Daily Archives: September 19, 2011

Actor will reportedly reteam with director Nicolas Winding Refn for several projects including a possible ‘Logan’s Run’ remake.
By Eric Ditzian

Ryan Gosling


Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Ryan Gosling‘s “Drive” didn’t exactly zip away from the multiplex this weekend with a hefty box-office haul, grossing only $11 million. That’s a respectable sum for a Cannes darling — less high-octane thriller than slow-burning, tension-filled drama — that was always going to have trouble finding a mainstream audience.

But we certainly haven’t heard the last of “Drive,” which remains likely to be a player come awards season, with Gosling potentially nabbing actor nods and helmer Nicolas Winding Refn looking to pick up other wins on the heels of his Cannes directing award. Gosling, for his part, will have some serious competition … from himself: The actor’s “Ides of March” is also sure to be in the mix come the fall. Whatever happens, Gosling is going to be busy from now through awards season and far, far beyond.

“Ides Of March”

Hitting theaters in October after a festival run this month, “Ides” features Gosling as an idealistic press secretary to a charismatic Ohio governor played by George Clooney, who also wrote and directed the project. The talent in front of and behind the camera made for a buzzy debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, but a crowded field that includes the likes of Steven Spielberg, Stephen Daldry, Woody Allen and Tate Taylor (with his sleeper hit “The Help”) leaves an uncertain awards-season path for “Ides.”

“The Place Beyond The Pines”

Perhaps we’ve just got “Drive” on the mind, but this project sounds strangely similar to Gosling’s latest. He stars as a motorcycle stunt driver who contemplates committing a crime to benefit his loved ones. At least he looks far different: We recently spotted Gosling on set rocking bleached blond hair and a tattoo under one eye. Costarring Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes, there’s no word yet on a release date or festival debut.

“The Gangster Squad”

Production on Ruben Fleischer’s (“Zombieland”) third feature kicked off earlier this month with an all-star cast in place, including Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. Set in post-World War II Los Angeles, the story focuses on the city’s battles against the infiltration of the East Coast mob. Gosling plays a member of the LAPD — a suavely dressed one at that, as some early set photos made clear.

“Only God Forgives”

Gosling and Refn can’t get enough of each other. Luke Evans was initially set to star in this flick about boxing and prostitution in Bangkok, but the actor had to drop out because of his commitment to the two “Hobbit” films. Gosling reportedly stepped in, with shooting expected to begin in November and an eye on a theatrical release in the second half of 2012, according to Variety.

“Logan’s Run”

No, seriously: Gosling and Refn can’t get enough of each other. They’re planning on a remake of this 1976 sci-fi classic, with Gosling playing the starring role of a guy living in a dystopian world where no one is allowed to live past the age of 30. The project has long been in development, with directors like Bryan Singer coming and going. Fingers crossed that Gosling and Refn can succeed where others have fallen short.

Untitled Romantic Comedy

You know the drill by now: Gosling and Refn, together again. Possibly. We know precious little about this project, other than Refn wants to direct, Gosling could star and both men want “Drive” costar Albert Brooks to pen the screenplay. Hey, we’ll bite. “It’s a romantic comedy set in New York, which seems like a great place to start,” Refn told the Los Angeles Times.

“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”

This one is pure rumor at this point, but reports have suggested Warner Bros. is looking to pair director Steven Soderbergh with a young Hollywood star for this long-gestating adaptation of the ’60s-era spy series. Gosling’s name has come up alongside those of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Alexander Skarsg Continue reading →

‘I probably felt at that time that I was rebelling and I could associate myself with that,’ Weezy tells MTV News of Seattle grunge band.
By Rob Markman

Lil Wayne


Photo: MTV News

Long before Lil Wayne was living his rock-star dreams onstage, he was at home — like many other kids his age — rocking out to Nirvana.

“I was a real big fan of that,” Weezy told MTV News’ Sway after his MTV “Unplugged” taping earlier this year.

The multiplatinum rapper — who released his first rock-inspired album Rebirth in 2010 — recalled the impact that Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain had on him. It all started with The Box, a now-defunct cable station that was fueled by fans’ phoned-in music video requests. For Wayne, it was rare to see a rock and roll video, especially one that he could identify with. ” ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was one of the only rock songs that would come on, and you’ll be like, ‘That one is OK, I can deal with that one,’ ” he recalled.

On Saturday, the Seattle grunge band’s breakout album, Nevermind, turns 20. And while singles like “Come as You Are,” “Lithium” and “In Bloom” helped make Nevermind a classic, it was “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that made music fans across the world take notice. Nirvana was bigger than just rock.

Maybe it was the loud guitars, the punk-style wardrobe or Cobain’s long hair, but something attracted Wayne when he first saw the video as a kid in 1991. Interestingly enough, the Cash Money Billionaire now plays guitar, dresses with a punk-inspired swag and swings his long dreads onstage. But if you let Weezy tell it, it’s the lyrics to “Teen Spirit” that he most identified with.

“Because I was young and I actually listened to the lyrics, and I probably felt at that time that I was rebelling and I could associate myself with that and relate to the things [Cobain] was talking about and speaking about in the song,” Tunechi remembered. “I probably couldn’t, but I thought I could.”

Share your memories of Nevermind in the comments below!

Stick with MTV News all week as we reveal the Nevermind You Never Knew, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s definitive album with classic footage, new interviews and much more.

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Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Contagion’ follows at #2, with Ryan Gosling vehicle ‘Drive’ at #3.
By Ryan J. Downey

“Lion King 3-D”


Photo: Disney

What’s old was new again as Disney’s iconic “The Lion King” became the #1 movie at the box office over the weekend, taking in an estimated $29.3 million with a souped-up 3-D redo of the 1994 original.

“Drive,” one of the year’s best-reviewed films, was #3 in its weekend debut, while the poorly reviewed remake of “Straw Dogs” and Sarah Jessica Parker’s even-worse-reviewed “I Don’t Know How She Does It” both flopped in their debuts. Last week’s #1 movie, “Contagion,” dropped to #2 this week.

“The Lion King” 3-D re-release earned more than the other three new releases combined. The film’s original-run IMAX re-release (back in 2002) and the past weekend’s numbers pushed “The Lion King” from #25 to #17 on the all-time domestic box-office chart, according to Box Office Mojo. The animated tale, which has also quite successfully been adapted for Broadway, has made $357.8 million in the United States to date.

Steven Soderbergh’s ensemble procedural drama “Contagion” made $14.5 million in its second weekend of release, for a total of $44.2 million. “Drive” took in $11 million, but while the film has set Twitter abuzz in critic circles, it remains to be seen how it will continue to play with a broader audience. “This is one of Ryan Gosling’s best performances,” Aisle Seat reported.

“The Help” came in at #4 at the box office, adding $6.4 million for a total of $147.3 million. The remake of director Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 thriller “Straw Dogs,” featuring “True Blood” star Alexander Skarsg Continue reading →

Photos from London video set show Brit and real-life BF Jason Trawick making a getaway.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick on the set of her “Criminal” video shoot


Photo: Eagle Eyes / Splash News

Britney Spears has landed in London and she’s taking the city by storm.

Since arriving in the U.K., the singer has been hard at work on the set of her “Criminal” music video, according to photos that hit the Web. The pics reveal there will be a cameo from a super special guy in her life.

In one photograph, a smiling Spears holds a gun as she leaves a convenience store with her real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick behind her. Other photos show Spears inside the store tucking the gun in the waistband of her pants, and Trawick carrying groceries and pulling Brit by the arm.

In a chat with AOL, the pop star explained that it was her idea to shoot the clip in London. “I’m shooting a video [and] I’ve never shot on location out of the country of America for a video,” she said. “So, it should be very interesting. It was partly my idea … to see if it could to happen, and they were like, ‘Yeah, it’s a great idea,’ so we did it.”

The Femme Fatale singer also opened up about her busy career, including the European leg of her tour which kicks off this month. So, how does she stay tour-ready at all times? “Sometimes it is [a lot of work], but I genuinely love what I do and I get on a routine and a schedule to keep me motivated and inspired to have the energy I need for the show,” she said. “A lot of cardio, a lot of running and just try and eat clean.”

Britney added that it’s all about balancing motherhood and career. “You just have to find your balance and niche in your life,” she said, crediting her mom and nanny with giving her a helping hand. “It’s a process you learn to figure out.”

Are you excited for Britney Spears’ “Criminal” video? Tell us in the comments!

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