Film Articles

Tolkien Estate Sues Movie Bosses
Johansson: "I'm Not Engaged"
Phillippe: "I Didn't Leave Witherspoon for Cornish"
Paltrow & Martin Consider Adopting New York Baby
Cruz & Johansson Set for Lesbian Love Scene
Parton Postpones Tour After Back Injury
More Trouble for Spears' Former Manager
'The Passion of the Christ' Screenwriter Sues Gibson
Actress Eva Dahlbeck Dies
Reitman Rules Out 'Juno' Sequel

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WENN

12 February 2008

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Tolkien Estate Sues Movie Bosses

The estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien is suing the movie bosses behind the Lord Of The Rings films for non-payment of royalties. The Tolkiens claim New Line Cinema executives owe them a large cut of the trilogy's gross profits. The Tolkien Trust charity and publishing house HarperCollins joined forces to file the lawsuit against New Line Cinema in Los Angeles on Monday. The plaintiffs claim New Line was required to pay over seven per cent of gross receipts from the films to Tolkien's estate. The lawsuit estimates the three films have made $6 billion at the international box office.

Johansson: "I'm Not Engaged"

Actress Scarlett Johansson has dismissed reports she's engaged to marry her boyfriend Ryan Reynolds. The Lost In Translation star, who has been dating Definitely, Maybe actor Reynolds for nearly a year, was spotted looking at wedding dresses in Los Angeles, fuelling speculation she is planning to wed. However, it's Johansson's relative who is preparing to walk down the aisle, and not the actress. Johansson's representative says, "A family member is getting married, not her. She is not engaged."

Phillippe: "I Didn't Leave Witherspoon for Cornish"

Ryan Phillippe has hit out at reports he left Reese Witherspoon for new girlfriend Abbie Cornish, insisting his marriage was over long before he met Cornish. Phillippe and Witherspoon finalized their divorce last October, marking the end of an eight-year marriage that brought the pair two children. The actor and Cornish were linked soon after - but Phillippe insists the Australian starlet, who co-stars with him in upcoming film Stop Loss, had nothing to do with his failed marriage and that they still aren't an item, despite frequently being photographed together. He tells W magazine, "I had difficulties in my relationship, and in my marriage, long before I ever met her. As far as I'm concerned, it's a friendship (with Cornish), and we are getting to know each other in a really difficult situation."

Paltrow & Martin Consider Adopting New York Baby

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are considering adopting an orphan from the actress' hometown of New York. Amid reports the Oscar winner is pregnant with the couple's third child, Paltrow insists she's keen to follow in the footsteps of pal Madonna and adopt. The Shakespeare in Love star tells the New York Daily News, "We might get one from Brooklyn. No baby is more helpless than another baby. And I'm a New York girl." Paltrow also plays down her recent hospitalization for a 'gastrointestinal situation' insisting she is fully recovered. She adds, "I feel great - people made a bid deal about nothing."

Cruz & Johansson Set for Lesbian Love Scene

Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson are to steam up the big screen in Woody Allen's new movie - by taking part in a reported lesbian sex scene. The actresses will lock lips and get hot and heavy in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which also features Cruz's boyfriend Javier Bardem. According to British tabloid The Sun, Allen's aiming for one of the most erotic scenes in movie history. A source tells the publication, "People will be blown away and even shocked. Penelope and Scarlett go at it in a red-tinted photography dark room, and the whole scene will leave the audience gasping."

Parton Postpones Tour After Back Injury

Country legend Dolly Parton has been forced to postpone her upcoming U.S. tour after suffering a back injury. The Nine To Five star, famous for her busty image, has been ordered to rest for six to eight weeks. Parton now hopes to reschedule her American road trip, which was due to have started in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 28. She says, "I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new Backwoods Barbie CD and world tour together, but I didn't mean to hurt myself doing it! But hey, you try wagging these puppies (her breasts) around a while and see if you don't have back problems. Seriously though, the doctors said I will be good as new in a few weeks, and I can't wait to get back out there." Parton's injury should not affect her European tour, which kicks off in Stockholm, Sweden on June 13.

More Trouble for Spears' Former Manager

Britney Spears' estranged manager Sam Lutfi has been accused of making financial demands on the troubled pop star in damning new court documents. Attorney Jeryll Cohen, who is representing the singer's father Jamie Spears, claims Spears' business manager Howard Grossman told him about Lutfi's emailed "demands for money." Lutfi was served with a restraining order and told to steer clear of the Spears family at the beginning of the month. Meanwhile, Cohen is seeking the dismissal of Grossman, because he has refused to turn over Spears' emails, despite a court order. Cohen's new declaration also claims Grossman authorized a Mercedes to be delivered to his client at the Beverly Hills Hotel last week, despite a court order to only release her cars to her father's representatives.

'The Passion of the Christ' Screenwriter Sues Gibson

Mel Gibson stands accused of fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices in a lawsuit filed by the co-screenwriter of his religious epic The Passion Of The Christ. Benedict Fitzgerald accuses Gibson, who directed the controversial 2004 film, of engaging in a "chronic and conspiratorial pattern of deceit" by telling the writer he was working on a project with a budget of between $4 million and $7 million. Fitzgerald claims he was only paid $75,000 and that he had to borrow $200,000 from Gibson to cover expenses, reports People.com. The Passion Of The Christ went on to gross an estimated $600 million worldwide. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, reads: "Gibson preyed monetarily on Ben, taking advantage of his unbridled enthusiasm for the project and with full cognizance of Ben's fundamental personal and spiritual beliefs."

Actress Eva Dahlbeck Dies

Swedish actress Eva Dahlbeck has died. She was 87. The star, who featured in many works by late director and fellow Swede Ingmar Bergman, died at a retirement home in Stockholm on Friday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Dahlbeck was one of Scandinavia's most feted actresses, and was celebrated for her lead roles in Bergman's 1952 film Secrets Of Woman and 1955's Smiles Of A Summer Night. She also was the author of almost a dozen novels. She is survived by her son Tomas Lampell.

Reitman Rules Out 'Juno' Sequel

Juno director Jason Reitman has dashed hopes of a sequel to the Oscar-nominated film - insisting he won't work on a follow up. The moviemaker is adamant any return to the story of Ellen Page's 16-year-old Juno wouldn't match up to the original, because the pregnancy storyline was what made the critically-acclaimed film so unique. He tells the New York Post's PageSix.com, "I can't see it. She got pregnant once; I just can't see her getting pregnant again."

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