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Pajiba – Two-time Academy Award nominee, Will Smith, may have found the project that will finally win him that elusive Oscar. According to our inside source, The Hollywood Cog, Smith is set to produce and star in Flowers for Algernon, a modern-day adaptation of the Daniel Keyes’ novel. The movie is being set up at Sony Pictures and Smith’s production company, Overbrook Entertainment, along with Polksy Films. Tracy Nyberg, an associate producer on Hancock and an assistant to Will Smith on I Am Legend, is also set to produce.
Flowers for Algernon has been adapted several times since it was originally published in 1959, most famously Ralph Nelson’s Charly, which won Cliff Robertson an Academy Award in 1969. The short story (and the subsequent novel) is about Charlie, a mentally retarded man who is the first human test subject for an experimental surgery that artificially increases intelligence. The experiment had already been performed successfully on Algernon, a lab mouse. Charlie’s newfound intelligence (his IQ skyrockets from 68 to 185), however, comes at the cost of his ability to socialize normally, as he becomes increasingly alienated from those around him. Emotional consequences are involved when Charlie learns the truth of the experiment.
Just-released tax returns for movie star Will Smith’s charitable foundation show he and wife, Jada, gave $1.3 million in donations last year to a variety of religious, civic and arts groups. That ALSO includes, a combined $122,500 to the Church of Scientology, broken into these donations: $67,500 to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxication Fund, $50,000 to the group’s Celebrity Center in Hollywood and $5,000 to ABLE, another Scientology offshoot. Smith and his wife have also supported a private school called New Village Academy they opened this fall in suburban Los Angeles that uses Scientology learning concepts.
an interview with Will Smith on Scientology, An Access Hollywood reporter asked“ What about Scientology do you embrace?”
He said: “I was introduced, [to] it by Tom and I’m a student of world religion,” Smith said. “I was raised in a Baptist household, I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas of Scientology, 98 percent the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism.”
Will Smith and best friend Tom Cruise both happening to be promoting films right now.
BBC – The son of Hollywood actor Will Smith, Jaden Smith, is to star in a remake of the 1984 hit movie the Karate Kid, according to Variety newspaper. Will Smith, who appeared with 10-year-old Jaden in The Pursuit of Happyness, will co-produce. Filming for the new movie will begin next year in Beijing. The original film was based on a young man who was bullied but learned to stand up for himself with the help of an elderly karate mentor.
Former Karate Kid: Did you know two time Academy Award Winner Hillary Swank was once a Karate Kid? Check out the clip.
Ralph Macchio starred in three Karate Kid films, while Hilary Swank took over the main role in The Next Karate Kid in 1994. Pat Morita was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the influential martial arts instructor Mr Miyagi. He died in 2005 at the age of 73.
From NY Daily News – Will Smith is a down-and-out superhero in his latest flick — but when payday rolls around, he is up at the top.
The “Hancock” star took home a whopping $80 million last year, highest on the list of Hollywood earners, according to new figures compiled by Forbes.
“Pirates of the Caribbean” actor Johnny Depp ranked second with a $72 million paycheck,
followed by Eddie Murphy
and Mike Myers, who made a tidy $55 million each.
Hollywood’s leading lady last year was Cameron Diaz, who was paid $50 million for her roles in the latest “Shrek” movie and “What Happens in Vegas.”
“Atonement” beauty Keira Knightley pulled in $32 million,
and ex-”Friends” star Jennifer Aniston tallied $27 million.
It is still a man’s world in Tinseltown, however, as the 10 best-paid actors outearned the 10 best-paid actresses by 2 to 1 over the course of the year, the figures show.
The Forbes roundup also took a look at the highest-earning media personalities, and billionaire Oprah Winfrey again raked in the biggest bucks last year.
The daytime TV diva made a staggering $275 million and, after signing a new three-year $55 million deal with XM satellite radio, she is likely to retain her position in years to come.
Howard Stern, Tyra Banks, Rush Limbaugh and Regis Philbin also made it into the top 10 personalities list.
And a look at the highest earners on TV found that Charlie Sheen topped the chart, earning $20 million last year.
“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Katherine Heigl was the highest-paid female TV star, scooping up $13 million.
Among the youngsters, “Harry Potter” wizard Daniel Radcliffe
…and teen pop sensation Miley Cyrus shared the crown, each earning $25 million last year.
The Olsen twins,
rockers the Jonas Brothers and
…”High School Musical’s” Ashley Tisdale also made the teen millionaire list, ensuring they never need to ask their parents for an allowance. [Wait!Theres Tons More…]
The former South African president is in London for a series of events to celebrate his 90th birthday, including a big outdoor concert at Hyde Park on Friday — with proceeds benefiting his 46664 charity. The show coincides with the 20th anniversary of London’s Free Mandela concert, which called for his release from prison. [Wait!Theres Tons More…]
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