Here's the Scoop...

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first trailer for Dwayne Johnson's animal adventure Rampage.

The action-packed, 2 1/2-minute clip was viewed more than 3 million times since it was posted on YouTube Thursday.

Directed by Brad Peyton and based on a video game, the movie co-stars Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It is set for theatrical release April 20.

"Primatologist Davis Okoye, a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth," a synopsis accompanying the preview explained. "But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it's soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend."

I have always been a fan of the arcade game. I think I still have a copy of it for my Playstation 2. I'll have to dig it out a give a play. April is still quite a while away!

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve



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Sony to finance, distribute Quentin Tarantino's ninth film
Sony Pictures has been tapped to finance and distribute writer-director Quentin Tarantino's 1969-set, ninth film.

Deadline.com reported Sony won a bidding war fought amongst the major studios in Hollywood, except for Disney.

The previous films Tarantino directed were made in collaboration with Miramax and The Weinstein Co., which were co-founded by Harvey Weinstein. Tarantino recently cut professional ties with Weinstein after the mogul was accused by dozens of women of sexual harassment and abuse.

"I've been stunned and heartbroken about the revelations that have come to light about my friend for 25 years Harvey Weinstein," Tarantino said about Weinstein last month.

Variety said the budget for Tarantino's next film is $100 million and he demanded final cut of the period drama about the Manson family murders.

Margot Robbie, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are rumored to be in the running for parts in the picture.

Tarantino previously wrote and directed Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and its sequel, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight.


Tambor faces sexual harassment charges from 'Transparent' actress Lysette
Jeffrey Tambor has been accused of sexual harassment by Transparent actress Trace Lysette, the second woman to come forward who worked with the star.

Lysette, who is transgender, shared her experience with the actor on Twitter Thursday adding that she is joining Tambor's assistant Van Barnes, who worked with him while shooting Transparent and is also transgender, in accusing the 73-year-old of sexual harassment.

"Jeffrey has made many sexual advances and comments at me, but one time it got physical," Lysette, who portrayed yoga instructor Shea on the series, wrote about an encounter that was also seen by Transparent actress Alexandra Billings.

"I was in a flimsy top and matching short shorts. Upon seeing me in my costume, Jeffrey sexualized me with an over-the-top comment. Alexandra and I laughed it off because it was so absurd and we thought surely it had to be a bad joke. I shook it off," Lysette continued.

She said that Tambor approached her a second time in between takes.

"My back was against the wall in a corner as Jeffrey approached me. He came in close, put his bare feet on top of mine so I could not move, leaned his body against me, and began quick, discreet thrusts back and forth against my body. I felt his penis on my hip through his thin pajamas and I pushed him off of me. Again, I laughed it off and rolled my eyes. I had a job to do and I had to do it with Jeffrey, the lead of our show," she said.

Lysette, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said that she felt she was targeted by Tambor, describing life on set as a "roller coaster" where the actor was one minute lovely and "the next it's a temper tantrum or flirtation."

In a second encounter Lysette described Tambor said that he didn't want to have sex with her during a meeting that included his manager.

Tambor has denied Lysette and Van Barnes' allegations and both women said they went to producers of Transparent with their stories, but that no action was taken.

"I find myself accused of behavior that any civilized person would condemn unreservedly. I know I haven't always been the easiest person to work with. I can be volatile and ill-tempered, and too often I express my opinions harshly and without tact. But I have never been a predator - ever. I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive or if I ever offended or hurt anyone. But the fact is, for all my flaws, I am not a predator and the idea that someone might see me in that way is more distressing than I can express," Tambor said in a statement about Lysette's claims.


LOOSE LIPS:
"After the darkness, I went through all the ways I had to strengthen myself to try to recognize joy again. Meredith was a beacon I had to reach for."
--Patton Oswalt, on marrying Meredith Salenger 18 months after the unexpected death of wife Michelle McNamara, to PEOPLE



??? Guess Who ???
Which Pineapple Express actor is in talks to play 'X-Men' character Multiple Man in solo film?


George Clooney returning to TV with adaptation of 'Catch-22'
ER alum George Clooney, who has focused on making films for the past two decades, has signed on to star in and direct a TV miniseries based on Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22.

Deadline.com said Clooney is expected to start production on the six-part Paramount Television and Anonymous Content program early next year.

The miniseries is set in Italy during World War II.

TVGuide.com said Clooney will play the role of Colonel Cathcart.

No other casting has been reported yet.

Clooney, 56, appeared in the medical drama ER 1994-99. He has since starred in dozens of films, earning one Oscar for his performance in Syriana and another for producing Argo. He also has directed movies such as Good Night, and Good Luck, The Monuments Men and Suburbicon.


'X-Files' to return to Fox Jan. 3
Season 11 of The X-Files is to begin on Fox Jan. 3.

The network announced the return date for its iconic sci-fi mystery series via Twitter on Wednesday.

"TheXFiles are re-opening January 3. Are you ready?," the show's account said.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprised their roles of FBI Special Agents Mulder and Scully in the show's 10th season in 2016 after a 14-year absence on the small screen.

Anderson said last month at New York Comic Con that the upcoming 11th season would likely be her last.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Pineapple Express actor is in talks to play 'X-Men' character Multiple Man in solo film?

James Franco is being eyed to star in a solo film featuring X-Men character and mutant Multiple Man.

Franco is in negotiations to join the project which is being developed by Fox's X-Men producer Simon Kinberg with a script by Wonder Woman writer Allan Heinberg, noted The Hollywood Reporter.

Multiple Man, also known as Jamie Madrox, is a mutant who can create and control multiple duplicates of himself at once. The character has been featured in both X-Men and Fantastic Four comics and was previously portrayed by actor Eric Dane in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.

Franco and Kinberg are also collaborating on The Hardy Men which Kinberg has scripted along with Rodney Rothman based on The Hardy Boys series of mystery novels, Deadline reported. Franco and his brother Dave are being eyed to potentially star in the film.

The Multiple Man film is the latest X-Men project from Fox which is set to release New Mutants, Deadpool 2 and X-Men: Dark Phoenix directed by Kinberg in 2018. The studio has also announced that Channing Tatum's long in-development Gambit film will release on Feb. 14, 2019.