Jeremy Renner offered next �Bourne� film

As Matt Damon bowed out of the fourth installment of the Bourne franchise, Oscar winner Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) was offered the lead role.

In the next film of the series, titled The Bourne Legacy, Renner (picture) will not replace Damon as the character Jason Bourne, reported TheWrap.

Damon, who starred in The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, based on the late Robert Ludlum�s best-selling novels, could return in the future.






Renner�s character is a government operative from an agency that pursued Bourne who has retired though is still part of the story. The writer/director for the franchise, Tony Gilroy, adapted the screenplay from the novel by author Eric Van Lustbader, based on the Ludlum mythos.

Gilroy also wrote thrillers Michael Clayton starring George Clooney and Duplicity with Clive Owen and Julia Roberts.

Renner won the role over speculation that actors from Jake Gyllenhaal to Toby Maguire were being considered.

Last seen in Ben Affleck�s The Town, Renner will next be seen in Thor as Hawkeye, who will also appear in Marvel�s superhero cavalcade The Avengers, to be released in 2012.

Also, he will costar in Mission: Impossible � Ghost Protocol with Tom Cruise, due in theatres this December, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters with Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans), and Better Living Through Chemistry with Michelle Monaghan (Source Code) and Jennifer Garner (Valentine�s Day).

The Bourne Legacy begins production this fall and is set for release in August 2012. � Reuters

Lindsay Lohan back in Gotti movie

John Gotti Jr (centre) poses with Travolta (left) and Lohan following a news conference in New York April 12, 2011.

Lindsay Lohan is back in a proposed film about the Gotti crime family after she personally persuaded its reluctant producer to give her a shot, he said yesterday.

The actress, whose promising career has been derailed by drug and criminal problems, had been in negotiations for a role in �Gotti: Three Generations,� starring John Travolta as mob boss John Gotti, Sr She even showed up at a news conference announcing the project last week.

But producer Marc Fiore said earlier yesterday that he had broken off talks because of demands made by Lohan�s management team, and planned to meet with other actresses.



Hours later, he appeared to have been swayed by the �Mean Girls� actress herself.

�We had a little rocky road today, but Lindsay definitely revived the situation,� Fiore told Reuters, adding that Lohan called him personally to plead her case.

Lohan will play Kim Gotti, the wife of Gotti�s namesake son, Fiore said. Previous media reports said she was in line to play his daughter, Victoria. Fiore said the Kim role was bigger since the movie is about the father-son relationship.

Fiore has the cooperation of retired mobster John Gotti, Jr, whose character has yet to be cast. His father, the so-called �Teflon Don,� died of cancer in 2002 while serving a life term for murder, racketeering, extortion and tax evasion.

Fiore said he hoped to announce a new director next week. Nick Cassavetes, who was originally attached, exited the project earlier this week because of a scheduling conflict.

Shooting is expected to start in October. Fiore said the budget for the self-financed film was US$70 million to US$80 million (RM210-RM240 million). He declined to specify the source of the funds.

New Jersey- and Los Angeles-based Fiore Films previously produced the 2008 DVD �National Lampoon�s One, Two, Many,� starring former Howard Stern radio sidekick �Stuttering� John Melendez.

Lohan, 24, is scheduled to appear at a Los Angeles preliminary court hearing tomorrow over a jewellery theft charge that will determine if she should stand trial. She could be sent to prison if eventually convicted.

The former child star has not headlined a movie since the widely ridiculed 2007 bomb �I Know Who Killed Me.�

Coen brothers' True Grit remake generates some serious awards buzz

The original 1969 movie won John Wayne his Oscar.

And now the film's remake, due out later this year, is sparking fresh excitement regarding the films awards worthiness.

The first trailer for True Grit was revealed yesterday and already movie pundits are discussing the likelihood of the film and its all-star cast receiving any of the coveted golden man statuettes.

Oscar worthy: Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon in the Coen's brother's remake of 1968 film True Grit

Western hero: The original film starred John Wayne who won a Best Actor Oscar for his role

In the new Coen brothers (No Country For Old Men and O, Brother Where Art Thou?) directed film, Oscar winner Jeff Bridges reprises John Wayne's role playing one-eyed Marshall Reuben 'Rooster' Cogburn.

Rooster is hired by a stubborn young girl to help track down her father's murderer, played by Josh Brolin, and avenge his death.

The girl insists on accompanying Cogburn, against his wishes, and the pair set out on a journey into the Indian nations.

The pair are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, played by Matt Damon, who has ulterior motives for hunting down the unsuspecting killer.

The role of the young girl, Mattie Ross, is played by 14-year old Hailee Steinfeld and this film is set to be her breakout role.

The film, which is released on Christmas Day in the U.S. is set to go up against The Social Network and The King's Speech in the Oscars race.

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Old drunk: Bridges plays Marshall Cogburn, an aggressive drunk who is hired by a young girl to track down her father's murderer

Texas Ranger: Matt Damon dons some serious facial hair as LaBoeuf

Bad man: Josh Brolin plays the sinister murderer Tom Clancy

Old cast: Kim Derby as Mattie Ross and John Wayne as Marshall Cogburn

Katy Perry set to appear on The Simpsons as herself

Katy Perry may have been axed from Sesame Street, but it looks like she will be performing with puppets after all.

The singer is set to appear on The Fight Before Christmas, an all-puppet live action segment on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons.

And The Simpsons seem to appreciate Katy's naughty style, judging by the tongue-in-cheek statement from executive producer Al Jean to Entertainment Weekly.

He said: 'In the wake of Elmo�s terrible betrayal, the Simpsons puppets wish to announce they stand felt-shoulder-to-shoulder with Katy Perry.'
Katy's Hot N Cold duet with Elmo was banned after her low-cut costume was considered a little too risque for the children's show.

He said: 'In the wake of Elmo�s terrible betrayal, the Simpsons puppets wish to announce they stand felt-shoulder-to-shoulder with Katy Perry.'

In the Christmas-themed episode, Katy, 25, plays bar keeper Moe's girlfriend. And she leads Homer and the gang in a rendition of The 39 Days of Christmas.

From Sesame Street to Simpsons: Katy Perry will appear on the first ever all-puppet Simpsons episode this December

Celebrity chef Martha Stewart also appears in the episode, but in cartoon form.

Bosses on Sesame Street admit they were surprised by the reaction to Katy's segment , but insisted she received a lot of support from viewers as well.

'It caught us by surprise,' said Sesame Street executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente.

'We are trying to go after those younger parents that may not have grown up on Sesame Street or seek it out We know how effective Sesame Street is.

'She (Katy Perry) is a wonderful musical talent and we had a great time.

'We would never produce anything that we felt was inappropriate and we were surprised at the amount of feedback and how fast it came in. There was a lot.

'Parents trust Sesame Street, we take that seriously and we viewed a lot of the feedback and made what we thought was an appropriate decision.'

But Katy seems to have kept her sense of humour about the whole thing.

'Wow, looks like my play date with Elmo has been cut short!' she Tweeted.

The California Gurls star also poked fun at herself by appearing on Saturday Night Live wearing a very revealing Elmo T-shirt.

Banned! Katy Perry's outfit was too risque for family-friendly Sesame Street

Oops! Katy may have been axed from Sesame Street, but she will still be appearing on The Simpsons as herself

Hello Elmo! Katy wore a raunchy Elmo T-shirt for her appearance on Saturday Night Live, where she was the musical guest

�Mission Impossible 4� to be filmed in Dubai

The fourth sequel of action blockbuster �Mission Impossible� starring Oscar-winning actor Tom Cruise will be partly filmed in Dubai, the Gulf Arab emirate�s media office said today.

Dubai, a regional tourism and trading centre, is slowly emerging from a debt crisis following a crash of its property market after a global financial downturn. The slowdown led to billions of dollars in project cancellations and thousands of job losses.

Tom Cruise will star in �Mission Impossible 4� to be filmed in Dubai.





�Preparations for filming in Dubai have been agreed with the production company, Paramount, following two months of meetings and location scouting,� the media office said in a statement.

�Actual filming of the project, that will attract more than 400 industry professionals, is expected to commence within a few weeks,� it added.

Dubai has been on a mission to become a Singapore-style global business and leisure centre with fast living and no income tax.

As part of its ambitions, it has strived to become a movie hub in the region, launching a film festival to much fanfare in 2004, and marketing itself as a one-stop-shop for international movie production with projects such as Dubai Studio City (DSC).

Government-run Dubai Media Incorporated will provide technical and staff support for the production of the movie, while DSC will assist with technical and logistic support. The film will be directed by Brad Bird, known for pictures such as �The Incredibles� which grossed more than $261 million (RM807.53 million) in box office takings in 2004, and �Ratatouille�, which won the Oscar for best animated film in 2007.

Cosmopolitan Dubai has become a magnet for celebrities and movie stars with its luxury hotels, overlooking soft sandy beaches, palm-shaped man-made islands, and a skyline boasting the world�s tallest tower.

Gwyneth Paltrow headed for �Glee�

After days of speculation on the Internet, Gwyneth Paltrow will be setting foot on �Glee� this season, the show�s creator said.

�Yes, it�s true,� Ryan Murphy told UsMagazine.com. �She is a fan of the show.�

According to Murphy, who is friends with the actress, Paltrow will �be playing a substitute teacher who Matt Morrison�s character (Will) falls for.�

He added: �She will be doing three or four solos.�

This shouldn�t come as a surprise as her next film, �Country Strong,� has Paltrow playing a washed-up country singer. �Country Strong,� starring Paltrow, Tim McGraw and Leighton Meester, will be in theatres in December.

Paltrow�s husband may also be getting some �Glee� glory. Chris Martin�s band Coldplay initially turned down �Glee,� then changed its mind, apologised and gave the Fox show access to the band�s entire catalogue.

Paltrow will perform �three or four solos� on the series, according to producer Murphy.

Captain America Loves His Custome in muscle custome.

Because the last set went over so well (Nerds.), here are actual shots of Chris Evans as Captain America, or more precisely, Steve Rogers, (Okay, I�m the nerd.) while filming in Manchester this morning. Turns out this interpretation of Cap will be light on the shield and tights, but heavy on the Capri pants and hobbit feet which is how I�ve always envisioned him in my head despite the fact he�s a character from an entirely visual medium. �Hey, Hitler, there�s a sale on chinos � but you�re not invited. *BOFF*�