Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Director Dies at 83; The Bourne Legacy Set to Storm Box Office: Biz Break

Also in Friday morning's round-up of news briefs, filmmaker Michael Cimino is set to receive Venice Film Festival honors. Heather Graham will return to The Hangover, while Yancy Butler heads back to one of her former characters. And an Ohio man faces charges for brining a cache of weapons into a theater during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises.

Michael Cimino to Receive Venice Honors
The American writer/director/producer will be feted with the Venice Film Festival's Persol 2012 Award, which recognizes a "legend of international filmmaking." He will be presented with the award at a ceremony August 30th, followed by a screening of Cimino's 1980 film, Heaven's Gate.

Around the 'net…

Willy Wonka Director Mel Stuart Dies at 83
His family said Mr. Stuart died at his Beverly Hills home after battling cancer. He began his career mainly directing documentaries. the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was Stuart's second feature film. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1965 for his documentary, Four Days in November, about the assassination of John F Kennedy, BBC reports.

Bourne Legacy Poised to Seize U.S. Box Office
The Jeremy Renner starter is trending toward a $35 million weekend opening, enough to eclipse The Dark Knight Rises and outpace two other wide-release openers, Hope Springs and The Campaign, Reuters and The Wrap report.

Heather Graham Heads Back to The Hangover
Graham will return to her role as the stripper named Jade in The Hangover III from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. The pic will shoot this fall and brings back Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms - plus brings back Ken Jeong. Graham was absent from the franchise's second installment, THR reports.

Yancy Butler to Return to Kick-Ass 2
Butler will return to her role as the mother of Christopher Mintz-Plasse's character, the villainous Red Mist. Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz are reprising their roles of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Walls, THR reports.

Man Faces Weapons Charges in TDKR Theater Incident
Scott A. Smith, 37, is due in court Friday on two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and 19 counts related to carrying weapons "under disability." He allegedly sat in the back of the theater with a bag that contained 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, two loaded magazine clips and three knives. Another knife was found on his person, CNN reports.