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Steve

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Leah Remini believes Tom Cruise 'could end' Scientology
Leah Remini agreed with Real Time host Bill Maher that Tom Cruise could "single-handedly" put an end to Scientology.

"He could end this," the former King of Queens star said about Cruise's celebrity, and the power that it gives him within the church, referring to leaders of the Church of Scientology talking about Cruise as an actor who is "clearing the planet" and "changing the planet."

"Changing the planet? He couldn't even make Jack Reacher a hit," Maher said, jokingly.

Remini also shared how followers of Scientology are expected to study the religion for at least two hours every day.

"We are looking up the words, we are being checked out on the policies of Scientology."

When asked if Cruise is expected to do the same, Remini confirmed he was but noted, "I don't want you to get the idea that he's not, that certain policies are not being bent for him because they are and that is the truth, and that is part of the hypocrisy."

Remini's appearance on the talk show comes after the actress released a book in 2016 called Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology and an A&E documentary series titled Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath about her experiences with the religion.

Cruise broke his normally public silence on Scientology on the red carpet for his latest film Jack Reacher: Never Go Back stating, "It's something that has helped me incredibly in my life."

"It's something, you know, without it, I wouldn't be where I am... I'm incredibly proud," he continued.

In December during an interview with Larry King, Remini discussed her relationship with Cruise, noting "He wouldn't say anything to me because he thinks I'm the devil."

"He honestly believes ... Tom and most Scientologists, all Scientologists, are taught to believe that people like me are literally the devil, that we mean them harm," she continued.


Stephen King and J.J. Abrams collaborating on 'Castle Rock' for Hulu
Blockbuster author Stephen King has announced via social media his new collaboration with filmmaker J.J. Abrams for Hulu.

"JJAbrams and I want to invite you to take a trip to Castle Rock. Soon. Be afraid," King tweeted Friday.

The post accompanied a 70-second video clip that showed a dark screen, crisscrossed with red threads and featuring the voices of numerous characters from movies and TV projects based on King's novels.

King titles such as 'Salem's Lot and Needful Things; locations like Shawshank State Prison and The Barrens; and character names such as Annie Wilkes, Pennywise and Danny Torrance scroll across the screen as the movie audio quotes play.

Many of King's previous works were set in and around the fictional town of Castle Rock.

No casting or air date for its namesake Hulu project have been announced yet.

JJAbrams and I want to invite you to take a trip to Castle Rock. Soon. Be afraid.https://t.co/n1MJWSpv8Z- Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 18, 2017


LOOSE LIPS:
"I'm open. My sexual orientation is up for grabs, I guess you could say."
--Susan Sarandon, on her sexuality, to PrideSource.com



??? Guess Who ???
Which two music greats recently reunited in the studio?


'Hook' prequel film 'Bangarang' reaches Kickstarter goal
A Hook prequel film centering around Lost Boy Rufio will become a reality thanks to Kickstarter.

The campaign. started by Dante Basco who portrayed Rufio in Steven Spielberg's original 1991 film, has reached over $40,000 on Kickstarter from its original $30,000 goal.

Titled Bangarang, the short film according to its funding page follows the story of Rufio "before the mohawk, before Neverland, before he was The Pan."

"Roofus is a 13-year-old kid who is destined to be more than he is. After his mother is forced to put him into a foster home, he and his rag-tag group of best friends - a Jamaican boy named Julani and a bright-eyed latina force of nature named Ella - find a way for Roofus to escape his ill fate, find his happy thought and fulfill his destiny," the synopsis continues.

"The story has been reverse engineered from what was set-up in Hook. We answer all the questions you've ever wondered -- How and why is Rufio the leader of the Lost Boys? Where does 'bangarang' come from? And of course, how he gets the mohawk."

After reaching its goal with 23 days left to pledge, Basco, who is executive producing, and his team have created a $200,000 stretch goal to make the project into a feature film instead of a short.

"In a world of endless sequels, prequels, and reboots - we feel Bangarang holds a unique place. Sure, it draws off a popular studio film, and billion dollar property (Peter Pan), but the key for us is that this movie is a social commentary on the current world climate. We are taking a beloved character out of his comfort zone," Basco said.


'Moonlight,' 'Arrival' scribes win Writers Guild of America Awards
The Writers Guild of America presented its Best Original Screenplay award for film to Moonlight scribe Barry Jenkins Sunday night.

Winning the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay for film was Eric Heisserer for Arrival, while the Best Documentary Screenplay honor went to Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser, who penned Command and Control.

The WGA recognized excellence in television writing, as well.

The award for Best Drama Series was bestowed upon the writing team behind The Americans, as the accolade for Best Comedy Series went to the writers of Atlanta.

The men and women who scripted Confirmation and The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story won the awards for Best Original Long Form Series and Best Adapted Long Form Series respectively.


??? Guess Who ???
Which two music greats recently reunited in the studio?

Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney reunited in the studio Sunday.

The 76-year-old English drummer and 74-year-old guitarist recorded new music together after last collaborating in 2010.

"Thanks for coming over man and playing Great bass. I love you man peace and love," Starr captioned a photo of himself with his former Beatles bandmate.

"And look out Joe W. came out to play what a day I'm having peace and love," he added to a picture with McCartney and Joe Walsh, his brother-in-law and former guitarist for the Eagles.

Starr is working on a followup to his 2015 album Postcards from Paradise. He said in an interview with Rolling Stone in July that he's "well into" the project, but told the magazine it might be "March" before it's finished.

"The ways I've been working over the last several years is that I do sort of a rhythm-pattern synth track. And then I play drums and go, 'Oh, there's a verse. Oh, that sounds like a chorus.' And then I call writers in and say, 'Let's write something to that!'" the star shared.

"I love to play, and I'm still playing. I'm playing with great musicians, singers, writers. So, I'm blessed I'm still doing it, really," he added.

Starr and McCartney came to fame with the Beatles in the 1960s, and last collaborated on the drummer's 2010 album Y Not. The pair were spotted at dinner with Walsh, Dave Grohl and Tom Hanks last week in Santa Monica, Calif.