Camden, north London, in July 2011 at the age of 27 - but she and Mitch were happy to be involved in the upcoming documentary made by Senna director Asif Kapadia.

When asked if she would allow a film about Amy's life to be made, Janice told Bang Showbiz, "No you couldn't, oh no. You cannot have somebody else portraying her. We were actually called in and we were talking about things so there will be voices from family and friends talking about her [in the documentary] but you can't have someone playing Amy the character. There is only one Amy."

Click to continue reading Amy Winehouse Biopic Will “Never” Happen


Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift is open to more acting roles in the future.

The "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" singer has already played parts on the big and small screen - she has appeared in Valentine's Day, New Girl and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - and she has admitted she wouldn't rule out more in the future if the ideal project "came along."

"That's always something that's in the back of my mind, if the right thing came along."

While the 23-year-old star is open to the possibility of furthering her acting career, music remains her true passion and she insisted it would have to be an "amazing" offer to tempt her away from being a working musician. "It would have to be something so amazing that it would take me away from writing songs and touring, which would have to be an incredible script," she added.

Click to continue reading Taylor Swift Open to Acting Roles


Daniel RadcliffeDaniel Radcliffe wasn't interested in being cast in Fifty Shades of Grey.

The Harry Potter star had no desire to play male lead Christian Grey in the film adaptation of E.L James' erotic novel and is pretty sure film fans didn't want him over Charlie Hunnam either, who has been cast in the role.

Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, he told MTV News, "I literally had someone say to me for the first time today, 'The world's in uproar you're not playing Christian Grey.' And I'm like, 'If this is uproar, it's inaudible.'"

The 23-year-old actor doesn't think he would have been able to convincingly portray the BDSM obsessed businessman character and it would have only hurt his career if he'd been cast. "I have to say, no offense to anybody, I'm sure they're going to do a great job on the movie, but it's not something that I think of would have been a good next step for me," he added.


Matthew McConaughey in 'The Dallas Buyers Club'Matthew McConaughey isn't hoping to win an Oscar Award for Dallas Buyers Club.

The 43-year-old actor insists he didn't take on the role of real-life AIDS victim Ron Woodroof in the drama movie to be recognized at the Academy Awards but to tell an important story and broaden his career. Quizzed on rumors of a possible Best Actor nomination for his performance, he said, "There's nothing out there that I am chasing. I want my work to translate. Last year was an incredibly creative year of work for me. It was also the first year I lost money. How about that? Make sure you [write] that I'm saying that with a grin. I'm looking for great experiences."

The Hollywood hunk - who is married to Brazilian model Camila Alves - had to lose a significant amount of weight to play Woodroof and he did so with a combination of a controlled diet and self-control. "I lost 47 pounds. On the face of it, that's something. It did inform what I was able to do. There's the literal hunger but there's also this headstrong insatiability. The body is more resilient than we give it credit for. I was eating meals. I had controlled meals," he said.


Vin Diesel as 'Riddick'

This summer has been good to Vin Diesel. His film Fast & Furious 6 dominated the box office in the beginning of the season, and now Riddick looks to rake in film-goers' cash in the tail end of it.

Earning $19 million secured the sci-fi thriller the top spot while Lee Daniels' The Butler remained at number two with $8.4 million. Instructions Not Included jumped one spot to number three with $8.1 million, bumping We're the Millers down to number four with $7.6 million. Planes stayed at number five with $4.1 million.

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Sandra Bullock at the 2010 OscarsSandra Bullock didn't "feel worthy" of her Oscar.

The 49-year-old actress took home the Best Actress Academy Award in 2010 for her performance in The Blind Side, but when she admits, at the time, she didn't think her acting abilities deserved to be recognised over anyone else's.

Speaking at the premiere of her new movie Gravity at the Toronto International Film Festival, she said, "I didn't feel worthy of it when I got it, so I feel like, 'OK, I'm going to spend the rest of my life hopefully earning it, but having a really good time in the process as well.' ... I still haven't gotten around to having my moment with it yet. Maybe one day it will come. What it does do is make you realize how hard you have to work to earn it."

Remembering the night she won her Oscar, Sandra admits her mind was preoccupied with her son Louis, who she had just adopted as a baby and who was at home while she attended the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles. The screen star - whose marriage ended in March 2010 when it was revealed her then-husband Jesse James had been cheating on her with several women - says having Louis stopped her from getting too carried away with her award win.

Click to continue reading Sandra Bullock Didn’t Think That She Deserved the Oscar


Ben Affleck and Jennifer GarnerBen Affleck has been testing out his Batman voice on Jennifer Garner.

The star has been cast as The Caped Crusader alongside Superman in the sequel to Man of Steel and has been perfecting his superhero voice on his actress spouse.

When asked if she has heard him practiCing for his role by MTV News, Jennifer replied, "I hear every voice."

Ben has proved a controversial choice to play the DC Comics character, but Jennifer is confident he will bring something new to the famous role - most recently played by Christian Bale in The Dark Knight trilogy. "You know, I was excited for him [being cast]. I was excited because he had a real take on what he wanted to do, and you know, I have to say, my husband is a pretty great storyteller himself, and I'm excited to watch him do it," she added.

Click to continue reading Ben Affleck Tests Batman Voice on Wife


Robert PattinsonRobert Pattinson will star as a magazine photographer in Life

The Twilight Saga actor will appear as Dennis Stock in the new movie - based on a true story - which looks at the cameraman's friendship with actor James Dean. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robert will star opposite Dane DeHaan as the Life magazine photographer, and work on the film is expected to start in 2014.

The real-life pair met shortly before James rose to fame with movies like East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, and Dennis took several iconic photographs of the legendary actor shortly before he became a star.

He has also been rumored to be set for Queen of the Desert, which will tell the story of Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence. However, would-be co-star Naomi Watts has admitted she isn't sure when the Werner Herzog will start filming: "We'll wait and see. He's a director I'm completely in awe of. He's a wonderful filmmaker and documentarian. It's a fantastic character, great story. I'm not sure when it's going to take place yet; there's been so much travel, as well, and I've got little kids, so we'll see if it happens later this year or next year."


Princess Diana and Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts wanted to play Princess Diana because she was such a "complex" woman.

The 44-year-old actress portrays the late royal in new movie Diana - which is based on the book Diana: Her Last Love and focuses on the last two years of her life including her romance with Dr. Hasnat Khan. Naomi initially turned down the part twice but was compelled to take on the role because she found Diana - the mother of British Princes William and Harry - so fascinating. Speaking at the world premiere of the film at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square, she said, "Any woman I take on [on screen] I want them to be all things. I'm fascinated by women who are complex, full of contradictions, who are fun, intelligent but fragile at the same time. Someone who is going through something, some kind of transformation and this story is definitely that."

Click to continue reading Naomi Watts Felt Compelled to Play the “Complex” Princess Diana


Advertisement

{solspace:toolbar}