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Ridley Scott has confirmed that his new Alien film will involve Space Jockey extraterrestrials.

The director, who also revealed that he has a fourth draft script for the prequel, told MTV that the action takes place decades before Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley boards the Nostromo spacecraft.

He said: “It’s set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney. It’s fundamentally about going out to find out, ‘Who the hell was that Space Jockey?’ The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle – there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer’s chair.

“Our man [Tom Skerritt’s Captain Dallas] climbs up and says, ‘There’s been an explosion in his chest from the inside out – what was that?’ I’m explaining who the space jockeys were.”

Scott added that the colonial corporation Weyland-Yutani has yet to be formed and the sci-fi movie will deal with “terraforming – taking planets and planetoids and balls of earth and trying to terraform, seed them with the possibilities of future life”.

When asked if Weaver will be involved in any capacity, Scott replied: “It will be before she was born! But the main character will be a woman.

Rex Features

Michael Lohan reportedly stormed his daughter Lindsay’s apartment earlier today accompanied by officers from the LA Country Sheriff’s Department.

It is being reported that Michael intended to carry out a “welfare check” on his 16-year-old Ali, who is currently staying with her sister.

He later told TMZ that the two “were in a car driving back from Palm Springs at 115 miles an hour”. It is thought that
Michael had Lindsay’s vehicle followed by a photographer friend.

The Machete actress wrote on her Twitter afterwards: “OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no choice but to make this public, due to my sister’s safety, as well as my own. ‘my ex-dad’ just WALKED INTO MY APT like the devil’s advocate with officers (sic).”

Deputies apparently spoke with Ali at Lindsay’s home. However, she was allowed to stay with her sibling following their unannounced visit.

Michael is now said to be seeking advice from the LA County Department of Children and Family Services.

Cartoon Network has announced that it plans to create a new version of Looney Tunes.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the animation series will see classic characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck move into the suburbs, where they will live alongside “unusual neighbours” including Yosemite Sam, Tweety and Sylvester.

The network will also revive the music video series Merrie Melodies, which sees the characters performing original songs, while new CG shorts will focus on the Road Runner and Wile. E. Coyote.

Elsewhere, Cartoon Network announced a new animated series from Warner Bros. Animation based on DC Comics’ Mad magazine and Young Justice, a cartoon about a teenage superhero.

The network also unveiled plans to include more sport and live-action programming in its schedule.

Stuart Snyder, president of Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division, said: “We’re delivering and adding great brands and beloved franchises that represent the breadth and scope of Cartoon Network’s ongoing evolution.”

Click here to read full press release

Rex Features

The next James Bond instalment has reportedly been put on hold for an indefinite period of time by MGM.

The studio was apparently forced to postpone the release, tentatively called Bond 23, due to its ongoing financial troubles.

EON Productions executives Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced the delay in a statement released to Variety.

“Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on Bond 23 indefinitely,” the two explained.

“We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of Bond 23.”

Earlier this month, MGM dismissed rumours that screenwriter Peter Morgan had quit the Sam Mendes-directed project. In October, star Daniel Craig claimed that the picture would start shooting at the end of this year.

How To Train Your Dragon has returned to the top of the US box office.

The DreamWorks-Paramount animated film earned $20 million over the weekend and has grossed over $158 million since its release four weeks ago.

Debuting at number two is the action comedy Kick-Ass with $19.7 million, with Chris Rock’s Death At A Funeral premiering in fourth place with $17 million.

Alice In Wonderland slips to number nine with $3.5 million, while Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler’s The Bounty Hunter claims the tenth slot with $3.2 million.

The US box office top ten in full:

1. (3) How To Train Your Dragon – $20,000,000
2. (-) Kick-Ass – $19,750,000
3. (2) Date Night – $17,300,000
4. (-) Death At A Funeral – $17,000,000
5. (1) Clash Of The Titans – $15,770,000
6. (5) The Last Song – $5,800,000
7. (4) Why Did I Get Married Too? – $4,180,000
8. (6) Hot Tub Time Machine – $3,545,000
9. (7) Alice In Wonderland – $3,500,000
10. (8) The Bounty Hunter – $3,200,000

Billie Piper has praised Doctor Who‘s new assistant.

The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl star, who played Rose Tyler in the programme before quitting in 2006, has said that she approves of 21-year-old Scottish actress Karen Gillan’s casting.

Piper told GMTV: “I think she’s great, I love her, she’s gorgeous.”

Earlier this year, the 27-year-old ruled out a return to Doctor Who.

Date Night has debuted at the top of the US box office with $27.1 million over the weekend.

The comedy, starring Tina Fey and Steve Carrell, has knocked last week’s top earner Clash Of The Titans to the number two spot with $26.8 million.

How To Train Your Dragon remains in the number three position with $25.3 million, followed by Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too? and Miley Cyrus’s The Last Song.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid slips to number nine with $4.1 million, while Letters To God debuts in tenth place with $1.2 million.

The US box office top ten in full:

1. (-) Date Night – $27,100,000
2. (1) Clash Of The Titans – $26,875,000
3. (3) How To Train Your Dragon – $25,350,000
4. (2) Why Did I Get Married Too? – $11,000,000
5. (4) The Last Song – $10,000,000
6. (5) Alice In Wonderland – $5,600,000
7. (6) Hot Tub Time Machine – $5,430,000
8. (7) The Bounty Hunter – $4,300,000
9. (8) Diary Of A Wimpy Kid – $4,100,000
10. (-) Letters To God – $1,250,000

BBC

Doctor Who newcomer Karen Gillan has revealed that she has turned into a “sci-fi geek” since she joined the show.

The actress was not a big fan of the genre until she was cast as The Doctor’s new companion Amy Pond last year.

Speaking to The Big Issue, Gillan explained: “I’m a complete sci-fi geek now. I’m completely converted. It’s very exciting!”

Praising Who‘s new showrunner Steven Moffatt, the star continued: “He’s able to tap into what really scares people. He has a real understanding of fear and what scares children. I think that makes for some really exciting episodes.”

Gillan added that she was particularly pleased when she learned that the sinister Weeping Angels – first seen in series three – were to return this year.

She commented: “I was so excited when I found out they were coming back. But they’re definitely the scariest ones to work with. They’re these beautiful, still statues – but they’re deadly!”

7.7 million viewers tuned in to see the launch of Doctor Who‘s new series at the weekend.

Fox has reportedly cancelled freshman comedy Sons of Tucson.

The network only aired four episodes of the series before deciding to pull the plug, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Animated comedy American Dad will fill Tucson‘s Sunday night timeslot.

The show starred Tyler Labine as an Arizona slacker posing as the father of three young boys.

Fox also confirmed the cancelation of sitcom ‘Til Death.