Tom Cruise has found a new group to finance his films after being publicly dumped by Paramount Studios last week. The Mission: Impossible star has cut a deal with a group that includes the owner of the Washington Redskins football team to finance the overhead costs of his film production company. Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder, chairman of Six Flag Inc., is said to be a leading investor in an agreement that would give Cruise less than $3 million annually to finance staff and office expenses. In exchange, Snyder and the others will have the ability to finance movies developed by Cruise and his producing partner, Paula Wagner. The two-year deal gives Cruise less than the $3 million a year that he reportedly turned down from Paramount Pictures to renew his longtime deal with the studio, which expires on Thursday. Cruise and Wagner had reportedly been receiving $10 million annually from Paramount to cover their overheads under their soon-to-be-expired deal with the studio. When Cruise was publicly dropped from Paramount's payroll by studio owner and Viacom Inc chairman Sumner Redstone last week, Wagner claimed the pair had already lined up financing from hedge funds to cover the much larger cost of developing movies. The name of the hedge fund remains unknown and Cruise's lawyer, Bertram Fields, said last week there was no hedge fund deal. Several top banking sources tell the Los Angeles Times they had not head of any deal struck by Cruise with a hedge fund.

Network executives at NBC have publicly apologized for airing a fake airplane crash as a comedy skit at the beginning of Sunday's 58th Annual Emmy Awards telecast. Ceremony host Conan O'Brien's pre-ceremony skit was savaged by critics yesterday for its insensitivity - it came just hours after a plane crash in Kentucky left 49 people dead. In the pre-recorded skit, O'Brien's "crash" mimicked the incident that launched TV series Lost. Following the backlash, NBC bosses released a statement late yesterday saying, "Our hearts and prayers go out to the many families who lost loved ones in the plane crash in Kentucky on Sunday. In no way would we ever want to make light of this terrible tragedy. The film's opening during the Emmy telecast was meant to spoof some of television's most well-known scenes. The timing was unfortunate and we regret any unintentional pain it may have caused."

Owen Wilson has rubbished reports he is dating his You, Me And Dupree co-star Kate Hudson, insisting he's still single. The actor has been linked with the glamorous blonde since she announced her break-up with The Black Crowes rocker Chris Robinson earlier this month. But despite the rampant rumors, Wilson insists there is no romance in his life. He says, "I'm single despite what people say. I think hopefully that I'll meet someone that I'll want to have a family with, that's what I would like." Wilson has already hired Hollywood heavyweight attorney Martin Singer to slap a lawsuit on anyone reporting the stars are dating. He had allegedly been seeing a Los Angeles public relations executive when news of Hudson's marriage split broke.

The Charlie's Angels reunion at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night may have reignited a proper TV get-together that fans feared they'd never see. Original Angels Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith took to the Emmys stage at the Shrine Auditorium to pay tribute to late series creator Aaron Spelling and that reunion has sparked another. After months of resisting a planned TV reunion special, the trio is now keen to team up again to chat about their memories. Jackson says, "I think it takes Aaron Spelling to bring us together because we're all going in different directions and sometimes it's about someone else."

Britney Spears' husband Kevin Federline is making his acting debut as a thug on TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The 28-year-old dancer, whose first album Playing With Fire is set to be released in October, began shooting the role last week. It is due to be shown on TV later this year. Federline says, "This is pretty much my first time acting. It's the first time I've actually had a speaking role. I was doing stuff for the Teen Choice Awards and got the call while we were rehearsing and I p**sed in my pants! I was excited right off the bat. It's the only show that I really, really watch." Federline will play an arrogant teen in the episode, who harasses investigators Nick Stokes (George Eads) and Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) on a job. He has previously starred with wife Spears in their own reality show, Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, which aired in 2005.

Ashlee Simpson has signed on to play murderous vixen Roxie Hart in the London run of the musical Chicago. After weeks of speculation, Simpson kicked off rehearsals for the legendary musical in a New York City studio on Monday. Chicago producer Barry Weissler confirmed the news to American publication Star, saying, "Yes, it is true. Ashlee Simpson is joining the cast of Chicago in London. We are very excited and are looking forward to gauging the London audience reaction." The deal for Simpson to star in the play was finalized this past weekend and she will appear onstage in October in London's West End. According to a source, "Ashlee's a dancer; her background is in dance. She wants to do live theatre. This will put all of those critics to rest. She's always wanted to be on stage, but she got diverted when she started selling so many albums." Simpson's Chicago role follows Usher's decision to join the cast in New York. He's currently playing Billy Flynn on Broadway, where he's receiving lukewarm reviews.

Steven Spielberg has dismissed reports he's set to work with famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou, insisting he's been misinterpreted. Rumors were rife the moviemakers were to team up for a screen version of the classic Chinese novel, Journey To The West. However, a spokesman for the star tells Spielberg fan site SpielbergFilms.com, "There does not appear to be anything to it. It's not impossible that something vaguely might have been said which was interpreted that way." Earlier this year, Spielberg signed on as a consultant to the House Of Flying Daggers director in designing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Supermodel Amber Valletta has completed a stint at The Meadow rehabilitation facility in Wickenburg, Arizona, for stress and non-substance-related issues. The New York Daily News reported on Thursday that the 32-year-old had checked in for treatment. In a statement released through her publicist, Ame Van Iden, Valletta tells American publication People, "As was correctly reported earlier this week, my stay at The Meadows had nothing to do with substance abuse or addiction; I am pleased to say I have seven years' sobriety. But I continue every day to heal and grow as a person." Valletta began modeling at 15 and has posed for Elizabeth Arden, Louis Vuitton and Versace, among others. She has since established a career as an actress, appearing in such films as What Lies Beneath and Hitch. Valletta is married to professional volleyball player Christian 'Chip' McCaw and they have one son, Auden, who is five years old.

Actor Matthew Broderick is recovering after falling from a horse and breaking his collar bone while vacationing in Ireland. The Producers star was taken to hospital in Sligo by his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, on Sunday after she witnessed him take a tumble in the Irish countryside. Broderick was released from hospital yesterday. His publicist says, "Matthew is in a little pain but is fine." He wasn't the only celebrity treated for a horse riding injury over the weekend - Ringo Starr's wife Barbara Bach was hospitalized on Sunday after a horse broke her leg with a kick.

Actor Daniel Craig has become a poker expert during the filming of gambling scenes in forthcoming James Bond movie Casino Royale. Craig enjoyed learning how to play cards so much, he's taken to poker in his spare time as well. He says, "We all had to learn the game and to look convincing playing it. And let's just say there were some extra-curricular sessions that went on off-set that were all down to the cast and crew. I think some were playing for their week's wages!"