EMILY BLUNT TO JOIN MERYL STREEP, JOHNNY DEPP IN "INTO THE WOODS"? PIERCE BROSNAN IN "NOVEMBER MAN" WITH OLGA KURYLENKO & "HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN" WITH JESSICA ALBA! "YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS SPIVET" TRAILER WITH HELENA BONHAM CARTER

  INTO THE WOODS

EMILY BLUNT JOINS MERYL STREEP & JOHNNY DEPP?

Oooh, we certainly do like how the cast for new musical film INTO THE WOODS, which is to be directed by Rob Marshall, is shaping up: only a few days ago I informed you that Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhaal are to join Meryl Streep (a witch) and Johnny Depp (a wolf) in the cast as Cinderella's and Rapunzel's princes, and now divine British rose Emily Blunt is negotiating to take the role of baker's wife. The plot follows a baker who, together with his wife, ventures into a forest in order to lift a curse that an evil witch has  put upon him, and there in the woods they meet all kinds of fairy tale characters. The lead male role is yet to be cast, but Christine Baranski is also in as Cinderella's mean-spirited stepmother.

 PIERCE BROSNAN

  WITH OLGA KURYLENKO IN "NOVEMBER MAN" 
Ready to shoot soon over in Belgrade, Serbia, is new action film NOVEMBER MAN which will be based on a Bill Granger novel, and will see Pierce Brosnan playing an ex-CIA agent who goes up against his former protege (Luke Bracey) in a race against time to find a woman (Olga Kurylenko) who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. According to rumours Dominic Cooper might join them as well!
IN "HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISH MAN"
Speaking of Pierce Brosnan he will also star in HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN playing a Cambridge University professor who is forced to reexamine his hedonistic lifestyle after meeting a great gal (Kristin Scott Thomas). Things get complicated when he impregnates her grad student stepsister (Jessica Alba).

  YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS SPIVET

TRAILER WITH HELENA BONHAM CARTER & KYLE CATLETT

You know how your trusted HOLLYWOOD SPY has a soft spot in his heart for delightful and heart warming flicks? Here is one of that kind: THE YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS SPIVET a charming new movie from the brilliant directer Jean Pierre Jeunet (AMELIE, DELICATESSEN, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN) in which the story revolves around a 12-year-old cartographer who secretly leaves his family's ranch in Montana where he lives with his cowboy father and scientist mother and travels across the country on board a freight train to receive an award at the Smithsonian Institute. Adorable little Kyle Catlett leads the cast which also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Judy Davis, Robert Maillet and Niamh Wilson! The $33 million movie is scheduled to open in European cinemas this Autumn!

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SPOTLIGHT ON DELIGHTFUL NEW ANIMATED FILM "KHUMBA" FROM TRIGGERFISH STUDIOS WITH LIAM NEESON, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, STEVE BUSCEMI! PLUS HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE TALK WITH 'KHUMBA' DIRECTOR ANTHONY SILVERSTON!

It’s not all black and white for this zebra… he’s going to have to earn his stripes! Now, tell me that isn't just about the cutest line for an animated character! The amazing and deeply creative guys from Triggerfish, the brilliant masterminds of animation from the studio also known as South African Pixar, are ready to bring us another animated adventure after the brilliant success they've scored with their previous film ZAMBEZIA (the highest grossing South African film in last 30 years) which followed a delightful bunch of African birds. This time the talented Triggerfish team is bringing us KHUMBA a half-striped zebra who, rejected by his superstitious herd, embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes; but when he discovers a tyrannical leopard on his trail, he must find the courage and self-acceptance to save all the animals of the Great Karoo. 

  THE STORY OF KHUMBA

A ZEBRA ADVENTURE

A half-striped zebra is born into an insular, isolated herd obsessed with stripes. Rumours that the strange foal is cursed spread and, before long, he is blamed for the drought that sets into the Great Karoo. Life is not all black and white for Khumba, a young zebra born with only half his stripes so he teams up with a sassy wildebeest and a flamboyant ostrich to find the legendary waterhole where the first zebras got their stripes. On his daring quest across the Great Karoo desert, Khumba meets a host of quirky characters and comes face-to-face with a tyrannical leopard in an epic battle to earn his stripes. 
   

 THE CAST OF KHUMBA

LIAM NEESON & LAURENCE FISHBURNE

Directed by brilliant Anthony Silverston, whom we know as the man who wrote and produced Triggerfish's ZAMBEZIA, animated adventure KHUMBA has quite a stellar voice cast. Included in the star studded gallery are Liam Neeson as the villainous leopard Phango,  Anna Sophia Robb as Tombi Khumba's female friend, Steve Buscemi as colourful vagabond Skalk, Laurence Fishburne as Seko Khumba's father, British comedian Catherine Tate as Nora, Richard  E. Grant as the charming ostrich, Loretta Devine as Mama V, and Disney Channel's superstar Jake T. Austin who lends his voice to the title character, the brave zebra! The $20 million film is being presented

at Cannes and will hit the big screens around the world later during the year.

  EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

 ANTHONY SILVERSTON THE 'KHUMBA' DIRECTOR

Before he flew over to Cannes earlier this week, talented director and an ever so kind and deeply charming gent, Anthony Silverston shared a chat with your HOLLYWOOD SPY.

  DEZZ: ANTHONY, TELL US WHERE DID YOU FIND THE IDEA FOR KHUMBA.

ANTHONY: The project begun at a script competition which we won,  and then we continued working on it off and on while working on ZAMBEZIA. Pre-production started end of October 2009 and I haven't stopped since. The inspiration

for the story came from a combination of places, one being the fact there is actually a half-striped zebra known as a Quagga and it is being bred back from extinction in Cape Town. Maybe it was the scientist in me, but the idea fascinated me. It raised a theme of identity - what makes a zebra a zebra? Or as one character in the movie asks, how many stripes make a zebra? I think anyone can relate to a feeling of being different or at least wanting to fit in. There are many themes which the film touches on – all inspired by growing up in South Africa, but ultimately it’s a personal journey about learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin.

  DEZZ: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOVELY MESSAGE FOR THE VIEWERS OF THE FILM. WAS IT DIFFICULT MAKING THE FILM?

ANTHONY:  Being a quest movie, there were many different sets and with over 40 characters (17 different species) so it was quite a challenge, but it's been an incredible journey of growth making this film and the talented team at Triggerfish all stepped up and surpassed their work on Zambezia.

DEZZ: I HEAR YOU ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AS A NEW PROJECT, ANTHONY! CAN YOU GIVE SOME SCOOP TO THE SPY?

ANTHONY: We are exploring a number of options for our next feature including a sequel for Zambezia, but we have also been

developing our most ambitious story yet! It is set in a fishing village on the coast of Southern Africa and it features a sea monster.

  DEZZ: THAT SOUNDS INTRIGUING, ANTHONY! THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW AND BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL OF THE AMAZING PROJECTS DOWN AT THE TRIGGERFISH WONDERLAND! 

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MADLY HILARIOUS "RIO 2" TEASER! "ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND" FANTASY TRAILER! AMANDA SEYFRIED, CHRIS PINE IN "Z FOR ZACHARIAH" SF FILM

  Z FOR ZACHARIAH SF

 AMANDA SEYFRIED & CHRIS PINE

And I've mentioned Chris Pine only yesterday, but he already has yet another new project: according to "The Hollywood Reporter" he, Amanda Seyfried and Chiwetel Ejiofor have joined science fiction movie Z FOR ZACHARIAH! Produced by Tobey Maguire and based upon the classic sci-fi novel by Robert C. O'Brien, the psychological thriller follows a teenage girl (Amanda Seyfried), who seems to be the only one left alive after a devastating apocalyptic event. Eventually a scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) finds her on the farm she is living on and they end up falling in love. Chris Pine will play another young survivor, whose appearance in the story makes things between the new couple complicated.

  UTTERLY HILARIOUS

 'RIO 2' TEASER!

First trailer for today is unbearably cute and madly hilarious teaser for the animated sequel RIO 2! You can see birds dancing wildly to the Brazilian rhythm in the teaser. The original film earned almost half billion dollars around the world!  RIO 2 sees Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) raising a happy family of baby birds, whose lives are turned upside down when they venture into the Amazon.The voice cast also includes George Lopez, Bruno Mars and Will I Am! I just about died watching the very end of the teaser :)

  FANTASY TRAILER FOR

 ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND

Your second trailer for today is the first one for ABC's new fantasy series ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND which is the spinoff to their already popular show ONCE UPON A TIME. The shows will share the same universe, but WONDERLAND will focus on romance and will have Alice as the main character. Airing on Thursdays from this Autumn, the show will have Sophie Lowe playing Alice, with Being Human's Michael Socha appearing as the charming Knave of Hearts and Peter Gadiot as the handsome and mysterious Cyrus. Emma Rigby will play the role of the Red Queen, with '3rd Rock from the Sun' John Lithgow lending his voice to the White Rabbit.

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BREAKING NEWS: FIRST TRAILER FOR CW'S NEW HISTORICAL SAGA "REIGN" ON MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS WITH ADELAIDE KANE, TOBY REGBO, TORRANCE COOMBS, ANNA POPPLEWELL

In breaking news today we have the first trailer for new historical series REIGN which will air this Autumn at CW! Starring Adelaide Kane in the lead role the show will depict the life of Mary Queen of Scots from the moment when she arrives to the French court as the prince's fiancee, where she must

combat dangerous foes in order to survive.

  THE STORY OF REIGN

 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

Hidden between the lines of the history books is the story of Mary Stuart, the young woman the world would come to know as Mary, Queen of Scots. Queen of Scotland since she was six days old, the teenage Mary is already a headstrong monarch - beautiful, passionate, and poised at the very beginning of her tumultuous rise to power. Arriving in France with four close friends as her ladies-in-waiting, Mary has been sent to secure Scotland’s strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the French king’s dashing son, Prince Francis. But the match isn’t signed and sealed, it depends more on politics, religion and secret agendas than affairs of the heart. Prince Francis is intrigued by the fiery Scot, but like most young men, he resists the idea of settling down into marriage, especially when he has a history with a lady of the court and his own point of view on the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland. Still, an attraction between Mary and Francis is ignited. Further complicating things is Bash, Francis’ roguish half-brother, who has a history of his own - despite his illegitimate birth, Bash is his father’s favorite. And now that Bash has caught Mary’s eye, a royal triangle may be forming. While at French Court, fierce foes and dark forces conspire to sabotage Mary’s marriage to Francis and even threaten her life, until a mysterious shrouded guide becomes her ally. With danger and sexual intrigue around every dark castle corner, Mary rallies her ladies-in-waiting and steels herself, ready to rule the new land and balance the demands of her country and her heart.

  THE CAST OF 'REIGN'

Dashing Toby Regbo plays prince Francis, while Megan Follows (WORLD WITHOUT END) play Queen Catherine de Medici, the Queen Consort of France, who is willing to do anything to mantain her own standing and power at Court, as well as that of her children. The show also has Caitlin Stasey playing Kenna, a free spirit who serves as one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting together with Celina Sinden who will play Greer. Torrance Coombs will play Sebastian, Francis’ resourceful illegitimate half brother, a favorite son of King Henry II (Alan Van Sprang). It is also interesting that one of Mary's ladies in waiting will be portrayed by Anna Popplewell, the little girl from NARNIA saga! She will play Mary's lady Lola! Rossif Sutherland plays famous Nostradamus, queen's wizard prophet!

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CHRIS PINE & JAKE GYLLENHAAL JOIN MERYL STREEP, JOHHNY DEEP IN "INTO THE WOODS"! "ABOUT TIME" TRAILER WITH RACHEL MCADAMS, DOMHALL GLEESON! ANNE HATHAWAY IN "SONG ONE"

INTO THE WOODS GETS

 CHRIS PINE & JAKE GYLLENHAAL

 I've recently told you that Rob Marshall (CHICAGO, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA) is planning to helm Disney's movie adaptation of Broadway musical INTO THE WOODS which will have Meryl Streep as a witch and Johnny Depp as a wolf in the lead roles. Now, according to "The Hollywood Reporter" Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhaal are in negotiations to join them as well! Mixing different fairy tales the story follows a baker and his wife who are trying to lift a curse put on their family by travelling into the woods to confront the witch that cast the spell upon them.  Along the way they meet a group of iconic characters such as Rapunzel, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Chris Pine and Gyllenhaal would play Cinderella's and Rapunzel's princes.

  CHRIS PINE & PATRICK WILSON

HAVE TO 'STRETCH'  
Speaking of Chris Pine, whose STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is already playing in cinemas around the world and hits US cinemas this weekend, will also appear next to another brilliant actor Patrick Wilson in STRETCH. His role is kept under wraps, but Patrick himself will play a down-on-his-luck chauffeur looking to relieve his debt by driving around a mysterious billionaire who drags him to hell and back.

 ANNE HATHAWAY IN

SONG ONE
And it seems that after LES MISERABLES and a few darker roles, Anne Hathaway is returning to romantic drama: according to "Deadline" she will take the lead in SONG ONE,  a story about a young woman who strikes up a relationship with her ailing brother’s favorite musician.

 'ABOUT TIME' TRAILER WITH

 DOMHNALL GLEESON & RACHEL MCADAMS

Well, it seems that Rachel McAdams (I myself mostly cannot digest her wimpy acting) really has a thing for hot hunks who have ability to travel through dimensions. After being married to time traveller Eric Bana in TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE, you can now also watch her in the first trailer for ABOUT TIME in which young Tim Lake (Brendan's charismatic son Domhnall Gleeson) makes a startling discovery: Upon turning 21 years of age, Tim is told by his father (Bill Nighy) that all the men in his family have the ability to travel through time. While he can't change events in world history, he can alter what has happened in his own life, so he decides to use this gift to find a girlfriend. When he meets the insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams), they fall in love, only to have a time-travel mishap completely erase their first meeting, causing Tim to try and make her fall for him again and again. The movie opens this November and is directed by brilliant Richard Curtis who gave us LOVE ACTUALLY and NOTTING HILL!

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BREAKING NEWS: FIRST TRAILER FOR SF EPIC "RIDDICK" WITH VIN DIESEL, KARL URBAN AND KERI HILSON!

In breaking news today, here is the long anticipated trailer for science fiction sequel RIDDICK starring action superstar Vin Diesel and brilliant Karl Urban. The new movie in the sf saga will be more in the vein of gritty

PITCH DARK than the spectacular space opera CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK!

 RIDDICK IS LOST

ON AN ALIEN PLANET

Opening in cinemas this September the film will see the infamous RIDDICK left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he's encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty.The film also has stunning rnb dive Keri Hilson in the cast!

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TRAILERS FOR NEW FOX SHOWS SF "ALMOST HUMAN" FROM J.J. ABRAMS WITH KARL URBAN & FANTASY "SLEEPY HOLLOW" WITH TOM MISON! "I, FRANKENSTEIN" POSTER WITH AARON ECKHART

  'I, FRANKENSTEIN' POSTER

 WITH AARON ECKHART

 One of your treats today is the first poster for a film we haven't heard much about for a long time but it is ready to open in cinemas next January. I, FRENKENSTEIN stars Aaron Eckhart in the fantasy thriller in which the story is set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power. Victor Frankenstein's creation Adam (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality. The monster also encounters other famous movie monsters including the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Invisible Man, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plus many more! The story of the centuries old war between two immortal clans also has Bil Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Jai Courtney and Miranda Otto in the cast.

  'ALMOST HUMAN' SF TRAILER

 NEW SHOW WITH KARL URBAN

Two trailers for upcoming new shows: first a trailer for new J.J. Abrams science fiction show ALMOST HUMAN which just got a full season order. Starting this Autumn on Mondays at Fox the show, set in a world where human cops are teamed with android partners, will see movie star Karl Urban playing John Kennex, an emotionally closed-off human detective who is partnered with a robotic cop, played by dashing Michael Ealy! Ealy's Dorian, the android partner of LAPD officer John Kennex, understands humanity more than his human counterpart. But the two stunning hunks won't be alone since divine beauty Minka Kelly (also known as the gorgeous girlfriend of equally gorgeous Chris Evans) will play noble police officer Valerie Stahl! Focusing on humans vs technology, the show will have lots of mesmerizing visuals and landscapes!

  'SLEEPY HOLLOW' TRAILER

 NEW FANTASY SHOW

Also airing at Fox this Autumn right after ALMOST HUMAN is another fantasy show - SLEEPY HOLLOW coming from STAR TREK producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci! Based on the tale of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, Fox's new supernatural drama follows Ichabod Crane (British star Tom Mison) as he is 'time-warped' from the Revolutionary War to the present, where he must thwart his returning foe, the Headless Horseman. Ichabod Crane wakes up from the throes of death 250 years in the future to find the world on the brink of destruction and learn he is humanity's only hope. The new situation is forcing him to team up with a contemporary police officer (Nicole Beharie) to unravel a mystery that dates back to the founding fathers.

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