Buble edges Nickelback on chart

Inside a virtual dead warmth, Michael Buble's "Christmas" snuck past Nickelback's new "PresentInch to consider No. 1 on the U.S. album chart reflecting hearty Black Friday sales. In the fifth week around the charts, crooner Buble's Warner Bros. assortment of Yule tunes moved approximately 227,000 copies (attaining 37%), based on Nielsen SoundScan data for that week ended November. 27. Canadian rock act Nickelback's Roadrunner set showed up at No. 2, trailing Buble just by 419 models and denying the audience its second U.S. chart-topper. Individuals albums signified a large publish-Thanksgiving weekend for music retailers, although one less potent as last year's. Eight from the week's top ten albums offered more than 100,000 this year, the very first 11 records around the publish-Poultry Day chart exceeded that much cla, brought through the 496,000-unit debut of Kanye West's album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Prolific R&B/pop diva Beyonce bowed at No. 3 with "Talk That Talk" (Def Jam), which cruised along with 198,000 moved. This past year, her collection "Noisy" first showed at No. 2. Rapper Drake's "Be MindfulInch (Cash Money) was hit hard through the fresh competition: Last week's large No. 1 entry fell to No. 4, decreasing 73% and moving 173,000. High-current R&B singer Mary J. Blige's "My Existence II: Your Way Continues, Act I" (Geffen) settled in at No. 5 having a 156,000-unit stanza. It bested the performance from the original "My Existence," her sophomore collection, which peaked at No. 7 in 1994. Singer's 2009 set "More powerful With Every Tear" arrived at No. 2. Week's some of the best 10 debut was Daughtry's "Break the Spell" (RCA), which joined at No. 8 with 129,000 moved as they are. Arrival is far from "The American Idol ShowInch grad Chris Daughtry's best: His band's two previous albums both first showed at No. 1. Justin Bieber's Christmas collection "Underneath the Mistletoe" (Island) ended up one notch to No. 6 despite a 78% increase to 150,000 models. Another gainer, Adele's "21" (Columbia), ongoing on its six-figure track having a 140,000-unit week (up 24%) but lost chart property, shedding four rods to No. 7. It's the very first time the smash album has made an appearance outdoors the very best five since its March chart debut. Singer's Compact disc/DVD package "Live in the Royal Albert Hall" hit stores Tuesday and like "21" should take advantage of this week's Grammy nominations. Other holdovers include country singer and "Idol" champion Scotty McCreery's "Obvious as Day" (Mercury Nashville), which re-makes its way into the very best 10 at No. 9 with 88,000 (up 165%), and Coldplay's "Mylo Xyloto" (Capitol), which dipped one publish to No. 10 with 79,000 (up 46%). Hot Chelle Rae's debut album is really a prime contender to find the best-10 space on next week's chart. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Foreign exchange Announces Return Dates for Justified and Archer

Justified, Archer Justified and Archer will return for third seasons this The month of the month of january, Foreign exchange introduced Monday. Coming off its Emmy-winning second season, the drama will premiere its year on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 10/9c. This season will dsicover the entrance of Carla Gugino becoming an assistant director in the U.S. Marshals Service which has a brief history with Raylan (Timothy Olyphant). It Definitely Is Sunny producers and Foreign exchange synergy for animated comedy After airing the initial three episodes from Season 3 in September, Archer will return on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 10/9c. Approaching site visitors include Burt Reynolds, who'll voice an animated version of themselves. Foreign exchange will premiere its new animated series Not being watched, from It Definitely Is Sunny in Philadelphia author/producers David Hornsby, Scott Marder and Make the most of Rosell, soon after Archer at 10:30/9:30c. The comedy follows two close buddies moving their teenage existence with no parental guidance. Unsupervised's voice cast includes Kristen Bell, Justin Extended, Fred Armisen, Romany Malco, It Definitely Is Sunny star Kaitlin Olson and Alexa Vega. Are you currently presently excited for further Justified and Archer? Will you watch Not being watched?

Demme to direct Avitabile docu

ROME -- Jonathan Demme will direct a Naples-set music docu about Enzo Avitabile, the local jazz and fusion musician of whom he is a big fan. Demme, whose previous portrayals of music bands include docus about Neil Young and The Talking Heads, unveiled the project in Naples where he met with Mayor Luigi de Magistris, who is supporting the pic and will also appear briefly. Producer Davide Azzolini is shepherding via his Dazzle shingle with financing from RAI Cinema, the film arm of Italo pubcaster RAI. Avitabile is a sax player and songwriter who, after touring internationally and collaborating with James Brown and Tina Turner, among others, returned to his Southern Italian roots and incorporated the sacred Southern Italian "Bottari" tradition involving the use of barrels as percussion instruments, into his sound. His "Salvamm' O Munno" (Save the World) album, with the Bottari pulse, was nominated for a BBC Award for World Music in 2006. Demme heard a track of this album on the radio while driving his car, became a big fan, and asked Azzolini if he could put him in touch with Avitabile when Demme attended the Naples Film Festival in 2010, Azzolini said. The Demme docu, working-titled "Enzo," will include a live performance by Avitabile and a host of world music stars, such as Eliades Ochoa, from the Buena Vista Social Club group, Palestinian singer Amal Murkus, Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, Iranian sitar virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh and Spanish guitarist Gerardo Nunez. The fertile Neapolitan music scene, which comprises forms of jazz, blues, rock and rap, which fuse local sounds with African and American influences, has also recently featured in John Turturro's well-received docu "Passione." Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Box Office Report: 'Muppets' Have Returned With Forecasted $40 Mil Debut

Inside a notable victory for Disney, The Muppets is constantly on the rule over other family films in the Thanksgiving box office, grossing $12.3 million on Friday for any three-day cume of $24.8 million.our editor recommendsBox Office Report: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' and 'Muppets' Rule Thanksgiving'The Muppets': Exactly what the Experts Say The pic, which cost you a modest $45 million to create, has become forecasted to publish a Wednesday-Sunday debut with a minimum of $40 million, putting it behind just the Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning--Part 1, which made $16.9 million on Friday for any cume of roughly $195 million (the pic will jump the $200 million mark sometime on Saturday). PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals Wally Disney Galleries chairman Wealthy Ross is a persistent advocate of refreshing the classic brand since Disney bought the privileges to Jim Henson's legendary figures in 2004. The film stars Jason Segel and Can Be. Muppets opened up on Wednesday opposite two other PG films--The new sony and Aardman Entertainment's three dimensional pic Arthur Christmas and Martin Scorsese's Hugo. Arthur Christmas and Hugo, written by Vital, have been in a defunct warmth, despite the fact that Hugo's theater count is almost another of Arthur's. On Friday, Arthur Christmas made $4.six million, in comparison to $4.5 million for Hugo. The 2 films arrived No. 4 with no. 5, correspondingly, using the No. 3 place likely to Warner Bros. holdover Happy Ft Two, which made $5.a million for cume of $35.5 million. Forecasts show Happy Ft Two remaining at No. 3 having a five-day gross within the $16 million range, adopted carefully by Arthur Christmas and Hugo. PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Spoofs 'Twilight: Breaking Beginning' in New Posters One unique attribute: Muppets, Arthur Christmas and Hugo all received rave reviews from experts, that could protend strong legs. The new sony thinks Arthur Christmas may have great playability into December due to its holiday theme. And also, since Hugo is playing over the age of a regular family film, Vital made the decision to spread out on the more compact quantity of screens, after which expand on strong person to person. Among niche films competing for honours attention, Alexander Payne's The Descendants ongoing to grow nicely, arriving No. 10 and grossing $2.7 million from only 433 theaters to have an 10-day cume of $6.two million. It's one of the better showings of the season for any platform release. Opening Friday in four theaters in NY and La, The Artist made $75,456 for any per location average of $18,864. Like other adult-skewing films, the black-and-whitened quiet film should visit a healthy uptick on Saturday. The Weinstein Co. is getting an active Thanksgiving between your Artist and Michelle Williams starrer My Week with Marilyn, which opened up Wednesday in additional than 100 theaters and broadened on Friday right into a total 244 locations. The film made $607,000 on Friday for any three-day cume of $918,000. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'The Muppets' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals Related Subjects Box Office Happy Ft 2 The Muppets Hugo

Smallville's Justin Hartley to visit Castle

Justin Hartley Smallville's Justin Hartley will guest-star on Castle, TVLine reviews.The actor may have the boyfriend of Kay Cappuccio (guest star Hilarie Burton), a Kim Kardashian-like reality star who's famous to become famous. Unsure yet on once they got married for 72 days.Keck's Exclusives: Hilarie Burton can get the secrets for the CastleHartley most recently came out on Chuck.Castle returns Monday, 12 ,. 5. Hartley and Burton's episode, titled "An Embarrassment of Bitches," will air early next season.

Kudos to remake 'Real Humans'

LONDON -- U.K. shingle Kudos Film and Television is to develop a remake of what it hopes will be another high-profile Scandinavian TV drama, Swedish sci-fi skein "Real Humans." Both the format and international rights to "Real Humans," produced in Sweden by Sveriges Television (SVT) and Matador Films, have been acquired by Shine, which owns Kudos. The 10-part "Real Humans" is due to bow on SVT in early 2012. Story focuses on a new generation of robots, so-called "Hu-bots," so advanced it is almost impossible to distinguish them from people. Created and written by Lars Lundstrom, "Real Humans" is helmed by Harald Hamrell and Levan Akin. Exec producers are Stefan Baron, head of drama at SVT, and Henrik Widman, managing director of Matador Films. The Kudos re-make will be co-produced with Matador Films. SVT is co-producers of the "Millennium" trilogy, one of several recent Scandinavian dramas that have drawn attention to the region's talent for screen fiction. Others include "The Killing," made by Danish pubcaster DR, and a local version of "Wallander," produced in Sweden for Yellow Bird and shown on SVT. Shine is run by Elisabeth Murdoch and was bought by News Corp. earlier this year. One of its biggest hits is "MasterChef." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Kenneth Branagh on Mister Laurence Olivier in 'My Week With Marilyn': 'He Was Impatient'

While awaiting actor Kenneth Branagh to call me last Saturday, I happened upon 'Harry Potter and also the Chamber of Secrets.' Particularly, the scene where Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (performed by Branagh), flies to safety with Harry, Ron and Ginny Lockhart screams, "Amazing! Case like miracle!" When I viewed, it had been tough to imagine Branagh tugging off the kinds of jobs he's been on his career -- a wizard, a prince, a Confederate researcher, a director around the blockbuster super hero epic, 'Thor' -- without the assistance of some Hogwarts charm. In Branagh's approaching movie, 'My Week with Marilyn' (in line with the books by Colin Clark), the actor once more showcases his flexibility by playing Mister Laurence Olivier. Whenever you consider the kind of career Olivier had, this really is very difficult task -- particularly since the Mister Laurence in 'My Week' isn't the one audiences are most likely acquainted with. Here, he's frazzled and bitter, because he tries to direct and star alongside Marilyn Monroe (performed by Michelle Williams, already garnering Oscar buzz) in 'The Prince and also the Showgirl.' Situations are complicated from the beginning, as Olivier will get frustrated using the sex symbol's tardiness and acting style. It's funny, right before you known as I had been funnel surfing and located 'Chamber of Secrets' using TV Really? Oh ... sigh. The correct answer is striking really if you notice the first films the thing is the way the central three have transformed, they are like babies within the first couple of. Moving to 'My Week With Marilyn,' where would you start to research a person with as storied work as Laurence Olivier? The good thing is you have lots of material. I began with things that I had not really checked out before, that have been his autobiography, 'Confessions of the Actor,' after which another book he authored known as, 'On Acting.' After which, using the great benefits from the Internet and YouTube, I could haunter the internet archives and discover plenty of interview material with him where he spoke directly concerning the Marilyn experience [on 'The Prince and also the Showgirl'], where he was very honest about this. He was an actress who continued record as saying he loved to experience roles beginning in the outdoors in. He was always searching for the appearance -- your hair, the walk, the mitts -- he's a superbly handsome fella, and that he were built with a great square jaw... and that i stated, "Well, listen, within this a part of his existence he does not possess a beard, he does not have hair on your face -- I do not cash to cover behind that helped me to kind of transform, so are we able to obtain a prosthetic face piece that will produce that square jaw?" Also, there's lots of audio stuff he'd do -- short tales around the radio. And things i had not known about before is he did a whole reading through from the bible, a dramatic reading through from the Bible. After I found be shooting 'My Week,' previously take a few hrs per morning to really obtain the prosthetic in and start the entire process of the makeup. And So I took in to Laurence Olivier reading through the Bible every day. So, I not just reached play Laurence Olivier, I grew to become a lot more religious along the way. I'm surprised to listen to that you simply used an imitation face for that role. I wouldn't have suspected that whenever watching the film. It is good watching another side of Olivier in 'My Week' -- he's clearly frustrated. Well, the face piece certainly assisted [around the look]. Olivier had an imperious quality to him. He was adopted to playing an innovator, he was adopted to playing nobleman, he was adopted to being the boss ... You will find pictures of him where he appears stern and perhaps authoritarian -- everything that Marilyn might have been afraid of. As described within the film, while shooting 'Prince,' there just appeared to become this impending disaster that his career is visiting a detailed -- compounded because filming the film was driving him mad. He talks very honestly about this, when it comes to what he wished for from dealing with Marilyn -- she might make him awesome again. He felt he was incredibly well-respected and revered, but he was being a dinosaur, he was in some way museum-like, and also the mark of his work had been to become harmful ... And So I think he opposed being an excessive amount of "Mister Laurence." It is simply interesting because after 'The Prince and also the Showgirl' he ongoing to possess this type of distinguished career. He was impatient, I believe, and that he seemed to be confused by why [Marilyn] did not be seduced by him. He wished that in some way, otherwise literally, but possibly literally, he would seduce her and they'd have the ability to talk and that he would produce the truly amazing performance and she'd win an Oscar or something like that and it might be a married relationship produced in paradise, appropriately. However it just wasn't that. He did not direct another movie for pretty much two decades, and that he stated Marilyn was the main reason -- it put him off. And that he loved pointing movies. However I think he felt their own performance experienced consequently from the situation within this movie, i think for some time he was quite perplexed just how good she being despite him, because he kind of comically states. What exactly are your ideas on Marilyn Monroe's affect on contemporary society? How can you see her legacy playing by helping cover their more youthful decades? I believe this is an interesting question. I believe this film might be a fascinating one whether or not this transmits people to some of her work and whether you will see an increase in rental fees for such things as 'Some Enjoy it Hot' or 'Gentlemen Prefer Blonds' ... I believe for most people, she's a remarkably vivid face, an legendary face that's always a part of movie montages. It is a type of legacy of movie images. However the actual work continues to be ignored. Returning to Laurence, I just read that Anthony Hopkins urged you to definitely take part in the role... We certainly spoken about this a great deal. Hopkins' acting emergence had been an understudy to Laurence Olivier in the National Theater in England within the sixties, and that he would be a great favorite of Mister Laurence's. Hopkins just explained a great deal by what Olivier was like throughout anyone day, such a great leader he was, such a sharp spontaneity he'd, how camping he or she is sometimes. Simply to be, kind of amusing [and] gossipy, very generous together with his stars, greatly of the type of an all natural leader. This may be a totally coincidental however i was interested in the choice to cast Anthony Hopkins as Odin in 'Thor,' since Hopkins was an understudy to Olivier, who wound up playing an identical god, Zeus, in 'Clash from the Leaders.' I believe what individuals men are evident is if you have been within the National Theater and you've performed the classics, and you've spent considerable time with large robes on and large bits of armor, and playing either God or even the commander or even the general, each of them had huge encounters of this. But it is a pleasant touch to consider that the pair of them, at various points, [were] ruling the world. [Photo: The Weinstein Company] 'My Week With Marilyn' Photos Michelle Williams as Marilyn MonroeEddie Redmayne as Colin ClarkKenneth Branagh as Mister Laurence OlivierEmma Watson and Eddie Redmayne as Lucy and Colin Clark See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

David Gordon Green Adapting Q

The time traveller's strifeWhen you think of the letter Q in movies, chances are your brain flits either to James Bond's Major Boothroyd, Star Trek's capricious super-alien or the Winged Serpent. Or, you know, none of the above. But now there's a chance it could drift towards a new planned film by David Gordon Green.Sony has announced (in a statement picked up by Variety) that it's nabbed the feature rights to Evan Mandery's novel Q for the writer/director to tackle as a future project.The twisty comic drama finds a man who getting an unexpected visit from a future version of himself, who warns him that marrying the love of his life would be a very bad idea. But though our hero agrees, he later regrets the choice and sets out to track down the woman once again.There's no word on when Green will get started on the movie, as he has lots of possible projects sitting in his development file. His next film, Jonah Hill comedy The Sitter, is scheduled for January 20.

Rupert Grint Plays My Favorite Scene: Harry Potter Edition

This weekend, most of the Harry Potter cast and filmmakers flew down to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter to fte the home release of Deathly Hallows — Part 2, the final installment in the film series based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books. At a Potter-themed party in Hogsmeade Village Saturday night — complete with a performance by the frog choir, endless rounds of butter beer served by wizards and fireworks — franchise star Rupert Grint took a moment to play a round of ‘My Favorite Scene’ with Movieline. Just outside of Honeydukes Homemade Sweets, the English actor recalled his favorite moment from all of the Potter films, in which he has spent a decade playing Harry’s dependable best friend Ron Weasley. After thinking hard for a few moments, Grint explained, “I think the chess scene was always quite a big one for me, because the set was just amazing.” “That first film really was just so exciting. It was a whole new world for me. It was just very new. Getting to ride that horse and doing all of these stunts. It was just amazing at 11 years old to be there while they’re blowing up chess pieces and others are on fire. It’s something I’ll always remember.” Relive Rupert’s favorite Harry Potter moment below before sharing your own in the comment section. Follow Julie Miller on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Heavy D's Funeral Searching For November. 18

An individual funeral is planned to be held for rapper Heavy D, who died out of the blue at 44 Tuesday, November. 8, inside a historic Baptist chapel Friday, November. 18.our editor recommendsHeavy D's Final Performance at Wager Stylish-Hop Honours Was Part of Comeback Attempt (Video)Heavy D Visited Physician yesterday His DeathHeavy D Dies: 5 Things to learn about the Rapper-Actor PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths Sophistication Baptist Chapel of Mount Vernon, NY introduced Friday that it may be carrying out the memorial, the Connected Press reviews. VIDEO: Heavy D's Friend and Friend, Russell Simmons Recalls the Rapper The rapper and record producer produced Heavy D & the Boyz, who was simply best-renowned for their hits "Since We Found Love" and "Somebody Personally.In . VIDEO: Heavy D Dies: 5 in the Late Rapper's Most Memorable Tunes He was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. Tuesday after failing before his home andbeing moved with the Beverly Slopes Fire Department paramedics to Cedars Sinai Clinic in L.A. The Sophistication Baptist Chapel's website states it absolutely was founded by five Black women in 1888. Related Subjects Heavy D

Franklin & Party Summons Sean Astin for Superhero Duty

Sean Astin Even superheroes need lawyers, or otherwise individuals on Franklin & Party do. Mark-Paul Gosselaar is engaged Sean Astin may have a college security officer throughout your day, caped crime fighter named Viper by evening by having an approaching Season 2 episode of Franklin & Party, TVLine reviews. He incurs trouble when he's billed with killing grounds and turns to Jared Franklin and Peter Party (Breckin Meyer, Mark-Paul Gosselaar) for help. The Our god in the Rings star joins Jane Seymour and Peter Weller as other approaching Franklin & Party guest stars. The second season will air inside the summer season of 2012.

Items In Jacksons Final Home Available

First Released: November 9, 2011 9:38 AM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden, New york city, 2001The mattress where Michael Jackson required his last breath expires available. The full-size piece is one kind of 100s of products in the Holmby Hillsides mansion where Jackson spent his final days that are going to hit the auction block the following month. You want to preserve a brief history of those products, stated celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien, leader of Juliens Auctions, that will sell the different antique furnishings, works of art and sculptures that encircled the King of Pop because he ready for a number of comeback concerts. Its Northern Border Carolwood Clarify where Jackson resided together with his three children from December 2008 until his dying on June 25, 2009, is individually up available. The home and it is furnishings were leased to Jackson as they and the family resided there. An email from among the children remains on the blackboard within the houses sprawling kitchen, where three stools were lined facing the middle island an ideal breakfast place for the children. I (heart) Dad. SMILE, its free of charge, the chalk note reads in childlike scrawl. The blackboard is going to be offered as-is, and it is likely to fetch a lot more than $400. In the moment on Monday that Dr. Conrad Murray was charged of involuntary wrongful death in Jacksons dying, reporters were strangely taking aprivate preview tour from the three-story home in which the pop star resided and died. The bed room proven in evidence photos at Murrays criminal trial was really considered a medicine room through the Jackson team. Murray was in prison for delivering an insomnia-affected Jackson using the effective operating-room anesthetic propofol to assist him sleep because he practiced for his comeback. Jackson maintained an adjacent bed room he regarded as as his inner sanctum a personal place just for him. It's within this second bed room the pop star authored a note to themself around the mirror of the antique armoire. TRAIN, perfection, March April. FULL OUT May, it reads. Jackson ended up being to begin his London concert run in This summer. His private bed room incorporated your bathroom bigger than most living spaces and 2 massive walk-in closets. One of the products available within the medication room, where evidence was collected for Murrays trial, are upholstered chairs smudged with Jacksons makeup and Jacksons dying mattress, which looks to an expansive backyard encircled by tall trees. The yard is moored with a large pool along with a pool house, in which the performers boy Prince created his title on the beeswax candle. The medication room, on top floor, results in another walk-in closet and bathroom, where Jacksons makeup still remains on the small silk-covered stool underneath the vanity. Curving stairs on both sides from the mansions most well-known room lead lower towards the kitchen and also the elegant foyer, in which a grand piano sits capped with very candlesticks. The house and it is dcor are similar to Neverland Ranch, Jacksons famous estate near Santa Barbara, stated Martin J. Nolan, executive director of Juliens Auctions. He loved it since it was like Neverland, Nolan stated. It had been a really happy place where he spent his final days. Juliens Auctions offered memorabilia in the Neverland Ranch in April of 2009. Like Neverland, the Carolwood house possesses its own cinema that one fitted entirely in burgundy velvet with loveseat-style sofas along with a fresco of the cloud-dotted sky around the ceiling. Katherine Jacksons attorney, Perry Sanders Junior., stated he understands the Carolwood auction and it has done everything we are able to to determine that products out of this address aren't being sold using Michaels title and likeness to boost the products value. Built-in 2000 and created by architect Richard Landry, the home at 100 North Carolwood Drive appears like a French chateau and it is centered by 18th and 1800s French dcor. The walls are lined with assorted watercolor and acrylic works of art and sculptures fill spaces within the living room and family rooms. The 54,885-square-feet house is available, although not up for auction. The cost wasn't revealed but similar houses in the region are listed at $18 million or more. The home has six sleeping rooms and 10 fire places. Additionally, it includes a wine cellar, health club and formal dining and sitting rooms. Photos of the home and also the products available available are featured inside a limited-edition auction catalog, that is being offered for $100. The catalog and auction are carefully entitled 100 North Carolwood Drive and also the words Michael Jackson aren't pointed out in marketing materials. Highlights in the purchase is going to be on view in a free exhibition at Juliens Auctions in Beverly Hillsides, Calif., beginning 12 ,. 12. The auction is placed for 12 ,. 17. Celebrity home tours still regularly go by the home. At the time of Murrays conviction, an excursion guide might be heard telling people, This is actually the home of Michael Jackson, where he died. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Russell Crowe To Tell A Winter's Tale?

Playing an architect of the apocalypseNope, he's not playing Leontes or Polixenes, or covering David Essex songs with his band. The Winter's Tale that Russell Crowe may be involved in is based on the magic realist novel by Mark Helprin, and marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Akiva Goldsman.Set in a fairytale, fantastical, turn-of-the-century NY, the book involves a love story between orphaned Irish burglar Peter Lake and the dying Beverly Penn, inhabitant of an upper-West-Side mansion he targets. Which goes little way to describing a novel that involves vision quests, NY street gangs, guardian angel flying white horses and messianic self-sacrifice. Lake also disappears for a number of years, hence the Shakespeare-riffing title. Nobody gets pursued by a bear though.Rather than Lake, THR's story says that Crowe is "loosely attached" to play "the villain" in the film. Nothing is quite that clear-cut in the novel, but we're guessing the antagonist they're talking about is Jackson Mead, a master bridge builder planning to create a structure so incredible that it will catch the eye of God and cause the end of the world.Goldsman was prompted to make A Winter's Tale his first foray behind the camera by its fantastical elements and by its eulogising of his native NY. The story looks to be seducing others too: Tom Hiddleston and Benjamin Walker are apparently in the running for the role of Lake, while Bella Heathcote, Elizabeth Olson, Gabrielle Wilde and Sarah Gadon have all attended "chemistry reads" for the part of Penn.It's not quite all systems go though, as Warners seem keen to find a third-party partner to help stump up the budget, estimated at $75m back at the start of this year. That's quite a lot for a project as strange as this one, so that eventual cast will be part of putting together as strong a package as possible to attract investors...

Drafthouse Films ink multiplatform cope with Image

Danish comedy Clown is just one of several photos that Drafthouse Films has acquired to distribute in The United States. Year-old Drafthouse Films has pacted with Image Entertainment within an exclusive distribution deal for home video, digital, television and VOD. Deal marks an additional growth of Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse's plan to become lifestyle brand. The Alamo Drafhouse chain of theaters -- which depend on person to person and serving alcohol inside a laidback setting -- has 10 locations and it is searching to grow into La and NY soon. Drafthouse Films has acquired United States privileges to Michael Roskam's crime drama "Bullhead," Belgium's official candidate for that Oscar language film, and Mikkel Nogaard's Danish comedy "Clown." Drafthouse acquired United States privileges to "Comin at Ya! three dimensional" in September following a premiere from the restored film at Fantastic Fest. Drafthouse Films has hired James Emanuel Shapiro, former professional director of sales planning and purchases for Anchor Bay, because the company's new chief operating officer.

Todd Phillips' Crazy Project X Trailer: Party of the Century/Apocalypse

Todd Phillips doesn’t feel like directing the new Hangover right now, so he’s taking time to helm a cray-zay party movie where a self-declared “uncool” kid throws the bash of the century. Cars jump into pools! Music blares! Girls lick on some popsicles under Fiona Apple “Criminal” lighting! Parents call to make sure everything is going OK. It’s like a grittier version of Blank Check. I’ve been waiting for this since ‘94. The cast is full of unknowns, but that adds something to Project X’s anonymous bacchanal. No one has to know that the spectacle is very reminiscent of Marilyn Manson’s “Tainted Love” cover video and Britney Spears’ “My Prerogative” cover video. In fact, let’s bring up either of those again. [Plus a soupcon of “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” but shhhh, no telling.]

Keck's Exclusives: Andrew Dice Clay Pays Trip to Raising Hope

Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay gets another opportunity to play themself (following the final season of HBO's Entourage). Fox's Raising Hope has asked the potty-mouthed stand-as much as come in the November 29 episode. Within the show, Dice may be the celebrity judge of the amateur creators convention attended through the Chance family. As the Chances have high hopes their invention can make them super wealthy, they once more end up around the losing finish of lady luck, because of a twist including the Diceman'scharacter. Although this is Dice's first appearance around the sitcom, a March episode found Jimmy (Lucas Neff) telling his father, "Father, I've said one hundred occasions, I've no clue who Andrew Dice Clay is." Well Jimmy, you are going to discover! How can you all experience Andrew Dice Clay's revival this year? Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!