Here's the Scoop...

Here's a story from the 'Say What!?' file...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi writer and director Rian Johnson has detailed how he asked J.J. Abrams to change the ending to The Force Awakens in order to help out his upcoming sequel.

Johnson, while speaking with Entertainment Weekly, revealed that the original ending to The Force Awakens had Rey (Daisy Ridley) traveling with droid BB-8 instead of R2-D2 to meet Luke Skywalker at the end of the film.

This ending would have complicated matters in The Last Jedi as Johnson had planned on keeping BB-8 behind to help the Resistance while R2-D2 could share a reunion with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), as he relunctly begins to train Rey, as seen in the first teaser trailer for the film.

"Yes ... The big [favor] was, I asked if R2 could come with Rey, and if BB-8 could stay behind with the Resistance," Johnson says. "Originally it was BB-8 who went with Rey, which makes sense for the story in a way. But I asked, 'Can you do me this solid and switch the droids?'"

Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theaters Dec. 15. Johnson will continue to work on Star Wars following the film's release as he pens Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set to be directed by Colin Trevorrow.

In my opinion, December can't get here fast enough!

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve



************************
Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell receive stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday during a special joint ceremony.

Hawn and Russell, who received the 2,609th and 2,610th stars respectively, were joined by special guests Reese Witherspoon, Quentin Tarantino and Hawn's daughter Kate Hudson. Also in attendance were Russell's mother and sisters along with his son, Boston Russell.

"Can we just get married? We've never had a celebration like this before," Hawn said, joking about their 33-year romance.

The couple have never married, but have raised a family together that also includes their son Wyatt Russell and Hawn's son Oliver Hudson.

"That star is part of 'yes.' I really went through something then because I didn't know what it meant to be a star when people didn't know who I was. I didn't get my white picket fence but I got a beautiful house," Hawn continued. "I said 'yes' to Kurt Russell. I said 'yes' to Bill Hudson, and without Bill I wouldn't have had Katie and Oliver. I wish my mom and my dad could see me."

"I owe a special debt of appreciation to my family," Russell said. "Thanks to my kids Boston, Oliver, Kate and Wyatt. Any father would be blessed to be gifted with the lifetime you have brought me."

"Goldie to you, I owe my wonderful life," he added. "Simply put Goldie, I cherish you. All of the stars in the sky or the boulevard don't hold a candle to that. There's no one else I'd rather be next to than Goldie Hawn," he continued.

Kate when taking the stage as a guest speaker, also commented on how Hawn and Russell have never tied the knot.

"I was slotted in to talk about my mother, but I have two parents, and they're both here. I always thought I'd be talking about them at a wedding or something," she said. "But since a wedding doesn't seem to be in our near future, this seems to be my only opportunity."

Witherspoon meanwhile shared her appreciation of Hawn and how the actress inspired her. "The first time I ever fell in love with a movie star was Goldie Hawn," she said. "She's continued to inspire me in my entire career. She is a true movie star.

"She shattered all sorts of barriers for women. She changed the possibilities of what women can do in film. Thank you for making us laugh, she has lit up my life. She's changed my life and she's quite simply my idol. I love you Goldie," Witherspoon continued.

Russell will next be seen in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, now in theaters, while Hawn will next star in comedy Snatched alongside Amy Schumer, which arrives in theaters May 12.


HBO developing four 'Game of Thrones' spinoffs
As Game of Thrones nears its conclusion, HBO has announced it is developing four spinoffs based on the hit fantasy series.

The premium cable network has assigned four writers to develop the spinoffs, including Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island), Jane Goldman (Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Brian Helgeland (Legend) and Carly Wray (Mad Men, The Leftovers), Variety reported.

Game of Thrones executive producers and showrunners Dan Weiss and David Beinoff are attached to the four projects alongside original creator and author George R.R. Martin as executive producers.

"Weiss and Benioff continue to work on finishing up the seventh season and are already in the midst of writing and preparing for the eighth and final season," HBO said in a statement. "We have kept them up to date on our plans and they will be attached, along with George R. R. Martin, as executive producers on all projects. We will support them as they take a much-deserved break from writing about Westeros once the final season is complete."

HBO says the four shows "explore different time periods of George R.R. Martin's vast and rich universe."

If one or all four of the ideas are greenlit, it will represent the first time HBO has developed a spinoff series based on one of their properties.

Game of Thrones returns for Season 7 on July 16. The show will then conclude the following year with Season 8, which Weiss and Benioff have stated will contain six to eight episodes.


LOOSE LIPS:
"It's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it."
--Brad Pitt, on connecting with his kids following his split from wife Angelina Jolie, to GQ Style



??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar nominated actor said that Lady Gaga is 'incredible' in 'A Star is Born'?


Jim Gaffigan's wife, Jeannie, recovering from brain surgery
Jim Gaffigan's wife, Jeannie, is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor, the comedian announced on Facebook.

"Two weeks ago an MRI revealed @jeanniegaffigan had a large tumor around her brain stem that was life- threatening," Gaffigan wrote Tuesday. "After nine hours of urgent surgery, the tumor was completely removed. She is now recovering at home. We thank you for your continued prayers."

Jeannie Gaffigan posted an update on Instagram alongside a photo of herself lying in bed alongside an IV and one of her sons giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm coming back! Thanks for your prayers. I'm alive!" she wrote.

Jim Gaffigan, 50, and Jeannie Gaffigan, 47, tied the knot in 2003 and share five children: Patrick, Marre, Michael, Jack and Katie Louise. The couple worked together on The Jim Gaffigan Show that ran for two seasons on TV Land.


'Liam Neeson eats here free' sign draws actor to sandwich shop
A British Columbia sandwich shop that put up a sign promising free food for Liam Neeson shared a photo of the time the actor showed up.

The Big Star Sandwich Co. in New Westminster posted a photo to Instagram showing two employees posing with the Taken star earlier this week next to the sandwich board sign, which reads: "Liam Neeson eats here for free."

The reverse side of the sign reads: "Come in and get 'Taken' away by our sandwiches."

The employees said Neeson, who is in town filming, told them he decided to stop in when he spotted the sign. They said he stayed and talked to them for about 10 minutes, but he didn't take them up on the free food offer because he didn't have time to eat.

The workers said Neeson told them he might come back for his free sandwich, which would be good news for the worker who created the sign, as he had already gone home for the day before the Star Wars actor arrived.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar nominated actor said that Lady Gaga is 'incredible' in 'A Star is Born'?

Bradley Cooper says Lady Gaga is "incredible" in the new A Star is Born.

The 42-year-old actor, who is directing and starring in the forthcoming movie, said on Friday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he was blown away by Lady Gaga's talent while filming the remake.

"She's unbelievable," Cooper gushed of the 31-year-old singer. "Oh my God, she's unbelievable. She really is incredible."

"It's so hard to sing," he said. "I've really been awakened to the phenomenon of singing. I just hope I can be believable enough so that you can watch Stefani -- that's her name, Gaga -- just shine, because she's incredible."

A Star is Born follows aspiring performer Ally (Lady Gaga) and the veteran entertainer (Cooper) who helps her break into the industry. The original movie opened in 1937 and was last remade in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

"It's all original music," Cooper said of his version.

A Star is Born, which marks Lady Gaga's first film role and Cooper's directorial debut, opens in theaters Sept. 28, 2018. Lady Gaga, who use her legal name, Stefani Germanotta, in the movie's credits, shared a first photo from the project in April.

"I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I'm so lucky to call my friend," she said. "The story of 'A Star is Born' is so special and I'm so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true."