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| Disney beats estimates, sees stronger quarters ahead Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 07:06 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co beat estimates in quarterly adjusted earnings on Tuesday and said it expects the next few quarters to be better on a stronger lineup of films and growing attendance at its theme parks. The results, which come despite the rising costs of acquiring programming for its ESPN sports juggernaut and included its interactive unit swinging back to profit, helped lift shares in the media giant 1.7 percent in after-hours trading. Net income for its fiscal first quarter fell 6 percent to $1.38 billion. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Game of Thrones" writer George R.R. Martin lands overall deal with HBO Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 05:43 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - There just might be a lot more dragons and swords in HBO's future. George R.R. Martin, whose "A Song of Fire and Ice" fantasy novel series served as the basis for HBO's hit drama "Game of Thrones," has entered an overall deal with the network. The two-year agreement will retain Martin as a co-executive producer of the series, which begins its third season March 31, but will also have him developing and producing series for the network. ... Full Story | Top |
| Beyonce's Super Bowl leather has PETA in a lather Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 05:41 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Beyonce Knowles can't seem to leave the house without catching flak from somebody these days. First, the "Halo" singer was criticized last month for her less-than-live performance of the National Anthem at Barack Obama's inauguration. Now, Knowles has attracted the ire of animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for wearing leather during her halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl. ... Full Story | Top |
| Court to probe singer Chris Brown's community service records Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 05:32 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to find R&B singer Chris Brown in violation of his probation because they say community service records stemming from his 2009 assault on girlfriend Rihanna contain "significant discrepancies." Brown is scheduled to appear at a hearing on Wednesday in Los Angeles, at which time a judge could decide to revoke the "Don't Wake Me Up" singer's probation. But Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, told Reuters the allegations are "scurrilous, libelous and defamatory." "The prosecution has lost their collective minds," Geragos said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Picasso fetches $45 million at Sotheby's sale Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 04:44 PM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - A Pablo Picasso portrait of his mistress and "golden muse" Marie-Therese Walter sold for 28.6 million pounds ($45 million) on Tuesday, leading an important Sotheby's auction of impressionist, modern and surrealist art. The sale was the first of a series held in London this month by Sotheby's, Christie's and smaller auction houses in the latest barometer of the strength of the high-end art market. ... Full Story | Top |
| Court to scrutinize singer Chris Brown's community service records Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:27 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to find R&B singer Chris Brown in violation of his probation because they say community service records stemming from his 2009 assault on girlfriend Rihanna contain "significant discrepancies." Brown is scheduled to appear at a hearing on Wednesday in Los Angeles, at which time a judge could revoke the "Don't Wake Me Up" singer's probation. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating and punching the R&B singer and was sentenced to five years probation, 180 days of community service and domestic violence counseling. ... Full Story | Top |
| Picasso fetches $45 million, leads patchy Sotheby's sale Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:25 PM PST LONDON (Reuters) - A Pablo Picasso portrait of his mistress and "golden muse" Marie-Therese Walter sold for 28.6 million pounds ($45 million) on Tuesday, leading a patchy Sotheby's auction of impressionist, modern and surrealist art where some lots disappointed. The sale was the first of a series to be held in London this month by Sotheby's, rival Christie's and smaller auction houses in the latest barometer of the strength of the high-end art market. ... Full Story | Top |
| Disney planning "Star Wars" spin-off films Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:22 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Disney is planning "Star Wars" spin-off movies in addition to the three sequels it has previously announced, Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said Tuesday. The Disney head said that Lawrence Kasdan is working on one script for the films and Simon Kinberg is working on another. They will focus on characters from the "Star Wars" universe, but Iger did not offer any additional details. As TheWrap first reported, Disney has enlisted J.J. Abrams to direct the first film in a proposed new trilogy. ... Full Story | Top |
| Chris Pratt nabs lead in "Guardians of the Galaxy" Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:19 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Chris Pratt has scored one of the lead roles in Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the Galaxy." The "Parks & Recreation" actor will play Star-Lord, the leader of a group of intergalactic heroes, an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. Marvel and parent company Disney hope that "Guardians" can be a comic book franchise to rival the $1.5 billion grossing "The Avengers." James Gunn ("Slither") is directing the film, which is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2014. ... Full Story | Top |
| Lawrence Wright's Scientology book stalled in Canada pending libel review Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:17 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Publication of Lawrence Wright's new book about the Church of Scientology is being held up in Canada while Knopf U.S. awaits to results of a legal review, a company spokeswoman told TheWrap. "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief" was released last month in the United States, eliciting criticism from the highly secretive church. The book has not yet been published in the United Kingdom, where legal precedent in libel cases typically gives the plaintiff an advantage. "Given the differing legal systems in the U.S. ... Full Story | Top |
| CBS orders legal pilot from "What About Brian" creator Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:15 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "What About Brian" creator Dana Stevens is about to get 'Reckless' with CBS. The network has ordered a legal pilot, "Reckless," from Stevens. The pilot is described as a sultry legal show set in Charleston, S.C., where a gorgeous Yankee litigator and a southern City Attorney struggle to hide their intense attraction while clashing over a police sex scandal. Stevens is writing the pilot, as well as executive producing. "Ghost Whisperer" vets Ian Sander and Kim Moses will also executive produce the project, which is produced by CBS Television Studios. ... Full Story | Top |
| James Caan to star in ABC's Cullen Brothers comedy Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:14 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - James Caan is reuniting with the Cullen Brothers. The "Godfather" actor has been cast to star in ABC's untitled comedy from "Las Vegas" producers Mark and Robb Cullen. The series revolves around recently divorced single mother Terry Gannon, who temporarily moves in with her estranged father - a beer-swilling former baseball player. In her new situation, Gannon reluctantly decides to coach her son's underdog little-league team, drawing her back into the world of sports that she vowed to leave behind. Caan will play Terry Sr. in the single-camera project. ... Full Story | Top |
| AMC, Double Feature Films enter first-look deal Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:10 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Cable network AMC and Double Feature Films, the production company behind "Django Unchained" and "Contagion," among others, have entered a first-look deal for television projects, the companies said Monday. Under the two-year agreement, Double Feature will develop and produce scripted TV projects for AMC, marking the first time that Double Feature has entered such a pact with a cable network. Double Feature partners Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg were executive producers on "Reno 911," which ran for six seasons on Comedy Central. ... Full Story | Top |
| Hollywood to the FAA: Let Us Use Drones Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:09 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Look, up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's ... If the Motion Picture Association of America has its way, it soon could be a camera-equipped pilotless drone shooting the overhead chase scenes for Hollywood's action thrillers. The MPAA is pushing the Federal Aviation Administration to allow the use of what have been called "drones" - but in the movie business are far more likely the size of model planes and model helicopters than anything like what the U.S. is using to target terrorists. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kiefer Sutherland named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:08 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kiefer Sutherland has gained his share of accolades throughout his acting career, but none quite like this. The "24" star has been named 2013's Man of the Year by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals student society, succeeding "The Muppets" actor Jason Segel, who received the honors last year. Sutherland will be feted with a roast on Friday at Harvard's Farkas Hall, where he will receive his ceremonial Pudding Pot. If Hasty Pudding tradition is any indication, Sutherland will also dress at least partially in women's clothes at some point during the event. ... Full Story | Top |
| Focus buys Jeremy Renner as Award-winning journalist Gary Webb Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:05 PM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to "Kill the Messenger," an upcoming film starring Jeremy Renner as prize-winning journalist Gary Webb, according to a Focus spokeswoman. Focus will distribute the film domestically and sell it internationally, initiating the deal making at the European Film Market in Berlin later this week. Michael Cuesta will direct the film from a script by Peter Landesman. Cuesta has made a quartet of films and directed several episodes of successful TV series "Six Feet Under," "Dexter" and "Homeland. ... Full Story | Top |
| Bear Grylls returns to Discovery with "Ultimate Survivors" series Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:03 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Bear Grylls has apparently made up with the Discovery Channel, perhaps over a refreshing meal of urine and larva. The former "Man vs. Wild" host, who experienced a contentious split with Discovery last March, is returning to the company with a new series, "Bear Grylls: Ultimate Survivors," which will air internationally on Discovery in 217 markets across the globe. ... Full Story | Top |
| AIDS' "Plague" Years - and the battle to remember them Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:02 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - David France has been a top investigative reporter for decades, covering everything from the sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church to the struggles of war veterans for the likes of Newsweek and New York magazine. But at age 53 he embarked on a second career as a first-time filmmaker. "I was a frustrated still-life photographer," France said, admitting that he'd barely even picked up a movie camera before embarking on the Oscar-nominated documentary "How to Survive a Plague. ... Full Story | Top |
| Ryan Higa, Fine Brothers nominees for audience Choice Awards at 2013 Streamys Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 03:00 PM PST NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Ryan Higa, the Fine Brothers and the Young Turks are among the 20 nominees for two Audience Choice Awards at the 2013 Streamy Awards, which will take place February 17 in Hollywood. Tubefilter and Dick Clark Productions on Tuesday also unveiled the nominees for Personality of the Year and Series of the Year, opening voting until February 11. The nominees for Personality of the Year are Ashley Clements, Bernie Su, Brad Bell, Chester See, Grace Helbig, Mary Kate Wiles, Megan & Liz, Ryan Higa, SMOSH and the Fine Brothers. ... Full Story | Top |
| Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin returning to the Oscars Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 02:58 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep will likely get to induct Daniel Day-Lewis into that triple-Oscar club on February 24 at the Dolby Theatre, while "The Sound of Music" star Christopher Plummer will probably hand the Best Supporting Actress award to a new screen-musical star, Anne Hathaway. Those are two conclusions to be drawn from the Academy's Tuesday announcement that last year's acting winners, Streep, Plummer, Jean Dujardin and Octavia Spencer, will return to serve as presenters on this year's Oscar telecast. ... Full Story | Top |
| Smooth-singing Josh Groban offers edgier sound on new album Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 02:52 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After selling more than 22 million albums in the United States and becoming a staple in the classical music field, singer Josh Groban is embracing an edgier sound for his latest record, "All That Echoes," out on Tuesday. Groban, 31, put together a collection of covers and original songs for the album, including a rendition of one of his personal favorites, "Falling Slowly" from the movie and stage musical "Once." Under the guidance of veteran producer Rob Cavallo, the Warner Bros. ... Full Story | Top |
| Netflix, Queen Latifah's film company strike TV distribution deal Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 02:36 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Online video streamer Netflix Inc has struck a deal to show the films produced by Flavor Unit Entertainment, the companies said on Tuesday. The deal will give Netflix the right of first refusal over the films by the production company, which has made films such as "Beauty Shop" and "Bringing Down the House," Netflix and Flavor Unit said in a joint release. This means the films will bypass premium cable channels like HBO and Showtime that have controlled the market of films to TV subscribers in the past. Flavor Unit is owned by actress and rapper Queen Latifah. ... Full Story | Top |
| Disney's first quarter earnings drop as ESPN pays more for sports Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 02:18 PM PST LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Media giant Walt Disney Co posted lower earnings on Tuesday, due in part to the rising costs of acquiring TV sports rights for its ESPN division. Net income fell 6 percent to $1.38 billion from $1.46 billion. Net income per share fell 4 percent to 77 cents a share from 80 cents a share for the company's fiscal first quarter. Revenues rose 5 percent to $11.3 billion from $10.78 billion a year earlier. Wall Street was expecting revenues of $11.2 bln according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. ... Full Story | Top |
| Singer Gloria Estefan, husband, plan Broadway show of their lives Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:49 PM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan and her music entrepreneur husband, Emilio, are developing a new Broadway show based on their lives, the show's producer said on Tuesday. The couple is working with the Nederlander Organization on the show that will trace their lives from leaving Cuba to international stardom. "The Estefans' journey of success, led by raw talent and passion, is captivating as it drove them from relative obscurity to global sensations," Jimmy Nederlander, the organization's president, said in a statement announcing the deal. ... Full Story | Top |
| John Leguizamo pilot picked up by ABC Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:43 PM PST  NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - ABC has picked up a pilot for an untitled John Leguizamo half-hour comedy, the network announced. Co-created by and starring Leguizamo, it is executive produced by David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Jeff Golenberg. It comes from ABC Studios and Mandeville. The pilot is based on the Broadway and film actor's life as a husband and father who feels like a fish out of water on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He balances a privileged wife, friends from back home in the Bronx, and a mother and grandfather "who try to keep him grounded in his Latin roots," according to ABC. ... Full Story | Top |
| A little girl steals the show at the new-look Oscar nominees lunch Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:33 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - If one were to judge by the amount of applause at Monday's Oscar Nominees Luncheon, Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain have a formidable new rival for the Best Actress award in the pint-sized form of nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis. The young "Beasts of the Southern Wild" actress was the clear winner when it comes to the amount of applause garnered by the more than 150 nominees who were called to the front of the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kristen Wiig joins "Anchorman" sequel Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:31 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kristen Wiig will contribute to the lunacy in "Anchorman: The Legend Continues." Director Adam McKay announced on Facebook that the "Bridesmaids" star had joined the cast of the follow-up to the 2004 hit. "Kristen Wiig is officially on board for Anchorman 2," McKay wrote. "Couldn't be more excited." TheWrap first reported that Wiig was eyeing the project in December. ... Full Story | Top |
| NBC picks up "Ironside" reboot pilot Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:30 PM PST LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - NBC has decided to roll with an effort to bring the classic series "Ironside" back to the small screen. The network has picked up a pilot for an "Ironside" revamp, with "The Sopranos" story editor Michael Caleo writing and executive producing the project. Much like the original, the new pilot will center around a tough but acerbic police detective who's forced into a wheelchair after a shooting, but is hardly limited by his disability as he pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in the city. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jessica Chastain's exit from "The Heiress": a helicopter to the airport Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 12:26 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jessica Chastain has been learning the same lesson week after week for the last few months: Oscar season and Broadway don't exactly mix. Chastain is appearing on Broadway in "The Heiress," and she's also nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Zero Dark Thirty." For the last couple of months, she's been making regular trips to Los Angeles on her play's one dark day, Monday, to take care of movie chores, usually hopping on the last flight back that night so she wouldn't have to fly the day of the show. ... Full Story | Top |
| Mammoth tusk art mirrors Matisse in new London show Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 10:58 AM PST LONDON (Reuters) - Voluptuous female forms crafted from mammoth ivory tens of thousands of years ago sit alongside curvaceous nudes by Henri Matisse at the British Museum in a new exhibition that aims to show how the modern artistic mind was carved. "Ice Age art: arrival of the modern mind" includes some of humanity's earliest known sculptures, such as a lion-headed man, and beads crafted from antler and bone at a time when giant woolly elephant-like beasts still roamed the Earth. ... Full Story | Top |
| Malone eyes Virgin Media in challenge to Murdoch Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 10:08 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - John Malone's Liberty Global is in late-stage takeover talks with British group Virgin Media over a $20 billion cable deal that would put the billionaire up against old rival Rupert Murdoch. Virgin Media, the second-biggest pay-TV provider in Britain behind Murdoch's satellite group BSkyB, said on Tuesday saying it had received an approach. Two sources familiar with the situation said talks were at a late stage and one said confirmation and details of a deal could come on Tuesday. ... Full Story | Top |
| UK celebrity chef Delia Smith hangs up her TV apron Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 10:03 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - Celebrity chef Delia Smith, who was inspired by the awfulness of British food, has decided to quit television, saying entertainment had overtaken education in modern cookery shows. Smith, 71, the UK's best-selling cookery author with more than 21 million copies sold, told fans at a trade show that she was leaving TV after about 40 years to focus on a new venture, the Delia Online Cookery School. ... Full Story | Top |
| "Bridget Jones" author Fielding to publish new novel Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013 10:02 AM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Helen Fielding, the British author of the bestselling "Bridget Jones's Diary" books that were made into successful films has written a new novel that will be released in November, her U.S. publisher said on Tuesday. In the still untitled book Fielding will continue to write in Bridget Jones' voice but will follow her in a later stage of her life in present-day London. "Few writers can rival Helen Fielding when it comes to fully capturing the modern woman," said Sonny Mehta, the chairman and editor in chief of Alfred A. Knopf, which will publish the book. ... Full Story | Top |
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