Hot Celebrity Gossip: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Justin Bieber's Next Album To Capture Justin Timberlake's Magic

Songwriter Sean Garrett says former 'NSYNC star's success inspires Bieber's new project and also dishes on Beyoncé's album.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber may have declined the chance to join Justin Timberlake's label, but according to a songwriter in the know, the former 'NSYNC crooner is the inspiration for the teen sensation's upcoming album.

Songwriter Sean "The Pen "Garrett, who has been working with Bieber on the follow-up to the chart-ruling My World 2.0., spoke with Billboard about the direction for the teen superstar's forthcoming album, saying the project will feature more grown-up fare.

"What we're trying to do with Justin is to segue him into young adulthood," Garrett said of the project, which is also slated to feature production from hitmaker Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. "The one great thing about Justin Bieber is the fact that his fans are going to grow with him. So we want all the fans that started out with him to still be intrigued and excited about him, but we want to also stretch out a little bit and make the fans that are 22-23 years old love Justin as well. When Justin Timberlake went from the last album of *N Sync to his first solo album -- I want to say [we're aiming for] that level. That's the bar for the type of song, that level of 'Cry Me a River,' big records."

Garrett, who has crafted records for stars like Chris Brown and Bieber's mentor Usher, also said he's hard at work on Beyoncé's next project. However, the songwriter didn't divulge too much information, only revealing that he's "been working with her extremely hard ... she's my favorite."

While Garrett said the plan for his next outing is to angle Bieber toward a swiftly maturing audience, Bieber himself has refused to categorize his music, insisting to MTV News in December that he's just focused on creating quality records.

"Whatever comes out of my mouth is just what you guys are going to hear," Bieber explained of his hits. "I don't know, it's not a specific type of music. Whatever music I write, I wouldn't say I'm pop or R&B or country or anything: I would just say it's just good music,"

What do you think Justin Bieber's new music is going to sound like? Let us know in the comments!

Natalie Portman Wins Best Actress Oscar For 'Black Swan'

'I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age,' Portman says as part of her acceptance speech.
By Shawn Adler

Natalie Portman onstage at the 2011 Academy Awards
Photo: AMPAS/ ABC

A visibly nervous and very pregnant Natalie Portman was near tears after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Oscars Sunday night (February 27) for her performance as a ballerina on the verge of a mental breakdown in Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan."

Check out backstage photos of the big Oscar winners.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. This is insane!" the 29-year-old first-time Oscar winner enthused after taking the stage. "I truly and sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees."

Although just the second-youngest of her co-nominees, Portman was previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Closer" and has been working with some of the best directors in the business since childhood — and in a rambling speech she nearly managed to thank all of them.

"Luc Besson, who gave me my first job [in 'The Professional']," Portman began. "['Closer' director] Mike Nichols, who has been my hero. And to everyone who's ever hired me!"

"Darren Aronofsky, you are a visionary," she added of her "Black Swan" director. "I am so blessed to have gotten to work for you."

Portman saved her most effusive gratitude, however, for her parents, who were in the audience, and especially for her fiancé Benjamin Millepied, with whom she is having a child.

"I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age. My beautiful love, Benjamin, who has now given me my most important role of my life," she gushed. "Most importantly, my family, my friends, and my love, thank you so much."

Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!

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How Did James Franco and Anne Hathaway Do as Oscar Hosts?

The biggest surprise at Sunday night's Academy Awards wasn't who took home the coveted golden statues -- it was the disappointingly lackluster performance of cohosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway. The pair showed a good deal of promise in the promos leading up to the big night, but Franco appeared uninterested in the proceedings, and Hathaway's nerves seemed to get the better of her.

According to PopEater, the show’s producers were extremely displeased with the duo, particularly Franco. "This was a disaster," one TV executive claimed. "Before the show something was wrong with James. His live interview on ABC backstage should have been a warning sign. He was awkward and looked as if he knew what a terrible evening was ahead for all of us."

Reviews in the press were equally unkind. "Despite an overall rewarding of brilliant performances and no truly shocking didn't-see-that-coming upsets, the 83rd Annual Academy Awards will likely be remembered as the night James Franco couldn't act like a host," The Hollywood Reporter opined, calling the ceremony "unwatchable." -- though they did give Hathaway props for her effort. "Anne Hathaway at least tried to sing and dance and preen along to the goings on, but Franco seemed distant, uninterested and content to keep his Cheshire-cat-meets-smug smile on display throughout."

The New York Times didn't see things much differently, highlighting the "absence of chemistry" between the cohosts. Once again, however, Franco bore the brunt of the bashing. "Mr. Franco looked a little distracted and even blase -- not surprisingly for a multiplatform performer-writer who is working on an English doctorate at Yale."

With reviews like that, it's not surprising that Franco decided not to prolong the evening. In fact, UsMagazine.com reports that James was so ready to be done with the night that he bailed on his own after-party at L.A.'s Supper Club.

Instead, following the awards, Franco immediately boarded a flight back to New York, tweeting a picture of himself drinking a Bloody Mary with "Goodbye L.A." scrawled across the bottom. An attached note read: "It was fun! Have to get back to class" (the Academy Award nominee is enrolled at both NYU and Yale University). We have to give him credit for maintaining such a positive attitude.

But while Franco ditched out on post-ceremony festivities, the same was not true for the rest of his family. Escorted by Franco's younger brother Dave, grandmother Mitzie hit up the after-party at the Supper Club, partying until 2:00 a.m. according to TMZ. Guess granny didn't have to head to an early class the next morning!

Download iVillage's new Red Carpet Fever mobile app for the latest awards-show news and photos!

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will.i.am Unveils Teaser Of Britney Spears Collaboration

'I can be the treble, baby/ You can be the bass,' Spears sings on the snippet of the track, titled 'The Big Fat Bass.'
By Jocelyn Vena

will.i.am
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MGM

Will.i.am has posted a snippet from his collaboration with Britney Spears, and it might just have fans saying "OMG." The segment of the funky track, titled "The Big Fat Bass," is the latest teaser from Spears' upcoming March 29 release, Femme Fatale.

The snippet opens with the electronically altered voice of will.i.am singing, "Big fat bass/ the big fat bass," as a keyboard plays underneath. Then a beat kicks in.

Britney soon joins in, speak-singing in a bright and loud voice, "I can be the treble, baby/ You can be the bass/ You can be the bass."

In a blog message that accompanied the audio clip, Will wrote, "The big fat bass ... this is a taste ... this is the intro ... the bass is an important element to club dance music ... this song celebrates bass ... thank you Britney for collaborating it was a pleasure working with you ... thank you for trusting my instincts ... you're a doll ... i look forward on working with you again ... its an honor because you rarely do collaboration."

The Black Eyed Peas frontman revealed more information about the snippet on Twitter, where he posted on Sunday that he is loving the direction that the album's executive producers, Dr. Luke and Max Martin, are taking.

"Im editing the snippet. there are so many parts in this song. I have so many favorite parts. It's difficult to pick which part to show 1st," he wrote, going on to discuss all the things he loves about the tune while showing a series of screen images of the audio file. "There are soo many hot parts ... the second verse??? I love this section...the beat is nuts here and britney kills it ... or the 2nd hook? Because [on] the second half of the first hook the bass build up is crazy ... or the breakdown??? At this point a brand new beat is revealed. (The sickest beat) ... [that] section is my favorite...my favorite new beat...I'm excited to dj this section...

Will concluded the Twitter thread by saying, "Ok...I'm going to reveal the intro...I will give u a taste of the bass," including a link to the snippet.

Do you what you've heard of Britney and will.i.am's collaboration? Tell us in the comments?

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Love It Or Hate It: Jennifer Aniston?s New Haircut

Okay, I showed you Jennifer Aniston’s new haircut yesterday. As she continues doing the European press tour for ‘Just Go With It,’ we get to see more of it. So now it’s time for a formal vote : poll by … Continue reading →

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Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Attend Oscar Party Arm In Arm

The teen stars got cozy at annual Vanity Fair Academy Awards bash.
By Jocelyn Vena

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber arrive at the <i>Vanity Fair</i> Oscar party
Photo: Michael Buckner/ WireImage

While they've never spoken publicly about dating one another, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez proudly had their relationship on display when they hit up the famous Vanity Fair Oscar party right after the 83rd Academy Awards telecast wrapped.

The pair didn't do press on the red carpet, but they looked relaxed as they posed together for pictures. Bieber's arm was around Gomez's waist as they smiled for photos. She was wearing a red Grecian-style gown. Bieber was in an all-black tuxedo with a red pocket square, matching his date for the night. They took photos as a pair, but also individually. Inside the party, Bieber and Gomez posed for pictures with fellow teen star Hailee Steinfeld, held hands and looked at each other's phones while they texted inside the fete.

The glamorous party was attended by some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Gwyneth Paltrow, besties Taylor Swift and Emma Stone, couples like Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, as well as Oscar winner Natalie Portman and her beau, Benjamin Millepied. Among the other A-listers there were Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, 50 Cent, Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Williams and Jennifer Hudson, to name a few.

"Good luck to my friend Hailee Steinfeld tonight on the #oscars. young people going for theirs! also want Christian Bale to win. #TheFighter," Bieber tweeted early on Sunday, before adding this message about his fame: "im never gonna change ... i will always remember ... i will always be that kid from Stratford ... I will always be grateful."

For her part, Gomez simply tweeted, "Vanity Fair fun!" She included a photo of herself with Bieber, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, and his date.

Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!

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Ashley Tisdale And Aly Michalka Celebrate Magazine Cover And A New TV Show

Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Phineas and Ferb) and Aly Michalka (Band Slam, Phil of the Future) were in attendance at a private party thrown for them by Seventeen magazine. The two young women were there to celebrate the October cover of the magazine, and also to share their excitement about their upcoming TV show: "Hellcats".In the October issue Ashley shares how her list of qualities in a boyfriend has changed since high school:

"In high school, it was all about popularity, being with the boyfriend and all the girls thinking he's cute. Now, I am more into a guy's personality. I like someone I can have fun with and who can be more laid-back than I am, because it calms me down. At the same time, I want to be with someone who wants to work as much as I do and who respects me like I respect him."

Aly is honest in admitting that she doesn't have a boyfriend, but would love to have one:

" I'm not - I wish. I'm so ready to have boyfriend. I just need to find that guy who's worthy of committing myself to, because I'm not your average girl. And I think a lot of guys are intimidated by girls who know what they want. I still live at home when I am in L.A., I'm really close to my family, I have a busy life and I'm super-close to my sister - so basically if you date me, you date her. And he's either into it or he's not."

I love that they both sound very strong and firm about what they're looking for in a guy. Don't give in and stay picky. ;)"Hellcats" premieres on the CW this Thursday night. It's a comedy/drama about the competitive world of college cheer leading. I put one of the promo clips under the jump if you're curious.Photos courtesy of Seventeen Magazine Continue reading →

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Clint Eastwood To Direct Beyonce In ?A Star Is Born?

Now this should be an interesting pairing! Clint Eastwood has just signed on to direct Beyonce in the musical ‘A Star is Born,’ according to Deadline Hollywood. The male lead hasn’t been cast yet, and while the studio reportedly hoped … Continue reading →

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Beyonce And Tina Knowles Debut Clothing Line On ?The View?

Beyonce and her mother, Tina Knowles, sat down with the ladies of “The View” to talk about Beyonce’s new concert DVD and Tina’s new, affordable clothing line for Walmart. I LOVE how they showed each outfit in two different sizes … Continue reading →

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Katie Holmes And Tome Cruise Have A Laugh On ?Mission Impossible 4? Set

I LOVE this pictures!! Check out Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes playing around with each other during some downtime at work. Tom is currently shooting ‘Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol‘ and his wife stopped by to hang with the crew … Continue reading →

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Kim Kardashian Glams Up Elton John's Oscar Party

Opting to hit the parties rather than the show itself, Kim Kardashian was on hand for the 19th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar viewing shindig in Los Angeles on Sunday evening (February 27).

Held at the Pacific Design Center, the E! reality beauty looked stunning in a J Mendel dress with Lorraine Schwartz jewels as she posed in the arrivals area before joining the many celebs in attendance.

Meanwhile, Miss Kardashian also took to her Twitter account to lend support to her mom, Kris Jenner, and her Oscar night endeavors.

Kim tweeted, "Good luck mom! RT @KeepinUpWKris About to go live on E! Countdown!! With @hollymadison happy Oscar Day twitterdolls!'

Shana Hiatt Emmy Rossum Angelina Jolie Arielle Kebbel Eve

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Dredg to Release ?Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy? May 3rd

After nearly two years since their last album The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion, Sacto CA rock-outfit dredg have set Chuckles & Mr. Squeezy as the title of their 5th studio album, along with the release date of May 5th via Superball Music (And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Oceansize). Subsequently, the band also released the cover art for Mr. Squeezy which can be seen above. No new music is available yet from the album, though with Dan the Automator behind the helm as producer, one could expect this will be a trippy ride. Head to the replies to view the high-resolution cover art and a press quote from the band

January Jones Rachel Weisz Miranda Kerr Sarah Mutch Shannyn Sossamon

'Hall Pass' Leads Friday Box Office

Comedy bags $4.6 million; Nic Cage's 'Drive Angry' flops in ninth place.
By Shawn Adler

Jason Sudeikis and Owen Wilson in "Hall Pass"
Photo: Warner Bros.

Oscar weekend is typically a time for movie insiders to recognize high-brow, dramatic fare. But no matter who takes home the statues Sunday night, it's the raunchy, hilarious team behind flicks like "There's Something About Mary" and "Kingpin" who are taking home the gold.

"Hall Pass," starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, topped all comers at the Friday-night box office with an estimated $4.6 million from 2,950 screens. If form holds, it will be the first # 1 opening for writing/directing duo Peter and Bobby Farrelly since 2000's "Me, Myself and Irene."

Not far behind in second place, Liam Neeson's "Unknown" managed to punch up nearly $3.9 million from 3,043 screens in its second week of release. Two years after dominating the February box office with "Taken," the secretly badass star should push "Unknown" past $40 million total by the end of the weekend.

While America's love affair with Neeson waxes, however, its relationship with Nicolas Cage may have waned irrevocably. New release "Drive Angry," featuring the Oscar winner turned action star's latest wackadoo performance, was good enough for only $1.6 million and ninth place. The weak opening is the latest in a string of recent flops for Cage, including "Season of the Witch" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

In third place, "Just Go With It" starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston pulled in $3.3 million. Rounding out the top five, "Gnomeo and Juliet" and "I Am Number Four" earned $3.16 million and $3.14 million, respectively.

With a new "Director's Fan Cut", out this weekend only, Justin Bieber managed to hold strong at sixth place, as his 3-D concert flick "Never Say Never" scored $2.7 million. The flick's cumulative gross should breeze past $60 million this weekend.

Among Oscar hopefuls, "The King's Speech" (eighth place) continued its impressive run. The presumptive favorite at the Academy Awards brought its total to $108 million with a $1.9 million Friday haul.

Jennifer Love Hewitt Emmanuelle Vaugier Laura Harring Teri Hatcher Jennifer Sky

Photos | MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year

MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year

'American Idol' Recap: No Alarms/No Surprises

"Molly DeWolf Swenson is now following you on Twitter" is the kind of thing that might scare the mess out of a less secure man -- given her abilities, connections, marksmanship -- but I have been doing this job a very long time and I like the super-capable ones the best anyway, so we'll just leave at that: You take a shower before effing hours three and four of the recappapalooza that is this show this week, every week, and you think the idiotic cliffhanger of whether or not Chris Medina has broken J. Lo's soul, Brittenum style, you think that's the most exciting thing that's going to happen... And then you fire up the old Gmail.

CLICK TO READ THE FULL RECAP

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Miley Cyrus Nixes Billy Ray?s ?The View? Appearance

Billy Ray Cyrus has been in hot water with his teenage daughter Miley Cyrus after his recent comments to GQ magazine.� And now Miley has [...]

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ADVERTISEMENT: Enter The Adjustment Bureau Sweeps for a Chance to Win $2500!

Universal is hosting a fantastic Control Your Destiny Sweeps to celebrate the release of The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. One first prize winner will receive an HP Mini Netbook, and the lucky Grand Prize winner will get $2500 or an ultimate New York City vacation getaway! The best way to control YOUR destiny? Enter now!

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Rihanna To Play Whitney Houston's Role In "The Bodyguard" Remake!?

Remember The Bodyguard? The blockbuster film that turned Whitney Houston into a bankable actress and further made Kevin Costner a heartthrob? Well...the movie is getting a makeover and rumor has it that Rihanna may be cast in the lead role. Deets inside...

Warner Bros is gearing up to remake its 1992 hit The Bodyguard and it may star Rihanna in the title role. The film will be scripted by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer.

The updated script will cast the bodyguard as

"..a former Iraq war veteran who gets the job protecting a big star as his first gig after leaving the Army. He discovers that the world of Twitter, Google Maps and TMZ has made access to celebrities easier than ever, making the job more difficult than ever."

Other names thrown into the pot for the Whitney Houston role include Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. And really....none of these suggestions excite me.

I'm not too sure about Rihanna's acting skills and I definitely don't want her to touch ANYTHING Whitney recorded for The Bodyguard soundtrack.

This could be a potential mess.

Lucy Liu Kim Kardashian Connie Nielsen Uma Thurman Anna Kournikova

Celebrity Breakup: Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron

Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron

It was confirmed that Vanessa and her longtime boyfriend/ ?High School Musical? costar Zac Efron decided to call it quits. According to Us Magazine, the ?High School Musical? co-stars have split after spending more than three years in the spotlight together. With their romance having started as the two were paired up as co-star leads in Disney's "High School Musical," a source close to the couple now claims of the breakup, "It was mutual. They have been together for so long. It just ran its course." And, the insider insists, "They are still talking and still friends. There's no drama. No one cheated. They just grew up." [gallery=746]

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Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia/Music World Music
Director: Jake Nava
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce

Vitamin C Bridget Moynahan Michelle Malkin Malin Akerman Zhang Ziyi

Donald Trump Says Rihanna Deserves No Future Success IF She Gets Back With Chris Brown

Ouch! I mean... wow. I can't believe he actually said this. Then again...

�??She better get the hell out. If she goes back, she�??s a loser, and she doesn�??t deserve to have any future success.�?�

-- Donald Trump talking about Rihanna's personal issues with Chris Brown

Continue reading →

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Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' Video: Fans Weigh In!

MTV News captures all the excitement around the premiere of Britney's 'HIAM' clip.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Vaughn Schoonmaker

Britney Spears in her "Hold It Against Me" music video
Photo: Jive

As soon as Britney Spears' music video for "Hold It Against Me" debuted on Thursday night, fans' reactions were fast and immediate. Readers quickly began commenting on the stories posted on MTV.com, and MTV News even stopped by the New York City nightclub Splash to get find out the opinions of fans who were attending the club's official viewing party.

Clubgoers, some in their best Britney gear, gathered in the packed nightclub to get the first taste of the sleek, dark Jonas Åkerlund-directed video. Judging from their excitement and their screams, the clip didn't disappoint. One excited fan shared that he couldn't believe he got the chance to see Britney in a catfight against herself.

The viewing-party attendees' excitement was matched by that of commenters on our site. "Just watched it a second time and i am loving it even more," Malcolm wrote. "So much more to see and take in during a second take."

Another commenter, Britney, explained that on a scale of one to 10, the clip ranked high up on her list. "LOveeeeeee the video!!! omg already one of my FAVES!!! on a scale of 1 to 10 i would say its a very very high 8...almost perfect...a few things: a bit too fast-ly put together...Needed more Rocky Horror Tribute scenes and BRITNEY NEEDS TO TAKE the Heels off and put the FLATS back on to really show the Dance moves!!!" she wrote, before reiterating that the video did rock. "All around Awesome video...very creative..Very Britney-ish!!"

Those comments were mirrored by kentalicious, who shared, "Amazing! visually stunning! Best video in years, needs repeated viewing. I love how she is evolving as an artist, after such an Iconic career she still delivers."

With many fans wondering for weeks what they would be getting in the video, TriniBrent did not seem disappointed. "This is a Hot video," he commented. "Britney is definitely back and i am proud of her!"

"I love this vid, it's very different from her other videos," ishot_JT explained. "I also notice that Britney is definitely going back to Blackout/Toxic roots."

Do you want to add a critique of Britney's "Hold It Against Me" clip? Share your opinion in the comments.

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Guess What Nicole Richie Is Doing?

If you guessed going to the gym, then you would be RIGHT! Nicole Richie’s dedication to exercise is inspiring, isn’t it? Especially since most of us have long since stopped with out New Year’s resolution to work out more . … Continue reading →

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio Lead Flurry Of Movie Remakes

Russell Brand, Willow Smith, Jonah Hill are just a few stars looking to revamp film and TV classics like 'Arthur', 'Annie' and '21 Jump Street.'
By Terri Schwartz

Beyoncé
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

What do Willow Smith and Beyoncé have in common with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Kenny Wormald? They're all starring (or in talks to star) in the latest round of remakes of beloved films and TV shows coming down the pike.

On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé would be starring in a Clint Eastwood-directed remake of the 1976 Barbra Streisand classic "A Star Is Born" (which was a remake of a 1954 movie that remade a 1937 film). In the meantime, Will Smith is reportedly petitioning Sony to remake "Annie" (the 1982 movie and 1977 musical) starring his 10-year-old daughter, Willow, best known for whipping her hair.

In October it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio and best bud Tobey Maguire would be starring in Baz Luhrmann's 3-D retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," with Carey Mulligan joining as Daisy Buchanan.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been working on bringing the '80s Johnny Depp-starring television series "21 Jump Street" to the big screen since 2008, and they might even get Depp to cameo in it in time for the film's March 16, 2012, release date.

And let's not forget the long hunt for a Ren McCormack (the character Kevin Bacon made famous in 1984), after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford dropped out of the planned "Footloose" remake that finally landed dancer Kenny Wormald the role of his life.

Then there's "Arthur," the Russell Brand-starring remake of the 1981 screwball comedy about a happily drunk millionaire who risks everything for love. The film has tapped everyone from Helen Mirren to Greta Gerwig and Nick Nolte.

Two recently announced remakes are "Lethal Weapon" and "The Wizard of Oz," which are still in early development and without stars attached. Warner Bros. announced their plans to reboot the Mel Gibson-starring franchise on Thursday and tapped writer Will Beall to pen the script with completely new characters. And director Robert Zemeckis announced back in November that he planned on remaking the 1939 Technicolor classic using the script from the original film, with Warner Bros. hoping Robert Downey Jr. will play Oz.

Just this past year, films from "Clash of the Titans" to "The Karate Kid" to "A Nightmare on Elm Street" were remade for the big screen and were well-received by audiences. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Clash of the Titans" went on to become two of the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2010, while "Piranha 3D" and "The A-Team" also went on to strong successes, proving that there definitely is a market for these kinds of remakes.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Eva Mendes? Film Independent Spirit Awards Arrival

Adding some glamour to the scene, Eva Mendes was spotted at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards today (February 26).

The ?We Own the Night? actress looked fabulous in a multi-colored leggy dress teamed with a pair of seafoam green peep-toe heels.

Eva joined a host of top-name celebrities at the Santa Monica event, including Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, and Jennifer Lawrence.

The 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards are being hosted by Joel McHale and airing at 10pm ET on IFC.

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Brace Yourself: Angelina Jolie To Adopt Fourth Child From Haiti

Yes, it’s another Angelina Jolie adoption story. Yes, it’s probably not true… but just in case, here we go. Angelina Jolie is reportedly set to adopt a fourth child – a 4-year-old girl from Haiti. The child, named Leah, lost … Continue reading →

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Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl

Liberian Girl

Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Bad

Alicia Keys Lindsay Lohan Marisa Tomei Samaire Armstrong Amber Arbucci

Britney Spears Added Her 'Flavor' To 'Hold It Against Me' Fight Scene

Martial-arts expert Steven Ho talks to MTV News about working on the new video.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears fights herself in "Hold It Against Me"
Photo: Jive

Last week, fans were treated to the premiere of Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" video. The sleek, dark look at celebrity life was a new aesthetic for the star, who hooked up with Jonas Åkerlund on the clip.

While her dance scenes were choreographed by Brian Friedman, it was noted Hollywood martial-arts expert Steven Ho who helped Britney work out the moves to battle herself in the video.

"I've been very fortunate to have worked on a wide range of high-profile projects, and the video's producer, Hagai Shaham, thought my style would be a good fit with Jonas and Britney. I was brought in to train Britney, choreograph the fight and set up wires for the levitation shots," he told MTV News about joining the project.

"I've always wanted to work with Jonas," he continued. "I knew that a stylized fight would translate well with his trademark visuals, so I was thrilled about doing this project. Jonas wanted a superhuman fight with elements of brutality — that's right up my alley of how I approach an action scene, so we were definitely all on the same page throughout the process."

Not only were Åkerlund and Ho onboard for some mortal combat, but the star herself warmed up to the idea of battling a clone. "Britney was really excited throughout the whole process. It was a grueling shoot of dance and stunts, but her passion for the video and professionalism never wavered," he explained. "There were some pretty tough insert shots where we needed Britney to actually get hit in the face by 'herself.' We did several consecutive takes of this, and she had a lot of fun with it and was a great sport.

"Britney was very enthusiastic about learning how to fight; she's an athlete," he added. "I got that Jonas' concept was partially about the duality of self — we all deal with that, so who wouldn't have fun fighting their alter egos?"

The key, it seems, was making Ho's fight moves work with Friedman's dance routine. "It was really great working with Brian; he's an absolute professional. He was diligent about our fight style being cohesive with the dancing, and that's why it worked so well," Ho recalled. "Our rehearsals were on the same stage, so it was very helpful to have Brian's feedback from a dancer's point of view."

It seems that one of the most memorable moves in the fight, Spears' quickstep during the smack-down, was all her own.

"Britney was fantastic about incorporating what we had practiced in rehearsal, and as a consummate performer, she was able to take ownership by adding her own flavor to the fight. There's a quick cut in the video that features Britney taking a series of small shuffle steps in her heels. This is something she came up with herself that I thought added a nice break of 'cuteness' in the fight," he said. "Jonas drowned out the music here to highlight the tapping sounds, and it's really one of my favorite beats of the video."

Aside from the two Britneys, the other main characters in the fight were her sky-high heels and flowing gowns. "The wardrobe was one of the stars of the fight," he explained. "At first I was concerned about how to approach the long trains. There were discussions with Jonas and [stylist] B. [Åkerlund] and [fashion assistant Renelou Padora] about possibly shortening the train for safety issues. After I showed my wife [designer Nina Petronzio] the pictures of the dresses, she literally said, 'I will kill you if you cut those trains down.' We ended up incorporating the trains as 'weapons.' We treated them as if they were sharp blades, giving Britney reason to jump and evade around them."

What did you think of the Britney battle in "Hold It Against Me"? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Charlie Sheen Shopping Book Deal

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Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit Vs. AEG Can Proceed, Judge Rules

Katherine Jackson and family are pursuing a claim against concert promoter.
By Gil Kaufman

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When he was alive, Michael Jackson was forever embroiled in a series of complex and expensive-sounding lawsuits. But even in death, the late King of Pop is the subject of major legal action. None could potentially be bigger than the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the pop icon's mother, Katherine Jackson, against concert promotion giant AEG Live.

Reuters reported that a Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that the civil lawsuit can go forward. It will proceed in parallel with the criminal case against Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol. Murray is the only person charged in Jackson's death and he is currently awaiting trial in that matter.

Katherine Jackson's lawsuit — filed in September on behalf of her and Jackson's three young children — accuses AEG of being responsible for the medical decisions made by Murray, whose salary was paid by the touring company behind Jackson's attempted "This Is It" comeback shows in London. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos denied a motion on Wednesday by AEG to dismiss Katherine Jackson's suit, but warned Jackson's attorneys that they would need to show evidence of "fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy" in order to win the case.

The judge has already said she doubts they can prove the latter charge, because the suit does not detail any agreement between Murray and AEG to break the law in providing medical care to Jackson.

"If the object was to get him to rehearsals, I don't see that as a wrongful or illegal act," the judge said. A lawyer for AEG told the judge that the company could not have predicted beforehand that Murray's medical decisions would result in Jackson's death. Court papers also show that AEG "did not choose to hire Murray" and had only participated in negotiations to bring him on as an independent contractor. Michael, who had previously been treated by Murray in Las Vegas, was reportedly the one who suggested the cardiologist serve as his personal, on-call physician during the "This Is It" rehearsals and shows.

Katherine Jackson's attorney recently dropped choreographer Kenny Ortega from the lawsuit based on new information they received about his actions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 22, just six days before Murray is due back in court for his trial. Jackson's father, Joseph, has twice attempted to file a wrongful death suit in the matter, though his is focused on Murray and the Las Vegas pharmacy that supplied the propofol, not AEG Live.

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Beyonce Working With Kanye West Producer S1

'Power' producer tweets he's 'finishing up some monsters' after week in the studio with B.
By James Montgomery

Beyoncé's already taken inspiration from the likes of Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill, hit the studio with a list of producers that includes Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin, and now, she's hoping to capture the surge of Kanye West's "Power."

B — who's already hard at work on the follow-up to her massive I Am ... Sasha Fierce album — just wrapped a week in the studio with producer S1, the man who co-produced "Power" and has logged time with the likes of Ghostface Killah and Erykah Badu.

S1 broke the news via his Twitter account and also posted a photo of himself and B over on his official site. And from the sound of things, the sessions, which took place in New York City, were definitely eventful.

"A couple of meetings then back in the lab with Beyonce today," he wrote in one tweet. "Excited to see what we're gonna create today after last night's session.

"Not going to bed anytime soon. Beyonce got us in here working and I'm loving every bit of it," he wrote in another post. "Finishing up some monsters ... everything is sounding really great and big!"

There's still not much information about Beyoncé's new album, though in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight" last year, she said that, this time out, she's aiming to "make [her] own genre of music." In a follow-up interview with MTV News, she clarified that statement, explaining that she's "mixing every type of genre that I love" on the new album, and added, "I'm not in a box. It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."

What do you think S1's work with Beyoncé will sound like? Tell us in the comments!

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Ke$ha Says She's 'Disappointed' By Grammy Snub

'I plan on making a lot more records, and hopefully one of them will be Grammy-worthy,' singer tells Vanity Fair.
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Last year was full of breakout music stars, including Ke$ha, who ruled the scene with a string of dance-pop hits (and a massive overflow of glitter). But not everyone is a Ke$ha fan: The singer was snubbed when the 2011 Grammy nominees were announced in December.

The starlet recently spoke to Vanity Fair about the Grammy snub and said she's determined to score a nod sometime later in her career. And after calling the Recording Academy's award "not that big a deal," Ke$ha admitted that she was saddened by her lack of nominations.

"Of course I do," the singer said when asked if she wanted a Grammy. "I was disappointed that I didn't get nominated. But I've only been around for a year. I'm friends with the Black Keys, and they were nominated for the first time this year. And they've been around for a decade. That's like half my life, so I really can't be a brat about it."

Ke$ha isn't bitter about the situation either, telling the magazine, "I plan on making a lot more records, and hopefully one of them will be Grammy-worthy."

While she may not be gearing up for the big show on Sunday night, Ke$ha is prepping for the launch of her first North American headlining tour, the Get $leazy Tour. The country-wide trek is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday in Portland, Oregon, and continue through May.

Do you think Ke$ha deserved a Grammy nomination? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Friday, February 25, 2011

Anne Hathaway Tells James Franco She's Wants to "Be a Mommy" Within The Next Five Years!

Oscars cohosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco were on Good Morning America today to chat about their much-anticipated Academy Awards gig. The pair have been showing off their comic chemistry in a series of promo spots, but things got serious when host Robin Roberts turned the tables on the stars had them to interview each other. James asked Anne whether or not marriage and babies were in her near future. The actress revealed that while she has no plans to tie the knot right now, she does hope to have her first child child in the next five years. We'll be LIVE from the red carpet on Sunday, so watch here on PopSugar, follow us on Twitter for breaking news and photos, and don't forget we're also giving away a Samsung TV, so be sure to fill out BuzzSugar's ballot for your chance to win!

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Deadmau5 Brings Dance Music To The 'Masses,' Wolfgang Gartner Says

'He has a major role in the younger generation to this music,' producer/DJ tells MTV News of his collaborator.
By Adam Stewart

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Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images

It's no secret that 2010 was a pivotal year for electronic dance music here in the States. With deadmau5 and Swedish House Mafia becoming household names, the genre's momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Using a conduit of collaboration, artists such as deadmau5 (a.k.a. Joel Zimmerman) have paired up with various underground acts to further the rapid expansion of the genre.

Perhaps one of the most notable movers and shakers of the year is now-Grammy-Award-nominated producer and DJ Wolfgang Gartner, who recently sat down to chat with MTV News about deadmau5 and dance music's rise to the top.

"He has a major role in the younger generation to this music," Gartner says, "but there have been certain artists that have been instrumental in helping it cross over and reach the mainstream — which I think is a good thing. I think rap artists using dance beats is a great thing. I think it just brings more people towards this music that we all love."

Thanks to several key moments, such as deadmau5 taking the helm as house DJ (well, technically "House Artist") for the 2010 VMAs, dance music has been thrown into the forefront of America's youth, a key demographic for any genre.

"Everybody knows who he is now and he's kind of exposing the masses to dance music. These little five-, six- and seven-year-old kids latch on to this 'mau5head' logo — they get into the music and he's bringing this tiny young generation into this music that probably wouldn't be exposed to it."

Gartner certainly doesn't mind the exposure either. Unless you were living under a rock for the past six months, you probably heard one of this past summer's hottest anthems, "Animal Rights," a collaborative effort brought forth by deadmau5 and Gartner.

"It was interesting because I kind of had a preconceived notion about how he would be to work [with]," said Gartner. "I think our sounds are really similar, so I figured he would work in a similar way to me, but the way that he writes music is actually completely different to me. But he achieves kind of the same sound through a completely different process."

Recorded in deadmau5's favorite Los Angeles studio — that would be rocker Tommy Lee's House — "Animal Rights" is a thumping progressive house anthem that melds Wolfgang's unmistakable harmonics and funk riffs with the driving bass line and wobbly synths that make deadmau5 one of the unique forces in the dance music world.

"[Deadmau5] writes these rich complex chord progressions and he does it by drawing these little bars on a grid, which is just amazing that you can do that and get that result," Gartner goes on to say. "It just proves you don't have to be able to play keyboards to write amazing music."

The two sound pioneers never cease to stop pushing the limits on what they are able to produce. Using drastically difference production approaches, deadmau5 and Gartner had the ability to play off each other's strengths while recording the track.

"I'd say the biggest thing is that I play everything in on a keyboard, like even my drums," says Gartner. "I play everything in live and he draws it in with notes on a mouse, which blew me away because his music is very musical."

What do you think 2011 will hold for deadmau5 and Gartner? Let us know in the comments below!

Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Re-Release: Five Secrets Revealed

Director Jon M. Chu reveals more about the 40 minutes of new footage fans will see this weekend.
By Eric Ditzian

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Photo: Paramount

By now, most citizens of Bieber nation have undoubtedly canceled all weekend plans, purchased advance tickets for the super-size version of "Never Say Never," and are plotting the most stress-free path toward the multiplex to catch the revamped film's arrival in 3-D theaters on Friday (February 25).

But what exactly will you find up on the big screen when you slip on those purple 3-D glasses just three weeks after the original flick debuted? Team Bieber has promised over half an hour of new Justin-approved video, including fresh performances, footage from pre-release screenings and further glimpses at Justin's downtime with his pals.

That's a little vague for our liking, so we hit up director Jon M. Chu for some insight into what's being touted as a "Director's Fan Cut." While Chu lamented that he didn't get a chance to shoot Bieber's fresh haircut in 3-D for the revamped flick, he did reveal five secrets to keep an eye out for when the new "Never Say Never" arrives in theaters.

There Are 40 Minutes of New Footage, Not 30
In a YouTube video announcement, Chu told fans that the new version would include 30 minutes of new footage. But a subsequent Paramount press release pegged the number at 40 minutes. So which is it?

"That was my mistake!" laughed Chu. "I didn't time it out. I was like, 'I'll just say over 30 minutes, and we'll be good to go. But they timed it and it is 40 minutes. The point is, there's a crapload of stuff in there.

"We originally had a two-and-a-half-hour version of the movie, which we obviously couldn't release," he added. "So we started to think about putting stuff back in that didn't have to do with our story but that we knew people would love."

"Omaha Mall" Is Coming for You
This rock/rap tune became a fan favorite after Bieber posted it on YouTube, and the reworked "Never Say Never" will pull back the curtain on the song's creation for the first time on the big screen.

"We see the creation of 'Omaha Mall' and how that came to be," Chu told us. "We also get to see way more baby videos. We sit on a lot more shots, so it's like you're sitting with him in the living room, just watching."

Get Ready for Bieber's Abs
"Twilight" fans know what to expect when they hit the multiplex for the first viewing of a franchise film: Taylor Lautner without a shirt on. But Beliebers may have been surprised — and, no doubt, delighted — to sit down for "Never Say Never" and be treated to scene after scene of Justin sans T-shirt. When it comes to the new version, fans should expect even more skin.

"I can't confirm nor deny those reports, but we do what the fans want," Chu laughed. "If that's what the fans want, then they'll get a little bit more. Maybe some abs!"

You'll Truly See What It's Like to Be Bieber's Buddy
Such is the effect of Bieber Fever that the singer's friends, Ryan Butler and Chaz Somer, have become stars in their own right. And while they pop up a bit in the movie, Chu said that fans couldn't get enough of these two Canadian teens.

"Chaz and Ryan have their own followings, and one of the biggest pieces of feedback we got is that fans want more Chaz and Ryan," the director said. "In this version, we get to see what it's like to be part of the entourage. We go to their homes in Stratford. People call from all around the world and disrupt their dinners. It's absolutely insane. They're superstars."

Hello, "Favorite Girl"!
While the re-cut flick introduces 40 minutes of new footage, the overall running time is only 10 minutes longer. So what did Chu cut? He took out Bieber's lengthy, pre-MSG visit to the doctor, added in new scenes of tickets being given away outside concerts and swapped out some performances that didn't make it into the original release.

"Before we had to make a choice between 'Favorite Girl' and 'Never Let You Go,' because they're the same [in-concert] set-up with the heart," he said. "We couldn't play both. So this time, we made the choice to have 'Favorite Girl,' which is one of my favorite songs that he plays. People are going to love it."

Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Britney Spears Rolls Back to the Studio and Shares Another Song Teaser

Britney Spears was spotted on her way out of a recording studio in Burbank yesterday. She got back to work on her album after returning home from a trip to Kentwood with Sean Preston, Jayden James, and Jason Trawick earlier this week. Britney and Jason took the boys fishing during their stay in the singer's hometown and also enjoyed pizza from a local fast-food chain. Now that Britney's back in LA, she can focus on her music as she prepares for the March release of Femme Fatale. We already got a look at her sexy video for "Hold It Against Me," and now she's teasing fans with another clip from a song titled "How I Roll."

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