FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, May 14, 2003

LOADING UP! Warner Bros. bowing The Matrix Reloaded at 10 p.m. Wednesday night, on more than 1,500 screens in more than 3,600 theaters across the country.

PLAY SLIM SHADY: Rap superstar Eminem announcing his first videogame, Mix TV Presents: Eminem, Wednesday at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The game, produced by Conspiracy Entertainment, features four of his music videos, as well as bonus features and interactive elements featuring the rapper.

MASTER OF HIS DOMAIN: Jerry Seinfeld telling Variety he has an active role in putting together an upcoming Seinfeld DVD, featuring original material, as well as interviews, commentaries and season-ending gag reel outtakes. No word when the DVD will hit stores.

BLACK POWER: Hip-hop diva Missy Elliott, rising rap star 50 Cent and R&B group B2K lead the list of nominees for the third annual BET Awards, set for June 24 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater and airing live on the network.

BET ADD: Godfather of Soul James Brown set to receive a lifetime achievement award and NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson will also pick up a humanitarian prize.

BACK TO THE BLOCK: Jennifer Lopez signing a long-term production deal with Telemundo. Among the projects being considered is a music dance variety show.

ROADSTERS: The Foo Fighters readying a summer tour in support of their latest album, One by One. Pete Yorn will open for the band beginning on June 1 in Kansas City.

FINE YOUNG CANNIBAL: Everybody's favorite maneater is coming back. Author Thomas Harris writing a treatment called The Lecter Variation: The Story of Young Hannibal Lecter for producer Dino De Laurentiis. The film will follow the serial killer through his early years, from the time he was a boy in Lithuania to age 25.

BONGWATER: Cheech & Chong's Tommy Chong pleading guilty on Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge of selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. Under a federal plea agreement, he's expected to face less than the expected five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

BUSTED: A 44-year-old forklift operator has pleaded guilty to stealing two advance copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and dumping them in a field. He will be sentenced June 4.

THEY DO! Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh and Jules Asner tying the knot over the weekend. After the nuptials, Asner announced she would leave E! to develop a syndicated series.

ON THE REBOUND: Former NBA star and sometime actor Dennis Rodman tying the knot with gal-pal Michelle Moyer on Tuesday, his 42nd birthday, in a private civil ceremony in Newport Beach. A "real wedding" is scheduled for June 14 on the beach in front of his house.

IT'S ABOUT TIME: Original Saturday Night Live star Dan Aykroyd returning to host the sketch comedy show for the first time this Saturday, the season finale. Beyoncé Knowles will be the musical guest.

TAG TEAM: Sandra Bullock and Ralph Fiennes signing up to costar in director Neil LaBute's Vapor, a film about a struggling actress who saves the life of a stranger.

REUPPED: MTV ordering two more seasons of The Real World and Real World/Road Rules Challenge, according to TV Guide Online.

HOT SWAP: Katie Couric's one-off turn as Tonight host pulling in 42 percent higher ratings over the show's average Monday night this season, according to early estimates from Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile, Jay Leno's gig as Today host saw that show's numbers up 9 percent.