DEAR SALLY... I GOT THE PART!
Katie Holmes' worst nightmare has come true: Her mad crush will soon be spending a lot of time with the planet's most gorgeous creature, Keri Russell. That's right, after months of will-he or won't-he speculation, J.J. Abrams has cast his onetime Felicity muse in Mission: Impossible 3. According to Variety, Russell will portray a trainee agent mentored by Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character. The role was originally pegged for Scarlett Johansson, but she dropped out when the pic was delayed. Now, let's have a moment of silence for the Tomkat. |
GET READY FOR... THE JACKSONS
On the heels of the big acquittal, the Jackson family is reportedly shopping around a six-episode reality series that would offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the clan has rallied around Michael during his recent legal nightmare. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Fox, ABC and A&E Network are among the outlets that have been approached. It's not clear which family members would take part in the show, but it's safe to say LaToya and Tito are on board. |
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
TNT's new Kyra Sedgwick drama The Closer set ratings records in its debut Monday. Roughly 7 million people caught the premiere, making it basic cable's most-watched scripted series telecast ever. |
HOT ACQUISITION
The Sci Fi Channel has snagged all 14 episode of Joss Whedon's short-lived Fox series Firefly, per Variety. The acquisition is timed to capitalize on the upcoming Firefly feature, Serenity. |
FAIR AND BALANCED PACT?
Fox News Channel has promoted Geraldo Rivera to correspondent-at-large as part of a new four-year deal with the network. Rivera's previous title was walking-punchline-at-large, so this is a pretty sizeable bump. |
NOT A GOOD THING
Los Angeles just scored a ring-side seat to this fall's biggest TV duel: Martha Stewart's forthcoming NBC-owned talk show will go up against The Oprah Winfrey Show weekdays at 3 pm in L.A. beginning Sept. 12. And she thought prison was tough. |
SPOILERS GALORE
24's new day may not dawn until January 2006, but already intel is pouring in. Check out today's fresh Ask Ausiello for the latest scoop on Season 5. Also, read about the Desperate Housewives controversy that has everyone (read: mostly me) talking and get the first Charmed spoiler of the new fall season! (This concludes the shameless plug portion of Entertainment News.) |
DOWN FOR THE COUNT
Universal is blaming bad scheduling — and not Russell Crowe's high profile phone fiasco — on Cinderella Man's lackluster box office performance. Despite mostly glowing reviews, the adult-themed boxing drama has gotten KO'd by such popcorn flicks as Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Madagascar. |
STORK REPORT
Married Melrose Place grads Doug Savant and Laura Leighton welcomed Baby No. 4, daughter Lucy Jane, into the world on June 9. |
FIRST AND FOREMOST
Talk about a dream team: Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep are in talks to star in Disney's big-screen comedy First Man. De Niro would play a Ted Turner-like mogul who puts his career on hold to help his wife (Streep) become the first female president of the United States. Murphy Brown's Diane English is on board to write and direct, so don't be surprised if Candice Bergen shows up as Speaker of the House or something. |
MORE MOVIE NEWS
Vin Diesel is attached to headline a feature version of the Eidos Interactive's videogame franchise Hitman, per Variety... Howard Stern is developing a sequel to classic comedy Porky's. |
HE'S DA MAN
In honor of Pac-Man's 25th birthday this month, Namco is developing a special 25th anniversary edition of the classic arcade game. Note to Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde: Run for your freakin' life! |
