Will Smith

Big Sean, Willow Smith To Get Jahlil Beats Treatment In 2012

20 Jan 2012 17:39:58 EST

'I'ma be working, 2012 you gonna see my name for real,' Meek Mill's producer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman

Meek Mill and Rick Ross' "I'ma Boss" wasn't Jahlil Beats' first production credit, but it is by far the biggest. The track's crashing drum stack and swirling synth line set the perfect pace for the rap hit. Thanks in part to the sound bed that the Chester, Pennsylvania, producer provided, "I'ma Boss" landed at the top of many best-of-2011 rap lists, including our RapFix best songs list.

Now Jahlil, who has already produced for Chris Brown, Soulja Boy and Fabolous, is seeing even more doors open for him. "It's crazy because me and Meek started off from the bottom, from the basement, and for us to get on this type of level where people saying he had one of the best singles of the year and stuff like that, it's just a blessing for me," Jahlil told Mixtape Daily on the red carpet for the reopening of Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in New York on Wednesday night.

Last year, Jahlil signed on with Hov's Roc Nation as the label's in-house producer and he's looking forward to a fruitful 2012. "Right now I'm doing stuff for Willow [Smith], Meek, of course. I was just out in L.A. working with No ID on stuff for Big Sean," Beats said. "I'ma be working, 2012 you gonna see my name for real."

Who else would you like to see Jahlil Beats work with in 2012? Tell us in the comments!

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Ryan Murphy Drops Out Of Will Smith's 'Annie' Reboot

28 Mar 2011 11:02:20 EDT

'Glee' creator was attached to direct movie starring Willow Smith.
By Terri Schwartz

Will Smith's planned "Annie" reboot might be facing a hard knock life now that director Ryan Murphy has left the flick.

The "Glee" creator had been attached to "Annie" since it was announced in early February, with Willow Smith set to star as the title character and her parents and Jay-Z on as producers. But now Deadline is reporting that Murphy has dropped out of the movie after "talks broke off."

Deadline did not say how the Smiths and their producing partner Sony Pictures will continue, but it can be assumed that they will pursue their current course and try to find a new director to develop the film. Both Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are locked in as producers, and Jay-Z is planning to handle the musical side of the project, so the movie still has strong legs to stand on.

Beyond his commitment to "Glee," Murphy has several other major musical reboots on the horizon. After the successful "Rocky Horror Picture Show"-themed episode of "Glee," reports started flooding in that Murphy had met with Fox 2000 about remaking the 1975 cult hit. He was also one of the directors mentioned when Universal started developing a "Wicked" big-screen adaptation last July.

Murphy's decision to pass on "Annie" might have something to do with a more pressing film commitment he's dealing with. In August he confirmed to MTV that he would be directing "The Normal Heart" in June starring Mark Ruffalo. He also has a $5 million open offer from Sony to reteam with Julia Roberts after the success of "Eat Pray Love."

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

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Spike Lee Isn't Interested In Making Barack Obama Film With Will Smith

16 Jan 2009 20:10:00 EST

'Everybody and their mama is doing a documentary on Obama,' director tells MTV News at Sundance.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

The combination of Barack Obama, Will Smith and Spike Lee sounds like a winning ticket on any ballot, be it at the box office or beyond.

But according to the noted Brooklyn filmmaker — despite Obama's comments about his and Smith's similar ears and the Fresh Prince's own lobbying to play the president-elect — a movie involving all three would never happen.

"Not doing it," Lee told MTV News on Friday (January 16) during the Sundance Film Festival. "Everybody and their mama is doing a documentary on Obama."

The "Do the Right Thing" director also added that he's not interested in doing a project on Vice President-elect Joseph Biden either. "It's not an interest for me," he said. "I'd love to see them, but it's not something that I want to do."

Besides, Lee noted, Smith doesn't actually want to portray Barack Obama in a movie — he actually wants to be the president of the United States.

"Will wasn't joking," Lee said, laughing.

In past interviews, Smith has often explained that if he sets his mind on something, he truly believes he can achieve it.

"Obama beat him to the punch," Lee said. "They'll still let him run, though, if he wants. You gotta speak to Will, I guess. I can't speak for him."

Lee is set to host a symposium on Monday at Howard University centered on the inauguration of America's first black president.

"Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow.

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Will Smith, Rosario Dawson Talk Love Scenes At 'Seven Pounds' Premiere

17 Dec 2008 14:45:00 EST

Dawson calls her current co-star, 'Twilight' heartthrob Robert Pattinson, 'amazing.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Larry Carroll

The "Seven Pounds" premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday night brought out everyone from the movie's stars, Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, to Smith's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" co-stars Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro, who revealed that he and Smith are still tight, even though their show ended in 1996.

"Will has the same core group of friends that he had when he started, all the guys from Philly," Ribeiro told MTV News. "We worked together for many years, and we maintained our friendship ever since. Will's not that guy [to leave people behind]. He really cares. If you're a part of the family, you're in forever — you can't get out."

The pair made everyone laugh on the sitcom, but Ribeiro said that Smith's performance in the movie is light-years away from the wacky kid from Philly he played on "Fresh Prince." "I think it's probably one of the most tender performances Will has ever given," Ribeiro said.

Smith also got serious for a moment when he talked about how the film has changed him. "One of the central ideas of this film is, it's a man who made a huge mistake," he told MTV News. "The film is the process of him trying to get his life back together."

He added that playing a guy who is trying to atone for his sins by helping strangers has taught him that "if you can attach to a higher purpose, your life has a meaning, your life has a connection to other people, that because you woke up today, somebody else's life is better — that is the key to that ultimate joy and the ultimate self-esteem."

He disputed the gossip claiming that he found the love scenes with his co-star Rosario Dawson hard to shoot. "No, no that's a rumor, man!" he joked.

But someone who wasn't joking about their intimate moments together onscreen was Dawson. She's currently hard at work on the movie "Parts Per Billion" with Robert Pattinson, whom she calls "amazing."

"[Will's] actually really shy. Not [about] his physique, but doing the love scene was a revelation," she told MTV News. "It was very sweet to see him being like, 'What should I do? ... Maybe my wife should be there. I'm a little nervous. I don't want to be that guy.' "

She said she was afraid he was delaying their onscreen love-fest because he wasn't attracted to her. "It was the thing we talked about consistently when making this film. He kept pushing it until the end of the schedule. He rescheduled our kiss, like, twice. I was starting to get to the point where I thought maybe it was me," she said. "It was getting really weird. And then on the day, he was like, 'Yeah, we're going to get this scene.' And I was like, 'You're just really nervous.' ... And that's just so endearing."

Check out everything we've got on "Seven Pounds."

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

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Will Smith Still Interested In Playing Barack Obama -- If He's Not 'Too Old'

09 Dec 2008 15:07:00 EST

'We'll release it at the end of eight years,' actor suggests for potential biopic.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Lisa Gonzalez

Forget "Frost/Nixon" and "W." There's only one presidential biopic worth talking about as far as Will Smith is concerned, and that's "Obama."

For months now, the president-elect and the world's biggest box-office star have been joking about a potential movie, which will probably never be made. Or will it?

"That would be fantastic," Smith said of the prospect of playing Barack Obama. The actor, who is no stranger to iconic portrayals of historical figures (see "Ali"), told MTV News, "There are so many aspects of that story that people don't know — that people would love to."

Sounds cool, right? Well, don't order your tickets just yet for this flick. You've heard of movies being in development hell? The cause of this delay will be a four-year term or, if Smith has his way, even longer. "We'll release it at the end of eight years," laughed the actor, currently promoting his latest film, "Seven Pounds."

Of course, this isn't the first time Smith has shared his enthusiasm for the project. When MTV News discussed the potential film with Smith over the summer, the superstar was intrigued by the idea of portraying the then-candidate but said it was premature. Asked what it would take to get him onboard, Smith replied, "As soon as he writes the end of the story."

When MTV News recently talked to Smith about his promise, he insisted that while the ending has been written, he wants to give Obama some time to, you know, be president. "He wrote a fantastic ending. I'm going to give him eight years, though," he said. "I don't know if I'll be too old in eight years, but we'll give it a shot."

There is one particular body part that Smith is sure makes him a shoo-in for the part. "It's right here," Smith said over the summer, pointing to his prominent ears. "That's the key. America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears."

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

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Will Smith Says He Would Play Barack Obama On The Big Screen 'As Soon As He Writes The End Of The Story'

25 Jun 2008 14:15:00 EDT

But actor isn't trying to be senator's running mate: 'Movie stars tend to have a little bit higher approval rating than politicians.'
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Josh Horowitz

Will Smith has played Muhammad Ali, a man in black keeping the world safe from alien invaders, the last person on Earth and, in his new movie "Hancock," a boozy superhero with image problems.

But is the king of the Fourth of July opening ready for the biggest role of his career: Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama? In a word, yes.




	Who do you think should play Barack Obama? Comment below, or upload your response video at fnmtv.com. We'll put the best comments and videos on TV!

"It's right here," Smith said, holding up his legendarily prominent ears, which are not unlike Obama's lobes. "That's the key. That's the key. America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears."

All kidding aside, Smith said he's more than willing to sign on for a biographical retelling of the Obama life story, but, he said, not until the tale has a Hollywood-worthy third act. "As soon as he writes the end of the story," Smith said.

Unlike some of his fellow action brethren, though, such as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Smith said he's content to keep his political aspirations confined to the screen. Reminded that Obama has yet to pick a running mate, Smith demurred, saying that's not his game. "Naw, I ... you know, I enjoy being in the movie-star position," he said. "Movie stars tend to have a little bit higher approval rating than politicians."

Back in November, during his MTV/MySpace Presidential Dialogue, Obama was asked who he would like to see play him in a biopic. After asking forum co-host and MTV VJ Sway if he'd be interested in the gig — who turned him down when Obama said he'd have to get a haircut — the senator said Smith would be the right choiceSmith would be the right choice, if only because "his ears match mine."

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

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Jessica Alba Gets Engaged; Plus Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Madonna, Trey Songz, Brandy & More, In For The Record

27 Dec 2007 20:21:00 EST

Cyrus donates autographed b-ball jersey; Jay, 50 make list of biggest celebrity paydays; Madonna flick to premiere in February.
By MTV News Staff

'Tis the season to get engaged, apparently. A day after it was revealed that Fergie and Josh Duhamel are going to be wed comes news that Jessica Alba is engaged to producer Cash Warren, the father of the child the "Awake" actress is expecting. The couple are expecting their first child in late spring or early summer, although a wedding date has yet to be revealed. ...

Miley Cyrus has donated a personalized, autographed Philadelphia 76ers jersey to an auction benefitting charities chosen by the NBA team. The singer/actress also known as Hannah Montana recently performed at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, the same arena where the Sixers play. At press time, bidding for the jersey was at $520. ...

What do Jay-Z, Sammy Hagar, Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and 50 Cent have in common? All five made the cut on Forbes' list of Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007. Fiddy came in second, thanks to the Vitamin Water deal that netted him $100 million, while Jay-Z made $82 million (before taxes) when he sold Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group. Hagar earned almost as much — $80 million — when Gruppo Campari bought his Cabo Wabo tequila brand. ...

Madonna's directorial debut will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place in Germany on February 7-17. Madge's short-form comedy "Filth and Wisdom" counts among its stars Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz, who also starred alongside Elijah Wood in "Everything Is Illuminated." ... In related news, there's cause for Madonna and Green Day to celebrate: Amazon's DRM-free downloads store began selling tunes from the Warner Music Group catalog starting Thursday (December 27), according to Billboard.biz. The development means all four major labels have now committed to eliminating DRM from their catalogs. WMG will also sell additional digital products, including album bundles with exclusive tracks, through Amazon. ...

Don't mess with Trey Songz. Videos circulating online show the R&B singer lashing out at a fan who apparently threw ice at him during a recent concert. As seen in the clips, Trey Songz tells the DJ to cut the music after the objects are thrown, and he then leaps into the crowd with his bodyguard to go after the fan. He is later seen apologizing to the women in the crowd for the disruption. ...

Good news for Brandy: An unnamed California Highway Patrol source reportedly told TMZ.com that the woman who died in a 2006 car crash involving the singer may have actually caused the crash herself. As officials continue to consider filing vehicular manslaughter charges over the December 2006 accident that took the life of Awatef Aboudihaj, the source told TMZ that rather than being the cause of the accident, Brandy may have been a victim of the pileup. According to the sources, Aboudihaj struck the vehicle in front of her and then slammed on her brakes, which caused Brandy to hit the woman's car. The city attorney has until the end of the day Friday to file criminal charges against Brandy in the incident. In the meantime, Brandy is still facing a $50 million wrongful-death suit from Aboudihaj's family. ...

Never afraid to take the unpopular position, TV physician Dr. Phil McGraw told People magazine that he thinks Lynne Spears is doing a great job raising her kids, despite the current controversy over 16-year-old Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. "We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he told the magazine. "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother." McGraw admitted that his friend Lynne Spears is "troubled right now" but is "really looking for the positives in this." The good doctor's wife, Robin, said of the Spears clan, "They're a very strong, close-knit family. ... They're relying on each other." Just days later, Us Magazine reported that the father of the Spears girls, Jamie Spears, was still so "furious" with reports that his ex-wife arranged a $1 million deal with OK! Magazine for the story on Jamie Lynn's pregnancy, that he didn't spend Christmas with his ex-wife or daughter and instead stayed in Los Angeles and worked. ...

It sounds like Rivers Cuomo may have a bigger vault than we thought. The Weezer frontman told Billboard that he would like to release a sequel to Alone -- The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, the solo demos disc that came out last week. "I would love to put out at least one more," he told the magazine. "I'm talking with the record company [now] to figure out what's the best way for me to get more of this stuff out, and if they're gonna be involved or not. But it's certainly my hope to put out as much of this stuff as I can." Cuomo is also working on what he called a "deep and detailed" memoir covering the years from Weezer's formation in 1992 to the release of their self-titled debut in 1994. He expects to spend another year working on the book before turning it in to the publisher. ...

A man who adopted a rock-star alter ego pulled a gun at a Vancouver, Washington, convenience store on Christmas Eve, after several hours of harassing patrons in the quick stop and other local businesses. According to Portland, Oregon's KPTV, the man — who has not been identified — called himself "Ozzy Osbourne" when he pulled out the gun and threatened to shoot a clerk at the convenience store. Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital. ... Dredg have begun writing material for their next album. A statement from the band claims the recording should start before the end of winter, and the group will be on tour in the spring. Songs expected to make the final cut include "Gathering Pebbles," "Mourning This Morning" and "McGuffin." ...

The Anti-Defamation League has come to the defense of actor Will Smith following comments he made about Adolf Hitler during a recent interview with a Scottish newspaper. Smith has claimed his words were twisted, and the ADL has accepted the actor's explanation. "We welcome [his] statement that Hitler was a 'vicious killer' and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise," the group said in a statement, according to multiple reports. The ADL also praised Smith for taking "immediate steps to clarify his words and condemn Hitler."

12.27.07

Josh Duhamel is about to "transform" into Fergie's husband — the couple are engaged, according to TMZ.com. The actor reportedly popped the question recently to the singer. ... Radiohead and Al Gore, a match made in heaven? The band has taped an hour-long performance of In Rainbows and other material that will air Tuesday exclusively in the U.S. on Current TV, which was co-created by the Nobel Peace Prize winner. The pre-recorded performance will air commercial-free at midnight, 1 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., with Current.com also broadcasting it at 12 a.m. ...

With a not-so-subtle message, My Chemical Romance appear to have pulled the plug on their alter-ego band, the Black Parade. The Web site for the fictional group, which MCR toured as in support of the album of the same name, now depicts a ghostly flat-line on a heart monitor, the phrase "00 BMP" and the word "Flatline" in the title bar of the page. MCR do not reference the cryptic message on their own site, and a spokesperson could not be reached for comment at press time. The medical terminology on the Black Parade site ties in with the album's iconography and story line, which revolve around a central character called "the Patient" who dies during the course of the album. ...

Paris Hilton has voiced a desire to participate in philanthropic efforts, but charity might be coming in the way of her potential inheritance, Reuters reports. The hotel heiress' grandfather Barron Hilton is reportedly planning to put 97 percent of his $2.3 billion fortune into a charitable trust. ...

Lindsay Lohan insists she did not drink before the 2005 car crash for which she is being sued. According to The Associated Press, the starlet said in a mid-December declaration that she "did not consume an alcoholic beverage or any type of medication or drug" before or during her visit to the Ivy, a restaurant located in West Hollywood, California. Upon leaving the location, Lohan hit a parked van owned by Raymundo Ortega, who later accused her of negligence and drinking. Attorneys for the restaurant filed Lohan's declaration Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, and they also filed a declaration by Adam Novicki, the waiter who served her that night and has claimed Lohan — who was underage at the time — didn't order alcohol. Ortega is seeking $200,000, while Lohan is asking more than $75,000 in a countersuit she filed in October. ...

Hinder frontman Austin John Winkler was arrested in Jonesboro, Arkansas, last week on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to the Jonesboro Sun. The 26-year-old singer was stopped by police on Friday after his SUV was spotted driving late at night with no headlights. Police reportedly smelled a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle, and Winkler told them he had drank two glasses of wine. He later confessed to consuming four glasses of wine in a four-hour period and was booked. He's scheduled to appear in Craighead County District Court on January 2 to answer to the charge. ...

Though she's no star, Chicago native Jean Johnson also had a recent run-in with police — she spent C

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Madonna Reportedly Snags Kanye West, Pharrell For LP; Plus Jessica Sierra, Gym Class Heroes, Radiohead, Ne-Yo & More, In For The Record

06 Dec 2007 18:01:00 EST

Sierra pleads not guilty to charges; Heroes tapped for Warped Tour; Radiohead to end downloads soon.
By MTV News staff

Time to pucker up for Madonna's next album — Billboard.com reports that the singer has settled on the title for it: Licorice. The effort, which will reportedly feature "Candy Shop" and "The Beat Goes On" (featuring Pharrell), is due in late April and will be Madge's last effort for longtime label Warner Bros. Kanye West is said to be a guest on "The Beat Goes On," according to the site, which also reports that Madonna's vintage track "The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" will get an update on the new disc. ...

Jessica Sierra pleaded not guilty on Thursday (December 6) to charges of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges, according to The Associated Press. The former "American Idol" finalist was arrested early Sunday morning outside a bar in Ybor City, near Tampa, Florida, after causing an unspecified disturbance while working inside the establishment. Sierra's lawyer reportedly said he is consulting with doctors to map out a comprehensive drug and alcohol plan for the ex-"Idol" contestant, who is currently being held without bail. Sierra is to remain in jail at least until her next hearing on December 20. ...

Gym Class Heroes, the Academy Is ... and Relient K will help anchor next year's Warped Tour, according to Alternative Press. Every Time I Die, From First to Last and the Bronx are also among the first 18 bands named for the summer trek, with the dates yet to be announced. ... Speaking of summer fests, Bonnaroo will take place June 12-15 in Manchester, Tennessee, Billboard.com reports. The lineup will be revealed in late January or early February. ... Your chance to download Radiohead's In Rainbows is about to end. The band has announced that the InRainbows.com Web site will close Saturday. But you can still plunk down $80 for the box set at Radiohead's online w.a.s.t.e. store, while supplies last. ...

Ne-Yo and Macy Gray are joining Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and others as they pitch in for presidential aspirant Senator Barack Obama. Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls will play at an Obama fundraiser in Universal City, California, on Monday, while Gray, Tweedy and others will perform at the senator's Friday event in Obama's hometown of Chicago. On a related note, Wilco will set out for a two-week U.S. tour in February. ... Paris, you've got nothing on Britney — Spears outdid Hilton on eBay in terms of related items sold this year. AP reports that 34,345 Brit-related items were sold, compared with 27,377 for Paris. A mere 8,099 items related to Lindsay Lohan were auctioned, while on the movies front, "Transformers" beat out Harry Potter with 442,342 and 344,825 related items sold, respectively. ...

Indie-rockers, state attorneys general and anti-smoking activists are finding themselves on the same side, oddly enough — some of them are reportedly peeved about an ad for Camel cigarettes that appeared alongside a cartoon-heavy indie-rock feature in the magazine's November 15 issue, Pitchfork reports. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has stopped promotions for its "The Farm" marketing campaign after nine attorneys general sued the company over the ads, according to North Carolina's Winston-Salem Journal. More states are reportedly expected to also sue R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which could face a fine of more than $100 million for violating a 1998 agreement between 46 states and tobacco manufacturers. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement banned the use of cartoons to sell market cigarettes in 1997, effectively killing off Joe Camel. Also being debated, according to Pitchfork, are Camel-sponsored concerts that have featured the Flaming Lips, Band of Horses and the Faint. ...

Alicia Keys will ring in the new year with a performance on the roof of New York's Rockefeller Center as part of Carson Daly's shindig on NBC, People.com reports. The show, which will air December 31 at 11:35 p.m. ET, will also feature Lenny Kravitz performing in Times Square. Keys will sing two songs from her latest album, As I Am. ... LL Cool J, Rev Run, Petra Nemcova, Brett Ratner and other celebs have ponied up items for an ongoing online charity auction staged by Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund. "Diamonds Give" features 15 lots of donated diamond pieces and runs through December 16 on eBay. ...

It sounds like U2 might be going back to the future on their upcoming album. The band, which flirted with dance beats and techno on such albums as 1991's Achtung Baby, is incorporating trance, metal and Moroccan influences on its new disc, according to an interview with Bono in The Independent. The singer said fans will "feel the difference. ... Normally when you play a U2 tune, it clears the dance floor. And that may not be true of this. There's some trance influences." He also said the yet-untitled and unscheduled album has some "very hardcore guitar" and "real molten metal" from guitarist the Edge that doesn't sound "like anything we've ever done before, and we don't think it sounds like anything anyone else has done either." Though he wouldn't categorize the album as "world" music, Bono said its sound was inspired in part by a religious music festival the guys attended in Fez, Morocco, where they were exposed to Sufi music. "It was a real humbling thing for a punk-rock shouter, listening to these people who just close their eyes for 40 minutes and sing the most sophisticated melodies." So far, U2 have recorded enough material for two records, he added. ...

Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson recently hung with locals, bathed in an irrigation ditch in their boxers and visited an orphanage in Peru this week, according to AP. An image that surfaced shows the two, who reportedly stayed at a cheap hotel room that cost less than $50 per night, smiling and waving in Cuzco. Cameron Diaz, Bill Gates and others visited the area earlier this year. ... Courtney Love has a new video on her hands ... kind of. A clip featuring manga character Princess Ai — whose universe of properties was co-created by Love — will premiere at the New York Anime Festival on Saturday. "Princess Ai: Broken Leash," which includes live action, animation and music, will appear as part of a CD/DVD anthology due in fall 2008. ... It's hard to keep old punks down. After their recent reunion tour of England this year, punk grandfathers the Sex Pistols will hit the road again next summer, according to Reuters. Guitarist Steve Jones did not give any specifics about the 2008 tour on his Los Angeles radio show on Wednesday, other than to say that the group might play an upcoming charity show at London's Royal Albert Hall organized by Who singer Roger Daltrey. ...

And the battle over James Brown's estate goes on. According to AP, two former trustees for the late singer's estate say the judge who is handling the disputes made them resign in late November. In recently filed court documents, Buddy Dallas and Alford Bradley reportedly said they want to retract their resignations and that South Carolina Circuit Judge Jack Early used "improper judicial influence." They are also seeking for the appointment of their successors to be overturned.

12.5.07

Unlike Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, Kiefer Sutherland is not getting off easy with his DUI — the "24" actor has been sentenced to 48 days in a Los Angeles County jail for his September 24 arrest and violating his probation. The actor must start serving his sentence at the Glendale City Jail prior to March 30, UsMagazine.com reports. He has also been sentenced to five years of probation, must finish a year-and-a-half-long alcohol-education program and go to weekly therapy sessions for a half-year. Sutherland, who had a previous DUI before his fall arrest, had been pulled over by police after making an illegal U-turn and reportedly blew twice the legal blood-alcohol level during a breathalyzer test. He issued a statement after entering a no-contest plea in early October, saying, "I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on '24' and at 20th Century Fox." ... Contrasting with Sutherland's devastating news, Richie caught a break on Wednesday when her court-mandated anti-drinking program granted the socialite a leave of absence, according to People. Coordinators at the program were reportedly worried for Richie's safety, with her rep saying such leaves of absence are granted to people with medical conditions and that she did not get special treatment. Richie is eight months pregnant and has to complete the 18-month program as part of her DUI plea deal ...

Bad news for Vanessa Hudgens: A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday (December 5) that a breach-of-contract suit by her former lawyer can go forward, according to CBS News. Brian L. Schall is suing the "The High School Musical" star for breach of contract, although Hudgens has argued that she was a minor at the time she signed the agreement and therefore isn't bound to it. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Tricia Ann Bigelow said the matter of Hudgens disaffirming her contractual obligations within a reasonable time period is a "factual i

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Will Smith Plays Homeless, Flip-Flop-Wearing Superhero In 'Hancock'

31 Aug 2007 07:52:00 EDT

Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman talk about their roles in unconventional action movie.
By Larry Carroll, with additional reporting by Jeff Cornell

BEVERLY HILLS, California — You might be up on the latest action-movie news regarding "Iron Man," "Justice League of America" and "Watchmen," but have you heard about that other superhero? The alcoholic, homeless guy in the flip-flops? If not, it might be time to put Will Smith's postmodern comic flick on your radar, because it could be on the verge of creating another "John Hancock" revolution.

"We're halfway through it right now," explained director Peter Berg this week, giving us some exclusive details on the film. "Will Smith plays an alcoholic, suicidal superhero [whose actions are] destroying the city of Los Angeles, and he's trying to rehabilitate his image."

"It comes out next summer," added Daeg Faerch, the young actor who landed a role in the flick after he was chosen to star in "Halloween" as the young Michael Myers. "It was called 'Tonight, He Comes,' but now it's called 'John Hancock' because he's a drunk and [when a fan] asks him for his John Hancock, he signs it 'John Hancock.' "

Currently shooting around Los Angeles, the big-budget film — which has also been known simply as "Hancock," but whose title is still up in the air — puts Smith alongside Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman in a dark story that explores the flipside of being a superhero. So if the Venom-suited scenes from "Spider-Man 3" or the peanut-flicking bar moment in "Superman III" were among your favorites, "John Hancock" has your name written all over it.

"Will plays a down-and-out superhero — a drunk, homeless superhero that the [public] doesn't like because he's so drunk that when he solves crime, he creates a lot of collateral damage," Bateman explained of the movie, which has been dangling Smith on wires 50 feet over L.A. streets. "Early in the film he saves my life, and I say to pay him back I'll revamp his image for him because I'm in corporate PR. We're well into that, and I'm buying him a cape and telling him how to do news conferences and all that crap — and then he falls for my wife, Charlize Theron."

"There's a real intelligence to it," said Theron, who reportedly has some steamy scenes with Smith. "[The script] was fun yet smart, complicated [and] had a lot of conflict. I don't see a lot of that coming from Fourth of July movies. I like that."

While the "Pursuit of Happyness" star certainly has the build to play a high-flying hero, don't start imagining him in tights just yet. "He wears, for the most part, a pair of old ratty surf shorts, an old 1958 Philadelphia Eagles hat, a T-shirt and flip-flops," said Berg, promising he'll make the character seem very real.

"I'm a French punk who cuts him off," Faerch said. "He throws me into outer space."

When asked what kind of powers Smith's character has, Bateman replied, "He's got 'em all. He's like Spider-Man, Superman and whatever. He's the kind of superhero that we all live with, like in 'Spider-Man' and 'Superman,' where it's a normal world but he's just one guy that has superhero powers."

Originally written in 1996 and coinciding with Hollywood's blossoming love affair with comic books, "Hancock/ John Hancock/ Tonight, He Comes" has passed through the directorial hands of everyone from Tony Scott ("True Romance") to Michael Mann ("Heat") to Jonathan Mostow ("Terminator 3") and more. Behind-the-scenes talents had various takes on which of two directions the flick should go for it to properly send up the modern superhero: silly (à la "Mystery Men") or serious (like "Watchmen").

Berg, however, saw the script as something in between. "I don't think it's either. It's a pretty straightforward superhero film," he said. "We're introducing a new superhero; it's just that he's got some problems. But at its core, this is an attempt to create a brand-new superhero."

"It's got a lot of interesting, different tones — it's action, it's drama, it's comedy," Bateman agreed. "And with Pete Berg directing it, they definitely wanted to embrace those multiple tones, as opposed to having somebody come in to just deliver this popcorn, commercial film. I hope, I think, it feels like we're executing and delivering them well — it won't just be a typical summer popcorn movie, but it will hold up to high-brow scrutiny."

"I find 'John Hancock' a challenge because it's not something I'm familiar with; it's not a comfort zone with me," Theron said of her work on the set so far. "You throw me in a drama, and I know I can swim — but I like the idea of doing this and looking at Will and saying, 'I don't know, "Men in Black 4," you tell me [how to do it]. I don't do these!' "

"Charlize Theron and I know each other from 'Arrested Development,' so we're getting along incredibly well," Bateman said of the Oscar winner who had a brief story arc on his now-defunct ratings-challenged TV show. "And Will Smith — the guy could run for mayor, governor and president, and I'd vote for all three of them."

"It's a really well-written piece that isn't just fluff," Theron promised. "And it's not just silly comedy. There's a lot of really, really heavy stuff in this."

Whatever the film is eventually called, it will simultaneously soar and stumble into theaters on July 2.

Check out everything we've got on "John Hancock."

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Will Smith

Will Smith, Ben Stiller, Even Paulie Walnuts Open Wallets for Presidential Candidates

17 Jul 2007 16:06:00 EDT

Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Steven Spielberg, Isaiah Washington also among stars who are ponying up.
By Gil Kaufman

What do Tom Hanks and Pauly Shore have in common? About as much as Paul Newman and Jamie Foxx — and no, they're not the cast for "Wild Hogs 2."

They're some of the prominent Hollywood types who've ponied up big bucks in the first six months of 2007 to support the presidential candidacies of Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, respectively, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

A glance at the hundreds of pages of donor lists for the top Republican and Democratic presidential wannabes is full of surprises — like, who knew Ben Stiller was the type to throw heavy chips down on several candidates? — but mostly it confirms the old myth that Tinseltown is a bastion of Democratic good feelings.

Among the actors and singers who've donated between $250 and the $4,600 maximum to Clinton's campaign are: Danny DeVito, Tobey Maguire, Stiller, "Star Trek" actor George Takei, "The Office" actor Ed Helms, Michael Jackson spokeswoman Raymone Bain, Howard Stern regular Dominic Barbara, fashion icon Vera Wang and "The Nanny" star Fran Drescher. They join a list that includes the expected mix of bankers, real estate and insurance moguls, as well as former HBO boss Chris Albrecht and Madeleine Albright, the secretary of state during the Bill Clinton administration.

The list for top Democratic money-hauler Barack Obama is equally star-studded, including Foxx and Newman, as well as Jennifer Aniston, Jodie Foster, Cedric the Entertainer, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, former "Grey's Anatomy" castmember Isaiah Washington, Edward Norton, Eddie Murphy, Zach Braff and Rancid singer Tim Armstrong. Albrecht also doubled-down on Obama, alongside Netscape/Ning founder Marc Andreessen, songwriter Johnta Austin (Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige) and Interscope TV and Film division head Polly Anthony.

In some cases — such as Maguire, Stiller, Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson — the actors donated to Obama in the first quarter and to Clinton in the second, exercising a rule that allows donors to give up to $4,600 ($2,300 each for the primary and general election) to as many different candidates as they choose.

Though his prospects are not as bright as the leading Democrats, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has some big-name firepower behind his campaign as well, including Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, double-dippers Newman and Foster, Steven Steven Spielberg — who is officially endorsing Clinton — model Christie Brinkley and Bette Midler.

The star wattage dips a bit by the time you get to 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards, who got $500 from controversial director Oliver Stone, as well as a $4,600 bump from Stiller and contributions from Albrecht, Dave Matthews Band member Boyd Tinsley, longtime Kiss manager Doc McGhee and Eagles singer Don Henley.

For now, the bottom-tier Democratic candidates have to settle for a "Surreal Life"-worthy cast of supporters, with Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich getting nods from "Will and Grace" actress Shelley "Rosario" Morrison, "Baywatch" co-star Alexandra Paul and "Days of Our Lives" actress Deirdre Hall; while Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd has to make do with modest donations from John Lithgow and the voice of "Kim Possible," Christy Romano. And while his acting cred is solid, it doesn't seem likely that the $700 from "In the Cut" actor Mark Ruffalo is going to do much to help Alaska Senator Mike Gravel.

What about the top Republican candidates? They haven't been totally dissed by Hollywood, though we couldn't find any bold names on the list for one of the leading GOP candidates, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani might be sitting pretty at the polls, but so far his celebrity donations are thin, including Adam Sandler, ex-"Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer, "Dancing With the Stars" hoofer John O'Hurley, "Sopranos" co-star Tony "Paulie Walnuts" Sirico and ex-"Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert.

And, in keeping with his rapidly fading profile, Arizona Senator John McCain's star list is short, comprised most prominently of über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("Pirates of the Caribbean") and his wife.

Visit Movies on MTV.com for more from Hollywood, including news, reviews, interviews and more. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Want trailers? Visit the Trailer Park for the newest, scariest and funniest coming attractions anywhere.

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