Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck over at Yahoo! Movies.Coming to theaters this year, the film also stars Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider, Sam Rockwell and Zooey Deschanel.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford delves into the private life and public exploits of America's most notorious outlaw. As the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James (Brad Pitt) plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money - and the glory - riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.

Click this link to experience the teaser trailer: http://movies.yahoo.com/

Britney Pregnant Again?

One of several unnamed sources tells Us Weekly that Britney Spears — spotted poolside in Las Vegas with a bit of a bump in her belly — is "100 percent pregnant." "It's the second baby for Britney. She's expecting to have the baby in the fall, and I'm told that she wasn't planning on having baby No. 2 so fast, but she's pregnant. She's about to announce it," Us magazine's West Coast executive editor Ken Baker said. "Up until a few months ago, Britney was saying she was ready to get back in shape, go out and tour, promote an album. But now, with another baby on the way, it looks like those plans are going to be put on hold and she's going to focus on being a mother yet again." The 24-year-old pop princess showed up at a private pool at Caesar's Palace last week in a red bikini. "She covered herself up as much as possible and quickly went back into hiding," a source told Us. "[Her belly] looked much rounder and more swollen than it has in the past." While Spears' publicists have not confirmed the pregnancy, the magazine is reporting through several unnamed sources that she is expecting a child. "Britney is 100 percent pregnant with her second child," one source said. "She is four months along, and the due date is Oct. 2 or 3." Spears was in Las Vegas to help husband Kevin Federline launch his new CD, "Playing With Fire," with a listening party at Las Vegas' Pure nightclub. The child would be the couple's second. The Federlines' 7-month-old son, Sean, was with them at the pool. Federline, 28, has two other children with actress Shar Jackson. Spears' parenting skills have come under public scrutiny in the last few months. In February, she was pictured driving with Sean on her lap. Later, she explained that she didn't have time to strap the child into the car seat because she was being chased by photographers. Earlier in the month, child welfare officials and a sheriff's deputy visited Spears' home because Sean had been accidentally dropped from a high chair. The child reportedly fell as his nanny was lifting him from the chair and something in the chair snapped. Spears' attorney, Martin Singer, said in a statement that the hospital had made a report to the Department of Children and Family Services as required by state law.

Warner Independent Sets Release Date for Infamous

(Photo: Sandra Bullock as Nelle Harper Lee and Toby Jones as Truman Capote)

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) has set October 13, 2006 for release of its Truman Capote biopic Infamous. The feature will cover the same period in the author's life that Sony's Oscar-winning Capote did, according to Variety.There had been speculation of whether WIP would drop the film from it's lineup, given the overlap of the two pictures, however Killer Films, which is producing Infamous for the studio began shooting after Capote ended production. Capote may have opened the doors for Infamous by creating interest in the iconic author. The stories of both movies cover the same time period, namely Capote’s trek to Kansas after the murder of the Clutter family and his controversial relationship with killers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Those familiar with Infamous say the film is warmer and bigger than Capote, with more humor. It also shows more of Capote's legendary social life in New York, including a glimpse of his "swans": Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness and Lee Radziwill.

Infamous, is based on George Plimpton's 1977 oral biography and stars an impressive cast of Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels.

Farrelly Brothers and The Valet

The Farrelly brothers have agreed to direct the remake of the French film, The Valet, a comedy for DreamWorks.The film is based on Francis Veber's La Doublure which was released the beginning of April in France. It follows a hapless valet who is captured in a photo of a fight between a Donald Trump-type mogul and his mistress, leading to all sorts of comedic entanglements, says Variety. Allan Loeb is writing the script and will be executive producing the film. This will be the third remake done by the Farrelly's; Fever Pitch and upcoming The Hearbreak Kid have been the prior two. The Valet has no start date for production.

SILENT HILL

A child’s mysterious ailment. A desperate mother. An eerie, deserted city shrouded in mist, plagued by secrets. The mysteries are only beginning to deepen. When young mother Rose (Radha Mitchell) -- desperate to find a cure for her daughter Sharon’s bizarre illness -- refuses to accept a medical recommendation of psychiatric institutionalization, she flees with Sharon and heads for SILENT HILL, the town that her daughter continuously names in her sleep. Although her husband Christopher (Sean Bean) adamantly opposes, Rose is convinced the mysterious town will hold all the answers. But as her car approaches the deserted city’s limits, a mysterious figure appears in the road, forcing Rose to swerve and crash. When she comes to, Sharon is gone, and suddenly Rose – accompanied by a determined police officer (Laurie Holden) from a nearby town -- is on a desperate quest in Silent Hill to find her child. It’s immediately clear that her destination – left alone since devastating coal fires ravaged Silent Hill -- is unlike any place she's ever been: smothered by fog, inhabited by a variety of strange, haunted beings, and periodically overcome by a living Darkness that literally transforms everything it touches. As Rose searches for her daughter, she begins to learn the history of Silent Hill – its violent, puritanical past and the origins of its accursed state -- and realizes that her daughter is just part of a larger, more terrifying destiny.

Opens Nationwide Friday, April 21, 2006.

http://www.WelcomeToSilentHill.com

IT'S A GIRL!

{LOS ANGELES} -- Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had a baby girl Tuesday, said Cruise spokesman Arnold Robinson. The baby, named Suri, weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long, he said. "Both mother and daughter are doing well," Robinson said in a prepared statement. The name Suri has its origins in Hebrew, meaning "princess," or in Persian, meaning "red rose," the statement said. The baby was born in Los Angeles but the exact location was not disclosed. It's the first child for Holmes, 27. Cruise, 43, has an adopted daughter and son from his marriage to Nicole Kidman.

Details surrounding the birth, which was planned under the tenets of the Church of Scientology as a silent procedure, weren't disclosed. Outside the Beverly Hills home where Cruise and Holmes live, about a dozen reporters and photographers stood by. Security officers inside the compound videotaped the journalists. A security guard at the gate — which was shrouded in black to prevent anyone from seeing in — refused to release any information. A few cars did arrive and were allowed into the estate. It was just about a year ago that Cruise's romance with Holmes became a world sensation. Cruise hopped up and down on a couch during an interview with Oprah Winfrey as he professed his love. "I can't be cool. I can't be laid-back," Cruise declared at the time. "Something happened and I want to celebrate it." The antics were widely mocked but Cruise was unfazed and continued to avow his affection for Holmes. He and Holmes, a star of TV's "Dawson's Creek," had been first photographed together in Rome in April 2005. In June, Cruise announced to a Paris press conference that he had proposed to Holmes atop the Eiffel Tower. "Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman," he said.

No wedding date has been disclosed.

VH1 and Sundance Team Up for The Drug Years

Cable channels, VH1 and Sundance have teamed up to produce an original four-part documentary series titled The Drug Years. The show will look at the rise of illicit drug use and its cultural impact in the second half of the 20th century, says The Hollywood Reporter. Among those who will be featured in interviews are Peter Coyote, Jackson Browne, Ray Manzarek from the Doors, Ice-T, Liz Phair, Rob Thomas, Tommy Chong, Russell Simmons, John Mellencamp and Henry Rollins.No air date has been set for The Drug Years.

Scary Movie 4 Sets Easter Weekend Box Office Record

The Weinstein Company today announced that Dimension Films' Scary Movie 4 opened number one in North America grossing over $41 million, becoming the highest grossing Easter weekend opening ever and giving the film the largest opening for a film released by The Weinstein Company. The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. The film was co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. The previous record holder for Easter Weekend was Panic Room, which brought in $31 million when its opened in 2002."We couldn't have asked for a more impressive opening for Scary Movie 4 and are so proud to have accomplished this only six months after our company launched," said Bob Weinstein. "This exceptional opening proves that this franchise has tremendous staying power.""I'm thrilled that people had as much fun seeing the movie as we did making it," said director David Zucker. "I couldn't be happier about this very strong opening." Steve Bunell, chairman of domestic distribution for The Weinstein Company said," The positive exit surveys for Scary Movie 4 are in line with 'Scary 3' and demonstrate that audiences are really enjoying the movie."

Kiefer Sutherland Sets Up Production Company

Acclaimed 24 star and co-executive producer Kiefer Sutherland has signed a production deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television, it was announced today by Twentieth Century Fox Television Presidents Dana Walden and Gary Newman. Under the terms of the new deal which is effective in June, Sutherland will hire a development executive and begin to develop and executive produce series programming for all the networks through his newly created banner. The deal also calls for Sutherland to remain in his award-winning role of Jack Bauer for additional seasons, as well as be named an executive producer on the drama alongside Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon and Evan Katz. "Working with Kiefer Sutherland over the past five seasons of '24' has been one of the great pleasures of my professional career," commented Walden. "He is an extraordinary actor with amazing instincts, he's fiercely intelligent and he has fantastic taste in material. When he told us he had ambitions to create and produce television series, we jumped at the chance to help him achieve that goal."Remarked Newman, "In his years on 24, Kiefer has demonstrated an incredible understanding of what makes for a compelling story or character, and he brings a passion to the process of making television that extends well beyond his own performance. As the gifted producers of that show will tell you, he's been instrumental in maintaining '24''s exceptional quality over five seasons. We believe he could become every bit as accomplished a producer as he is a performer." "These past five years have been one of the most creative and rewarding experiences in my career," said Sutherland. "The extraordinary support that we have received from Dana Walden, Gary Newman and everyone at Twentieth has made a difficult show like '24' succeed on all levels and for that I'm truly grateful. I am thrilled to extend my commitment to all my friends and colleagues at "24" and I'm looking forward to this expanded relationship with 20th Century Fox."

the thing about jane spring

Shainee Gabel has agreed to write the screenplay for The Thing About Jane Spring for Paramount Pictures, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The book, a romantic comedy by Sharon Krum, is about a 30-something woman who just can't find the right guy. Gabel wrote and directed 2004’s A Love Song for Bobby Long starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. There's no production schedule yet for The Thing About Jane Spring.

Paramount, Universal, Sony, MGM, Warner Bros. and Fox will begin selling "permanent" versions of their movies online the same day those movies are released on homevideo. Those five studios are doing it through their "jointly owned" online portal, Movielink.com. Accoording to Variety, Lionsgate and Sony also will sell movies via Movielink's main competitor, CinemaNow, in which the former has a minority stake."I really do view this as a transformative step for our business," said Thomas Lesinski, head of digital media for Paramount. "People will look back and see this was as significant as the launch of the DVD." Only major absent from the launch of digital downloads is Disney, although the studio is examining the business. Absence of the Mouse House from the rollout is a surprise, since CEO Bob Iger has been a public advocate of digital distribution and his company was the first to sell TV episodes online.While movies have been available for online rental since Movielink launched three years ago, this is the first time permanent digital copies of studio pics will be sold online (legally, at least).

Couric Leaving NBC for CBS Anchor Position

Katie Couric confirmed today that she would be leaving NBC to join CBS, where she is set to become the first solo female anchor in weekday evening network news history.

“I wanted to tell all of you out there who have watched the show for the past 15 years that after listening to my heart and my gut — two things that have served me pretty well in the past — I’ve decided I’ll be leaving ‘Today’ at the end of May,” she told viewers. “I really feel as if we’ve become friends through the years.”

Couric will replace Bob Schieffer on the “CBS Evening News,” beginning in September, CBS confirmed in a statement. As both anchor and managing editor of the program, which will bear her name, she will take on the responsibility of hosting the broadcast from its current third-place ratings.

It is reported that she will earn a salary of $13 million to $15 million for five years, the Associated Press reported, citing a non-network person close to Couric. “I never would have dreamed that we would be lucky enough to have her on the program as long as we have,” added Jeff Zucker, the network's CEO and Couric's producer when she became a “Today” correspondent in 1990. “But there comes a time for everyone, when new challenges become hard to resist, and I fully understand that. I couldn't be happier for Katie.”

Producer Neil Moritz to Develop WIMPY

Alcon Entertainment has gotten with producer Neal Moritz and Original Films to develop the action comedy Wimpy. The script and story line, being written by Ryan Schifrin, is being kept very tight-lipped by both sides, according to Variety. The studio will be heavily involved in production; Alcon senior VP Steven Wegner brought the project into the company and will oversee development. No cast has been set yet for the film; Wimpy will likely come to theaters next year.

MADONNA Announces Tour Plans

Madonna will be dancing and singing across the stages of the world this spring and summer, it was announced today. The “Confessions Tour” with concerts across major US cities, Canada, Europe and Japan will begin in Los Angeles on May 21st. “Confessions” tour dates were officially confirmed by Madonna’s managers Angela Becker and Guy Oseary, along with Arthur Fogel, President of The Next Adventure (a Live Nation Company), the tour’s worldwide promoter.

Tour stops in North America for the “Confessions Tour” will include arenas in Chicago, Boston, San Jose, Phoenix, Fresno, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Miami, Montreal and New York. Overseas appearances will take place in arenas, stadiums and outdoor venues in Paris, France; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cardiff, Wales; Rome, Italy; Dusseldorf and Hannover Germany; Horsens, Denmark; Osaka and Tokyo Japan.

The “Confessions” Tour will be directed by longtime Madonna collaborator Jamie King with Stuart Price once again on board as Musical Director. Arianne Phillips and Jean Paul Gaultier, long standing members of Madonna’s creative team, will respectively oversee and design costumes for the tour.

Madonna’s previous tour, the 2004 “Re-Invention Tour” was the most successful tour of that year, according to Billboard Magazine.

The Warner Bros. Records mega star, whose current CD “Confessions on a Dance Floor” debuted at No.1 in 29 countries has already begun rehearsals in Los Angeles with her talented troupe of musicians and dancers. With a staggering 35 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s dance charts during the course of her unparalleled career, it’s no surprise that Madonna issued the following mission statement regarding the “Confessions Tour”: “I’m going to turn the world into one big dance floor,” exhorted the Material Girl.

$70.5 Million for ICE AGE: The Meltdown

ICE AGE: The Meltdown heated up the box office with a mammoth $70.5 million weekend, while audiences gave the cold shoulder to Sharon Stone, whose Basic Instinct 2 debuted with a paltry $3.2 million.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Ice Age sequel, from 20th Century Fox, took over the top box office spot from Universal's Inside Man, which slipped to No. 2 in its second weekend with $15.7 million, raising its 10-day total to $52.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Premiering in third place was the Warner Bros. roller-skating tale ATL, starring rapper Tip Harris, which took in $12.5 million.

20th Century Fox International's animated ICE AGE: The Meltdown opened at about 5,000 screens during the weekend internationally, setting new records in many markets and grossing an estimated $43.4 million. Combined with a preview in the U.K., where Meltdown rolled up $4.1 million at 479 locations, the film's international total to date registers a mighty $47.5 million. With its domestic opening-weekend gross of $70.5 million, the sequel to 2002's Ice Age already has surpassed the $118 million mark globally. Meltdown's international premiere eclipsed that of the most recent international box-office powerhouse, Buena Vista International's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," which bowed Dec. 9 and pulled about $42 million with 2,800 prints working in 13 markets. Narnia drew an estimated $3.5 million in its latest weekend, pushing its international cume-to-date to $436 million.