movies (12 posts)

Well this gives the term promotional tie-in a whole new meaning.

Not only did Amélie star Audrey Tautou recently sign on to replace Nicole Kidman as the new face for Chanel's iconic No. 5 fragrance, but the French cutie is taking on the titular role in a Coco Chanel biopic as well.

In a desperate attempt to not be outdone, ousted spokesperson Kidman, whose portrayal of author Virginia Woolf earned her an Oscar, will soon begin hawking prosthetic noses.

Paramount Pictures

Someone has beaten Indy to the punch.

A treasured crystal skull believed to be about 500 years old has vanished from its perch at Kindred Spirits, a New Age store in Claremont, Calif., that had been displaying the artifact in a non-Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull-related fashion for several months.

The store's owner, Persis Newland, reported the missing skull to police about two weeks ago but, despite the cops and the readily available tarot cards, no one has managed to crack the case yet.

Considering the close-knit, easygoing vibe of the customers she would call regulars, Newland figures the theft must be related to the megahyped Indiana Jones film, whose plot is inspired in part by an ancient Mayan legend concerning 13 crystal skulls that, all together, have the power to save the Earth.

The skull resting on the altar in Kindred Spirits' crystal-reading classroom wasn't that old, of course, but, despite the fact that most of the similar skulls in existence today can't be traced further back than the 1860s, some firmly believe in its palliative powers—at least within the confines of the store.

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Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com

UPDATE: A source close to the production says Anne Hathaway, Evan Rachel Wood and Alison Lohman are all reading the Manson Girls script for the role of Charles Manson follower Nancy Pittman, recently vacated by Lindsay Lohan.

Meanwhile, the film's producer, Brad Wyman, tells E! News exclusively: "I have extraordinary faith in Lindsay and her talent and am saddened by her departure."
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Good thing she has that Ugly Betty gig to fall back on, because Lindsay Lohan's movie prospects are rapidly going the way of the dodo.

After being touted as starring in two upcoming high-profile projects—a romantic comedy with Jack Black and a drama about the Manson Family—the actress needs to line up new work after being replaced in both films weeks before shooting was to commence, E! News has learned exclusively.

And the spinmeisters are out in full force to portray everything as hunky-dory.

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James Devaney/WireImage.com

Now that he's got Indiana Jones out of his system, Steven Spielberg is ready to get serious again.

While making the PR rounds for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the Oscar-winning filmmaker announced he's cast his vote for his next feature project: an Abraham Lincoln biopic, which could start shooting early next year.

Per Variety, Spielberg has postponed production on The Trial of the Chicago Seven, about the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, because he was unable to get a polished script due to the writers' strike.

But he does have a solid screenplay for Lincoln from Angels in America playwright (and Munich scribe) Tony Kushner.

First up, though, is Tintin, the opening installment in a trilogy of movies he and Peter Jackson are making based on the popular European comic strip. Then Spielberg will tackle Lincoln.

The Civil War epic will star Liam Neeson, who agreed to play the fallen president three years ago and has been cooling his heels waiting for the green light. After that, Spielberg will choose between Chicago Seven or the top-secret sci-fi tale he's been prepping, Interstellar.

Marvel Enterprises, Inc., DC Comics

So, if you're Superman, and you heard this week that Thor—Thor!—got a release date for his movie, do you wonder what on your adopted planet you have to do to get on the calendar?

The answer might be: Be a Marvel character.

This week, hot off Iron Man's $102-million opening weekend, Marvel issued a "partial" list of eight upcoming superhero movies, everything from Iron Man 2 to Thor. All but Ant-Man had scheduled release dates.

Meanwhile, rival DC Comics' characters, from Aquaman to Wonder Woman, and with the very large exception of Batman, remain in various stages of, if you'll pardon the vulgar Hollywood expression, development.

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AP Photo / Tammie Arroyo

It might not be quite as fun as helping convince Sarah Silverman that Jimmy Kimmel is f--ing Ben Affleck, but Cameron Diaz figures this cause is just as worthy of her time.

The actress will be joining fellow golden girls Meg Ryan and Goldie Hawn in Los Angeles on Saturday to take part in Pangea Day, a film festival intended to promote unity and tolerance by shedding light on different cultures and the issues endemic to particular spots around the globe.

"We all share the same planet and we only have one of 'em, and the more that we know about each other and the more that we tell each other about ourselves, the more likenesses we see that we have," Diaz says in a PSA promoting the event. "Storytelling is age-old, something we've done since the beginning of man—it's how we relate to each other...Because we are a global tribe, that storytelling must expand to be inclusive to everyone."

Other live screenings will be taking place in London; Cairo; Kigali, Rwanda; Mumbai, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while the rest of us can catch webcasts streaming on the event's website or watch on TV (check your local listings).

Lisa Ling is one of the hosts and musical performers will include Live 8 visionary Bob Geldof and the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart.

Ash Knotek/ZUMApress.com

Natalie Portman can't make time for another torturous period romance after all.

Despite being an early champion of the project, the Other Boleyn Girl star has had to drop out of an upcoming adaption of Emily Brontë's haunting classic Wuthering Heights because of a scheduling conflict, a rep for Portman confirms to E! News.

There's no word on who might fill Cathy's headstrong shoes now, but German-born thesp Michael Fassbender is reportedly in final negotiations to play Heathcliff and cameras are still set to roll this fall, with Brit John Maybury directing.

The film keeping Portman from tromping around the moors is as yet unannounced, but we do know that the almost-27-year-old has the Jim Sheridan drama Brothers, costarring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire, coming up, as well as the vignette-driven New York, I Love You, an American answer to last year's Paris, je t'aime.

Paramount Pictures

She's not exactly a real American hero, but Brit Sienna Miller's still pretty hot as the villain Baroness in new pics from the far-off G.I. Joe flick.

Due in summer 2009, the movie's got a huge cast of real-life action figures, with Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans and Rachel Nichols. Plus Ray "Darth Maul" Park and Korean TV/pop star Lee Byung-hun as dueling ninjas.

Wait, was there a Wayans brother in there?

Anyway, click into our Sneak Peeks From Flicks gallery to see more pics, and let us know: Are you psyched for this or over it already?

Sony Pictures

The second big summer movie weekend has something for everyone—if you like candy-colored race cars, kitschy anime remakes, Ashton Kutcher, martial-arts flicks or even David Mamet. Here's what's out, and what we thought:

Redbelt:  Martial-arts trainer Chiwetel Ejiofor gets pulled into a prize-money tourney against his will. Kickass thinking-man's fight flick from writer-director Mamet. A-

What Happens in Vegas:  Goofy cuties Cameron Diaz and Kutcher are equally matched in a rom-com, as silly and pleasant as it needs to be—no more, no less. B

Speed Racer:  Go, Speed Racer, go! Go find a story more worthy of your mind-blowing visuals! If you don't already have ADD, you will by the finish line. Look—shiny object! C+

WENN

Jessica Alba would like you to stare at her.

Should you actually require a reason to do so, she offers one in a blog posting at MySpace Celebrity.

Are you late a lot? Then watch the first seven minutes of Speed Racer online and feel secure that you'll know what's going on in the film should you dawdle too long at the candy counter.

That is, unless you're 10 minutes late.