Tom Hanks' Saving Mr. Banks Heads into Production in L.A.
The story is an account of Walt Disney’s twenty-year pursuit of the film rights to P.L. Travers’ popular novel, Mary Poppins, and the testy partnership he develops with the uptight author during the project’s pre-production in 1961. Two-time Academy Award®-winner Tom Hanks will portray Disney (the first time he has ever been depicted in a dramatic film) alongside fellow double Oscar®-winner Emma Thompson in the role of the prickly novelist.
Daniel Craig, Quentin Tarantino Among BAFTA Los Angeles Honorees
Craig, Tarantino along with Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Will Wright will be among the recipients of the 2012 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards on November 7th. Craig will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year, while BAFTA Award-winning director Quentin Tarantino will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, will receive the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. Video game designer Will Wright will receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.
Inescapable Heads to U.S. Theaters
The thriller starring Alexander Siddig, Joshua Jackson and Marisa Tomei screened as a Gala at the recent Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Canadian-based filmmaker Ruba Nadda (Cairo Time), Inescapable revolves around a Syrian expatriate (Siddig) whose journalist daughter goes missing in Damascus. He returns to his homeland to find her, despite the risks, and calls on a former love (Tomei) to help him, as well as an embassy official (Jackson) who is helpful at first, but may have an agenda of his own. IFC Films acquired the title from Myriad Pictures. Alliance Films is distributing in Canada.
Around the 'net…
Forbes' List of Richest Americans Filled with Tech and Media Moguls
America's richest man is still Bill Gates (at $66 billion) followed by Warren Buffet ($46 billion). Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg fell to 36th on the list, tying with News Corp's Rupert Mrudoch at $9.4 billion. Others on the list, David Geffen (57th at $5.6 billion), Viacom and CBS chairman Sumner Redstone (91st at $4.1 billion), George Lucas (120th at $3.3 billion) and Steven Spielberg (125th at $3.2 billion), Deadline reports.
Innocence of Muslims Actress Sues Producer and YouTube
Cindy Lee Garcia, an actress at the firestorm of controversy throughout the Muslim world igniting violent demonstrations has filed a complaint in L.A. Superior Court agains the film's producer, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula (aka Sam Bacile) saying she was duped into appearing in the film. She is also going after YouTube and its owner Google for refusing to take the video down, THR reports.