Alan Cumming's obsession

Alan Cumming and some other celebrities have been doing video promos for a website called It's a Sickness. Alan is the president of the website and you can check out his promo videos:

what's your obsession from itsasickness productions on Vimeo.

Alan Cumming is obsessed with his dogs from itsasickness productions on Vimeo.

Ewan McGregor at the LA Film Festival

Ewan was at the Animal Kingdom premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival last Wednesday. Some photos of Ewan's red carpet appearance with director David Michod and Dawn Hudson are below:

David Tennant begins shooting 'The Decoy Bride'

David Tennant has started shooting the romantic comedy on location in the Isle of Man, and shooting will move to Scotland. Production reportedly started on Saturday and is expected to go on for five weeks. Michael Urie has also joined the cast of The Decoy Bride, and you can follow his Tweets for updates on the shoot. The Ex-Isle Film Agency is also looking for film extras and you can get more information about casting here. A film synopsis is below:

The former Doctor Who stars alongside fellow Scot Kelly MacDonald and Alice Eve, who played Charlotte's nanny in Sex And The City 2.

David plays British writer James, who is engaged to internationally famous film star Lara (Alice), who decide to get married on a remote Scottish island when their wedding is sabotaged by a paparazzo.

Lara's manager Steve - played by Ugly Betty star Michael Urie - has less than 24 hours to transform the ancient, dilapidated island into the fairytale setting for a wedding and persuade local girl Katie (Kelly) to stand in as a decoy bride when the paparazzo tracks them down.

But when James meets Katie sparks fly and even more starts to go wrong.

The comedy was written by Neil Jaworski and Smack The Pony's Sally Phillips, who also takes a supporting role.

It is directed by Ugly Betty's Sheree Folkson, who previously directed David in TV comedy drama Casanova. [Press Association]

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 6/28: Howie Mandel, Jane Adams, Drew Thomas
Tu 6/29: Carl Reiner, Rebecca Mader, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
We 6/30: Mindy Kaling, Myron Mixon
Th 7/1: Kathy Griffin, Michael Vartan, Alicia Witt
Fr 7/2: Angela Kinsey, Dennis Eckersley, Dr. Dog

Source

Brian Cox to star in 'The Veteran'

Brian Cox will star in Matthew Hope's The Veteran alongside Toby Kebbell, Ashley Thomas, Adi Bielski and Tom Brooke. The Veteran is a British indie film about "a young soldier returning here from Afghanistan targeted as a clandestine operative to monitor suspected terrorists in the U.K." The film is scheduled to shoot later this month around London and at Elstree Studios.

In other news Yahoo! has unveiled the brand new trailer for Red, which also stars Brian Cox. Red is based on Warren Ellis' comic book, with a cast that includes Bruce Willis, Mary Louise-Parker, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich. Brian isn't really featured in the trailer, but you can still check it out. Red is set to open on October 15 in the US.

First reaction to 'Haywire'

Haywire (originally called Knockout), featuring Ewan McGregor, was recently screen tested at the Arclight in Sherman Oaks - director Steven Soderbergh was at the screening. Jeff Wells shared some positive feedback from a trusted source who attended the screening:

"The associations that came to mind were (a) any Bourne movie, (b) any Mission Impossible movie, (c) Taken, (d) Michael Clayton, (e) Wanted, (f) Panic Room, (g) Obsessed, (h) The Informant, (i) Body Of Lies, (j) Edge Of Darkness and (k) Red Eye.

...The fights are great. I've been in, and have personally choreographed, a lot of staged violence, and this was quality stuff. It does my heart good to see a young woman really kick ass. The brutality and desperation of the fights, in fact, at times seemed to appall more than thrill the audience, which is as it should be. As I write this (i.e., the following morning) I'm still thrilled."

You can head on over to Hollywood Elsewhere to read the entire assessment.

On the set of 'The Great Ghost Rescue' with Kevin McKidd

Digital Spy (via Kevin McKidd Online) caught up with Kevin and the rest of the cast on the set of The Great Ghost Rescue. The Great Ghost Rescue is based on Eva Ibbotson's children's novel about a family of ghosts. The film is expected to open sometime in 2011 in the UK. I can't embed the video of the cast interviews, but you can watch over at the source.

'Fright Night' gets a release date

Shock Till You Drop has revealed that the Fright Night remake, starring David Tennant, will open on October 7, 2011. Fright Night will likely be in 3D, with filming set to start this summer in New Mexico.

Lionsgate to distribute 'Machine Gun Preacher'

Lionsgate has acquired the North American rights to Machine Gun Preacher, which stars Gerard Butler. Based on a true story, the film focuses on Sam Childers, "a former drug-dealing biker tough guy who found God and became a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who've been forced to become soldiers." Filming will reportedly start on July 5 in Detroit and South Africa. The film is expected to open sometime in the Fall of 2011.

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 6/21: Maria Bello, William Knoedelseder, Robert David Hall
Tu 6/22: Valerie Bertinelli, Jerry Ferrara
We 6/23: Julia Ormond, Jose Andres
Th 6/24: Lisa Kudrow, James Dyson
Fr 6/25: Tim Meadows, Jean-Michel Cousteau

Source

Win a visit to the set of 'X-Men: First Class'

Producer Bryan Singer is holding a charity auction for the chance to visit the set of X-Men: First Class and meet the cast (which presumably includes James McAvoy). The set visit is scheduled for Fall 2010 in the UK. You can head on over to CharityBuzz to start bidding.

First look: Alan Cumming in 'The Tempest'

It looks like this was recently posted on Alan Cumming's official site and features Chris Cooper, Helen Mirren, David Strathairn and Alan as Sebastian. Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest is scheduled to open in December.

James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff have first child

There hasn't been an official announcement, but The Sun has a photo from yesterday of James and wife Anne-Marie with their new son in London. You can head on over to The Sun for the photo.

In some more related news it appears that James has been offered a role in the screen adaptation of David Mitchell's 2004 novel Cloud Atlas. The book focuses on six main characters and spans across thousands of years - from the 19th century to the distant future. Other actors offered roles include Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, and Natalie Portman.

Craig Ferguson to host Shark Week

Craig announced last night on the Late Late Show that he will be hosting Discovery Channel's 23rd Annual Shark Week starting August 1. Craig will shoot in the Bahamas in a few weeks. You can watch Brian the shark puppet sharing the exciting news on last night's show:

Gerard Butler nominated for Teen Choice Award

Gerard Butler is among the nominees for the 2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor in the Romantic Comedy category for The Ugly Truth and The Bounty Hunter. The other nominees in the category are Josh Duhamel (When in Rome), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Ashton Kutcher (Valentine's Day), and Ryan Reynolds (The Proposal). Just Jared has the full list of nominees, and you can vote at the Teen Choice Awards official website. The award ceremony airs live on Monday, August 9 on Fox.

'Knockout' renamed 'Haywire'; gets a 2011 release + Ewan McGregor at the Sydney Film Festival

Steven Soderbergh's Knockout (which stars Ewan McGregor) has now been renamed Haywire. The film had originally been scheduled for a release sometime this August, but it appears that Lionsgate has moved it to January 2011.

Ewan attended last night's Sydney premiere of The Ghost Writer at the State Theatre and talked to the press on the red carpet. There are also some photos of Ewan on the red carpet.

New interview with Martin Compston

Martin Compston did an interview with the Daily Record right before the Edinburgh International Film Festival opens this Wednesday. Two of Martin's films will be screened at the festival - SoulBoy and Donkeys. SoulBoy premieres on Saturday at Cineworld and Donkeys premieres next Sunday at The Filmhouse. The full interview was published yesterday:

Edinburgh comes at a good time for Martin. He is taking a six-week break, having had minor surgery on an ear complaint and cracking a rib filming upcoming prison drama Ghost.

But he'll soon be setting his sights on cracking America.

Having enjoyed mainstream success in the UK with The Disappearance of Alice Creed, the film is about to open across the pond and he's been signed up by the same US agent who represents Avatar's Sam Worthington.

He said: "I've been lucky enough to work with some great directors and I don't want to throw that away by doing one big horrible big budget film.

"I'm just taking my time and trying to pick good projects."

He has no shortage of offers. He's already got the slasher horror Comedown in the bag. When his ear and rib mend, he is off to learn how to surf for buddy movie In Between The Waves. [Steve Hendry]

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 6/14: Bradley Whitford, Shelby Lynne
Tu 6/15: Ice Cube, Stan Lee, Tig Notaro
We 6/16: Tim Allen, Saffron Burrows
Th 6/17: Virginia Madsen, Chris Hardwick, Justin Currie
Fr 6/18: Mark Ruffalo, D.J. Qualls

Source

Ewan McGregor to appear in BBC Battle Of Britain documentary

Ewan and his brother Colin, an RAF pilot, will help to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain for the BBC. The 90-minute documentary will air in September. According to Broadcast (via Best of Ewan) "the brothers will fly across the skies of England in Spitfires in the one-off BBC1 documentary, The Real Battle Of Britain, guided by surviving pilots, radar operators and ground-crew from the war."

In a statement, Ewan said: 'The Battle Of Britain was a dramatic turning-point in the history of the Second World War and a defining moment in world history.

'It is a privilege for Colin and I to make this documentary; not only to mark the 70th anniversary itself, but to be able to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought during the battle.' [Monsters and Critics]

David Tennant joins 'Fright Night' remake

David Tennant has signed on to star in Craig Gillespie's remake of the 1985 film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is also joining the cast. Fright Night stars "Anton Yelchin as Charlie, a teen convinced that his new neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire. Toni Collette is the teen’s disbelieving mom, who falls under the vampire’s spell." David will play Peter Vincent, a Las Vegas magician, originally played by Roddy McDowall. Disney is hoping for a 2011 release date.

'X-Men: First Class' updates

X-Men: First Class, starring James McAvoy is scheduled for a June 2011 theatrical release, and some scenes will reportedly be shot in Michigan. The West Michigan Film Office posted a bulletin stating that 20th Century Fox is scouting locations in Michigan.

"A location scout is seeking out areas with a 1960's, South-American or Central American island feel for the next X-Men movie, 'X-Men: First Class.' In particular, he needs to find café and bar locations, evoking the Argentinian feel of Bariloche, and an Art Deco Cafe or restaurant overlooking a body of water. Additionally, the movie calls for a Miami styled harbor for yachts. If you know of any locations that seem to match a description, please contact our office."

Michigan Live says that "if you know of any such spots where mutants might fit in, contact Rick Hert at the WMFO: rick@wmta.org." Location scouting is also apparently in preliminary stages and probably in a "limited capacity." Most of the filming though, will likely be in London this September.

There are also a few casting rumours - Michael Fassbender is being considered for the role of Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto and Rosamund Pike might be up for Emma Frost.

'Torchwood' headed to the USA after all

Starz has just acquired rights to develop Torchwood and will share production costs for the rights. John Barrowman will be back as Captain Jack. The 10 episode season will air on BBC 1 and Starz in the summer of 2011 with most of the season taking place in North America. Fox had been trying to get the American version off the ground, but development fell through in April. Creator Russell T. Davies says that the Starz version isn't a "new version" or a "reboot", and he also says that " I absolutely guarantee that you can leap in as a new viewer and be able to find everything. "

New exclusive interview with Tony Curran

Tony Curran did an interview over at ReelScotland before his appearance on Doctor Who aired in the UK last Saturday. He talked about his career, including working on Doctor Who, Ondine (which opened in the US last Friday), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Sean Connery, and upcoming roles in Tintin and Big Momma’s House 3. You can read the full interview over at ReelScotland. Thanks to Ross for sharing the interview.

We’ve all read about the rumblings on the set of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Sean Connery is quoted as threatening to punch director Stephen Norrington. How did you get on with Sir Sean as the two Scots on set? What do you remember of your time on the shoot?

I definitely got on with Sean, we had a good laugh. I don’t know of any Scottish actor, or any actor as a whole, getting the opportunity to work with Big Tam who wouldn’t be inspired. It would be a joy for most people. I mean, if they got on with him.

Me and Jason Flemyng became good friends on that film and Sean’s assistant said to us one day, “I must give you a piece of advice. There’s two things you must never do in front of Sean.” We said, “what’s that?” She said, “the first thing is you must never do ‘the voice’. The second thing is NEVER do ‘the voice’.” So, at the first read-through me and Flemyng just couldn’t help ourselves and we were like [adopts faux-Sean Connery voice], “how you doin’ big fella? Nice to see you, eh!” Sean was like [Connery voice], “shut the fuck up!” Anyway, we got on very well and had a good laugh. He was quite wonderfully sarcastic and good fun. If he was dishing out patter, he certainly liked it when people dished it back to him. I think he preferred it when people would riff with him and have a good laugh.

He was dancing with my mother one night and he said [Connery voice], “Mary, you’re the spitting image of your boy,” and my mum said, “yeah, Sean, thank you, I get that a lot – apart from the beard!” Apparently Sean said, “well that’s only a matter of time!” – which is very naughty, but very funny at the same time.

...What can you tell us, if anything, about Tintin? Do you have a big role? Who did you work with?

I’ve got not a bad role in it. I was there for about a week and Steven Spielberg’s obviously directing it, and Peter Jackson was directing it as well. It was a really fun experience with the old motion capture suit on, where you’re basically looking like a speed skater! Andy Serkis said that in black spandex, you look like you should be in the Russian gymnastics team or something!

Yeah, that was a lot of fun that show, but I think I spoke to some newspaper about that once and then it was out. The next day I got a phonecall from the studio saying, “hey, don’t talk about this! Don’t say anything about it!”

There was a bunch of people in that: Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig was in it, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jamie Bell. I was only on it for a week but it was a fun gig. Motion capture’s a strange way of working but once you forget about people that have got all those dots on their face and a Madonna-type mic, which is actually a camera and a helmet attached to their head, you try to get into the character and the part you’re playing. Then you actually look at yourself on a screen that’s behind where you’re acting and you can see your animated image of your physical self, which is quite cool. You’re like, ‘wow, that’s what I’m going to look like.’ It was a fun job. [Ross Maclean]

First 'Jackboots on Whitehall' trailer

The Edinburgh International Film Festival will screen the film's world premiere later this month, and now the first official trailer has been unveiled.

Jackboots on Whitehall is a satirical alternative history of World War II where the Nazis seize London and England must band together to prevent a full on invasion. It includes the voices of Ewan McGregor and Alan Cumming.

Peter Capaldi wins BAFTA

Peter Capaldi won a television BAFTA last night for Male Performance in a Comedy for The Thick Of It. Peter talked about his win in a red carpet interview:

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 6/7: Eric Idle, Terry Crews
Tu 6/8: John Waters, Taraji P. Henson
We 6/9: Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Felton
Th 6/10: Wolfgang Puck, Damian Marley & Nas
Fr 6/11: Denis Leary, John "Hippieman" Novosad

Source

'Doctor Who' promos: Tony Curran as Vincent van Gogh

Some trailers and clips from Tony Curran's guest appearance on episode 10 of Doctor Who are now online (via ONTD!).

Vincent and the Doctor BBC Wales Trailer


Vincent and the Doctor Clip 2


Vincent and the Doctor Clip 3


Vincent and the Doctor Clip 4

'Phillip Morris' may never see the light of day

At least not in the U.S. anyway. Back in April I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Ewan McGregor lost its North American distributor after months of its release date being rescheduled. Now a "California District judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. release." The film's official website is down and The Hollywood Reporter says that the new release date is sometime in October "just in time for Oscar season." You can get more of the legal details over at The Hollywood Reporter, but it doesn't look like that October release date is realistic.

Ewan McGregor's UNICEF video diary

Ewan took a trip to Peru with UNICEF for Soccer Aid. You can watch his video diary below (via Best of Ewan).

A quick chat with John Barrowman

What's on TV points us to this very short interview with John Barrowman:

John Barrowman talks about his guest role as a baddie in Desperate Housewives (C4, Wednesday, June 2)...

Will you be watching yourself on TV?
“I always read about actors saying they can’t bear to watch themselves on TV, but I’m not like that. I love watching myself! I’ll be getting the popcorn out and the vodka tonics and I will be jumping up and down. When I saw it in America with my friends, we had cocktails and they all applauded when I walked on screen. I am so chuffed by it.”

How did it come about?
“The exec producer Marc Cherry loved my character Captain Jack in Torchwood. He contacted me when I was in LA last April doing something for Children In Need. We had a meeting and he told me he wanted to have me sooner rather than later. It’s unbelievable when somebody from one of the top TV shows in the world tells you that!”

What was filming like?
“It is filmed at Universal Studios which I remember visiting as a kid – they filmed shows like The Munsters there. I never dreamed I’d one day be working there!”

And how did you get on with the cast?
“I play Angie Bolen’s long lost ex who's been looking for Angie for 20 years and we got on great. I was like her long-lost brother. And Eva Longoria liked me because I have a naughty sense of humour.”

You lived in America from the age of nine. Will you go back?
“I really enjoyed working in America. I had a lot of fun and I got to see lots of family and friends - including Russell T Davies - but after nine weeks of filming, I was ready to come back. The UK is my home, I have a lovely place on the Welsh coast which I share with my partner Scott. It’s in a cul-de-sac and my back garden goes down on to the beach.”

Happy Birthday, Brian Cox

Brian turns 64 today.

David Tennant video from National Movie Awards

David Tennant was featured in a Harry Potter tribute video at last Wednesday's National Movie Awards. The franchise was given the Special Contribution Award and you can check out the video below:

Dougray Scott promotes 'Father And Son'; discusses future projects

Dougray has been doing interviews to promote Father And Son which premiers on Monday, June 7 on STV and ITV1 in the UK. It will air over four consecutive nights. He talked about his latest role in Father and Son, but also revealed a few details about his upcoming films. You can read the full interview over at The Daily Record.

...In Father And Son, which also stars Sophie Okonedo and Stephen Rea, Dougray plays ex-criminal Michael O'Connor who returns to Manchester from a quiet life in Ireland in order to save his estranged teenage son Sean - played by Reece Noi - from prison and to redeem his own troubled past.

...As far as work is concerned, he has a number of film and TV projects in the can, including a TV pilot for new Boston-set series Quinn-Tuplets in which he plays a documentary film-maker who chronicles a family of quints' lives.

Also complete are Roland Joffe movie There Be Dragons and comedy No Ordinary Trifle, in which he plays opposite his real-life wife.

He's also attached to Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh's new film The Magnificent 11 - an updated remake of classic western The Magnificent Seven, with the action set around an amateur football team saving an Indian restaurant.

Another of his projects is former Skids frontman Richard Jobson's mooted war film Into The Valley, which follows Scottish soldiers returning home after serving in Afghanistan and has been inspired by the hit Skids song of the same name.

He said: "I'm very keen to do them. The Magnificent 11 is very much on the cards and I did New Town Killers with Richard, who is a fantastic director. He's started to get the funding together so hopefully it will all come together. He's much in demand and chooses all his projects, like Father And Son, by making sure business is personal. [Steve Hendry]