Top Story
Filmmaker Woody Allen denied allegations in New York’s Supreme Court yesterday that his advisors had brought on a “bogus” suit against longtime friend and producer Jean Doumanian, The Associated Press reports. Allen took the stand in support of his $12 million lawsuit against Doumanian, alleging that she cheated him out of profits from the last eight movies they made together. However, Doumanian and her companion, Jacqui Safra, have counter-claimed that all due money was paid and that Allen, in fact, owes them. Allen is scheduled to return to the witness stand Tuesday.
Celebs
“It’s completely not true.” That’s what the office of Madonna‘s longtime publicist, Liz Rosenberg, told Launch.com about rumors that the pop goddess is pregnant with her third child. Stories of Madonna‘s supposed pregnancy spread through the media yesterday after Sunday People quoted her father, Tony Ciccone, as saying, “We are very excited that she is expecting again.” Denials, however, were also issued in the early stages of Madonna‘s pregnancy with her son, Rocco, and her daughter, Lourdes.
Movies
Twentieth Century Fox has added yet another mutant to the cast of X-Men 2. Actress Kelly Hu, who starred in the action/adventure pic The Scorpion King, will be playing a villainous mutant with human emotions named Anne. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anne will be the sidekick to the lead villain, Striker, who has yet to be cast.
Pierce Brosnan will drop his James Bond persona for his next film, the romantic comedy Laws of Attraction, which he will produce and star in, Variety reports. Brosnan will play a divorce lawyer who falls in love with and marries another divorce attorney, but the two realize they are not immune to the same marital problems that bring them to court.
Actress Natalie Portman is in advanced talks to co-star in an episodic adventure based on Homer’s Odyssey-like Civil War-era bestseller Cold Mountain, Variety reports. Portman would be joining an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and Jude Law. Production is slated to begin next month.
Tube News
HBO has set the date for the season premiere of the Emmy-winning comedy Sex and the City. According to Variety, the network has set 9 p.m. July 21 as the launch of a new batch of episodes of the show. Look for Sex‘s fourth season finale on Sept. 8.
Showtime’s controversial series Queer As Folk has landed a two-year renewal with new episodes kicking off in March 2003 in its 10 p.m. Sunday slot, Variety reports. The current season ends on June 16.
Music News
Napster Inc. has filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection as part of a comeback plan under an agreement it has with German media giant Bertelsmann AG. Bertelsmann bought Napster’s assets on May 17 for $8 million, but the song-swapping service still owes Bertelsmann $91 million. By seeking bankruptcy protection, Napster will emerge as a wholly owned unit of Bertelsmann, Reuters reports. The agreement, however, still requires court approval.
