December 10, 2002 |
IS HE MAD?
Mel Gibson will pocket a cool $25 million to reprise his role as post-apocalyptic lawman-turned-outlaw Max Rockatansky in a fourth Mad Max film, Variety reports. Titled Fury Road, the $104 million project will start shooting in Australia next May. Incidentally, the first three flicks — 1979's Mad Max, 1981's Mad Max: The Road Warrior and 1985's Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome — grossed only $69 million domestically. We're going to go out on a limb and predict that the latest sequel will make more than that in its opening weekend. In other Hollywood casting news, Tom Hanks has signed on to star in the Coen Brothers' upcoming remake of the 1955 black comedy The Ladykillers. |
DOMESTIC DISPUTE
Tough guy actor Tom Sizemore, star of CBS's Robbery Homicide Division, was arrested Monday at his Los Angeles home for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face and throwing her to the ground. He was later released on $2,500 bail. E! reports that the argument was over the couple's wedding plans. |
NO LAUGHING MATTER
Friends star Matthew Perry is getting serious about his film career. The actor has been cast opposite Robin Tunney in the big-screen relationship drama Fever. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the indie centers around a couple "who are shocked out of the predictability of their relationship by an event that challenges them to either love more deeply or lose each other for good." Sounds like they lost the remote. |
MUSIC KUDOS
R&B newcomer Ashanti was the big winner at last night's Billboard Music Awards, scoring eight trophies including top female artist, R&B/hip-hop artist and female R&B/hip-hop artist. Nelly grabbed six awards (including 2002's top artist) and the album of the year went to Eminem for The Eminem Show. Steven Tyler presented Cher with an achievement award, and comedian Chris Tucker gave a special "Thriller" award to Michael Jackson, who accepted the honor via satellite and then dropped it from a fifth floor balcony. (Just kidding.) |
OOPS... IT'S HIM AGAIN
Pop tart Britney Spears is seeking a restraining order against a 41-year-old Japanese man she says has been stalking her since September. According to court papers, Masahiko Shizawa of Yokohama, Japan, has "tracked and attempted to contact" the 21-year-old singer at her various residences. He allegedly sent Spears photos of himself with notes, "I'm chasing you." Subtle, he's not. |
COUNTDOWN WITH CARSON
Ever wonder what Carson Daly looks like in his jammies? Well, you'll find out on Dec. 31 when the TRL dude hosts MTV's New Year's Eve Pajama Party live from Times Square beginning at 10:30 pm/ET. Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher will share hosting duties with Daly, and live entertainment will be provided by the Foo Fighters, Busta Rhymes and Good Charlotte. |
FAREWELL
Some of the biggest names in ABC News and Sports gathered Monday at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan to bid farewell to broadcasting giant Roone Arledge, who died Thursday of cancer at age 71. Peter Jennings said his former boss "made life and work so exciting," and Diane Sawyer described Arledge as the network's "global positioning system." |
MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR
A group of 100 entertainers, including Kim Basinger, Matt Damon, Ethan Hawke, Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Lange, are banding together to protest a possible war with Iraq. At a press conference today, the celebs — who are calling themselves Artists United To Win Without War — will unveil a letter to President Bush urging him to avoid war. |
WHO CAN'T HEAR?
After 40 years of noisy guitar riffs, rock legend Pete Townshend (The Who) says he's nearly deaf. "The recent return to touring and to me playing electric guitar — albeit more quietly than in the 1970s — led to further deterioration of my hearing," the 57-year-old told London's Sun tabloid. "My right ear, which encounters my own edgy guitar and the machine gun strokes of the drums, has suffered badly. I've no idea what I can do about this." Well, I'm no doctor, but maybe he should give the ax a rest? |
RING AROUND THE SEQUEL
DreamWorks is in talks with Ring director Gore Verbinski to helm a sequel to the hit thriller, which has grossed $123 million to date. There's no word if Naomi Watts will be back. |
SHORT CUTS
With 13 shows to go, Guns N' Roses have cancelled their first tour in a decade. No reason was given, but the move follows recent no-shows in Vancouver and Philadelphia... E! has named Jennifer Aniston its Entertainer of the Year. |
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