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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.