Colin Firth: MY FAIR LADY Broadway Revival Set for 2014; Ralph Fiennes as a 'Contender' for Henry Higgins? by broadwayworld.com

We reported earlier this year that the Nederlanders and Clive Davis were hard at work planning a 2014 Broadway revival of MY FAIR LADY, to be directed by Bartlett Sher. Sher's recent credits include South Pacific, Golden Boy, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

At the time, Clive Davis recently announced that he was eyeing LES MISERABLES star Anne Hathaway and Colin Firth to play Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins, respectively. Firth has also starred in a big screen musical in the past, taking on Harry in 2008's MAMMA MIA. Neither actor, however, has yet starred in a Broadway production. Today, Michael Riedel reveals in the New York Post that both actors were unable to commit for more than 6 months, so the casting process has moved on elsewhere.

He writes "Ralph Fiennes has emerged as a contender for Henry Higgins. As far as I can tell, he's never done a musical before, but he's a fine actor, and as Rex Harrison famously proved, a good actor can talk-sing his way through 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face.'" He additionally notes that producing alongside the Nederlanders and Clive Davis will be producer Roger Berlind.

My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well-born lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals. It has been called "the perfect musical".


Read more about MY FAIR LADY Broadway Revival Set for 2014; Ralph Fiennes as a 'Contender' for Henry Higgins? by broadwayworld.com

Martin Freeman: The Hobbit actor was named best hero, while Silver Linings Playbook continued its awards season domination with three wins (RADIO TIMES)

Susanna Lazarus
11:23 AM, 15 April 2013

He may play the sidekick to BBC's dynamic detective Sherlock, but Martin Freeman's Hollywood breakthrough as The Hobbit's Bilbo Baggins has won him an MTV Movie Award for best action hero. Voted for by fans on social media sites Twitter and Instagram, the star of the Lord of the Rings prequel (who was absent from the Californian ceremony) scored an impressive 1,637,179 votes, beating off competition from Snow White and The Huntsman's Kristen Stewart, Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises), and Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man in The Avengers.

Another absentee on the night was Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence who landed the coveted prize for best female performance for her role in award-winning rom-com Silver Linings Playbook. The film also triumphed in the best kiss and best male performance categories which were accepted by Bradley Cooper – although his co-star's no-show was the subject of controversy throughout the evening. Officially put down to a "scheduling conflict", it saw MTV facing a last minute scramble to rearrange a planned sketch with host Rebel Wilson, with even the network's website admitting to an "audibly upset room" in reaction to Lawrence's absence.

READ MORE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-04-15/martin-freeman-emma-watson-and-jennifer-lawrence-take-home-top-prizes-at-the-mtv-movie-awards

Oscars 2013: Daniel Day-Lewis collects record third Oscar with a smile Lincoln star says he needs to 'lie down for a couple of years' as he dismisses attempts to label him greatest ever actor as 'daft' Maev Kennedy and Catherine Shoard The Guardian, Monday 25 February 2013 17.43 EST

Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, and Christoph Waltz. Photograph: Peter West/Rex Features

Long after the Californian sun rose, the Oscar winners and losers were waking up after a night of loud applause and louder frocks, hilarious acceptance speeches and dire jokes.

As universally predicted, Daniel Day-Lewis took the Oscar for best actor for his towering performance in Lincoln, and also enters the record books as the first male actor to be a third-time victor, after winning for My Left Foot in 1990 and There Will Be Blood in 2008.

Day-Lewis is sometimes seen as a remote and slightly chilly figure, renowned for his obsessive preparation and for remaining in character throughout the filming – hard on his wife, the actor and director Rebecca Miller, given that the 16th president of the United States had a notoriously difficult relationship with his wife, who spent time in a mental hospital after his death.

"Since we got married 16 years ago, my wife Rebecca has lived with some very strange men," he told the audience. "Luckily she's the versatile one of the family and she's been the perfect companion to all of them."

Day-Lewis also won the audience accolade for the best joke when he insisted that Meryl Streep, presenter of his Oscar, had been Steven Spielberg's first choice to play Abraham Lincoln, and in return he himself had been destined to play Margaret Thatcher.

Backstage after his win, he said he could not think of anyone else he urgently wants to play. "I need to lie down for a couple of years. It's really hard to imagine doing anything after this." He dismissed any attempt to label him the greatest actor of all time as "daft".


READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/25/oscars-2013-winners-lincoln-argo

The Hobbit receives the most nominations for the Saturn Awards Posted 10:24 am on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 by John 'Spartan' Nguyen (NERD REACTOR)

Oh sure, the Oscars is a big night for movie lovers, but what about movie lovers who are into science fiction and fantasy? Luckily, we have the Saturn Awards. The show was created because other award shows weren’t showing a lot of love to the sci-fi/fantasy genre. The 39th annual Saturn Awards just announced its list of nominees.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hit it big by receiving nine nominations. It’s got the most nominations compared to other movies. Following behind the Hobbit are Life of Pi and Skyfall. Other top-nominated movies include The Avengers, The Dark Knight Returns, Looper, Cloud Atlas, Argo and Les Miserables.

Films aren’t the only ones being nominated. TV shows like Fringe, Dexter and The Walking Dead are the leading nominees. Other shows being nominated include Doctor Who and Merlin.

I’m glad to see actors like Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), Javier Bardem (Skyfall), Michael Fassbender (Prometheus), Ian McKellen (The Hobbit), Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises), Clark Gregg (The Avengers), and Joseph-Gordon Levitt (Looper) getting nominated. I can’t leave out Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) and Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), but they’re already getting recognition on other award shows. I’m really surprised to see Clark Gregg on the Best Supporting Actor list.

The Saturn Awards will take place in June. The exact date and location will be announced soon.

Here are some of the nominated categories...


Read more at http://nerdreactor.com/2013/02/20/the-hobbit-receives-the-most-nominations-for-the-saturn-awards/#P4ixpvVQICXi9KR3.99 

Record Producer Clive Davis Eyeing Anne Hathaway and Colin Firth for My Fair Lady Broadway Revival By Michael Gioia 20 Feb 2013 (PLAYBILL)

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/colin%20firth

Grammy Award-winning record producer Clive Davis, who plans to produce a Broadway revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Tony-wining My Fair Lady, is eyeing Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway and Oscar winner Colin Firth for the show's leading roles, according to USA Today.

As previoulsy reported, Davis plans to bring the classic back to Broadway in 2014. He will produce the musical alongside Roger Berlind, Scott Landis and The Nederlander Organization.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/colin%20firth

"I always wanted to produce a Broadway show, and I've never done it," Davis previously told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm hopeful we will prepare and finalize everything this year to bring My Fair Lady next year to Broadway with a stellar cast. I don't want to jinx myself, but we're in discussions with two magnificent performers and a wonderful director to do that."

According to Davis, Hathaway ("Les Misérables," "The Devil Wears Prada") and Firth ("The King's Speech"), who would play the respective roles of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins, were up for the same roles in a screen adaptation of "My Fair Lady," which fell through and made the rights available for a Broadway remounting.

READ MORE: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/175182-Record-Producer-Clive-Davis-Eyeing-Anne-Hathaway-and-Colin-Firth-for-My-Fair-Lady-Broadway-Revival

Colin Firth: Anne Hathaway to be Colin Firth's 'Fair Lady' on stage? Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

Music mogul Clive Davis has gotten lots of attention for revealing his bisexuality in the new memoir The Soundtrack of My Life, out Tuesday. But for musical theater fans, it may be equally big news that Davis plans to stage a revival of the Lerner and Loewe classic My Fair Lady — with some big stars in mind to play the title character, Eliza Doolittle, and her self-appointed Svengali, Professor Henry Higgins.

Davis writes in Soundtrack that he is "about to realize another of my life's dreams: producing a Broadway musical," with theater veterans Roger Berlind, Scott Landis and the Nederlander Organization.

Chatting with USA TODAY on Monday, Davis elaborated on this dream project, noting that "our first choices" to play Eliza and Higgins were Anne Hathaway — a top Oscar contender this Sunday for her singing performance in the screen version of Les Misérables — and Colin Firth.

READ MORE: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/02/19/clive-davis-eyes-stars-for-broadway-revival/1930977/

BAFTA 2013 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPpokehgph4

Les Miserables - Comedy or Musical - best actor, best supporting actress, best picture

'Les Miserables'
( Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times )
WINS:

Actor: Hugh Jackman
Supporting actress: Anne Hathaway
Best picture: Comedy or musical

NOMINATIONS:

Best picture: Comedy or musical
Actor: Hugh Jackman
Supporting actress: Anne Hathaway
Original song: "Suddenly," Music by: Claude-Michel Schonberg.

L A TIMES

Video - Academy Award Nominations Announcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM55VF_Bkj0

'Lincoln' tops Oscar nominations By Todd Leopold, CNN

(CNN) -- "Lincoln," director Steven Spielberg's film about the 16th president and his battle to end slavery, topped the nominations for the 85th Academy Awards on Thursday, receiving 12 nods, including best picture.

Along with Spielberg, who picked up a best director nomination, the film earned picks for best actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), best supporting actress (Sally Field), best supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and best adapted screenplay (Tony Kushner).

"Life of Pi" was second with 11 nominations, including best picture, best director (Ang Lee) and best adapted screenplay.

As always, there were a handful of surprises. The most notable, perhaps, was the showing by the small independent film "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Its 9-year-old star, Quvenzhane Wallis, earned a nomination for best actress, becoming the youngest person ever in that category. In addition, the film was nominated for best picture, best director (Benh Zeitlin) and best adapted screenplay -- four nominations in all.


Along with "Lincoln," "Pi," "Beasts" and "Amour," the other best picture nominees are "Argo," "Django Unchained," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Les Miserables."

The nominees for best actor are Day-Lewis ("Lincoln"), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables"), Denzel Washington ("Flight"), Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master") and Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook").

The nominees for best actress are Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Naomi Watts ("The Impossible") and Emmanuelle Riva ("Amour").

The nominees for best supporting actor are Jones ("Lincoln"), Robert De Niro ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("The Master"), Alan Arkin ("Argo") and Christoph Waltz ("Django Unchained").

The nominees for best supporting actress are Field ("Lincoln"), Amy Adams ("The Master"), Anne Hathaway ("Les Miserables"), Helen Hunt ("The Sessions") and Jacki Weaver ("Silver Linings Playbook").

The nominees for best director are Spielberg ("Lincoln"), Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Lee ("Life of Pi") and Haneke ("Amour").

READ MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/10/showbiz/movies/oscar-nominations/?hpt=hp_c1

Eddie Redmayne so happy about $100m Miserables

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE

The cast includes Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Samantha Barks and Eddie Redmayne — who has become a big screen heart-throb thanks to his performance.

Redmayne told me recently that the film was tricky, from an actor’s point of view, because of its blend of theatricality and realism.

One particularly troublesome scene involved his lovestruck character, Marius, singing A Heart Full Of Love.
‘In the script, Marius goes: “In my life, she has burst like the music of angels! The light of the sun!!”,’ he told me.

‘It’s so florid and metaphorical — beautiful, but very difficult to make that sound spontaneous.

‘And I remember trying, and it wasn’t working, and Tom said: “For all this grisly realism that we’re doing, this is an old-school, West Side Story, movie musical moment. And in order to make it work, you have to run down the street, swinging from lampposts, singing till your heart’s content.” ’

With that in mind, Redmayne nailed it, and the resulting scene is full of yearning.

Several of the actors playing students at the barricade had come from the stage show and a few had played Marius.

Redmayne asked them how they had handled certain scenes, and one of them said he’d imagined Marius as a bit of a dreamer, who probably wrote poetry.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2256844/Damian-Lewis-Cockney-swagger-Me-My-Girl.html#ixzz2H2igCjAJ 
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Rosamund Pike: She Wears It Well Actress Rosamund Pike looks sexy but relaxed at the world premiere of 'Les Miserables' in London. (FASHION)

BY KATE FINNIGAN | 06 DECEMBER 2012

Blimey, the stars really got excited about dressing for the Les Miserables London premiere, didn't they? And not in an entirely good way. Anne Hathaway chose a deconstructed eiderdown, Laura Bailey a blancmange - not my favourite looks from the esteemed houses of Givenchy or Valentino.

But that one from ' I'd Do Anything ' (Samantha Barks) looked GREAT: sporty, full-length, navy blue Stella McCartney. For a first big trip out on the red carpet that was seriously cool.

But the only person who actually looked comfortable and therefore the best dressed in my opinion (no boobs bobbing perilously on a fragment of tit-tape; rib cage able to move freely) was the gorgeous Rosamund Pike.

READ MORE: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/kate-finnigan/TMG9727411/Rosamund-Pike-She-Wears-It-Well.html

Beautiful Les Miserables - Amanda Seyfried is in love in new TV spot - watch Published Wednesday, Nov 7 2012, 4:15am EST | By Hugh Armitage |(DIGITAL SPY)

The character is the daughter of a prostitute (Anne Hathaway) who is adopted by reformed ex-con Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman).

Director Tom Hooper's adaptation of the long-running musical also stars Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Unusually, the cast were required to sing live during the filming of Victor Hugo's classic tale of 19th century France.

READ MORE: http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a436277/les-miserables-amanda-seyfried-is-in-love-in-new-tv-spot-watch.html

First Les Miserables TV Spot – Dream SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 BY RICHARD LENNOX (FILM ORIA)

Anne Hathaway looks like she’s on dynamite form.  I’m going out on a limb here to say I bet she will earn an Oscar nomination from her performance. It’s certainly a bold statement to make, especially without seeing the film, but, wow, her performance seems very powerful indeed.

Of course, Hathaway is amongst good company. She’s joined by Amanda Seyfried, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter and Samantha Barks.  Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) has also been in charge of helming the picture. Now, that’s some serious talent.

http://www.filmoria.co.uk/2012/09/first-les-miserables-tv-spot-dream/

Tom Hardy arrives at Batman Premiere

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/tom-hardy-star-trek-screen-test-patrick-stewart_n_1718914.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Christian Bale Arrives to Aurora, Colorado to Visit Victims of 'The Dark Knight Rises' Theater Shooting (LATINOS POST)

Actor Christian Bale arrived to Aurora, Colorado on Tuesday (July 24) in order to visit and support victims, their family members, of the recent theater shootings that occurred last Friday at the screening of the new movie 'The Dark Knight Rises'.

According to ABC, Bale was seen at the Medical Center of Aurora where he was heard addressing himself to the patients.

The Batman actor may have been prompted to visit the area after online petitions were posted on Change.org during the weekend.


"Words cannot express the horror that I feel," said Bale in a statement released on Saturday by his spokeswoman, Jennifer Allen. "I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

Other cast members of the movie such as Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, and also director Christopher Nolan sent their condolences as well.

Read more at http://www.latinospost.com/articles/2285/20120724/christian-bale-arrives-aurora-colorado-visit-victims.htm

Christian Bale, Tom Hardy: David Letterman Reviews The Dark Knight Rises: “I Loved It” By: Scott Johnson on July 13, 2012 (POSSIBLE SPOILER IN THE VIDEO)

Letterman said, “What a deal this thing is. Well, you know what, I’ll tell you in all honesty. I went to the movie, and it’s two hours and forty-five minutes. So two hours and forty-five minutes, that says bring survival gear, and I went in there, and the thing flies by. I was amazed at how quickly it goes by, and that’s the sign of a great movie.” Looking at Hathaway, Letterman also added, “You were fantastic. The cat-suit was fantastic, and I loved it. I loved it!”

What did Letterman think about The Dark Knight Rises in comparison to The Amazing Spider-Man? Letterman said, “Well, earlier in the summer I saw the Spider-Man movie, and I liked that also. But in the Spider-Man movie, halfway through there’s a giant lizard.” Letterman continued, “But there’s a giant lizard, they’re chasing in Spider-Man, and it’s in 3D. But you see, in my mind, I know there aren’t giant lizards. So when the giant lizard arrives, I’m less interested in the movie. In the Batman movie, it’s just sinister people. I know they exist. So you got that going for you as well.”

DAVID LETTERMAN POSSIBLE SPOILER FOR BATMAN ENDING


READ MORE: http://comicbook.com/blog/2012/07/13/david-letterman-reviews-the-dark-knight-rises-i-loved-it/

Anna Karenina, Les Miserables: Adaptations Of Classic Novels Go Head To Head (FEMALE FIRST)

Since the announcement that the popular texts Les Miserables and Anna Karenina are being remade for the big screen later this year, there has been much hype and speculation as to whether they will live up to the original versions.

With both trailers recently released, revealing glittering A-List casts, critics have predicted this year’s Oscar battles will be between that of the classic remakes.

Les Miserables has revealed an enviable cast including Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. Not to be outdone, Anna Karenina features a sordid love triangle starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson.


However, it seems that in the case of this production, having a big name doesn’t always translate into casting success following the news that Taylor Swift narrowly missed out on her choice part as Eponnie to relatively unknown Samantha Barks.

As we eagerly await the release of both classic tales and speculate about the final films, it’s also got us thinking about how some of our favourite stories have transformed over the years.

So we’ve decided to take a look back at our favourite adaptations of popular classic stories and the constant revitalisation of their tales to suit a fresh audience.

Take a look at our top 5 re-makes as we compare some of the best oldies to the most unforgettable newbies and the stars that made them.


READ MORE: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/Les+Miserables-245556.html

"Les Miserables" trailer: Anne Hathaway takes center stage in first look at new film By Jessica Derschowitz (CELEBRITY CIRCUIT)

The new film adaptation, directed by Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") also stars Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers.

"Les Miserables" opens in theaters on Dec. 14.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5slbuWpZwjg


READ MORE:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57443535-10391698/les-miserables-trailer-anne-hathaway-takes-center-stage-in-first-look-at-new-film/

Les Miserables trailer - very moving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5slbuWpZwjg

First time I've ever cried while watching a trailer I think. Very moving.