Here's the Scoop...
Let's get right to the nooz!
Be Well,
Steve
Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve
The latest Hollywood gossip is just a click away... Celebrity Nooz
************************
Metallica's James Hetfield joins Zac Efron in 'Extremely Wicked' set photo
Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield appears alongside Zac Efron in a new set photo from the upcoming Ted Bundy drama Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
The film's director, Joe Berlinger, who helmed the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster, shared the image on Instagram Tuesday. The photo features Efron as Bundy and Hetfield as Utah highway patrol officer Bob Hayward, who was the first to arrest the serial killer in 1975.
"A special day on set of our little Bundy movie starring @zacefron and @lilyjcollins... Metallica is in the house as @papa_het_ plays Officer Bob Hayward in his first dramatic role. Having one of my musical heroes in our film is pretty damn awesome," the filmmaker said, mentioning star Lilly Collins -- who portrays Bundy's longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile marks the first dramatic role for Hetfield. He has appeared in films and television shows as himself.
"Having spent hundreds of hours behind the scenes with James and the rest of Metallica, I have experienced his charisma and powerful presence close up," Berlinger said in a statement about the rockstar's casting. "It seemed only natural that he would bring that same power and magnetism to a dramatic role, so when he agreed to my pitch that he be in the movie, I was thrilled."
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile will be told from the perspective of Kloepfer, who turned Bundy into police after he raped and murdered more than 30 girls and young women. He was executed in Florida in 1989.
The film also stars Kaya Scodelario as Bundy's ex-wife Carole Ann Boone, who had an ongoing relationship with the killer throughout his televised 1979 trial.
Michael Phelps, wife Nicole welcome second son
Michael Phelps and his wife have welcomed their second child.
The 32-year-old retired Olympic swimmer shared a first photo of son Beckett Richard on Tuesday after wife Nicole Phelps gave birth to the infant Monday, Feb. 12.
"Magical moments yesterday... Nicole and I would like to introduce Beckett Richard Phelps to the world!" Phelps captioned a picture on Instagram of Nicole with Beckett and their 21-month-old son, Boomer Robert.
"We had a healthy baby boy and a healthy mama. I truly do feel like the happiest man in the world," he gushed. "Being able to build our family to now 4 (6 with doggies) is so incredible! #familyof4now."
Nicole shared a similar photo and a sweet message on her own account.
"Our family grew by one yesterday," she wrote. "Meet Beckett Richard Phelps. I'm surrounded by boys and I couldn't be happier."
Phelps and Nicole welcomed Beckett just one day after being fêted by family and friends at a baby shower. The couple posted photos from the party on Instagram, but had yet to announce their baby's sex.
"Such an amazing day celebrating our #babyshark!!" Nicole wrote. "We are so thankful for everyone who was able to be with us and everyone who was with us in spirit."
Phelps and Nicole married in June 2016, shortly before the swimmer announced his second retirement. Phelps remains the most-decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals, 23 of which are gold.
LOOSE LIPS:
"It's a very new thing in my life, and I feel like a grandmother who's learned how to use the microwave."
--Natalie Portman, on how Reese Witherspoon taught her how to use social media, to Entertainment Tonight
??? Guess Who ???
Which Fox movies' release dates have been delayed?
Ryan Murphy inks overall deal with Netflix
Producer, director and writer Ryan Murphy has signed a multi-year deal to produce new shows and films for Netflix, starting July 1.
"Ryan Murphy's series have influenced the global cultural zeitgeist, reinvented genres and changed the course of television history. His unfaltering dedication to excellence and to give voice to the underrepresented, to showcase a unique perspective or just to shock the hell out of us, permeates his genre-shattering work," Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, said in a statement Tuesday. "From Nip/Tuck -- our first licensed series -- to American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson and American Horror Story, we've seen how his brand of storytelling captivates consumers and critics across the globe. His celebrated body of work and his contributions to our industry speak for themselves, and we look forward to supporting Ryan in bringing his broad and diverse stories to the world."
"The history of this moment is not lost on me," added Murphy, who also co-created Glee. "I am a gay kid from Indiana who moved to Hollywood in 1989 with $55 in savings in my pocket, so the fact that my dreams have crystallized and come true in such a major way is emotional and overwhelming to me. I am awash in genuine appreciation for Ted Sarandos, Reed Hastings and Cindy Holland at Netflix for believing in me and the future of my company which will continue to champion women, minorities and LGBTQ heroes and heroines, and I am honored and grateful to continue my partnership with my friends and peers at Fox on our existing shows."
Murphy's Ratched -- a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest prequel series with Sarah Paulson -- and The Politician -- a musical comedy starring Ben Platt -- are already lined up to premiere globally on the streaming service.
Harrelson, Costner confirmed for Bonnie and Clyde drama 'Highwaymen'
Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner will star in Netflix's upcoming Bonnie and Clyde drama, Highwaymen.
Netflix confirmed the casting Monday. The film will follow real-life Texas Ranger Frank Hamer and ex-partner Maney Gault. The partners were called out of retirement to hunt down the infamous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde, Deadline reported.
Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens John Carroll Lynch, Thomas Mann and William Sadler will also star in the film from director John Lee Hancock from a script by John Fusco, Scott Frank and Hancock. Casey Silver is producing with Harrelson, Costner, Michael Malone and Rod Lake serving as executive producers.
Fusco originated the project and spent years tracking down Hamer to tell his story, which differs from the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde film that starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.
Production on Highwaymen has started in Louisiana. The project is scheduled to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2018.
??? Guess Who ???
Which Fox movies' release dates have been delayed?
Fox has pushed back the release dates for James Cameron's Alita: Battle Angel and The Predator from director Shane Black.
Alita: Battle Angel has been moved from its original July 20 release date and will instead hit theaters on Dec. 21. The Predator has switched places with thriller The Darkest Minds and will be released on Sept. 14, with The Darkest Minds arriving in theaters on Aug. 3.
Cameron is producing Alita: Battle Angel with Jon Landau and wrote the screenplay based on Yukito Kishiro's manga series with Laeta Kalogridis. Robert Rodriguez is directing the film about a female cyborg who becomes a criminal-tracking bounty hunter. Rosa Salazar stars in the title role with Jackie Earle Haley, Eiza Gonzalez, Lana Condor, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jennifer Connelly and Christoph Waltz.
The Predator, the fourth installment in the sci-fi action series that began with 1987's Predator, stars Sterling K. Brown, Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Jane, Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key and Jacob Tremblay.
Fox also announced that Murder on the Orient Express sequel Death on the Nile, from director and star Kenneth Branagh, will be released on Nov. 8, 2019. A new animated feature from Blue Sky Studios titled Foster was also dated for March 5, 2021.