Kristen Stewart Set for 'Focus' with Ben Affleck; Bradley Cooper To Receive Palm Springs Fete: Biz Break

1210_KristenKristen Stewart will star opposite Ben Affleck in a con-artist comedy. Also in Monday's round-up of news briefs, a Chinese actor will take up a role in Iron Man 3 as the production heads to Beijing; NY Online Film Critics pick their top film for 2012; and Broken wins top British Independent Film prize.

Kristen Stewart Confirms Focus with Ben Affleck
Stewart says she'll join Ben Affleck in the con-artist comedy Focus. She'll play an inexperienced con artist who meets a more seasoned counterpart, played by Affleck. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa are directing from their script, Deadline reports.

Bradley Cooper to Receive Palm Springs International Film Festival Fete
Silver Linings Playbook" star Bradley Cooper will receive the Desert Palm achievement award for acting at the Palm Springs Film Festival's awards gala. The ceremony will be held Jan. 5 during the 24th edition of the festival taking place January 3 - 14, Variety reports.

China's Wang Xuequi Joins Iron Man 3
Marvel starts filming Iron Man 3 scenes in Beijing and has cast actor Wang Xuequi as a new character, 'Dr. Wu.' It was rumored Hong Kong actor Andy Lau would join the pic as an ally of billionaire inventor Tony Stark, but he backed out, Deadline reports.

NY Film Critics Online Pick Zero Dark Thirty
The New York Film Critics Online gave their kudos to Zero Dark Thirty on Sunday, voting it the year’s best picture and also naming Kathryn Bigelow best director. The film also won an award for Mark Boal’s screenplay, THR reports.

Broken Wins Top British Independent Film Awards Prize
Broken, the debut feature by theatre director Rufus Norris, also picked up a best supporting actor prize for Rory Kinnear. Psychological thriller Berberian Sound Studio won the most awards including best director for Peter Strickland and best actor for Toby Jones, BBC reports.



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