January 22, 2019

Here's the Scoop...

Disney goes back the unoriginality well AGAIN for yet another live-action remake! Come on, Disney. I'd like to think you're better than that.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the latest Disney movie to get a live-action remake.

People confirmed Disney is making a new version of its 1996 animated film with a live-action cast.

Frozen star Josh Gad will produce the movie with Mandeville Films. Alan Menken, who scored the original film, will return to score, with Stephen Schwartz to compose the music. David Henry Hwang is attached to write.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. The animated adaptation featured the voices of Tom Hulce as Quasimodo, Demi Moore as Esmeralda and Tony Jay as Claude Frollo.

Deadline said Gad, who starred in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, may play Quasimodo in the new version, although no casting has officially been announced.

In addition to Beauty and the Beast, Disney has released live-action remakes of Cinderella and The Jungle Book. The company has new versions of Dumbo, Aladdin, The Lion King and other titles in the works.

Well, I'm skipping that. What say you?

Be Well,
Steve

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Zachary Levi fights villains, shops for lair in 'Shazam!' trailer

Zachary Levi's titular superhero is seen buying beer, fighting villains and shopping for a lair in the new trailer for the action-comedy Shazam!

The minutelong preview received nearly 1 million views since Warner Bros. posted it on YouTube on Sunday.

Annabelle: Creation director David F. Sandberg helmed Shazam!, which is due in theaters April 5.

The movie stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster child who gains the ability to turn into the adult superhero Shazam, played by Levi. Mark Strong plays his nemesis Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. The ensemble also includes Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen, Djimon Hounsou, Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans.

"Still a kid at heart -- inside a ripped, godlike body -- Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them!" a synopsis said.

"Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana."

'Tolkien' biopic starring Nicholas Hoult to open in May

The new biopic Tolkien starring Nicholas Hoult will open in theaters in May.

Deadline confirmed the film, which features Hoult as Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, has set a release date of May 10.

The Fox Searchlight movie is directed by Dome Karukoski. Lily Collins co-stars as Tolkien's wife and muse, Edith Bratt, who inspired the elven princess characters in The Lord of the Rings, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Surprise! Tolkien is coming out in 4 months!" Collins confirmed in a tweet Thursday. "So excited to share this beautiful story about such a revered and epic storyteller. Welcome to the Fellowship..."

Tolkien was written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford. The movie explores Tolkien's early life as an orphan who found friendship and inspiration with a group of fellow outcasts at school.

Tolkien was best known for The Hobbit, published in 1937, and the The Lord of the Rings trilogy of books, which debuted in the 1950s. The author died at age 81 in September 1973.

LOOSE LIPS:

"I remember the doctor goes, 'Goldie, you get a little closer, you might fall in.'"
--Kate Hudson, recalling mom Goldie Hawn's behavior in the delivery room as she gave birth to daughter Rani Rose, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

??? Guess Who ???

Which 'Ocean's 8' co-star says that 'Ocean's 9' would be 'so much fun'?

Chloe X Halle to perform 'America The Beautiful' at Super Bowl, says NFL

The NFL has confirmed that the R&B sister duo Chloe X Halle will perform "America the Beautiful" at the Super Bowl in Atlanta on Feb. 3.

The singers have joined a lineup of musical talent, which will include Gladys Knight singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," and Maroon 5 headlining the pro football game's halftime show.

Big Boi and Travis Scott will be special guest performers during the halftime show, as well.

Reports: Sony/RCA cuts ties with R. Kelly

Sony reportedly will no longer release new music from R. Kelly and his name has been removed from the website of its parent company RCA Records.

The New York Times said Kelly was dropped in response to weeks of protests regarding sexual abuse allegations that were again brought to light in the television documentary Surviving R. Kelly.

Throughout the years, Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges and accused by numerous women and underage girls of sexual abuse. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Despite the professional split, RCA/Sony will retain Kelly's back catalog of songs, Variety reported.

Don Russell, an adviser and consultant to the musician, told Rolling Stone it is unclear what will happen regarding the two remaining albums Kelly was supposed to release through the label.

"We understand RCA's position: they have to remain transparent for the sake of the other artists that they represent and generate wealth for," Russell said. "They're not in the position of dealing with the kind of stuff that has come about with R. Kelly. He has no issue with RCA. I think he's outgrown RCA. He's ready for the next level of life, anyway. It makes sense for them to shake hands and say, 'This train has run its course and I wish you guys the best and let's move on.'"

??? Guess Who ???

Which 'Ocean's 8' co-star says that 'Ocean's 9' would be 'so much fun'?

Sarah Paulson is open to making Ocean's 9.

The 44-year-old actress discussed the possibility of an Ocean's 8 sequel starring Sandra Bullock and the rest of the cast during an interview with E! News published Wednesday.

"I haven't asked her about it," Paulson said of Bullock, who plays Debbie Ocean. "I'll get on that because I am curious if we're ever going to do that. It would be so much fun."

"I think it has to be 9," she added of the title. "I think we have to add one person."

The American Horror Story star suggested two actresses to Entertainment Tonight when asked about the possibility of Ocean's 9 Tuesday at the New York premiere of Glass.

"I would like to add Bette Midler to the cast," she said. "I think she'd be great, or Emma Thompson. Can't go wrong with either of them. Yeah, let's get them both."

Paulson said she's enjoyed working with Bullock, with whom she also starred in the Netflix movie Bird Box.

"I think both of us really had had a wonderful time working together, and we've also become friends," she shared.

Ocean's 8 opened in theaters in June. The movie stars Paulson, Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter, and earned over $297 million at the box office.

Paulson will next star in Glass, which opens Friday. The film is a sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's movies Unbreakable and Split, and co-stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and James McAvoy.