New poster for The Hunger Games revealed

[brightcove]1275910811001[/brightcove]Yesterday we brought you an exclusive piece of The Hunger Games poster puzzle, the promotional race to unveil a new one-sheet for the upcoming sci-fi feature.Well, one ardent superfan has already emerged victorious in the mad scramble to find and assemble the 100 pieces, so we can, with pleasure, reveal the first full poster below.It features Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss and fellow District 12 resident Josh Hutcherson in the Capitol arena, and looks like an indication of the film's epic scope. Let's hope there's more where that came from.The Hunger Games opens on 23 March 2012.

'Young Adult' ensemble honored at Palm Springs fest

'Young Adult'The ensemble from "Youthful Adult" will get the Vanguard Award in the 23rd annual Palm Springs Worldwide Film Festival. Helmer Jason Reitman is going to be became a member of through the film's stars, Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt, and film writer Diablo Cody when he accepts the award in a Jan. 7 gala held in the Palm Springs Convention Center."The filmmakers and cast represent the the best and many exciting filmmaking work of the season and also have shipped a biting black comedy as deeply poignant because it is funny," stated festival chairman Harold Matzner.Reitman joins formerly introduced honorees George Clooney, Glenn Close, Michel Hazanavicius, Octavia Spencer and Michelle Williams. The festival runs Jan. 5-16. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Google acquires RightsFlow

Striving to streamline obligations to artists and entrepreneurs, YouTube parent Google has acquired certification and royalty verifying service RightsFlow.RightsFlow, launched in 2007, relies on a 30-million-song database and proprietary technology to enhance tunes to entrepreneurs and manage payment.Though featuring numerous musicvideos on its site, YouTube has every so often stood a contentious relationship with entrepreneurs over royalty obligations, disbursement which could frequently be considered a Byzantine process."By mixing RightsFlow's expertise and technology with YouTube's platform, hopefully to more rapidly and effectively license music online,Inch written YouTube product manager David King round the company's blog, "meaning more music to suit your needs all to relish plus much more money for your gifted people creating the music activity.InchThe deal were not revealed. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Dodgers Win Suitable For Early TV Privileges Putting in a bid Fox To Appeal, Bloomberg Reviews

The La Dodgersreceived personal bankruptcy court permission Thursday to try and sell future TV privileges to the baseball games several weeks before their existing contract with Fox Sports enables, Bloomberg reported. The government personal bankruptcy judge in Delaware overruled Fox’s objection towards the team entering early discussions with Fox rivals. Fox Sports has broadcasting privileges with the 2013 season but was fighting to retain exclusive putting in a bid privileges under that contract until November. 30, 2012. That contract might have precluded every other bidders just before that date however the judge’s decision Thursday removed that exclusivity.The judge gave Fox 45 days exclusivity arrive at a brand new agreement using the Dodgers. The countdown for your window began November 30. If no deal is arrived at, Time Warner Cable Corporation. is wanting to jump in to the fray. It already won the privileges to broadcast La Opposing team games on the new regional sports network that will replace previous privileges holder Fox Sports. Competition for sports programming is driving up prices for privileges and permitting early putting in a bid around the Dodgers will probably increase the need for they within the approaching purchase. The Dodgers declared personal bankruptcy in June with the concept that arises from the purchase of media privileges would be employed to pay creditors. Current team owner Frank McCourt meant to retain possession but Mlb decided to a purchase to eliminate McCourt, whose stewardship continues to be under optimal. Fox appeals the ruling. Meantime the Dodgers and Fox will attempt to determine whether discussions for any new TV contract can start immediately or must wait pending the network’s benefit of Thursday’s ruling. Regardless of the outcome, any purchase of TV privileges necessitates the approval from the personal bankruptcy judge,Major league baseball and also the winning bidder for that team.

Bedlam launches 'Titanic: Situation Closed'

Bedlam Productions, among the shingles behind "The King's Speech," has created an element-length TV drama docu "Titanic: Situation Closed," that has been clicked up by Smithsonian within the U.S. and National Geographic for worldwide feeds. The 90-minute feature is skedded to broadcast in April 2012, to mark the centenary from the ship's sinking. Story explores the reason why behind the sinking and insufficient save from the RMS Titanic, and sees Tim Matlin, author of countless tomes around the Titanic (including "101 Stuff You Thought You Understood Concerning the Titanic But Did not") visit locations across Europe, United States and also the Atlantic Sea to satisfy with experts and perform a number of eye-opening experiments. Docu is written and helmed by Nigel Levy, whose credits include drama docu series "Horizon" for that BBC and "Fatal Attraction" for Animal Planet. Bedlam's Simon Breen and Airborne TV and Film's Stuart Burrage professional produce. Docu reps Bedlam's first foray in to the TV arena with the banner. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Take advantage of Fiennes Stars In and Directs 'Coriolanus'

Take advantage of Fiennes Stars In and Directs 'Coriolanus' By Dany Margolies December 8, 2011 "Coriolanus" When he will be a child, Take advantage of Fiennes was presented with the gift of Shakespeare. His mother loved tracks in the Bard together with other spoken-word pieces and would play them on her behalf youthful boy. These tracks gave him the freedom and permission becoming an artistand anyone to whom Shakespeare seems a preliminary language. Now known with the world as Voldemort inside the "Harry Potter" franchise, the British actor has over time caught the eye of Us citizens for such projects as "Schindler's List," "Quiz Show," "The British Patient," "Oscar and Lucinda," "The Ceaseless Novel reader,Inch andfor people who might doubt he's a sense of humor"Wallace & Gromit inside the Curse in the Were-Rabbit," because the voice in the gold-digging aristo Victor Quartermaine.Fiennes presently stars since the titular Roman general and family guy inside the film version of "Coriolanus," which Fiennes also directed. Not remarkably, the classical language slips off his tongue and the intensity burns using the screen. But his direction is drawing admiration. His vision wound up being to create the playwhich according to him he "strongly" edited with film author John Loganin the information age, so riots is introduced over 24-hour news feed and figures check their Mobile phones. Fiennes saved the dialogue Shakespeare's, however, safeguarding, while he states, the "sports" language.He carried out Coriolanus in the 2000 stage production with London's Almeida Theatre, directed by Jonathan Kent. Fiennes states the best challenge of the prolonged run wound up being not to increase the risk for angry soldier one-note or tiresome for the audience. When undertaking in the warehouse, having its great look but bad acoustics, he highlights, it's challenging vocally to discover versions in "rageful." Following a Almeida production, Fiennes began collecting imagery and ideas for locations for his film version.More youthful crowd collected an incredible castincluding Jessica Chastain, John Cox, Gerard Butler, and Vanessa Redgrave (as Coriolanus' mother, Volumnia). Nearly all his pointing of those, Fiennes states, composed of asking for simplicity. Later he labored hands-on in postproduction, where he was reminded that exactly why is the most effective take is honesty inside the performance.Fiennes must have learned numerous this within the much-acclaimed youth, however. After attending art school london, he was recognized to and completed studies within the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won high quality prizesincluding people for verse, classical, and stage combat. However the stars he most admires will be the Russians, though he notes they've the benefit of playing their figures for any very long time on finish.That belongs to them work onstage as Coriolanus about 10 years ago, Fiennes states it had not been in your body on opening evening. He talks along with his hands while he describes simply how much he wants their very own attempt to permeate his flesh, and there is disappointment within the voice while he talks about room for improvement. But more youthful crowd talks about luck: the explanation for his honours in class, the primary reason he was recognized for the National Theatre as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company at first, the main reason Steven Spielberg attracted on him to see the vile Amon Goeth in "Schindler's List."The low-to-earth Fiennes chats easily about print journalism, mentioning he loves the appearance of holding paper, whether newspaper or books. According to him he's maintained his books inside the years, loving to produce included and feel them in the possession of. While speaking regarding the subject, he seems to produce those to existence while he gestures along with his disposal. No mere luck, no disappointing performance there: That's making his audience see what he sees, and also the appreciative fans know he's carried this out for any very long time.Outtakes Other films include "The Visitors" and "In Bruges"Will next be viewed in "Wrath in the Leaders" as well as the Jason Bourne film "Skyfall"States the custom is always to pronounce the title in the place as "Cor-EYE-o-lee" nevertheless the character as "Cor-ee-o-LAY-nis" Carried out Hamlet within the civilized world Finish and also on Broadway, also under Jonathan Kent, winning a 1995 Tony Award Take advantage of Fiennes Stars In and Directs 'Coriolanus' By Dany Margolies December 8, 2011 "Coriolanus" When he will be a child, Take advantage of Fiennes was presented with the gift of Shakespeare. His mother loved tracks in the Bard together with other spoken-word pieces and would play them on her behalf youthful boy. These tracks gave him the freedom and permission becoming an artistand anyone to whom Shakespeare seems a preliminary language. Now known with the world as Voldemort inside the "Harry Potter" franchise, the British actor has over time caught the eye of Us citizens for such projects as "Schindler's List," "Quiz Show," "The British Patient," "Oscar and Lucinda," "The Ceaseless Novel reader,Inch andfor people who might doubt he's a spontaneity"Wallace & Gromit inside the Curse in the Were-Rabbit," since the voice in the gold-digging aristo Victor Quartermaine.Fiennes presently stars since the titular Roman general and family guy inside the film version of "Coriolanus," which Fiennes also directed. Not remarkably, the classical language slips off his tongue and also the intensity burns using the screen. But his direction is drawing admiration. His vision wound up being to create the playwhich according to him he "strongly" edited with film author John Loganin the information age, so riots is introduced over 24-hour news feed and figures check their Mobile phones. Fiennes saved the dialogue Shakespeare's, however, safeguarding, while he states, the "sports" language.He carried out Coriolanus in the 2000 stage production with London's Almeida Theatre, directed by Jonathan Kent. Fiennes states the best challenge of the prolonged run wound up being not to increase the risk for angry soldier one-note or tiresome for the audience. When undertaking in the warehouse, having its great look but bad acoustics, he highlights, it's challenging vocally to discover versions in "rageful." Following a Almeida production, Fiennes began collecting imagery and ideas for locations for his film version.More youthful crowd collected an incredible castincluding Jessica Chastain, John Cox, Gerard Butler, and Vanessa Redgrave (as Coriolanus' mother, Volumnia). Nearly all his pointing of those, Fiennes states, composed of asking for simplicity. Later he labored hands-on in postproduction, where he was reminded that exactly why is the most effective take is honesty inside the performance.Fiennes must have learned numerous this within the much-acclaimed youth, however. After attending art school london, he was recognized to and completed studies within the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won high quality prizesincluding people for verse, classical, and stage combat. However the stars he most admires will be the Russians, though he notes they've the benefit of playing their figures for any very long time on finish.That belongs to them work onstage as Coriolanus about 10 years ago, Fiennes states it was not in your body on opening evening. He talks along with his hands while he describes simply how much he wants their very own attempt to permeate his flesh, and there's disappointment within the voice while he talks about room for improvement. But more youthful crowd talks about luck: the explanation for his honours in class, the primary reason he was recognized for the National Theatre as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company at first, the primary reason Steven Spielberg attracted on him to see the vile Amon Goeth in "Schindler's List."The low-to-earth Fiennes chats easily about print journalism, mentioning he loves the appearance of holding paper, whether newspaper or books. According to him he's maintained his books over time, loving to produce included and feel them in the possession of. While speaking regarding the subject, he seems to produce those to existence while he gestures along with his disposal. No mere luck, no disappointing performance there: That's making his audience see what he sees, and also the appreciative fans know he's carried this out for any very long time.Outtakes Other films include "The Visitors" and "In Bruges"Will next be viewed in "Wrath in the Leaders" as well as the Jason Bourne film "Skyfall"States the custom is always to pronounce the title in the place as "Cor-EYE-o-lee" nevertheless the character as "Cor-ee-o-LAY-nis" Carried out Hamlet within the civilized world Finish and also on Broadway, also under Jonathan Kent, winning a 1995 Tony Award

Walnut and Vine

Marin Ireland, Jeanine Serralles, Trent Dawson and Peter Kim in "Walnut and Vine" A Playwrights Horizons presentation of the play in 2 functions by Jordan Harrison. Directed by Anne Kauffman.Katha - Marin Ireland Ryu - Peter Kim Dean - Trent Dawson Ellen, Jenna - Jeanine Serralles Roger, Omar - Pedro PascalJordan Harrison shelves up beaucoup points for originality with "Walnut and Vine," a satirical fantasy in regards to a contempo husband and wife who chuck their appropriately effective but demanding urban lives to consider residence inside a re-enactment community inside a suburb where it's forever 1955. Play requires a narrow look at the complex social systems that gave postwar America its feeling of stability, and also the plot activates a cliched sexual-identity crisis. However the writing is clever and Anne Kauffman's extremely wise production adds substantially towards the entertainment value. Lots of hands assisted shape this darkly appealing story book. Script was commissioned through the Stars Theater of Louisville and Berkeley Repetition and initially produced by the Ordinary people. Playwrights Horizons walked in after its premiere production in the 2011 Humana Festival. The attractive physical style of the show is really a study in contrasts. On Alexander Dodge's set, the twenty-first century is made in neon blues, rain-streaked glass, and highly polished metal surfaces -- a pleasant reflection from the chilly modern world lived on by Katha (Marin Ireland), a posting professional, and her husband Ryu (Peter Kim), a cosmetic surgeon. Ireland delivers a shateringly funny portrait of nerve-wracked Katha, who eliminates getting an overall total meltdown by giving up her job. Husband Ryu, a sensitive and macho guy in Kim's appealing perf, jettisons their own career ambitions to aid his depressive spouse when she indicates they unplug themselves using their separating cell phones and apple ipods and videogames and take a long visit to the greater interactive nineteen fifties. Harrison engineers their escape through the Society of Dynamic Obsolescence, a whimsical organization of nineteen fifties re-enactors who've built one suburb of this vapid period. Unlike the black-and-whitened movies of this decade, this restoration community is available within the real life as well as in living color -- the signal for that designers to drench happens in hot lights and haul the Danish Modern furniture and crinoline petticoats. (Ilona Somogyi's wasp-waisted dresses are legitimately ghastly.) Dean, the jolly employer for SDO (performed having a relentless smile by Trent Dawson) and the adoring wife Ellen (Jeanine Serralles, flashing her very own rictus smile), function as instructors and guides for this Technicolor fantasy world. Dean will get Ryu employment around the set up line in the local box factory, Ellen gives Katha her recipe for pigs-in-a-blanket, and before lengthy, the beginners are pretty much modified for their rigid roles. Adopted this superficial level, "Walnut and Vine" is harmless fun. But outdoors of the scaly-lower party (with period-appropriate Smirnoff vodka, not modern-day Gray Goose) and a game title of charades, the Society of Dynamic Obsolescence does not really provide the human connections that Dean guaranteed these pigeons when he employed them. The moments are extremely sketchy, the cast of figures too modest, and also the scribe's ambitions too small to create the bowling leagues, the whist parties, the knitting circles, the Bingo nights, the PTA conferences, the social club dances, and also the high-school football games that composed the material of community existence. But when he does not do justice towards the social scene, Harrison is much more secure covering the moral climate, that they signifies weight loss repressive than innocent. Like a Japanese-American within this postwar world, Ryu does not possess a prayer of moving away from the set up line, and Katha just needs to lump it when she knows that the pill has not come to exist yet. Funny factor about nostalgia, the truth is always more difficult compared to dream. And also the period evils of racial prejudice and sexual suppression are clearly simpler targets for Harrison to defend myself against compared to period values of political patriotism and marital fidelity.Sets, Alexander Dodge costumes, Ilona Somogyi lighting, David Weiner original music and seem, Bray Poor production stage manager, William H. Lang. Opened up 12 ,. 7, 2011. Examined 12 ,. 2. Running time: 2 Hrs. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Healthy Hollywood: Great Food Friday Kristin Chenoweths Healthy High Notes!

First Released: December 2, 2011 12:44 PM EST Credit: Prevention Magazine NY., N.Y. -- Caption Kristin Chenoweth around the cover of Prevention magazine (Jan. 2012)Just four-feet-eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is really a pint-sized giant. The actress, 43, has mastered Broadway and it is ready for primetime with Basic steps new dramedy, GCB. Despite her success, Kristin is not safe from health difficulties similar to the relaxation people. The actress discloses in Januarys Prevention magazine that shes fought depression and Menieres disease, the industry disorder that triggers extra congestion within the body and frequently to results in vertigo. Anyone who has it recognizes that its existence changing, discloses the actress in Prevention. As a consequence of her condition, she needs to make changes to her diet, adding, Salt is really a large trigger I must a consume a low-sodium diet in a major way. I additionally avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol. The toughest factor is resting on an incline. I cant sleep flat, since the mind position affects the body. Kristins has additionally fought depression, an ailment shes learned to deal without needing medication. I depend on therapy, counseling with my minister, speaking with my mother. Investing privacy in order to hear what I have to hear. Dealing with it what about that? Just dealing with it. It is the simple things in existence that will help a lot more than Vicodin, discloses Kristin to Prevention. Healthy Hollywood gives two huge thumbs as much as the stars refusal to self-medicate rather she handles existence on lifes terms. Approach to take, girl! For additional on Kristins interview, browse the The month of january problem of Prevention magazine or diet-related tips mind to world wide web.prevention.com Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Entertainment Moguls to Address Wall Street Next Week as 2011 Enters Home Stretch

Asked about his most challenging role to date, Christopher Plummer gives a surprising answer.our editor recommendsTHR Actor Roundtable: George Clooney's Worst Job, Nick Nolte's Thoughts On Death, and Who Has 'Rage' IssuesFEINBERG FORECAST: Christopher Plummer, Glenn Close, Brad Pitt, Viola Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio in Hunt for First OscarsGotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best Feature PHOTOS: Gotham Awards 2011: The Red Carpet "I think the part in The Sound of Music was the toughest," the actor said during The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive actors roundtable interview. Joined by fellow award contenders George Clooney, Albert Brooks, Gary Oldman, Christoph Waltz and Nick Nolte, Plummer offered his thoughts, expertise and experience with the craft. The actor, now approaching 82 years of age, has played King Lear, American journalist Mike Wallace, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and most recently, an elderly gay man who comes out late in life in Beginners. Yet it was his turn as Captain von Trapp in the 1965 musical that was the most difficult to perform. VIDEOS: THR's Awards Season Actors Roundtable "Because it was so awful and sentimental and gooey," he explained with a laugh. "You had to work terribly hard to try and infuse some miniscule bit of humor into it." The Robert Wise-directed film, which also starred Julie Andrews, went on to become an iconic piece of work. At the time of release,Plummer was 36-years-old. "It's a very good picture [for] what it is," he said. "But somebody had to be Peck's bad boy and I chose myself." Plummer went on to discuss his transition from stage to screen and why the "drunk stage" of his life provided the most rewarding projects. Watch the video above and for more from THR's actors roundtable, click here. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery THR's Awards Season Roundtable Series 2011: The Actors Related Topics Christopher Plummer Beginners

Kanye Tops Grammy Nominations

Kayne West Kanye brought the area with seven Grammy nominations, including Song of the season and finest Rap Performance, because the Recording Academy introduced the nominees having a live, music-filled special Wednesday evening. NCIS: La star (and Grammy champion) LL Awesome J located the celebration for any 4th time. Following West in nominations were Adele, Foo Martial artists and Bruno Mars with six each. Lil Wayne and Skrillex each received five nods.Browse the relaxation of present day news Highlights from CBS' The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! - Countdown to Music's Greatest Evening incorporated performances from Rhianna, Jason Aldean, Beyonce (via satellite from London), Ludacris, This Guitar Rock Band Perry and Sugarland joining Rhianna. Usher, became a member of by Valerie Simpson and Mike Stoller, also carried out a moving tribute to 2 from the industry's most beloved songwriting teams: Ashford & Simpson and Lieber & Stoller. Both Nick Ashford and Jerry Lieber died captured. Common, Grandmaster Expensive, Lupe Fiasco and LL Awesome J also rocked it old-fashioned with "The Content.Inch One of the nominees within the general groups introduced on air: Album of the season: 21, Adele Wasting Light, Foo Martial artists Born By Doing This, Rhianna Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars Noisy, Beyonce Record of the season: "Moving within the Deep," Adele "Holocene," Bon Iver "Grenade," Bruno Mars "The Cave," Mumford & Sons "Firework," Katy Perry Song of the season: "All the Lights," Kanye, et al "The Cave," Mumford & Sons "Grenade," Bruno Mars "Holocene," Bon Iver "Moving within the Deep," Adele Best New Artist: This Guitar Rock Band Perry Bon Iver J. Cole Nicki Minaj Skrillex For any full listing of nominees, browse the Grammys website. The 54th annual Grammy Honours ceremony will air survive Sunday, February. 12 (8/7c) on CBS.

Watch Charlize Theron Become Enraged in Young Adult Red Band Spot

Charlize Theron said recently that she took a four-year break from acting to work with her production company, so it’s interesting to consider what about Young Adult (besides the Oscar-friendly duo of Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody) would drag her back into the craft. Here’s an idea: She gets to be profane, uncompromising, and really, really pissed off. In this red-band spot for the new film (out December 9), Theron loses her shit with Elizabeth Reaser, who plays her ex-beau’s (Patrick Wilson) new wife. Yikes. She’s quite not Mommie Dearest livid, but Theron’s character Mavis is a snide, warped version of Faye Dunaway’s famous nutjob here — not to mention entitled, condescending, and superficial. Young Adult could really be called “The Modern Asshole Lady.” Tthankfully it’s not, so that title can now go to the awesome new Conde Nast publication I’m planning. On this month’s cover: The Millionaire Matchmaker’s Patti Stanger and the 101 Best Aristocratic Grimaces of 2011! Hot Trailer: Red Band Spot for ‘Young Adult’

Finland steams up box office

HELSINKI -- Overlooked in the past couple of years as Swedish and Danish crime thrillers have been storming the world's book stores and screens, Finnish film may be poised for its own international breakthrough.Out is the dour, taciturn image of yesterday -- saunas, suicide and mosquito slapping contests washed down with gallons of vodka. In are characters that aim to make women swoon even as they play to men with a mix of humor and darkly cynical genre tropes.An example is "Vares Private Eye," which features well-known Scandi character actor Antti Reini as Jussi Vares, a tough guy with a weakness for beer and women.Based on a series of bestselling Finnish detective stories by Reijo Maki, Helsinki-based Solar Films' slate of six 90-minute feature films is off to a flying start on home turf. The first three films, all released this year, occupy three of the top four spots at the Finnish box office, with "Vares -- pahan suudelma," directed by Anders Engstrom, taking in more than 200,000 admissions.The final three Vares films, all shot in 2010 in about 120 days for approximately 5.5 million ($7.6 million) are on tap for 2012, with one directed by Engstrom, and the other two by Lauri Torhonen. Depending on the local appetite for the pics, another six to 12 are on tap from Solar for 2013.But crime isn't the only genre on the Finnish horizon. Nazis-on-the-moon sci-fi spoof "Iron Sky" is set to hit screens in April, with an online fan base that ponied up nearly a tenth of the film's $10 million budget, as well as a board game and a series of comicbook prequels helping to stoke buzz.Meanwhile, Ilkka Matila of Matila Rohr Prods. -- whose resume spans European and Russian co-productions including Fedor Bondarchuk's Afghan war drama "9th Company" -- also has a couple of Nordic films on his slate: "Priest of Evil," based on Matti Yrjana Joensuu's series of police thrillers; and "Body of Water," a thriller that revolves around a terrifying secret. The "Priest of Evil" book has been translated into more than eight languages worldwide including English, while "Body of Water" was featured during the Finnish Film Gala Night at Helsinki's Love & Anarchy film festival in September.Markus Selin, founder and owner of Solar Films, has high hopes for the screen adaptations, but says Finns need to build a better Stateside network to help achieve an international breakthrough."It will happen -- in a year or 10 years. It needs a few films where the directors get hired in Hollywood," he says. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Muppets Unscripted: Miss Piggy, Kermit, Jason Segel and Amy Adams Talk Fashion, Films and Fozzie Bear

Underwhelmed by the Empire Magazine 'Dark Knight Rises' covers featuring Bane and Batman? Fear not! The magazine also has an exclusive interview with Christopher Nolan, where the notoriously spoiler-conscious director reveals a bit of plot information that is sure to pique the interest of fanboys near and far. Spoilers ahead! "It's really all about finishing Batman and Bruce Wayne's story," Nolan told Empire. "We left him in a very precarious place. Perhaps surprisingly for some people, our story picks up quite a bit later, eight years after 'The Dark Knight.' So he's an older Bruce Wayne; he's not in a great state." That's right, y'all: Future Batman! The time jump -- beyond being cool -- will also likely help the narrative structure. After all, 'The Dark Knight' ended with Batman on the run and The Joker captured. By starting nearly a decade after, many difficult to untangle knots -- like immediately dealing with the real-life death of Heath Ledger and the absence of The Joker -- will be mostly inconsequential to the story. [via Empire] [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

The Ambassador ((Ambassadoren))

'The Ambassador'A Zentropa Real Aps presentation, in colaboration with New Danish Screen, in co-production with Film i Huge, Zentropa Intl. Sweden. (Worldwide sales: Trust Nordisk, Copenhagen.) Produced by Peter Engel, Carsten Holst. Executive producers, Peter Aalbaek Jensen, Peter Garde. Co-producers, Petri Rossi, Peter p Maegd, Madeleine Ekman. Directed by Mads Brugger. Script, Maja Jul Larsen, Brugger.With: Mads Brugger, Avoi Jakobsen, Colin Evans, Varney Sherman, Dalkia Gilbert, Albert, Bernard, Paul. (British, French, Danish, Sango dialogue)Shot mainly on hidden cameras, troubling docu "The Ambassador" tracks Danish helmer Mads Brugger ("The Red-colored-colored Chapel") around the semicomic, semiserious pursuit to reveal how easy it's to fake a title to have the ability to bribe government bodies and smuggle blood stream diamonds from central Africa. Thinking about that Brugger works in submitting corruption that will surprise nobody, questions remain about what much much deeper points the pic is trying to create, because the representation in the residents teeters round the side of racism. However, if auds aren't troubled by such issues, "The Ambassador" should make diplomatic missions to assist fests and TV shops. Getting shaved his mind, donned a costly suit, and adopted "Mads Cortzen" as his alias, Brugger can get lower to business inside the opening minutes by settling with restless Liverpuddlian Colin Evans, shot without Evans' awareness. Evans signifies a company that effectively sells diplomatic sexual and status to people prone to work in nations like the Central African Republic (Vehicle), where blood stream diamonds could be bought -- the biz Brugger hints to Evans he wants to find yourself in. Before extended, Brugger/Cortzen is possessing a Liberian diplomatic passport, despite the fact that papers that guarantee full diplomatic status remain tantalizingly unobtainable through the pic, despite numerous phone calls to fixers and money bribes moved with the amusingly titled "the the envelopes of happiness." Brugger produces shop in CAR's capital, Bangui, and proceeds to oil the wheels of commerce with further the the envelopes, particularly to government apparatchik Dalkia Gilbert, who easily also runs a gem mine. Needing an appliance cover story to explain his presence in Vehicle, Brugger pretends being creating a match factory employing pygmies, which sooner or later occasions a "pygmy party" inside a native village. Two stoical, poker-faced pygmies, known only as Albert and Bernard, are used as his assistants, and lastly Brugger claims those are the main residents he feels they can trust, specially when it starts to look like his translator, Paul, is at cahoots with Gilbert. It soon becomes apparent that in this postcolonial economy, nearly everyone would be to scam everyone else. It's with this point the pic seems being edging into politically incorrect territory as, Albert and Bernard aside, virtually every African is represented as buffoonish, venal or both, although being fair, all the Males and ladies appear much like morally reprehensible, otherwise a lot more. Ultimately, auds can start to question what novel information exactly remains uncovered with this particular journey into what's, to describe Brugger, Africa's spleen of darkness. Nonetheless, Brugger guarantees it's a fairly entertaining trip, specially when he starts to relish participating in character since the dubious white-colored guy in Africa. Jaunty tunes within the 19 thirties, '40s and '50s supply the montages some bounce, adding a layer of cynical irony that's thrown into elevated relief by periodic moments of real menace and outright danger. Considering the majority of the footage was shot on hidden small-DV cameras, lensing looks good round the bigscreen, and editing by Carsten Sosted, Kimmo Taavila and Leif Axel Kjeldsen keeps the narrative flowing easily.Camera (color, HD), Johan Stahl Winthereik editor, Carsten Sosted, Kimmo Taavila, Leif Axel Kjeldsen music, Niclas Schak, Container Soheili appear, Stahl Winthereik appear designers, Hendes Kock, Andreas Kongsgaard Mogensen supervisory appear editor, Jum Korsgaard line producer, Charlotte now now Vinther connect producer, Jonas Bagger. Examined at Intl. Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (opener), November. 20, 2011. Running time: 93 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

McCarthy at the top of Odd jobs

McCarthy "Mutually BeneficialInch author-director Tom McCarthy provides a 2-year first-look cope with OddLot Entertainment, covering film, TV and all sorts of media outdoors of McCarthy's acting work.OddLot will give you overhead and development fund for McCarthy. The banner's searching at McCarthy's next directorial project because the first project to come under the brand new deal. McCarthy and Kate Churchill, his director of development and production, depends in NY. Sierra/Affinity will repetition foreign sales on all films OddLot evolves and produces with McCarthy as director, producer or author.McCarthy's resume includes writing and pointing "The Station Agent" and "The Customer" and story credit with Pete Docter and Bob Billings on Disney's "Up." Acting credits include "Flags in our Fathers," "Syriana," "Night and Best Of Luck,Inch "Satisfy the Parents" and "Little Fockers" together with being featured within the final season of "The Wire."OddLot principal Gigi Pritzker stated, "Tom is indeed a visionary and talent. The love and intelligence comes through in the work."McCarthy stated of OddLot: "Their proven mission of supporting artists while supplying creative freedom is what I had been searching for inside a partner."OddLot would be a producer on "Drive" and it is in pre-production on "Ender's Game" according to Orson Scott Card's novel concerning the potential to deal with an extraterrestrial alien invasion. Gavin Hood will direct, and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will co-produce with OddLot's Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough, together with Card and Lynn Hendee. Digital Domain is another creating partner with Summit, that will release the pic in 2013.The offer was discussed by McCarthy's reps at Gersh and attorney Andrew Hurwitz of Schreck Rose by OddLot's Aaron Michiel. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Michele Bachmann's Campaign Manager Calls CBS News Producer a 'Piece of S---' Among 'Media Bias' Accusations

Bachmann Wanted and her campaign manager are accusing CBS News of "media prejudice" carrying out a CBS News producer erroneously sent an e-mail to her speaker suggesting the Republican presidential candidate would get less questions than her rivals throughout Saturday evening's debate.our editor recommendsRepublican Debate on CBS: Candidates Spar Over Foreign PolicyMitt Romney, Bachmann Desired to Boycott Univision Debate Due to Extortion Allegations'Butter': Jennifer Garner Campaigns just like a Bachmann Wanted Clone (Video) Jackie Mason States Bachmann Wanted Should Drop Her Presidential Election BidMichele Bachmann's Military Jacket Can get Wayne Newton's Election (Poll)Related Subjects•Politics Just before the controversy, a CBS worker sent an email to CBS News producer John Dickerson and Bachmann speaker Alice Stewart connected with Bachmann's participation in the publish-debate webcast, according to CNN. Dickerson was told inside the message that Stewart happen to be duplicated. PHOTOS: Best Presidents in Film and tv But Dickerson either overlooked that point or did not make sure to eliminate Stewart from his reply. He supported using this message for the worker: "OK, let's maintain it loose, though, since she's not receiving many questions and he or she's nearly in the charts wishing that individuals will get someone else.Inch Through the debate, backed by CBS and National Journal, the Minnesota congresswoman really wasn't asked for as much questions since the front-runners. "It's only sincere allowing the candidates to be capable of speak and not deliberately ahead of time decide to limit candidates' chance to talk with the U . s . states people,Inch she mentioned after it absolutely was over. "Clearly, it was a instance of media prejudice." PHOTOS: Stars Who've Carried out People in politics Bachmann's campaign manager, Keith Nahigian, was a little more blunt within the reaction. According to CNN, he "stormed using the spin room" within the Sc debate, saying: "John Dickerson needs to be fired. He's a little of shit. He's a fraud which he needs to be fired." Due to its part, CBS News mentioned the e-mail was "a candid exchange about view of the circumstances -- Bachmann remains at 4% inside the polls." Dickerson echoed that sentiment to CNN: "Bachmann reaches four percent inside the polls and contains been for a while. Other candidates aren't. I sent an e-mail based on that." PHOTOS:Bachmann Wanted as well as the Politics of favor Meanwhile, debate moderator and CBS Evening News host Scott Pelley mentioned he wasn't alert to the e-mail in regards to the chain, but he and also the co-host, National Journal's Major Garrett, tried to become fair inside the time they gave to each candidate. Related Subjects Scott Pelley CBS News Politics Bachmann Wanted

Contender: 'Midnight in Paris'

'Midnight in Paris' See the Variety reviewDespite Woodsy Allen's insoluble link with NY (together with a far more-than-implied aversion to La), the writer-director found new vitality in the lighthearted sojourn abroad this year with "Evening amount of time in Paris" -- the newest in the series lately-career photos occur our planet's most scenic urban centers.But after opening the Cannes film festival in May, "Evening time" ongoing to seduce audiences like few other Allen pic before, which can't hurt its chances inside the pointing, original script and perhaps even performance groups. Set one of the literary Paris in the '20s, time-traveling fantasy charmed professionals, while word-of-mouth saved it in theaters with the summer season, making "Evening time" Allen's finest hit ever. (Getting an international cume more than $128 million, it positively dwarfs the closest Allen film, "Hannah and her Brothers and sisters." It's also remade its budget three occasions.)The director is really a regular title round the Oscar ballot since "Annie Hall" needed 1977's best picture, author and director honours, but, in the 18 nominations he's received since, really the only other time he won was for writing "Hannah" -- two-and-a-half decades ago.Once the Academy is hesitant to fete Allen themselves, acknowledging Corey Stoll's turn as Ernest Hemingway might be another way of recognizing a movie that has resuscitated the helmer's career.Release date: June 10 The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics See the Variety review Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Jason Statham Doesn't Play It 'Safe' In New Trailer

In Jason Statham's upcoming film "Safe," he's finally found a girl worth fighting for. Except, in this case, she's only 12 years old. The "Transporter" star plays a former NY cop who gets caught in a tricky situation when he spots some men attempting to capture a young girl in a subway station. After incapacitating them and rescuing the girl (could this technically be kidnapping? I guess we'll find out in the movie), he discovers that the reason the men are after her is because she has the ability to memorize anything placed in front of her, and this time she memorized something pretty darn important. The series of numbers she was forced to remember are a code, but a code for what? Apparently it's for something important enough to go to war over. Statham definitely seems in his element in "Safe," which hits theaters March 2. Kicking butt, taking names and being the all-around perfect action hero is just another day in the life of the British actor, who is currently filming "The Expendables 2." But it's nice that "Safe" will also showcase Statham's sentimental side, as he definitely ends up having a strong emotional connection with the young girl he has taken on as his ward. Arguably the best moment in the trailer comes at the end, when Statham admits to the gentleman standing next to him that he never knows "what to say in these moments." "What moments?" the man asks. "The ones before I kill someone," Statham replies, and then flies at the camera with guns blazing. He might play pretty much the same character in every action movie he stars in, but Statham is certainly an actor we love to watch on the big screen. What did you think of the "Safe" trailer? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Disney Beats Fiscal 4Q Estimates With Strong Results At ESPN And Theme Parks

The company reportednet income of $1.1B, up 30% vs the period last year, on revenues of $10.43B, up 7%. That comfortably beat Street forecasts for revenues of $10.36B. Earnings, at 58 cents a share, also topped predictions of 54 cents — and without one-time charges would have hit 59 cents. Disney’s cable channels led the charge with revenues up 9% to $4.8B and a 20% hike in operating profits to $1.46B. The company says that ESPN and the overseas channels led the way with higher affiliate fees and international ad growth — although the sports channel was hurt by rising costs for programming and marketing and a ratings drop from the loss of the FIFA World Cup. The networks figures include the ABC broadcast operation, where revenues were up 4% to $1.33B with a 37% increase in operating income to $201M. Although it didn’t have political ads, the unit benefitted from higher ad rates — partly due to an uptick in ratings for news and sports — and lower programming costs. The company says that scatter prices are 25% ahead of the upfront market. At the theme parks, attendance was up 1% but spending was up 9% due to price increases. That led to a revenue increase of 11% to $3.13B with operating income rising 33% to $421M. The company says that consumer spending was up — especially new guest offerings at Disney California Adventure and at the Disney Cruise Line,although sales were down at the Disney Vacation Club. The studio had mixed results with revenues down 8% to $1.46B and operating income up 13% to $117M. Home entertainment sales were down andCars 2 was no match for last year’s Toy Story 3 — but last year’s results included a $100M writedown from the closing of Robert Zemeckis’film studio in Northern California.

New funds support P&A

The independent sector is finally finding help to cover the marketing expenses of theatrical releases. On Friday, Endgame Entertainment revealed a prints and advertising fund worth $400 million-$500 million for that discharge of films for example helmer Rian Johnson's "Looper." Meanwhile, Patrician Resource Management just guaranteed its first investment from the non-U.S. institutional investor because of its varied film financing fund. Endgame Delivering, the new P&A fund, adds a basis of equity augmented with a turning senior debt facility from Comerica and Union Bank -- two cornerstones of lending towards the independent sector -- as well as mezzanine debt from London-based Octopus Opportunities. "There's versatility included in this structure," stated Endgame Entertainment leader Douglas Hansen. Endgame Delivering will concentrate on theatrical releases reaching a minimum of 1,800 domestic screens by having to pay their $20 million-plus theatrical marketing campaigns. The wide-release can also be went after by established P&A bankers Clarius Capital and Qualia Capital. "It's safer for all of us to invest $$ 30 million than $20 million," stated William Sadleir of Clarius. "That could appear counterproductive. A lot of producers say, 'How inexpensively can one understand this film available?' however the film fails." Amir Malin, controlling partner at varied media financier Qualia Capital, which provided P&A for The new sony Pictures' "Planet 51," stated, "The amount of distribution expires however the commercial stability is lower. The majority of the distribution we're seeing don't merit a viable commercial release." At Patrician Resource Management, Hollywood marketing executive and senior portfolio manager David Forbes stated that P&A is most effective when there is a slate of films, so risk is not concentrated in a single or simply a couple of movies. P&A, though needed, is usually difficult to find since it is structured because the last money place in and first money compensated from theatrical rental fees, video and possibly other ancillary revenue in the same film. The erosion of video revenue upended P&A recoupment information. "To gain access to money today, you need a really strong foreign sales component and ancillaries in position (video and TV deals) to exhibit the revenue returning, even when the film will get only limited exposure within the U.S.," stated Mark Borde, who's co-leader of Freestyle Delivering, which supplies theatrical distribution for films supplying marketing costs. As the theatrical pipeline is less clogged with less releases, effectively marketing more compact game titles remains an costly challenge. "There is an excuse for P&A funding," stated Clark Hallren, controlling partner at Obvious Scope Partners, a Rizvi Traverse media financer putting together a P&A fund. Small independents searching for one-picture P&A deals are frequently left to solicit wealthy people. "There's very little P&A money available for indie films," stated John Flock, Boss of W2 Media. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Sierra/Affinity sells 'Europa' to 12 buyers

LONDON -- Nick Meyer's Sierra/Affinity is off to a brisk sales start at the American Film Market this year having inked 12 international territory deals for Sebastian Cordero's "Europa."Pic has sold to Oz and New Zealand (Hopscotch), Gaul (Metropolitan Filmexport), Germany and Switzerland (Ascot Elite), South Africa (Ster Kinekor Entertainment), India (Tanweer) and the Middle East (Eagle Films). Title also sold to South Korea (Noori Pictures), Indonesia (PT Amero Mitra Film), Israel (United King Video) and Thailand (Media Film International). "Europa" toplines Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu, Anamaria Marinca, Christian Camargo and Karolina Wydra, and is penned by Philip Gelatt. Story follows a group of astronauts who are sent on a private mission to Jupiter's fourth moon. Misher Films' Kevin Misher and Wayfare Entertainment's Ben Browning will both produce. Pic is skedded to lense Nov. 7 in NY. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Steve Buscemi: From Jersey Boardwalk To Las vegas For Burt Wonderstone?

UPDATE: A trade report had Olivia Wilde in discussions to experience the feminine lead, however i’m told that although this might happen, it hasn’t yet. Judy Greer and Sarah Silverman also made strong impressions, and also the filmmakers are waiting to ascertain if Jessica Biel eventually ends up reading through for that role. New Lines are smartly making the comedy for $$ 30 million, and after Carell and Carrey, that doesn’t leave a lot of money for supporting roles. Deadline reported that the narrow your search of stars were within the mix for that role. EARLIER, 12:22 PM: New Line wants Steve Buscemi to star opposite Steve Carell and Jim Carrey within the Don Scardino-directed comedy Burt Wonderstone. Buscemi continues to be offered the role of Anton, the longtime Vegas miracle act partner of Wonderstone (Carell). Their split transmits Wonderstone right into a crisis along with a collision having a rival magician (Carrey) to steal his thunder. Buscemi hopes to suit Burt Wonderstone into his hiatus from Boardwalk Empire. When the talks exercise, he'd result in the movie and move directly into the 3rd season from the superb Cinemax drama. He’s repped by WME and also the Gotham Group.

Huayi add heft to 'Starry, Starry Night'

'The Starry, Starry Night' poster.TAIPEI -- When helmer Tom Shu-yu Lin set to make a film version of just one of his favorite books -- Taiwanese author and illustrator Jimmy Liao's "The Starry, Starry Evening" -- he'd in your head just a little arthouse movie made along with Liao. Rather, China's leading private shingle, Huayi Bros., came onboard as well as the teenage coming-of-age movie increased to become completely new type of pic for China -- just a little indie out of the blue transformed in to a $7 million China-Taiwan co-production. Characteristics sometimes undergo this kind of alteration of Hollywood, but it's rare in China."In the beginning, I used to be utilizing a limited budget, however, if it increased to become co-production, your financial allowance elevated," states Lin. "Why not fare best CG, ensure it is more fantastical and very capture the imagination of Jimmy Liao? The right response is bold that Huayi Bros. are trading these funds for this kind of small (film). They're trying to push their restrictions and look for new stuff." Huayi Bros. has acquired numerous accomplishments in China, particularly with helmer Feng Xiaogang's films, including "Aftershock," war epic "SetupInch and numerous comedies of manners, including "If You are the primary one 2."A year ago, Huayi's films made 1.7 billion yuan ($258 million), composed of 17% in the overall Chinese B.O., which year the business introduced a slate including large-budget photos by Feng, Tsui Hark and Jackie Chan.The animation element could boost "Night's" appeal in Asia, specifically in Columbia, Japan and Taiwan.The film is a particular effective co-production between Taiwan and where you live now China, which could frequently be fraught matters because of the tense politics involving the two -- China still sights the greater compact, independent nation a renegade province. Even though relations have enhanced lately, co-productions continue being really examined by censors for political correctness."Co-production is actually complicated, but 'Night' is definitely an very healthy example," states Lin. "There's nothing we needed to alter. Getting a tale similar to this, as it is this kind of mythic, it's OK to acquire a where you live now Chinese actress and hang her getting a Taiwanese actor. Much like extended since they're talking to similar accent, it doesn't matter where they are from."Even though Mandarin Chinese is spoken on sides in the Strait of Taiwan, auds can inform where an actress arises from if accents don't match, and problems can arise.The co-production came to exist because Lin saw where you live now child thesp Xu Jiao in Stephen Chow's "CJ7" and thought she'd perform best using the lady in "Evening." Pic's professional producer Chen Kuo-fu ("Detective Dee") mentioned once they already stood a where you live now actress, an important being approved qualifying criterion for just about any co-production, why not go by doing this, giving the filmmakers utilisation of the bigger money handy round the where you live now.States Lin, "I believed, well if you'll probably up my budget, which i don't have to change anything, why not?InchLin was produced in Taipei, gone after Minnesota when he's at grade school, go to college, his project, "The Olfactory System," won a nomination inside the Taipei Golden Equine Film Festival and Honours. He got his masters at CalArts then came back to Taiwan. "It absolutely was really throughout people couple of years in CalArts that we recognized I used to be Chinese," according to him.His last project was the 2008 coming-of-age drama "Winds of September." He's also drenched time as first A.D. on Tsai Ming-liang and Doze Niu productions."Evening" bowed within the Busan Film Festival and came serious attention inside the New Energy section, which showcases up-and-coming Asian company company directors. It's due for release in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia noisy . November. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Tornatore nabs gold gold coin for 'Best Offer'

ROME -- Italo helmer Giuseppe Tornatore is incorporated in the beginning on "The Best Selection,In . an unconventional romancer by getting an exciting downhill setting being developed with gold gold coin within the new BLS South Tyrol -- Alto Adige film fund. Pic, being produced by Rome shingle Paco Cinematografica, has attracted on into script development funding from BLS. The org can be found in South Tyrol, the autonomous All downhill province at Italy's northernmost point, highlighting with Austria, that's as being a hotspot for Central European shoots. Tornatore also provides large-budget epic "Leningrad" in development. BLS is delivering Tornatore Pounds 50,000 ($70,000) to evolve his script for "The Best Selection,In . that's of a loveless senior citizens guy who intersects by getting an astute youthful guy together with a mysterious lady in the South Tyrol setting. Launched a year ago, the BLS film fund will get eliminate $7 million yearly getting a $2.millions of cap per project. Up to now, it's supported six projects this season, and 19 this season, showing well-loved by Italian, German and Austrian producers. "Our location cheap we are bilingual (Italian and German) make us an ideal co-production partner between Italia and German-speaking nations," boasted BLS film fund topper Christiana Wertz throughout an exhibit within the Rome Film Festival. Photos that have attracted on into BLS so far include Fandango's "Diaz -- Don't Cleanup This Blood stream," helmed by Daniele Vicari, and Austrian helmer Ernst Gossner's "Monte Piano" from Austria's Sigma shingle. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Torture Porn is Wrecking Halloween

How will you scare people when movies like 'Saw,' 'Hostel' and 'The Human Centipede' routinely feature appendages being slashed off or faces created using other people parts of the body? This is actually the problem theme parks are presently facing each Halloween. The haunted home is a tradition for many years, however, places like Universal Art galleries, which host Halloween-designed occasions each year, are progressively getting trouble losing it audiences who was simply desensitized due to the torture porn genre. Inside the Thursday edition in the NY Occasions, Brooks Barnes talks for the team behind Universal's annual Horror Nights, and discovers difficulties they face every fall. The scarce resource is ideas: approaching with new techniques to entertain a 'been-there, screamed-at-that' customer base elevated on torture movies like 'Saw' and bloody game game titles... To obtain their footing relating to this shifting terrain -- that's, to keep frightening people and generating money out of this -- Universal's fright makers have switched to have an intense, year-round planning and construction regimen. Just what works this season-round planning process contain? Well, everything starts each October -- and then the Universal team is presently planning 2012's Horror Nights -- where several ideas are thrown on the whitened board. Through The month of the month of january, the minds are actually changed into 3d computer models, giving the creative team a "virtual tour" in the set. Once the story's finished, audio and lighting design commences. Construction then happens with the summer season, with stars cast within this summer time. But does planning in advance help much? In line with the Occasions, the revenue stream from Horror Nights is steady. To uncover how Universal intentions of frightening clients this year, see the entire piece over round the NY Occasions website [via NYT] Most likely Probably The Most Banned Horror Movies ever 'A Serbian Film' (2010)'Freaks' (1932)'Hostel' (2005) and 'Hostel: Part II' (2007)'Salo, or perhaps the 4 several weeks of Sodom' (1976)'Last House round the Left' (1972)'The Evil Dead' (1981)'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974)'I Spit inside your Grave' (1978)'Cannibal Holocaust' (1980) See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

New Expendables 2 image released online

A completely new image within the number of The Expendables 2 has came out on the web and it gives action fans their first on-set have a look at franchise newcomer Chuck Norris.The shot features Norris alongside Dolph Lundgren and Terry Deckie's, marking off three large action names.The initial image being released within the shoot in Bulgaria shown Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger buddying up, therefore we are due one with Jason Statham, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li and Randy Couture.Unbelievably, Norris is 71. Do not obtain a face too close when you appreciate this image or perhaps the extra fist he's hiding under his beard will break using the screen and punch you.The Expendables 2 opens August 2012.

REVIEW: Shrek Spin-Off Puss in Boots Purrs with Genuine Charm

Following a Shrek series consumed its charm on rote third and fourth obligations that nevertheless raked in giant piles of box office gold, the options of the spin-off prequel focusing on Antonio Banderas’ swashbuckling, footwear-sporting feline made an appearance as inevitable since it was unpromising. But Puss in Boots, directed by Chris Burns (who also helmed Shrek the next) can be a legitimately entertaining prequel that encapsulates just what the franchise does best: Breezy action, clever twists on classic figures from fables and grown-up gags hidden in among the child-friendly developments. (“You got any idea the items they are doing to eggs jail time? I’ll inform you this — it ain’t over easy!” the Zach Galifianakis-voiced Humpty Dumpty quavers sooner or later, inside the first prison rape joke I am in a position to consider not just to be wound up in to a kiddie flick but furthermore layed out inside the trailer.) It’s become quite simple to consider computer-animated films as falling into the categories of “Pixar” and “Everything Else,” while using former made up of marvels of art and entertainment as well as the latter composed of 80-minute servings of vibrant colors, selling options and outdated popular culture references. But as Cars 2 signifies, not necessarily Pixar might be Pixar constantly, and movies like Rango and Puss in Boots provide a satisfying indication that mainstream animation is able to work through the lucrative niche in the joylessly calculated kid movie. It doesn’t hurt that Puss in Boots gets the participation of Guillermo del Toro, who may serve as executive producer while offering the voice in the Comandante — the man might have a great deal happening at this time, but there’s no questioning his aversion to condescension to audiences and also the reverence for favorite anecdotes. It’s individuals of Jack as well as the Beanstalk that provides the backbone for Puss in Boots’ plot, even though mood is pure spaghetti western. Puss is roped in to a heist through which he and also the cohorts will steal the miracle beans from Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris), who’ve been changed into square-shouldered outlaws bickering in regards to the correct time to decelerate their careers to have the ability to have a very baby. The gang needs to plant the enchanted beans within the best place and climb the resulting vine to steal the golden eggs within the giant’s castle (the giant died age groups ago, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still something fierce standing guard). Further further complicating this course of action is the fact it absolutely was imagined up by Humpty, an ovoid mastermind who had been elevated inside the same orphanage as Puss, with whom the cat shares an unhappy past. Returning with Banderas for just about any non-Robert Rodriguez-introduced outing, Salma Hayek provides the voice of Cat Softpaws, the next cohort, an attractive feline crook by getting an additional light (and declawed) touch. Usually, the adult and frequently risqu jokes put in movies like these, designed to sail inside the heads more youthful audience, hold the tone from the apology, a bone thrown to bored parents. The periodic wink here — there’s a medicinal marijuana crack — seems a little more naughty and good-humored, as if the designers truly couldn’t help themselves. Much less the film demands such credits: Puss in Boots doesn’t have and doesn’t aim for the soul from the Pixar film, and definitely will get pleasure enough from the own figures and how they undertake this cleverly recognized world. Humpty, for instance, his petulant features arranged in the middle of his mind/torso, struggles while using limitations from the egg-created body, including how difficult it might be to acquire up after you have stood a great fall. Puss and also the love interest Cat have touchable-searching fur of assorted length and texture, and relocate a pointing combination of lithe human in addition to lither cat ways, sooner or later participating in a dance competition that can bring in facets of flamenco and poop scooting. The eruption in the beanstalk into the stratosphere as well as the trio’s bouncing around round the clouds upon arrival provides the film’s highlight, not just if this involves the positive thing about its pictures but because of the physicality that complements them. The figures cling for the plant through its like miracle faster growth spurt, grappling with leaves and ricocheting off stems, and so they never display the weightlessness than could affect this type of animation and splinter its manufactured reality. Puss in Boots further plays towards the strong points by placing persons figures without anyone's understanding, aside from Jack and Jill, who look a great deal a lot more like caricatures than people. The film models a lengthy flashback which is central robbery and completes its tale of disloyality and forgiveness by returning for the small capital of scotland - San Ricardo, scene of Puss’ shame and also the ultimate redemption. May possibly not bring a tear for the eye, nevertheless it won’t cause you to feel cheated or spoken lower to, even when the p rigueur credits dance number seems. There’s nary a feel and look from an ogre, without any Donkey, either — that, I’m taking a chance, can be a spin-off for the next day.

McG in Negotiations to Direct 'Puzzle Palace'

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesMcG McG is in negotiations to helm Summit's Puzzle Palace, a thriller written by Safe House scribe David Guggenheim and being produced by Twilight mavens Temple Hill. The story centers on a lawyer and the son of a veteran police officer who learns his father is framed for murder. When he finds out that there is evidence hidden that could free his father, he is determined to find it, even though it means breaking into One Police Plaza, the most secure building in all of NY City. He ends up being locked inside the police HQ with crooked cops on his tail. McG is already familiar with Guggenheim's work. He is exec producer in Medallion, a thriller Guggenheim wrote. That project is in post-production and stars Nicolas Cage and Malin Akerman. McG, repped by WME, is in post on This Means War, the action movie starring Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon. McG

Locked-Out Basketball Stars Explore Hollywood

NBAplayers as time passes available due tothe league's ongoing labor dispute have discovered that showbiz offers an opportunity to fill their agendas.Even though some star sports sports athletes have extended maintained production companies or record labels, the lockout offers an chance for completely new business.our editor indicates Attacking Youthful Boys MVP of Basketball All-Star Celebrity GameJay-Z and Cohorts Punished for $5 Billion Over Brooklyn Basketball Development'Basketball Wives' Scores Slam Dunk in Social Media Study Earlier in October, NY Knicks starAmare Stoudemirepitched to numerous major systems half-hour scripted comedy that he's developing with producersJeff KwatinetzandHappy Walters, who's Stoudemire's agent and leader of Rogue Sports, Relativity Media's sports business. In September, the Oklahoma City Thunder'sKevin Durantdecamped to Baton Rouge, La., to see themselves oppositeBrandon T. Jacksonin Warner Premiere'sSwitch, a family group comedy devoted to some miracle twist that transfers Durant's capabilities to have an passionate fan. Such deals aren't nearly cashing an income.Rob Marksof sports business becoming a consultant Premier Partners states the projects are crucial for developing sports sports athletes' brands. "They aren't transporting this out totally free, however in the conclusion throughout your day, Amare Stoudemire doesn't need one more endorsement deal or two," Marks states. "It is among the personal brand." Philadelphia 76ers forwardElton Brandis leader of Gibraltar Films, which producedWerner Herzog's 2007 dramaRescue Beginning.Baron Davisof the Cleveland Cavaliers can be a co-founding father of L.A.-based Verso Entertainment, which producedStacy Peralta's 2008 documentaryCrips and Bloods: Created in the usa. Davis is trading the lockout focusing on creating the documentaryAmerican Schlub, which explores the undoing of males's style, and starring in the pilot for just about any variety show. Davis, who's concentrating on a film and TV studies minor at UCLA, can also be taking acting classes. Whether he'll have plenty of time being star in the court remains to look, however when the Basketball several weeks are canceled, the projects include an additional benefit. States Marks, "It is also about keeping these males busy." Related Subjects

Bette Davis Appreciated at Private Memorial Service

Bette Davis's family and pals paid out tribute for the late actress within a personal memorial held Sunday round the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.our editor recommendsElizabeth Taylor Dies at 79Barbara Walters Recalls Last Hospital Conversation With Elizabeth TaylorDebbie Reynolds, Madonna Remember Elizabeth TaylorDebbie Reynolds Unveils How She Forgave Elizabeth TaylorRelated Subjects•Elizabeth Taylor (1932-20... Nearly 400 people attended the memorial, which happened inside the Steven J. Ross Theater, to cover their respects for the actress, who died March 23 of congestive heart failure at 79. PHOTOS: Bette Davis's Existence in Pictures Colin Farrell situated the large event, throughout which sound system including Michael Caine and Taylor's stepdaugher Kate Burton paid out tribute for the late actress' existence and career and shared tales about her humor, generosity and determination to accomplish operate that she supported. Mike Nichols, who directed the actress to have an Oscar-winning performance in Who's Frightened of Virginia Woolf?, brought videos message. Grand boy Rhys Tivey carried out "Amazing Sophistication" round the trumpet, a sound lesson that his grandmother loved. Meanwhile, Elton John closed the program getting a performance of "Blue Eyes" just like a tribute to Taylor. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths The program also featured tributes to Taylor's career outdoors of Hollywood, including her effective Elizabeth Arden fragrances White-colored Diamonds and Passion additionally to her advocacy regarding people dealing with Helps/Helps. "My mother was an amazing lady whose existence touched lots of, nearly all whom we can not know," boy Michael Wilding mentioned. "Our whole household is extremely pleased with her accomplishments, and know very well what a unique and special feel it wound up being to possess her inside our lives. Today it absolutely was especially significant for people to obtain together with lots of good pals to celebrate her spirit, that is around forever." Wilding was at her mother's side when she died along with many other children: Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton. REPORT: Bette Davis Worth Around $1 Billion sometimes of Dying Planners of Sunday's event are asking people who would like to pay tribute to Taylor to guide for the Bette Davis Helps Foundation at internet.elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org. Related Subjects Colin Farrell Elton John Michael Caine Obituaries Bette Davis

Rade Sherbedgia Cast as Villain in Liam Neeson's 'Taken 2' (Exclusive)

Getty ImagesRade Sherbedgia Serbian actorRade Sherbedgia continues to be cast because the villain in twentieth century Fox and EuropaCorp'sTaken 2, which stars Liam Neeson and it is set to start filming in Poultry and France later this month. Sherbedgia will have Murad, the daddy of the kidnapper slain by Bryan Mills (Neeson) within the first film. Murad is referred to like a vengeful guy who gives orders and doesn't drive them. When Murad takes Mills and the wife hostage, their daughter is enlisted towards saving them. Taken 2, which willbe launched March. 5, 2012, also starsFamke Janssen and Maggie Sophistication. Colombiana helmerOlivier Megatonis pointing the pic. Luc Besson, who co-authored the script withRobert Mark Kamen, isproducing through his EuropaCorp banner. Besson and Kamen also co-authored the very first Taken film, which wasreleased in 2008 and would be a surprise hit, grossing $224 million worldwide. Sherbedgia will next star inAngelina Jolie's directorial debut, Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey, which is launched in December.Sherbedgia's credits include Batman Starts,Mission: Impossible IIanda memorable turn as Boris "The Edge" Yurinov in Snatch. Sherbedgia is symbolized by Innovative Artists and also the U.K.'s U . s . Artists. Email: Daniel.Burns@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller Liam Neeson Maggie Sophistication Worldwide Famke Janssen Luc Besson

'Die Hard 5' to reach Valentine's, 2013

2007's 'Live Free or Die Hard' cumed $383 million in the global box office. Last Century Fox has dated a slew of tentpoles within the next 2 yrs, most particularly, the studio's fifth installment in Bruce Willis' "Die Hard" franchise, "A Great Day to Die Hard," on February. 14, 2013.Among Fox's 2012 records, Liam Neeson actioner follow up "Taken 2" and surfer biopic "Of Males and Mavericks" will bow March. 5 and March. 26, correspondingly, while Billy Very-Bette Midler starrer "Parental Guidance" is placed to produce on November. 21."Die Hard" begins the studio's recently dated 2013 slate: "Percy Jackson: Ocean of Monsters," the follow up towards the $227 million worldwide inventor "Percy Jackson and also the Olympians: The Lightning Crook" this year, follows on February. 14, with three dimensional prehistoric pic "Walking with Dinosaurs" moved from 12 ,. 20 to some March. 11 date.The Valentine's release marks the very first time the "Die Hard" photos will launch throughout the very first quarter.Most lately, 2007's "Live Free or Die Hard" opened up throughout the summer time for any global total of $383 million. Fox aims for everyone as counterprogramming towards the holiday's typical fare, though lots of date crowds likely will come out for Willis' latest "Die Hard."In comparison, Fox moved its "Taken" follow up towards the fall the initial grew to become a sleeper hit in The month of january 2009, grossing a lot more than $225 million worldwide. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

CBS moves 'Gentleman' to Saturdays

CBS will replace battling Thursday comedy "How To become a Gentleman" with "Rules of Engagement." By March. 20, the veteran half-hour starring David Spade will trade its Saturday 8 p.m. time slot with rookie "Gentleman," which unsuccessful to hold onto its Thursday 8 p.m. lead-in, "Large Bang Theory." "Gentleman" will proceed to Saturday on March. 15. "Gentleman" basically signaled its departure in the plum slot when Thursday's episode sank to 7.8 million total audiences, a precipitous plunge in the 13.six million who updated in "Theory." Whilst not the cancellation some might have expected after two woeful rankings performances up to now, moving "Gentleman" may be the first rejiggering CBS has been doing to the fall schedule, that has otherwise seen some impressive begins from "2 Broke Women" and "Memorable." Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Seth MacFarlane Unveils Years-Old Feud With Jon Stewart (Video)

Getty Images Seth MacFarlane has revealed a years-old debate he'd with Daily Show host Jon Stewart that sprang from Stewart's decision not to shut lower The Daily Show through the 2007 Authors Guild strike. Throughout the interview with CNN's Piers Morgan scheduled to air Wednesday evening, your family Guy creator recounted an hour or so approximately-extended "angry call" he and Stewart been in 2008 carrying out a joke went round the Family Guy poking fun at Stewart. "In my opinion his response was 'Who the hell made the moral arbiter of Hollywood?'" MacFarlane told Morgan. Morgan made an appearance quite gleeful in news reports and pressed MacFarlane to elaborate round the point, saying, "There's a specific irony in Jon Stewart ringing up and haranguing you for mocking him." PHOTOS: Hollywood's Twitter Feuds MacFarlane demurred, responding, "If I believe that yes, he'll crucify me on his show for just about any year." MacFarlene's trouble with Stewart came following a Daily Show host chose revisit work through the strike instead of letting his show go dark. The Daily Show went through the strike, however this did not use its authors and reran formerly broadcast material. VIDEO: Charlie Sheen Roast: Start Searching at Seth MacFarlane's Performance Authors walked in the work for three several days within the finish of 2007 into 2008 for reasons that incorporated, among other activities, demanding more residuals from content broadcast online. "People have arguments about unions...Because situation It's incumbent on people in the certain position to manage up for individuals who haven't handled to obtain yet," MacFarlane mentioned. MacFarlane was shocked Morgan even introduced the phone contact in their interview. "How will you uncover relating to this stuff?Inch he mentioned. "My publicist has forbidden me to go over this since it happened." Jon Stewart Piers Morgan Seth MacFarlane

TV Land sets 'Dick Van Dyke' tribute

'The Dick Van Dyke Show.'At a minute when primetime comedy is creating a comeback, it's fitting that TV Land is mounting a 50th anniversary salute now to probably the most long lasting sitcoms ever: ''The Dick Van Dyke Show.'' From Monday through Friday, the cabler will run prime segs of ''Dick Van Dyke'' from 6-9 p.m., to commemorate the show's March. 3, 1961, bow on CBS (within the Tuesday 8:30 p.m. slot sandwiched by ''Gunsmoke'' reruns and ''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis''). There will be considered a noon-9 p.m. marathon on Saturday or sunday prior to the show forms into its regular 7 p.m. weeknight slot. The storyline of methods Carl Reiner found his experience employed by Sid Caesar to produce ''Dick Van Dyke's'' central character, TV author Take advantage of Petrie, established fact. But what is not broadly known is always that each one of these years later, the show continues to be possessed by its four original partners: Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and also the estates of Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard. They have had an abundance of offerings to market through the years -- ''Dick Van Dyke's'' 158 episodes will be a jewel in a major studio library -- but they have never been enticed. ''I was always afraid terrible things happens into it,'' Reiner told Variety. ''We always aspired to function as the show's parents.'' As a result, the reveal that hasn't been from the distribution for just about any period of time has shown to be a pleasant allowance for that partners, too for WME. William Morris Agency notoriously designed a fortune within the sixties around the prosperous partnership of Thomas and Leonard, and individuals packaging costs continue to be having to pay returns. It had been WMA's late biz matters maven Ruth Englehardt who emerged using the ''Dick Van Dyke'' holding company moniker of Calvada Prods., based on a mash-from Carl, Leonard, Van Dyke and Danny. As the amount of program-hungry platforms is continuing to grow recently, the partners maintained vintage TV specialist Paul Brownstein to deal with distribution privileges. ''Dick Van Dyke'' was a standard feature of Nick at Nite and TV Land within the eighties and 1990's, but have been from the Viacom cablers for several years. The brand new pact was completed within days a week ago to permit TV Land to mark the show's golden anni. Included in the deal, ''Dick Van Dyke'' segs will be receiving a aficionado and polish and transfer to some high-def format. ''I'm very proud these incredible talents entrusted their loved ones jewels in my experience,'' Brownstein stated. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Melissa McCarthy Is Having Her Moment

Melissa McCarthy Is Having Her Moment By Lacey Rose September 30, 2011 Photo by Mary Rozzi It's been five days since Melissa McCarthy won her first Emmy on Sept. 18, and she is still visibly overwhelmed by emotion when she arrives at a photo shoot for "The Hollywood Reporter" at a Los Angeles studio.Variations on "I can't believe all of this is happening to me" are uttered often by the "Mike & Molly" star, who greets a photographer, hairstylist and reporter without makeup or Hollywood pretense. If her career-making character in this past spring's surprise box-office smash "Bridesmaids" was forceful, masculine and raunchy (propositioning an air marshal midflight), then McCarthy, 41, in person is precisely the opposite: gentle, feminine and exceedingly polite.Mention the statuette she has housed between family pictures on the mantel in her L.A. house, and you can see tears form. Push McCarthy on its significance, and you get the feeling she's doing all she can to keep them from streaming down her face.Still, she's more than willing to share details of her win -- by all accounts an upset of "The Big C's" Laura Linney, "Nurse Jackie's" Edie Falco and "Parks and Recreation's" Amy Poehler, all considered stronger favorites -- but confesses her memory is spotty from shock and genuine disbelief."I remember my knees went first, and I thought, 'Oh God, please don't fall down,' " she says of her thought process in that moment. "Just keep it upright. You're in a dress. Your mom and dad are watching."She was standing beside fellow nominees Tina Fey, Martha Plimpton, Linney, Falco and Poehler, having rushed the stage when their names were announced, part of an unrehearsed comedy routine conceived days earlier by Poehler. By the time presenters Rob Lowe and Sofia Vergara began placing a tiara on McCarthy's head and a bouquet of roses and Emmy in her arms, McCarthy recalls registering a second thought: "Is this still the bit? Oh, this is going to be so awkward if this is part of the bit."But bear hugs followed from the women, and McCarthy was pushed toward the microphone. She let out a "Holy smokes," the broadcast-appropriate version of another phrase she'd mouthed seconds earlier. Then she apologized to a U.S. TV audience of 12.5 million for being a crier, with tears in her eyes as she uttered such lines as, "I'm from Plainfield, Ill., and I'm standing here, and it's kind of amazing."For McCarthy, the leapfrog over better-known nominees marked the official Hollywood coronation of an actress so outside the realm of convention that it gave the broadcast one of its few genuine surprises. Indeed, it would seem McCarthy has plenty working against her, a plus-size fortysomething in an industry that traditionally favors sample-size females two decades younger. But what she lacks in dewy ingenue sex appeal, she makes up for with depth, comedic timing and sheer likability.In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a working actress more successful than -- or certainly as busy as -- McCarthy right now. Not only does she have a starring role on CBS' hit sitcom "Mike & Molly" -- the second season bowed Sept. 26 to a series-high 4.8 rating in the adults 18-to-49 demographic and 13.9 million viewers -- and an Oct. 1 gig as "Saturday Night Live host," but also she recently sold a road-trip comedy pitch to Paramount (with "Bridesmaids" writer Annie Mumolo) and a TV comedy project to CBS (with her actor-producer husband, Ben Falcone). All of it comes on the heels of McCarthy's scene-stealing turn as Megan, the unfiltered, unconventional and undeniable standout of the May release "Bridesmaids," a role so well-received it has Universal positioning her as awards-season bait on the film side."It's truly her moment," says CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler. Adds Peter Roth, president of "Mike & Molly" studio Warner Bros. TV, "This is the year of the McCarthy." It's a label he claims is richly deserved, adding: "Everything about her is relatable. You root for her; you want her to win."So what's it like to be at the white-hot center of Hollywood's attention, after nearly two decades working on the fringes? Overwhelming, exhilarating and utterly surreal are among the descriptors McCarthy uses. Earlier this summer, she was out rug shopping with Mumolo -- the longtime friends shop often for their homes, with Mumolo insisting McCarthy could be an interior designer if she weren't an actress -- when McCarthy's "team" called to see if she was up to do episode two of "SNL's" 37th season."I went into such an embarrassing, weird, inappropriately loud cry," says McCarthy of her response, laughing about a story she shares often. "Annie was running in circles. She thinks something horrible is happening because I'm bent over, literally, in the rug section of Living Spaces wailing." Mumolo cracks up at the story's retelling, adding, "I thought someone had died."If you believe the actress, the crying stopped only recently. On this day, McCarthy -- set to leave for "SNL" rehearsals in two days -- is focused on preparing for the gig and calming her nerves for the show she calls the Holy Grail of comedy. She claims she'll fly to Manhattan with a trunk filled with sketches and characters from her decade-plus tenure with L.A. improv group the Groundlings. Among them: Marbles, a cross-eyed, eccentric genius she'd love to work into a skit on "SNL." "If I get Marbles on 'SNL,' you can hit me with a bus right after that and I'll be OK," jokes McCarthy.It was this Groundlings character that won over "Mike & Molly" creator Mark Roberts during the series' casting process in early 2010. "When I saw Marbles [on McCarthy's reel], all I could think was this woman was an absolute genius," he says. "There's an off-handedness and unpredictability to her comedy that just makes it engaging." (It's worth noting that Marbles is also among the characters that won over Falcone, a fellow Groundlings alum. "She'll do anything for a laugh," he says, recalling his wife falling into splits onstage without stretching.)To hear McCarthy tell it, Marbles is precisely the type of character she's drawn to: those who are notably different but still confident and comfortable in their skin. "Bridesmaids'" Megan, in particular, fits into that category, though only after McCarthy got to put her stamp on the hard-to-cast character. What was initially conceived as a nervous oddball McCarthy reimagined as an uber-confident misfit.McCarthy went into her audition for "Bridesmaids" with Dockers, no makeup and a force-of-nature attitude. In her mind, she was channeling past Groundlings characters with the physical appearance of the Food Network's Guy Fieri, from one of her favorite shows "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (other favorites include "Top Chef" and "Chopped"). She remembers leaving the audition horrified by her performance: "The whole ride home, I was like, 'God, you get one shot, and you go in and you act weird,' " she says. "I was like, 'You idiot, you idiot.' "Fortunately, producer Judd Apatow and director Paul Feig, along with writers and former Groundlings members Kristen Wiig and Mumolo, appreciated her take on weird. "My jaw hit the ground," recalls Feig of McCarthy's audition. "I remember watching the first time, and we almost couldn't laugh because we were like: 'Oh my God. What is she doing? This is amazing.'"That her improv skills were similarly top-notch -- Feig is fond of telling the story of a scene that didn't make the cut where McCarthy's Megan starts ad-libbing about a squirrel infestation in her house, revealing there's "a squirrel burrowing its way into her vagina and living inside her" -- made her casting a no-brainer.For Mumolo and Wiig, who had recommended her for the role, "Bridesmaids" was an opportunity to share the side of McCarthy that fans of her TV work did not know. "She'd just get on the stage [at Groundlings] and grab the crowd by the balls," says Mumolo, who acknowledges she was initially thrown when McCarthy was cast as the "nice little chef" on "Gilmore Girls." Her husband, who played Air Marshal Jon in "Bridesmaids," agrees, arguing, "'Bridesmaids' was really the first chance for Melissa to show what exactly she can do."So where does McCarthy's gut-busting humor come from? As noted in her Emmy speech, she was raised in Plainfield, some 45 minutes southwest of Chicago, on a working corn and soybean farm. (Her parents remain there, though they've since moved off the farm.) Without neighborhood kids to play with, she and her older sister spent much of their childhood creating characters and an imaginary world -- a skill that would clearly serve her well later in life.By the time she hit her teens, a social McCarthy had joined the cheerleading squad and student council. But by her sophomore year, boredom had set in. "I turned intensely gothic," she laughs, reflecting on her attention-grabbing uniform of kabuki makeup, combat boots and shaved patches of her head. "I think I just loved all of the pageantry of it."At that time, McCarthy had her heart set on a career in fashion. She and close friend and fellow goth Brian Atwood, now a well-known women's shoe designer, would tear out pages of Vogue and fantasize about their own lines. Her parents beat down the idea of her attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, so she settled on Southern Illinois University, where she briefly studied clothing and textiles before dropping out.With boredom having seeped in again, McCarthy decided to follow her sister Margie to Boulder, Colo., where she found a gig making costumes for a dance company. But a visit from Atwood, who had already moved to NY, convinced a then 20-year-old McCarthy to pack her bags and join him in Manhattan. Once there, it was he who suggested she try her hand at stand-up, a genre with which she'd had no previous experience."It was terrible," she says, describing the wig and gold leather jacket Atwood squeezed her into for her first open-mic night at Stand Up NY. She hadn't realized most comics come with material and that the light that blinks after an allotted period is a signal to wrap it up. "I just told these long, bizarre stories," she chuckles. "I had no idea what the light meant, so I was winking and nodding at it like: 'Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help.' I kept going and going." Perhaps surprisingly, she was invited back.At first, a young McCarthy loved it. "This idea of really being able to pace an audience and make strangers laugh, I just thought it was the greatest thing," she says. But she grew tired of the hecklers fairly quickly and turned her attention to theater, studying and performing in off-off-Broadway productions for several years.The inability to make a living finally caught up to her, and she packed her bags again and moved to Los Angeles, where she moved into a friend's kitchen to save money. Her sister had sent her a newspaper clip about The Groundlings, so she boarded a city bus, auditioned and got in. "It changed my life," she insists. "It taught me to write and how to do a character rather than just play crazy." (McCarthy is set to return to the Groundlings with a special performance in October.)After a string of lower-level production gigs (the first on her cousin Jenny McCarthy's eponymous MTV sketch-comedy show) and small roles in film ("Go", "Charlie's Angels"), she landed a supporting role on "Gilmore Girls," a coming-of-age drama on the now-defunct WB (and later on spinoff the CW). The series, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel as mother and daughter, ran from 2000 to 2007. Within months of wrapping, McCarthy was hitched to another friend role in ABC's short-lived Christina Applegate vehicle "Samantha Who?"Then came "Mike & Molly," in which executive producer Chuck Lorre decided the longtime supporting actress "was more than ready to step into the lead role." The first time McCarthy read with co-star Billy Gardell, says Lorre, "was one of those moments you dream about. They were perfect together. I like to imagine that Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows were smiling down on us." (She was eight months pregnant with her second child at the time.)When "Mike & Molly" premiered in fall 2010, critics were struck by its premise. Rather than feature impossibly thin characters living upper-class existences, as many primetime offerings do, the CBS series centered on a blue-collar cop and schoolteacher couple who meet at Overeaters Anonymous. The plotline stirred early controversy when a Marie Claire writer claimed on the magazine's website that she would be "grossed out if [she] had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kiss each other."But Roberts believes the realness of the series' characters -- and their waistlines -- has helped make "Mike & Molly" a success, regularly garnering 10 million viewers during its first season. "I had gotten very tired of watching people on television that were just sort of improbable," says Roberts of his thought process while penning the pilot. "They were too perfect, they made too much money, and their apartments were way outside of their economic abilities."For Gardell, a long-time stand-up comic, that authenticity was part of the characters' appeal. "We're not the norm on TV, and I think we take great pride in representing down-to-earth people who are just trying to get better," says McCarthy's co-star. "I think you have to have a deep soul to do that, and Melissa definitely has one."McCarthy agrees, claiming she was drawn to the idea that the show features real people with real jobs. "I don't know any neighborhoods where everyone's walking around in seven-inch heels and perfect makeup," she says, arguing she has been less bothered by criticism of her physical appearance since becoming a mother to daughters Vivian, 4 -- who has been parading around for days with her mother's Emmy tiara -- and Georgette, 1 ."The stupid stuff like what I wear or how I look I can't control, so I just try not to give too much energy to it," she continues, noting later that after having her second child, her body is a work in progress. "At 20, I would have been like: 'Don't they like me? Was it my hair?' At 41, I think the things that define me, I hope, are a lot more than those kinds of petty things."With her raised profile, McCarthy is getting ready to launch a retail line for other plus-size women. "Trying to find stuff that's still fashion-forward in my size is damn near impossible. It's either for like a 98-year-old woman or a 14-year-old hooker, and there is nothing in the middle," she laughs, recalling her recent struggles to find a dress for the Emmys. After combing through "9 million dresses with taffeta or shiny bows," she opted to channel that teenage passion and design her own (with couture dressmaker Daniella Pearl).She could need more of her own creations as the awards circuit heats up. McCarthy is likely to garner attention for her role in "Bridesmaids," a rare female-lead comedy hit with both critics and viewers. The movie earned nearly $170 million at the domestic box office, making it the No. 2-grossing comedy of the year behind "The Hangover Part II." (By comparison, Apatow's earlier hits "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" banked $109 million, $149 million and $121 million, respectively.)What's more, it solidified something so rare it's almost unheard of in Hollywood circles: a posse of female comedians, including Groundlings alumna McCarthy, Wiig, Mumolo, Maya Rudolph and Wendi McLendon-Covey. For the genre's males, there has been the Adam Sandler crew, the Will Ferrell clan and even the Jason Segel-Seth Rogen gang. But outside of Fey and Poehler's East Coast tribe, there has never been a network of female comedians as powerful as this one. "We all keep texting and calling each other, going: 'Are you freaking out right now? I don't know what's happening,' " says Mumolo of the troupe. "I think we're all still spinning from the summer. And Melissa, Melissa is in outer space."Now, McCarthy and Falcone, currently in Atlanta filming "What to Expect When You're Expecting," are busy prepping a production company. The pair is leaning toward naming it On the Day, a phrase McCarthy utters often. "Whenever someone wants to really rehearse a part, I always say, 'Oh, on the day, on the day it will be fine," she says, referencing her distaste for over-rehearsing.It's a fitting next step given how many projects McCarthy has in the works, a byproduct of her recent success. "To have the opportunity to start developing and being on the creating side of stuff, for me, is one of the most amazing and exciting things that's happened," she says, back in gush mode. "I've been writing for 15 years, and now, suddenly, people are like, 'Oh, what's in that drawer?' It's like, 'Well, I'll show what's in the drawer.' "In addition to being in negotiations to star opposite Jason Bateman in "Identity Thief," McCarthy and Mumolo are co-writing another McCarthy star vehicle. The project, set up at Paramount, will feature McCarthy as the mastermind of a plan to hijack the Stanley Cup in order to cheer up her sick husband.Then there's the multicamera comedy concept about a woman having a midlife crisis that was recently sold to CBS, which she and Falcone will co-write and co-executive produce. "When you hear a pitch and the writer knows every aspect of that character's life, you feel the reality," says CBS' Tassler of McCarthy's animated sell. "There was crying in the pitch, and then there was laughter and outrage. She painted the full picture."McCarthy's drawer also houses a dark comedy feature script that's about halfway complete from McCarthy and "The Help" writer-director Tate Taylor, another fellow Groundlings alum. But it's a project titled "Tammy" that McCarthy claims has her heart."It's so funny, and it also kind of breaks my heart," she says of a film script of hers centering on a woman who is leading an exceptionally unfulfilled life. The character wakes up one morning as things are crumbling around her and decides she has to get out of town -- and the only way to do so is in her grandmother's car. When her heavy-drinking grandmother insists on going along, they end up on a wild road trip to Mount Rushmore. "It's these two women who are not where they thought they'd be, and they kind of band together," she says, her excitement on display.The "Bridesmaids" team is not through with her, either. Apatow already has locked her into his still-untitled "Knocked Up" spinoff, and Feig says his "Dumb Jock" project at Universal has been set up for her to star in. "She's really one of my new heroes," says Feig of McCarthy. "I'll do anything to keep working with her. When you find someone like her, you don't let them go." The Hollywood Reporter Melissa McCarthy Is Having Her Moment By Lacey Rose September 30, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT Mary Rozzi It's been five days since Melissa McCarthy won her first Emmy on Sept. 18, and she is still visibly overwhelmed by emotion when she arrives at a photo shoot for "The Hollywood Reporter" at a Los Angeles studio.Variations on "I can't believe all of this is happening to me" are uttered often by the "Mike & Molly" star, who greets a photographer, hairstylist and reporter without makeup or Hollywood pretense. If her career-making character in this past spring's surprise box-office smash "Bridesmaids" was forceful, masculine and raunchy (propositioning an air marshal midflight), then McCarthy, 41, in person is precisely the opposite: gentle, feminine and exceedingly polite.Mention the statuette she has housed between family pictures on the mantel in her L.A. house, and you can see tears form. Push McCarthy on its significance, and you get the feeling she's doing all she can to keep them from streaming down her face.Still, she's more than willing to share details of her win -- by all accounts an upset of "The Big C's" Laura Linney, "Nurse Jackie's" Edie Falco and "Parks and Recreation's" Amy Poehler, all considered stronger favorites -- but confesses her memory is spotty from shock and genuine disbelief."I remember my knees went first, and I thought, 'Oh God, please don't fall down,' " she says of her thought process in that moment. "Just keep it upright. You're in a dress. Your mom and dad are watching."She was standing beside fellow nominees Tina Fey, Martha Plimpton, Linney, Falco and Poehler, having rushed the stage when their names were announced, part of an unrehearsed comedy routine conceived days earlier by Poehler. By the time presenters Rob Lowe and Sofia Vergara began placing a tiara on McCarthy's head and a bouquet of roses and Emmy in her arms, McCarthy recalls registering a second thought: "Is this still the bit? Oh, this is going to be so awkward if this is part of the bit."But bear hugs followed from the women, and McCarthy was pushed toward the microphone. She let out a "Holy smokes," the broadcast-appropriate version of another phrase she'd mouthed seconds earlier. Then she apologized to a U.S. TV audience of 12.5 million for being a crier, with tears in her eyes as she uttered such lines as, "I'm from Plainfield, Ill., and I'm standing here, and it's kind of amazing."For McCarthy, the leapfrog over better-known nominees marked the official Hollywood coronation of an actress so outside the realm of convention that it gave the broadcast one of its few genuine surprises. Indeed, it would seem McCarthy has plenty working against her, a plus-size fortysomething in an industry that traditionally favors sample-size females two decades younger. But what she lacks in dewy ingenue sex appeal, she makes up for with depth, comedic timing and sheer likability.In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a working actress more successful than -- or certainly as busy as -- McCarthy right now. Not only does she have a starring role on CBS' hit sitcom "Mike & Molly" -- the second season bowed Sept. 26 to a series-high 4.8 rating in the adults 18-to-49 demographic and 13.9 million viewers -- and an Oct. 1 gig as "Saturday Night Live host," but also she recently sold a road-trip comedy pitch to Paramount (with "Bridesmaids" writer Annie Mumolo) and a TV comedy project to CBS (with her actor-producer husband, Ben Falcone). All of it comes on the heels of McCarthy's scene-stealing turn as Megan, the unfiltered, unconventional and undeniable standout of the May release "Bridesmaids," a role so well-received it has Universal positioning her as awards-season bait on the film side."It's truly her moment," says CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler. Adds Peter Roth, president of "Mike & Molly" studio Warner Bros. TV, "This is the year of the McCarthy." It's a label he claims is richly deserved, adding: "Everything about her is relatable. You root for her; you want her to win."So what's it like to be at the white-hot center of Hollywood's attention, after nearly two decades working on the fringes? Overwhelming, exhilarating and utterly surreal are among the descriptors McCarthy uses. Earlier this summer, she was out rug shopping with Mumolo -- the longtime friends shop often for their homes, with Mumolo insisting McCarthy could be an interior designer if she weren't an actress -- when McCarthy's "team" called to see if she was up to do episode two of "SNL's" 37th season."I went into such an embarrassing, weird, inappropriately loud cry," says McCarthy of her response, laughing about a story she shares often. "Annie was running in circles. She thinks something horrible is happening because I'm bent over, literally, in the rug section of Living Spaces wailing." Mumolo cracks up at the story's retelling, adding, "I thought someone had died."If you believe the actress, the crying stopped only recently. On this day, McCarthy -- set to leave for "SNL" rehearsals in two days -- is focused on preparing for the gig and calming her nerves for the show she calls the Holy Grail of comedy. She claims she'll fly to Manhattan with a trunk filled with sketches and characters from her decade-plus tenure with L.A. improv group the Groundlings. Among them: Marbles, a cross-eyed, eccentric genius she'd love to work into a skit on "SNL." "If I get Marbles on 'SNL,' you can hit me with a bus right after that and I'll be OK," jokes McCarthy.It was this Groundlings character that won over "Mike & Molly" creator Mark Roberts during the series' casting process in early 2010. "When I saw Marbles [on McCarthy's reel], all I could think was this woman was an absolute genius," he says. "There's an off-handedness and unpredictability to her comedy that just makes it engaging." (It's worth noting that Marbles is also among the characters that won over Falcone, a fellow Groundlings alum. "She'll do anything for a laugh," he says, recalling his wife falling into splits onstage without stretching.)To hear McCarthy tell it, Marbles is precisely the type of character she's drawn to: those who are notably different but still confident and comfortable in their skin. "Bridesmaids'" Megan, in particular, fits into that category, though only after McCarthy got to put her stamp on the hard-to-cast character. What was initially conceived as a nervous oddball McCarthy reimagined as an uber-confident misfit.McCarthy went into her audition for "Bridesmaids" with Dockers, no makeup and a force-of-nature attitude. In her mind, she was channeling past Groundlings characters with the physical appearance of the Food Network's Guy Fieri, from one of her favorite shows "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (other favorites include "Top Chef" and "Chopped"). She remembers leaving the audition horrified by her performance: "The whole ride home, I was like, 'God, you get one shot, and you go in and you act weird,' " she says. "I was like, 'You idiot, you idiot.' "Fortunately, producer Judd Apatow and director Paul Feig, along with writers and former Groundlings members Kristen Wiig and Mumolo, appreciated her take on weird. "My jaw hit the ground," recalls Feig of McCarthy's audition. "I remember watching the first time, and we almost couldn't laugh because we were like: 'Oh my God. What is she doing? This is amazing.'"That her improv skills were similarly top-notch -- Feig is fond of telling the story of a scene that didn't make the cut where McCarthy's Megan starts ad-libbing about a squirrel infestation in her house, revealing there's "a squirrel burrowing its way into her vagina and living inside her" -- made her casting a no-brainer.For Mumolo and Wiig, who had recommended her for the role, "Bridesmaids" was an opportunity to share the side of McCarthy that fans of her TV work did not know. "She'd just get on the stage [at Groundlings] and grab the crowd by the balls," says Mumolo, who acknowledges she was initially thrown when McCarthy was cast as the "nice little chef" on "Gilmore Girls." Her husband, who played Air Marshal Jon in "Bridesmaids," agrees, arguing, "'Bridesmaids' was really the first chance for Melissa to show what exactly she can do."So where does McCarthy's gut-busting humor come from? As noted in her Emmy speech, she was raised in Plainfield, some 45 minutes southwest of Chicago, on a working corn and soybean farm. (Her parents remain there, though they've since moved off the farm.) Without neighborhood kids to play with, she and her older sister spent much of their childhood creating characters and an imaginary world -- a skill that would clearly serve her well later in life.By the time she hit her teens, a social McCarthy had joined the cheerleading squad and student council. But by her sophomore year, boredom had set in. "I turned intensely gothic," she laughs, reflecting on her attention-grabbing uniform of kabuki makeup, combat boots and shaved patches of her head. "I think I just loved all of the pageantry of it."At that time, McCarthy had her heart set on a career in fashion. She and close friend and fellow goth Brian Atwood, now a well-known women's shoe designer, would tear out pages of Vogue and fantasize about their own lines. Her parents beat down the idea of her attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, so she settled on Southern Illinois University, where she briefly studied clothing and textiles before dropping out.With boredom having seeped in again, McCarthy decided to follow her sister Margie to Boulder, Colo., where she found a gig making costumes for a dance company. But a visit from Atwood, who had already moved to NY, convinced a then 20-year-old McCarthy to pack her bags and join him in Manhattan. Once there, it was he who suggested she try her hand at stand-up, a genre with which she'd had no previous experience."It was terrible," she says, describing the wig and gold leather jacket Atwood squeezed her into for her first open-mic night at Stand Up NY. She hadn't realized most comics come with material and that the light that blinks after an allotted period is a signal to wrap it up. "I just told these long, bizarre stories," she chuckles. "I had no idea what the light meant, so I was winking and nodding at it like: 'Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help.' I kept going and going." Perhaps surprisingly, she was invited back.At first, a young McCarthy loved it. "This idea of really being able to pace an audience and make strangers laugh, I just thought it was the greatest thing," she says. But she grew tired of the hecklers fairly quickly and turned her attention to theater, studying and performing in off-off-Broadway productions for several years.The inability to make a living finally caught up to her, and she packed her bags again and moved to Los Angeles, where she moved into a friend's kitchen to save money. Her sister had sent her a newspaper clip about The Groundlings, so she boarded a city bus, auditioned and got in. "It changed my life," she insists. "It taught me to write and how to do a character rather than just play crazy." (McCarthy is set to return to the Groundlings with a special performance in October.)After a string of lower-level production gigs (the first on her cousin Jenny McCarthy's eponymous MTV sketch-comedy show) and small roles in film ("Go", "Charlie's Angels"), she landed a supporting role on "Gilmore Girls," a coming-of-age drama on the now-defunct WB (and later on spinoff the CW). The series, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel as mother and daughter, ran from 2000 to 2007. Within months of wrapping, McCarthy was hitched to another friend role in ABC's short-lived Christina Applegate vehicle "Samantha Who?"Then came "Mike & Molly," in which executive producer Chuck Lorre decided the longtime supporting actress "was more than ready to step into the lead role." The first time McCarthy read with co-star Billy Gardell, says Lorre, "was one of those moments you dream about. They were perfect together. I like to imagine that Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows were smiling down on us." (She was eight months pregnant with her second child at the time.)When "Mike & Molly" premiered in fall 2010, critics were struck by its premise. Rather than feature impossibly thin characters living upper-class existences, as many primetime offerings do, the CBS series centered on a blue-collar cop and schoolteacher couple who meet at Overeaters Anonymous. The plotline stirred early controversy when a Marie Claire writer claimed on the magazine's website that she would be "grossed out if [she] had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kiss each other."But Roberts believes the realness of the series' characters -- and their waistlines -- has helped make "Mike & Molly" a success, regularly garnering 10 million viewers during its first season. "I had gotten very tired of watching people on television that were just sort of improbable," says Roberts of his thought process while penning the pilot. "They were too perfect, they made too much money, and their apartments were way outside of their economic abilities."For Gardell, a long-time stand-up comic, that authenticity was part of the characters' appeal. "We're not the norm on TV, and I think we take great pride in representing down-to-earth people who are just trying to get better," says McCarthy's co-star. "I think you have to have a deep soul to do that, and Melissa definitely has one."McCarthy agrees, claiming she was drawn to the idea that the show features real people with real jobs. "I don't know any neighborhoods where everyone's walking around in seven-inch heels and perfect makeup," she says, arguing she has been less bothered by criticism of her physical appearance since becoming a mother to daughters Vivian, 4 -- who has been parading around for days with her mother's Emmy tiara -- and Georgette, 1 ."The stupid stuff like what I wear or how I look I can't control, so I just try not to give too much energy to it," she continues, noting later that after having her second child, her body is a work in progress. "At 20, I would have been like: 'Don't they like me? Was it my hair?' At 41, I think the things that define me, I hope, are a lot more than those kinds of petty things."With her raised profile, McCarthy is getting ready to launch a retail line for other plus-size women. "Trying to find stuff that's still fashion-forward in my size is damn near impossible. It's either for like a 98-year-old woman or a 14-year-old hooker, and there is nothing in the middle," she laughs, recalling her recent struggles to find a dress for the Emmys. After combing through "9 million dresses with taffeta or shiny bows," she opted to channel that teenage passion and design her own (with couture dressmaker Daniella Pearl).She could need more of her own creations as the awards circuit heats up. McCarthy is likely to garner attention for her role in "Bridesmaids," a rare female-lead comedy hit with both critics and viewers. The movie earned nearly $170 million at the domestic box office, making it the No. 2-grossing comedy of the year behind "The Hangover Part II." (By comparison, Apatow's earlier hits "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" banked $109 million, $149 million and $121 million, respectively.)What's more, it solidified something so rare it's almost unheard of in Hollywood circles: a posse of female comedians, including Groundlings alumna McCarthy, Wiig, Mumolo, Maya Rudolph and Wendi McLendon-Covey. For the genre's males, there has been the Adam Sandler crew, the Will Ferrell clan and even the Jason Segel-Seth Rogen gang. But outside of Fey and Poehler's East Coast tribe, there has never been a network of female comedians as powerful as this one. "We all keep texting and calling each other, going: 'Are you freaking out right now? I don't know what's happening,' " says Mumolo of the troupe. "I think we're all still spinning from the summer. And Melissa, Melissa is in outer space."Now, McCarthy and Falcone, currently in Atlanta filming "What to Expect When You're Expecting," are busy prepping a production company. The pair is leaning toward naming it On the Day, a phrase McCarthy utters often. "Whenever someone wants to really rehearse a part, I always say, 'Oh, on the day, on the day it will be fine," she says, referencing her distaste for over-rehearsing.It's a fitting next step given how many projects McCarthy has in the works, a byproduct of her recent success. "To have the opportunity to start developing and being on the creating side of stuff, for me, is one of the most amazing and exciting things that's happened," she says, back in gush mode. "I've been writing for 15 years, and now, suddenly, people are like, 'Oh, what's in that drawer?' It's like, 'Well, I'll show what's in the drawer.' "In addition to being in negotiations to star opposite Jason Bateman in "Identity Thief," McCarthy and Mumolo are co-writing another McCarthy star vehicle. The project, set up at Paramount, will feature McCarthy as the mastermind of a plan to hijack the Stanley Cup in order to cheer up her sick husband.Then there's the multicamera comedy concept about a woman having a midlife crisis that was recently sold to CBS, which she and Falcone will co-write and co-executive produce. "When you hear a pitch and the writer knows every aspect of that character's life, you feel the reality," says CBS' Tassler of McCarthy's animated sell. "There was crying in the pitch, and then there was laughter and outrage. She painted the full picture."McCarthy's drawer also houses a dark comedy feature script that's about halfway complete from McCarthy and "The Help" writer-director Tate Taylor, another fellow Groundlings alum. But it's a project titled "Tammy" that McCarthy claims has her heart."It's so funny, and it also kind of breaks my heart," she says of a film script of hers centering on a woman who is leading an exceptionally unfulfilled life. The character wakes up one morning as things are crumbling around her and decides she has to get out of town -- and the only way to do so is in her grandmother's car. When her heavy-drinking grandmother insists on going along, they end up on a wild road trip to Mount Rushmore. "It's these two women who are not where they thought they'd be, and they kind of band together," she says, her excitement on display.The "Bridesmaids" team is not through with her, either. Apatow already has locked her into his still-untitled "Knocked Up" spinoff, and Feig says his "Dumb Jock" project at Universal has been set up for her to star in. "She's really one of my new heroes," says Feig of McCarthy. "I'll do anything to keep working with her. When you find someone like her, you don't let them go." The Hollywood Reporter