Top Story: Fuqua Accused of Threatening Former Girlfriend
Director Antoine Fuqua has been accused in a lawsuit of threatening the life of an ex-girlfriend and making false charges to authorities to hide their affair from his wife, actress Lela Rochon, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the suit, Tanya Evans ended the affair in March 2002 as Fuqua began shooting Tears of the Sun in Hawaii. Two months later, Fuqua had Evans arrested for stalking, but most of the charges against her were dropped for lack of evidence. In November, Evans stood trial on one count of making harassing phone calls, but was acquitted.
Nolte on the Wagon
Looking trim and tan, actor Nick Nolte, who was arrested in September for driving under the influence, says he has been careful about remaining sober. “There’s no hiding there. I’ve always said I had a substance problem ever since. It’s something you deal with, and you take care of it, and you can keep it under control,” Nolte told The Associated Press. Nolte made the remarks during interviews to promote his upcoming drama The Good Thief, about a heroin-addicted gambler trying to organize a heist.
Cher’s Wig Safe and Sound
Police in Richmond, Va., have recovered Cher‘s stolen black-and-teal wig. According to the AP, a woman walked into one of the city police precincts and turned in the hairpiece that was reported stolen from Cher‘s concert tour. The surrender came Tuesday night after a city police employee overheard a man bragging in nearby that he had the wig. The man later told a detective that he had given it to an unknown woman outside the Richmond Coliseum after the Feb. 25 concert. Police are holding the wig–valued at between $8,000 and $10,000–as evidence.
“Two Towers” Sweeps Saturn Award Noms
The 28th annual Saturn Awards nominations were announced Friday by Cinescape magazine and the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Scorpion King, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Reign of Fire, The Santa Clause 2 and Spider-Man are competing in the fantasy category while Minority Report squares off against Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Signs, Solaris and Star Trek: Nemesis in the sci-fi category. The nominees for best horror film include Blade II, Eight Legged Freaks, Frailty, Queen of the Damned, Resident Evil and The Ring.
Blair Talks with MTV Audience
Prime Minister Tony Blair took the debate on Iraq Thursday to a studio audience for MTV Europe. In the 60-minute forum, titled “Is War the Answer,” Blair was grilled by young adults from around the world, including Iraq, the United States and England. The encounter won praise from some members of the audience, but most were not impressed. The discussion is due to air in Britain on Friday before it is broadcast in Europe, Australia, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and eventually the United States on Monday.
Role Call, Part I: John Cusack Cast in “Stepford Wives”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: John Cusack is in negotiations to star opposite Nicole Kidman in Paramount Pictures’ The Stepford Wives for director Frank Oz. Cusack‘s sister Joan also stars in the project, a remake of the 1975 thriller about a woman who moves into a neighborhood where husbands have transformed their wives into robots. The project will begin shooting in June.
Role Call, Part II: Eddie Griffin Joins “Scary Movie 3,” Zach Braff’s “Large’s Ark”
Variety reports: Eddie Griffin is the latest star to join Dimension’s spoof sequel Scary Movie 3, with Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards, Jeremy Piven, Simon Rex, Anthony Anderson and Regina Hall. The film is scheduled to shoot later this month in Vancouver…Scrubs star Zach Braff will start shooting his feature directorial debut Large’s Ark on April 23. Braff wrote the script and will star alongside Natalie Portman and Ian Holm. The film revolves around a young man who returns home for his mom’s funeral after being estranged from his family for a decade.
