NTSC User's News Page

Disney Studios have reportedly picked up two new additions to their film development lineup.

According to Indiewire, the company have acquired the rights to Matthew Reilly’s science fiction serial Hover Car Racer.

The story was originally printed as a serial publication online before being published as a single volume, and is about a fictional sport which relies on the Earth’s magnetic field to propel incredibly fast hover cars.

The studio plans to create a 3D project from the property and to retitle it simply as Hovercar.

Disney have also acquired a script called Tiki, which will be set in Hawaii and take inspiration from the state’s unique collection of legends and mythology.

No timescale for the release of either project has been announced.

Claire Danes has signed on for a role in a new TV pilot from US network Showtime.

Yahoo News confirms that Dane will play the lead in Homeland, over 15 years since her last regular television role in My So-Called Life.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the actress was still in negotiations for the role of Carrie Anderson, a CIA officer who investigates a conspiracy involving a soldier who returns from captivity in Iraq.

Danes won an Emmy Award this year for her role in the HBO feature Temple Grandin.

No other casting details for Homeland have been revealed.

Malin Akerman has replaced Lindsay Lohan in porn biopic Inferno, reports Deadline.

The Watchmen actress will take on the role of Linda Lovelace after Lohan’s ongoing treatment at the Betty Ford Centre forced her to leave the project.

Writer-director Matthew Wilder earlier told E! of Lohan’s departure: “We have stuck by Lindsay very patiently for a long time with a lot of love and support. Ultimately, the impossibility of insuring her – and some other issues – have made it impossible for us to go forward.”

Inferno will be based on the novel Ordeal: An Autobiography by Lovelace and Mike McGrady

Lovelace shot to fame after starring in the porn film Deep Throat, which broke through into the mainstream and became a box office hit in 1972. She later campaigned against the industry and died from injuries sustained in a car crash in 2002.

Akerman’s credits also include Couples Retreat, 27 Dresses and The Heartbreak Kid.

Dolph Lundgren has seemingly confirmed rumours that he is to star in a sequel to the 2008 box office bomb In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale.

According to Screen Junkies, Lundgren claims that he has been cast in the sequel as a war veteran who is pulled into a power struggle and seeks redemption.

“It’s a role I just wanted to play,” Lundgren explained. “It’s fun to exercise my acting chops once in a while.”

Work on a sequel to the film was confirmed earlier this month after a teaser image was unveiled at the American Film Market.

The original film was inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series and starred English actor Jason Statham.

Directed by controversial filmmaker Uwe Boll, In The Name Of The King received overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its release and was listed in Time magazine’s top ten worst video game films.

Katy Perry has claimed that it was her decision to digitally alter a recent photo shoot in order to reduce her cleavage.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that representatives for the singer requested promotional images for forthcoming VH1 special Divas Salute The Troops be retouched, after deciding that Perry’s breasts looked too big in the photos.

“I was the one who asked VH1 to tone down my digitalised image on the poster, particularly the size of my chest,” People cites Perry as tweeting. “I don’t have handlers.”

Following the singer’s request, the photos were re-released with the changes earlier this week.

Divas Salute The Troops will air on VH1 on December 5.

Christina Aguilera has claimed that shooting Burlesque was the hardest she has ever worked.

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres on Friday’s edition of her daytime chatshow, the popstar explained that she wore numerous hats while working on her film debut.

“It was a lot of work. Probably the hardest I’ve worked my whole life,” Aguilera said.

Aguilera added that she thought about making her movie debut in an independent film, but she ditched those plans when she was offered the lead role in Burlesque.

The movie opens November 24 in US cinemas.

Lindsay Lohan has been axed as the star of the Linda Lovelace biopic.

The actress was due to play the late porn star in Inferno, but her ongoing treatment at the Betty Ford Centre has made it “impossible” for her to continue on the project, according to E!.

Director Matthew Wilder said: “We are withdrawing our offer from Lindsay Lohan. We are currently in negotiations [with another actress] and working out the legalities of bringing her onboard.

“We have stuck by Lindsay very patiently for a long time with a lot of love and support. Ultimately, the impossibility of insuring her – and some other issues – have made it impossible for us to go forward.”

Lohan’s rep added: “Lindsay is dedicated to her recovery and together they decided to move forward without her.”

Daniel Day-Lewis has signed to play Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming biopic about the 16th president of the US.

Spielberg and DreamWorks’ Stacey Snider announced the casting today, reports Coming Soon.

Liam Neeson had previously been attached to the role.

“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema’s distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” Spielberg said.

Snider added of Day-Lewis: “Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material, which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln.”

(more…)

DreamWorks Animation’s animated comedy Megamind has stayed at the top of the US box office chart for a second week.

The Will Ferrell movie grossed a further $30.1 million after taking $47.7 million in its opening weekend.

Runaway train drama Unstoppable, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, scored $23.5 million after opening in 3,207 theatres, entering at second place.

Robert Downey Jr’s Due Date falls one place to number three, taking in $15.5 million.

The low-budget alien invasion movie Skyline is a new entry at number four, achieving $11.7 million. Finishing the top five is a new entry for the Harrison Ford-led romantic comedy Morning Glory, taking $9.62 million.

The US box office top ten in full:
1. (1) Megamind – $30,100,000
2. (-) Unstoppable – $23,500,000
3. (2) Due Date – $15,500,000
4. (-) Skyline – $11,700,000
5. (-) Morning Glory – $9,620,000
6. (3) For Colored Girls – $6,750,000
7. (4) Red – $5,110,000
8. (6) Paranormal Activity 2 – $3,050,000
9. (5) Saw 3D – $2,750,000
10. (7) Jackass 3D – $2,300,000