Top Story
MGM is finalizing a deal to have Jackie Chan star in the remake of the 1960 comedy The Bellboy, Variety reports. The film will reportedly be set in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel. The original The Bellboy starred Jerry Lewis.
Ailing
Actor Ben Affleck, who checked himself into the Malibu Rehabilitation center Promises on July 31, is making progress, Entertainment Tonight reports. While Promises is not a “lock down” facility, it does monitor its patients 24-hours a day. ET also reports that Affleck was spotted on a casual shopping outing over the weekend.
Bobby Dall, the bassist for the 1980s rock band Poison, is recovering from back surgery, The Associated Press reports. Dall had several discs in his spine replaced and will need at least six months to recover. The injury occurred Sunday during a concert at the South Dakota State Fair. Poison has cancelled the rest of their tour dates through September.
Deaths
Larry Adler, better known as the king of the harmonica, died Monday in a London hospital, Reuters reports. Adler, 87, had been ill for several months. His career spanned seven decades and he worked with artists such as George Gershwin and Elton John.
In Courts
Debbie Mathers, Eminem’s mother, will only receive $ 1,600 of a $25,000 settlement she won against the rap star, AP reports. Macomb County, Mich., Court Judge Mark Switalski ruled Monday that Mather’s attorney, Fred Gibson, was entitled to $23,354.25 because they had made a deal entitling him to more than the standard one-third of the settlement. Mathers sued her son in 1999 for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress because of some lyrics on the rapper’s CD The Slim Shady LP.
In General
MGM is preparing to do a sequel to Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon, the Hollywood Reporter announced. Marc Platt, who produced the original film, also is in talks with the studio along with screenwriters Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith. Witherspoon would reprise her role as Elle Woods subject to script approval.
Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Madonna and Jason Alexander will voice DreamWorks animated feature Madagascar, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film centers on four zoo animals that are shipped back to their homeland by animal rights activists. The foursome is left stranded in Madagascar after their ship capsizes. Madagascar will be directed by Eric Darnell (Antz) and Conrad Vernon (Shrek).
John Mellancamp is expected to finish up a musical he is working on with writer Stephen King in February, AP reports. So far, Mellancamp has written about five songs for the story, which he describes as anything but rock. The singer still has another 10 songs to write for the production.
Limp Bizkit have recorded a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” for the film Zoolander starring Ben Stiller, SonicNet.com reports. Electronic artist/producer BT is scoring the film. The only other track confirmed so far for the soundtrack is The Wiseguys’ “Start the Commotion.” BT described the score as “out of control.” The Zoolander soundtrack is due out Sept. 25.
British pop star Robbie Williams said he would keep his promise to help a 23-year-old woman dying from leukemia, according to the BBC News. Williams provided a blood sample and has promised to donate bone marrow if he is a suitable donor. Williams. 27, met Johanna MacVicar after a concert in October.
In an effort to expand theater uses, the Texas-based Cinemark movie theater chain will screen a live concert by Sugar Ray in 14 locations across the Untied States, Reuters reports. The theater chain will broadcast the Aug. 15 concert in a live simulcast via satellite to locations in 21 states.
Alfred A. Knopf will publish the memoirs of former president Clinton, Reuters reports. While no amounts were disclosed, the figure is rumored to exceed $8 million for the deal. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Clinton’s wife, reportedly received between $7 million and $8.5 million for her memoirs published by Simon & Schuster. According to Sonny Mehta, Knopf’s president and editor-in-chief, the book would focus on Clinton’s two-term presidency.
