Janet Jackson Takes Control: Her First Interview Since Michael's Death

As Janet Jackson prepares to perform a tribute to Michael Jackson at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, Harper's Bazaar publishes her first interview since his tragic death, finding the iconic pop star ready to embrace her new reality and share memories of her brother.

Here is an excerpt of the story, By Laura Brown, Harper's Bazaar

The last time Janet saw Michael was on May 14, two days before her 43rd birthday. "We had so much fun that day," she says, her soft voice almost inaudible. "We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was." One of the most moving images from the memorial service was of Michael's daughter, Paris, who stepped up to the microphone and said, "Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine" before grabbing her aunt Janet for support. "I was really proud," Janet recalls. "People said to me that Michael's daughter speaking really gave them a sense of how he was as a father, in her words. Paris is incredibly smart; they are all so smart. She's a sweet girl. The kids are doing well. They're with all their cousins; that family love will keep them going."

Guy Ritchie to Direct Lobo

Guy Ritchie has signed on to direct an adaptation of the DC Comics character Lobo, who just so happens to be an alien interstellar bounty hunter. Don Payne wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay, with Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona set to produce.

The film will serve as Ritchie's follow-up to this Christmas' Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. The character first appeared in the 1983 DC comic Omega Men, written by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen. Lobo has had several comic incarnations. In this new film, he will be a seven-foot tall, blue-skinned, indestructible and heavily muscled anti-hero who drives a pimped out motorcycle, and lands on Earth in search of four fugitives who are bent on wreaking havoc. Lobo teams with a small town teenaged girl to stop the creatures.

Warner Brothers is looking to make the film PG-13 rated. Production on Lobo is set to being early next year.

Bureau Headlines: Wed 09/02

BUREAU HEADLINES: Spencer Pratt legally changing his name to "King Spencer Pratt"... DJ AM had nine OxyContin pills in his body, agreed to go to rehab one day before death... Whitney Houston blames Oprah for mediocre performance... LeAnn Rimes and husband divorcing... Muhammad Ali honored by ancestral Irish town... Sarah Jessica Parker gets to work on "Sex and the City" sequel ( Pics)... David Boreanaz and wife welcome second child.

PHOTOS: A very over weight K-Fed hits the pool in Miami.

GOSSIP: Halle Berry pregnant with second child?... Lindsay Lohan considering offer to pose for Playboy?... Nicole Kidman hasn't seen kids Connor and Isabella for two years... Paula Abdul considering her own talk show?... Brassiere boost for Jennifer Aniston? Tyra Banks not engaged.