Video: Britney Spears' Little Niece Covers Her Song

Britney Spears proudly posted footage of her 3-year-old niece Maddie doing a cover of her "Femme Fatale" bonus track on YouTube. "OMG! Check out my niece Maddie covering Aunt Britney's Up N Down. Sooooo adorable!" read the message attached to the video.


"The beat just dropped and the room got sexy," the little girl belted out her aunt's lyrics while playing a Barbie doll. "You're watching me [like] there's no one else around/ I know [you want me like] kids want candy/ [So keep watching me go down and] up and down, up and down."


Maddie is the daughter of Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears. Earlier this month, she was brought by her mother to Britney's concert in New Orleans. They cheered on the "Hold It Against Me" hitmaker along with several other members of the Spears clan.

David Beckham Tattooed Baby Daughter's Name Under His Neck



David Beckham seems to have found a place on his skin to mark the birth of his first daughter with wife Victoria Adams. The soccer superstar gave a tantalizing peek at his new tattoo that is etched at the bottom of his neck during a television interview for his team Los Angeles Galaxy.


36-year-old David's new ink looks like to sit just above his tattoo of Jesus being carried by three cherubs which symbolize his sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz. As for the design, the former player for Manchester United appears to have chosen curly cursive lettering to inscribe Harper's name.


David and his wife Victoria welcomed their fourth child, Harper Seven, on July 10 at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. Announcing the baby's birth, he wrote on his Facebook page, "She weighed a healthy 7lbs 10oz and arrived at 7.55 this morning, here in LA. Victoria is doing really well and her brothers are delighted to have a baby sister xx."


Recently, David revealed that he and Victoria still hope to have one more kid together. Sharing to the Associated Press about the wish, he said, "We'd love one more. We've always said we'd love a big family, and five was a number. If we're lucky enough, then we hope to have one more."


On daughter Harper, he commented, "It's different having a little girl. She's elegant. She sleeps in an elegant position. Yeah, she's the cutest thing. All the boys won't leave her alone, which is amazing." He added, "Everything [Victoria's put on Harper] so far looks amazing. She's got a great wardrobe already. My wife is going to definitely take care of that."

Rihanna Closing Her Next Album Up Now, Says Producer

Rihanna has already been preparing her next studio installment. According to producer Verse Simmonds in a recent interview with MTV, he and his partner Sham "Sak Pase" Joseph, who previously worked on "Man Down", have made two songs for the Bajan singer. 


"From what I understand, she is closing the album up now, and we did two records for her that she really, really loved and I'm really excited about them as well," he dished on. "They are records that we wrote and produced as the Jugganauts." 


Talking about the sound they crafted for RiRi, Simmonds said it's different from the reggae-infused "Man Down". "We always try to constantly - as producers, as artists - we try to always come with something different, a whole new sound," he stated. 


Rihanna is currently in the middle of a tour to support her fifth album "Loud". She will play a live concert in her hometown on August 5 before heading to Europe and South America. Her last tour stop is scheduled to take place at London's O2 Arena on December 22. 

Leonardo DiCaprio Could Star in Western Movie 'Creed of Violence'

Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly interested to play one of the lead characters in Todd Field's "Creed of Violence". A period western, the movie is based on the unpublished novel written by Boston Teran. 


The story, set in 1910, revolves around an estranged father and son trying to thwart an arms smuggling ring bringing weapons to Mexico. A criminal named Rawbone tries to smuggle weapons into Mexico, but he is caught and accompanied by a government agent with whom he shares a mysterious past. DiCaprio is eying either of the two roles. 


"In the Bedroom" director Field has been developing the project for some time. But if the report is true, then DiCaprio's involvement could speed things up. 


A rep for the actor is yet to comment on the story published by Los Angeles Times. A person was "briefed on the actor's plans but could not talk about it publicly because he was not authorized to speak for DiCaprio". The part has been offered but the actor is yet to accept it. 

'Deathly Hallows 2' to Hit $1 Billion Mark This Weekend

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" is on the track to become the first in its franchise to pass the $1 billion milestone in only two weeks after its theatrical release. The last film in the "Harry Potter" saga was given an enthusiastic farewell from its fans worldwide and will pass the mark this Saturday, July 30. 


Domestically, the seventh "Harry Potter" film has grossed $296 million as of Thursday, July 28. At the same time, the film has grossed $630 million in international market, adding to a total of $926 million. The weekend income is expected to easily close the gap between the total number and a billion. 


Released in 3D, the movie has passed a number of milestones since its July 15 release. By comparison, it would beat the gross of "Socerer's Stone", the best in the series, this weekend. "Socerer's Stone" was the top grossing pic in the franchise with $974.8 million in 2001-02. 


When "Deathly Hallows 2" reaches the $1 billion mark, it would officially be the ninth movie in history to gross that much worldwide after "The Dark Knight", "Alice in Wonderland", "Avatar" and five others. 

Not Enjoying Acting as Much, Angelina Jolie Plans Other Things

Angelina Jolie hints that she is not going to keep making a living as an actress. In a new interview, one of the highest paid actresses admitted that she is not into acting anymore because her passions lie somewhere else. 


"I've never not been grateful to be an actor," she told Financial Times. "But I think when I was younger I needed [acting] more. I was trying to question things in life so you find these characters that help you find things and grow." She added, "I'm older and I know who I am ...and I'm less interested in the character helping me answer something ...than in being able to answer it for myself, as a woman, as an adult, with my family." 


Together with partner Brad Pitt, Jolie is parent to six children, Maddox, 9, Pax, 7, Zahara, 6, Shiloh, 5, and 3-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. "I don't love [acting] as much as I did]. I love being a mom," Jolie revealed. 


However, she noted that she is not planning to retire anytime soon. "In the Land of Blood and Honey", her first foray into directing, is one proof that she still exists in Hollywood. "I prefer [being behind the camera] to acting," she said. "I think I've learnt something from all of [the directors I've worked with] - even the ones I didn't like ...I also learned a lot from Clint Eastwood about how to appreciate the members of the crew, empowering them to do their job." 


Again, she emphasized her limited time. "As Brad and I get older we're going to do fewer films. I've been working for a long time, he's been working for a long time," she said. "We've had a nice run and I don't want to be doing this our whole lives. There are a lot of other things to do." 

Selena Gomez Owns the Night at Florida Concert



Selena Gomez showed off her showgirl persona when performing at Count de Hoernle Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida. The "Monte Carlo" beauty wore a gold simmering corset and short ruffle skirt with long train. At one point of the night, she traded her skirt with a cute pink tutu. 

The "Ramona and Beezus" star strutted her stuff, belting out songs from new album "When the Sun Goes Down" and some other tracks from her previous works. She was supported by her band The Scene and some dancers in catering the sold-out crowd at the Mizner Park. 

Watching from the side stage was none other than Selena's boyfriend Justin Bieber. The "Never Say Never" singer made a surprise on-stage performance when coming to her live concert in Costa Mesa, California last Sunday, but he chose to keep low profile when visiting her in Florida. 

Dubbed "Own the Night", the tour will resume on July 30 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, and will run September 12 at Northwest Concert Center in Puyallup, Washington. 








Chipettes Do 'Bad Romance' in Full Trailer of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks 3'


20th Century Fox has unleashed a full trailer of upcoming animated holiday film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked". It follows Alvin Seville and his friends who are enjoying a vacation on a splendid cruise liner. 


The video gives preview to hilarious footage where the mischievous Alvin gets Jason Lee's David Seville in trouble on the ship. There is additionally a funny scene where the Chipettes and the Chipmunks, with their fabled high-pitched voices, sing and dance to Lady GaGa's "Bad Romance" in a remote island. 


"Alvin and the Chimpunks 3" is directed by "Shrek Forever After" helmer, Mike Mitchell. Meanwhile, penning the script are "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" scribes, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger.


The Chipmunk characters are voiced by Justin Long, Jesse McCartney,Matthew Gray Gubler, while the Chipettes are dubbed by Amy Poehler,Anna Faris and Christina Applegate. The 3-D movie is scheduled for December 16 release in U.S. theaters. 

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig All Over Each Other at 'Whistleblower' Afterparty

Around a month after they tied the knot in secret, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig flaunted their affection publicly. On Wednesday, July 27, the newlyweds attended the afterparty for "The Whistleblower" premiere at the James Hotel in New York City, and Us Weekly reported that they were all over each other. 


"Rachel's eyes lit up when she saw [Daniel]," a source told the publication. "He put his arms around her and they definitely exude being in love." Offering more details, PEOPLE dished on that the two Hollywood stars, who co-star in "Dream House", shared a very public rooftop kiss. 


One witness recalled the smooch as saying, "When Daniel arrived on the roof deck, he embraced Rachel and gave her a long tender kiss on the lips - it was very romantic." Another one added, "I wanted to be part of that kiss." Meanwhile, a third observer remembered, "It was very hot." 


Rachel looked stunning at the afterparty. The 41-year-old actress wore a fitted red dress with capped sleeves and paired it with nude court shoes. Her 43-year-old actor husband, in the meantime, sported a laid-back look. Hiding his hair under a baseball cap, he dressed down in jeans, T-shirt and trainers. 

Kim Kardashian's Wedding Invitation Confirms Date and Dress Code

A copy of Kim Kardashian's wedding invitation has popped out online. Courtesy of E! News, the fancy invite confirms that the star of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" will marry her fiance, New Jersey Nets player Kris Humphries on Saturday, August 20 in Montecito, California. 


Emblazoned with a double-K insignia, the invite is sent out by Kim's mother Kris Jenner and step-father Bruce Jenner. It reads, "Kris and Bruce Jenner request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Kimberly Kardashian to Kristopher Humphries." It does not disclose an exact venue, but does note that the wedding will be strictly black tie. 


Kim got engaged to Kris in mid-May. Last Saturday, July 23, the 30-year-old reality star held her bachelorette party at Tao Las Vegas. Nearby at the VIP corner of Lavo Las Vegas, her fiance enjoyed his bachelor party with Lamar Odom, Scott Disick and Robert Kardashian. At the same night, Kim surprised Kris when she crashed his party for about 10 minutes. 


On Thursday, July 28, the engaged couple stepped out together for a lunch in Los Angeles. Kim wore a printed tunic with bulky necklace and a pair of black high-heels. On the same day, she shared to her Twitter followers a photo of her fiance looking like "Twilight Saga" star Taylor Lautner. "Shopping with @krishumphries or Taylor Lautner???" read her tweet. 

'G.I. Joe 2' and 'Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol' Get New Release Date

Paramount Pictures has confirmed new release date for its two upcoming action/adventure movies, "G.I. Joe 2" and "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol". While the sequel to "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" is now set to hit U.S. theaters on June 29, 2012, the Tom Cruise-starring film is rescheduled to arrive in the nation on December 21, 2011. 


"G.I. Joe 2" was formerly scheduled to be debuted on August 10, 2012. The current slot was originally set for the studio's other project, "Untitled Star Trek Sequel", which has J.J. Abrams as the director. With the new date, "G.I. Joe 2" will compete with highly anticipated superhero film "The Amazing Spider-Man", which will be dropped just a few days later on July 3. 


In addition to getting a new release date, the Jon M. Chu-directed film, which was previously called "G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes", is reportedly retitled "G.I. Joe: Retaliation". 


"M:I-4", meanwhile, was previously slated for November 16 release, along with other anticipated holiday movies, such as "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked". 


With the new schedule, the film is up against David Fincher-directed drama "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)", followed two days later by Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn", Chris Gorak's "The Darkest Hour", Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" and Angelina Jolie's "In the Land of Blood and Honey". 

'The Avengers' Will Feature Less Muscular Hulk

Marvel's head Kevin Feige dished on details of Hulk's physique just a few days after an official concept art poster which teases how the humanoid monster will look like in "The Avengers" was unleashed. In an interview with LA Times recently, the studio's boss said that after all these years, the green goliath might change a bit when he appears in the superhero-studded movie. 


"The image we released is a very good representation of what [the Hulk is] going to look like. Hulk is Hulk. We're not going to reinvent the wheel," he said. "He'll be about the same size he was in 'The Incredible Hulk' [which was about 9 feet tall] or maybe a little bit smaller. His muscles won't be quite as cut. We figure he's been the Hulk now for a few years and [his physique is changing]." 


He, however, stressed, "The most important thing is that face." He elaborated, "As you can already see in that concept painting, it is - more than any Hulk that's ever been done in live action - a Hulk that let's you see the actor in there. You will be able to see [Mark] Ruffalo in there. That was a big revelation for us. It's just a concept painting, but in that you can see Ruffalo's eyes and his cheek structure. It is him." 


Beside having Ruffalo as the green giant, "The Avengers" will also see the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson. In respective order, they will reprise their roles as Black Widow, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent from previous Marvel films. 


The upcoming action film will be directed by Joss Whedon and will be released in theaters across the United States on May 4, 2012. It will follow those superheroes joining forces to battle the biggest foe they've ever faced. 

New Red Band Trailer for Kevin Smith's 'Red State' Arrives

An official red band trailer for indie horror "Red State" has been released. Filled with violence and profane language, the fresh preview follows three high school boys who end up having to fight for their life when they encounter a fundamentalist preacher with sinister agenda, Abin Cooper.


Aside from this red band trailer, a fresh poster for the Kevin Smith-directed movie has also been unveiled. The one-sheet gives a look at a woman in a pair of short pants, carrying a rifle with both of her hands. It also highlights on a tagline that read, "Love Thy Neighbor".


First premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, "Red State" is scheduled for a limited release in the United States on October 19. In addition to serving behind the lens, Smith also provided the script for this indie horror film and self-distributed it with countrywide tours and more. Jonathan Gordon serves as the producer.


Michael Parks takes on the role of Abin Cooper, Michael Angarano plays one of the high school boys, and Oscar winner Melissa Leo tackles the part of Cooper's daughter. Steven Root, Kyle Gallner and John Goodman are also among the cast ensemble.

Video: 'So You Think You Can Dance' Contestant Made Lady GaGa Cry

One contestant on "So You Think You Can Dance" successfully squeezed tears out of Lady GaGa. The singer appeared as a guest judge on the Top 8 performance night and she cried after Marko Gremar did a contemporary piece to Jeff Buckley's "I Know It's Over" with Allison Holker. 

All four judges gave Marko and Allison a standing ovation. GaGa was the first judge to give a comment. "I'm just so proud of you," she began as tears streamed down her face. "There are so, so many things I did wrong when I was younger, and so many things I wish I could take back, and I felt every moment of that through your dance tonight." 

The dance which was choreographed by Sonya Tayeh was dedicated to Marko's mom who was actually among the audience. She cried and waved proudly to her son who said that she flew all the way from Guam to support him. 

After giving him a good comment, Nigel Lythgoe told everyone to say things they want to say to their mothers while there's still a chance. 

TLC Dedicates Hourlong Special to Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton is getting her own TV special after becoming talks of the town since she took part in sister Kate Middleton's wedding to Prince William. TLC has announced that it will air "Crazy About Pippa" on Tuesday, August 9 at 9 P.M. 

In the one-hour special, "those closest to Pippa provide insight into the life and work of the future Queen of England's sister." Also in the show, it is revealed that her new brother-in-law, Prince Harry, refers to her as a "foxy filly." 

Deemed Britain's most eligible bachelorette by the cable network, Pippa gained public attention after serving as a maid of honor at her sister's royal wedding. A Facebook page called Pippa Middleton A-- Appreciation Society, which is inspired by her perfect curve, has more than 237,000 likes. 

Vivid Entertainment has reportedly offered the 27-year-old party planner $5 million to star in a porn movie, while Usher wanted her to model for his lingerie line. 

Penelope Cruz Takes Baby Son Out With Eva Longoria

Penelope Cruz has taken her baby son for an outing with Eva Longoria. On Monday, July 17, the "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" actress was snapped carrying six-month-old Leo in a baby sling as she walked down a flight of steps followed by the "Desperate Housewives" star. 


Vacationing together in Costa Brava, Spain, the two Hollywood actresses were seen all smiles as they were joined by Penelope's husband Javier Bardem and brother Eduardo Cruz, who is currently dating Eva. X17Online, which provided the photo from the outing, reported that they "had a mountain-side lunch on a beautiful spread." 


Penelope gave birth to her first son with Javier in late January this year, shortly after Eva was linked romantically to her singer brother. The "Nine" actress has since returned to work. In early July, she joined the filming of new Woody Allen movie, "The Bop Decameron", in Rome. 

Comic-Con 2011: THE SECRET CIRCLE Pilot Screening and Panel Recap


CW’s newest supernatural series, The Secret Circle, had a fun-filled pilot screening Saturday night in Room 6BCF. Despite a line that wrapped out of the building and by some nether-region of the San Diego Convention Center, I was shuffled through the doors in time to sit down and immediately soak the screening in. I’ll be upfront now, though: CW shows usually aren’t my thing. However, by the amount of catcalls and swoons, I can see that they have clearly worked out a niche market and aren’t going to stop in the near future. Following the pilot screening, we were treated to an all-too-brief Q&A with the stars and crew. Hit the jump for my thoughts on the pilot and a recap of the panel.
Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson) has moved in with her grandmother and is the new kid at high school. Yet, somehow the older adults seems to immediately recognize her. The tragic death of her mother is constantly brought up as strangers give her pity. However, that’s not the only odd part of the town.
A select few teenagers start to single out Cassie, and before long they reveal why they keep pestering her. Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), Nick (Louis Hunter), Adam (Thomas Dekker), Diana (Shelley Hennig), and Sally (Logan Browning) are part of a secret circle of witches and wizards, and their families are connected in myth. Cassie inherited her mother’s witchcraft abilities, and they want her to join them. Why they want her in the group isn’t initially revealed, but there is an interesting dynamic that suddenly springs to life when it is.
High school is full of exploration for some, and the ignorance of your own mortality is part of the issue. These teens seem to enjoy pushing the boundaries, especially Faye. This rebellious witch is pushy and not afraid to have fun at other people’s expenses, especially Cassie’s upon arrival. Cassie is going to be the surrogate audience for the show, but she doesn’t reveal all of her cards up front. Instead, we are left wondering why she has such hesitation to join the group and why she is so back and forth at times. There are also romantic sparks that fly, and we can feel an attraction between Cassie and Adam, though he is presently with Diana (oops!). As with a show about witchcraft, there is some magic on display and right now it is fairly innocent and plain.
However, there are moments of darkness as well. Cassie’s mom had an accident that resulted in her own secret circle wanting to stay quiet. At this point the reason why are still kept under lock and key, but it will be explored as the series progresses. Again, there are some dark moments that occur with the parents of Cassie’s new friends. I wonder how dark the series will get, and those familiar with the slate of CW shows may be able to tell how dark this one will get based on that. I must also mention the numerous sexual innuendos, whether on accident or on purpose. The tone seems to suggest it is purposeful, and the use of quick edits and jumping in and out of dialogue leads to some moments that had the whole crowd rolling.
There aren’t many shows on television right now that focus on witchcraft, especially sinceCharmed left the air so many years ago. However, there is a flurry of supernatural television shows on all levels of television and this one might be right up your alley. The series itself is based on a fairly known commodity: a series of young adult novels by the same author that gave us The Vampire Diaries—L.J. Smith. The panel itself was short because the pilot aired a little bit later than expected. The panel included creator Kevin Williamson, stars Natasha Henstridge (she plays Diana’s mother), Britt Robertson, Phoebe Tonkin, Thomas Dekker, and executive producer Andrew Miller.
One of the first questions focused on how close they will stick to the source material. Kevin Williamson mentioned that they are working from wonderful source material and have a ton to work with. Robertson was then asked how it was to work with the magical elements, and she said it was the best part of the show, saying she was “thrilled” by it. As for Tonkin, she joked it was old hat a bit, though she enjoyed going from a mermaid to a witch.
Another questioner mentioned that because they share similar sources in terms of writers, would we see vampires in this show fromThe Vampire Diaries? Robertson laughed and said, “Crossover, yea!” However, Williamson did note that while they did share source authors, the worlds would stay separate. The next question focused on the character of Faye and how far she would go down the path of darkness. Tonkin responded that she will definitely become more dangerous as the show moves on, but added that there is potential for good as well. The final question focused on how much fun it was to shoot “the kiss,” something I won’t go into detail for now. Robertson revealed that that was the first scene shot between Dekker and herself. Dekker also joked that there were two very different takes on that scene.
Overall, if you are looking for some teenage angst mixed with witchcraft and love, CW has your show. At times hokey, and at times unintentionally hilarious, the show seems to be more of the same that you might expect from CW. Whether that is a good thing or a bad one is up to you. The series has been picked up for a full season based on this pilot and will air on the CW September 15.

Comic-Con 2011: NIKITA Panel Recap; Maggie Q Demonstrates Climbing Up Tall Guys and First Footage of Season 2



At this year’s Comic-Con, The CW held a panel for their hit show, Nikita, and it was an absolute riot.  They showed a brief teaser for the next season, as well as a music-infused highlight reel of the biggest moments of season one.  Oh, and star Maggie Q demonstrated how she climbs up tall guys in the show to knock them out…on an attendee.  Yea, things got crazy.  

The panel for Nikita featured showrunner Craig Silverstein, actress Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West, and Maggie Q. The first thing that occurred was Maggie gushing about  a fan created book Shane and her received just moments earlier that was a diary of sorts about their character’s stories. Then the host started off the questions and she had some good ones, but mainly focused on the upcoming season. So, needless to say, if you don’t want to know where it is headed, stay away. The first focused on whether we can expect more huge surprises like the ones in the first season. He confirmed that it will definitely occur again, saying “the jaw-dropping twist is our stock and trade.” When she pressed on to see if anything would occur early in episode one or two, he announced they would showcase and Alex and Nikita fight scene.
Fonseca and Q then talked about filming the scene, with Fonseca remarking that it was emotionally driven and tough to film. They both agreed that they were still sore from it, though Maggie joked that she picked her up and slammed Fonseca a lot but it wasn’t a big deal because “she weighs like 10 pounds.” They next focused on a post-Division world for Michael and Nikita, to which Maggie joked, “T-shirts and a lot of member’s only jackets.” West added that there would be a lack of suits for sure. As for what this all means for Alex and Division, Fonseca says “She has a relationship with Division, but she does not work for them,” adding that she will basically use that to get where she wants. Silverstein compared it to a quid pro quo basis, and mentioned “it could go bad at any time.

As for Percy and Amanda, Silverstein remarked that they had one of the coolest sets they had ever built where Percy is exiled. He also mentioned that Amanda is now running the show at Division, and mentioned that Percy would be plotting his revenge and might be seen again wreaking havoc for Alex, Michael, and Nikita. Amanda will be struggling to handle her new role, as a member of Oversight will be coming in to watch over things. However, she will also clean up Percy’s mistakes, though Silverstein mentions that that is a scary proposition for anyone familiar with her.
Maggie then expounded on how they would actually be giving details on Nikita’s backstory this season. She also mentioned that a burning question for her was why Nikita was the best. Why, of all the assassins Division trained, she was the one that excelled so much. Maggie added that it was devastating for Nikita because the one thing she is best at is the one she hates the most. Silverstein then added that we would see Nikita pre-Division this time around. Next they talked about Berkoff, a character that Lynsy seemed to enjoy watching.
Silverstein explained that we would see him outside of Division and that we would find out very early in the season. As for Owen, he will be back in episode two and Ryan would be eventually broken out of prison as well. As for an overarching theme, Silverstein mentioned that every character seems to be searching for their home, in a way. That would definitely be explored, which sounds to me like a lot of back story and new revelations.
The first attendee questioner wanted to know if Maggie had a favorite action move and how hard it was to do all the moves in fashionable clothes. Maggie joked that if she could fight in pajamas, she would, but that it just wouldn’t sell that well. She added that they have a ton of meetings with wardrobe and basically hash out what she can wear. Sometimes the costume designer has an outfit in mind, and Maggie has to sometimes say, “now here’s my reality. I can’t do that in that.” After that, the fun really began.

Silverstein added that his favorite move was when Nikita would run up guys and knock them out. They shared a laugh when suddenly fans started shouting that she should do it now, and Maggie joked, “Is there anybody in the audience 6’7”?” That’s when several tall guys stood up, and kinda joked that she would do the move with one of the audience members. When she asked if she should, cheers broke out. So, the challenge was accepted and a lucky, older gentleman was invited up on stage. Maggie stood in front and demonstrated that she usually looks for points of the body to grab onto to boost her up, by putting her hands above the man’s waist, shoulders, and head.
She then asked that he stick out his leg and to grab her a bit while she put her foot on his knee and leaned into him. She said that generally that is how she leaps up and then just knocks them out from there. The fact that she demonstrated the move to a degree in a tightly fitting yellow outfit was a strange sight considering she just mentioned how many times she had to go against her costume designer’s desires. A large ovation was given to the two as the man walked off stage and Maggie returned to her seat. This was one of those moments that Comic-Con provides because of the fan interaction and it’s always refreshing to see stars go out of there way to show appreciation and have fun.
However, the questions did manage to continue after the audience quieted down a bit. Maggie was asked about her favorite fighting style, and she pondered it a bit then responded that Wing Chun was the one she loved the most. She went on to say it was super fast and hard to see, but that it was also close-quarters, something she loved about it. If you aren’t familiar with Wing Chun, I suggest checking out Ip Man and its sequel, two awesome Hong Kong action films that were made in the last few years.

The next questioner asked what any of the stars would like see explored in their past. West mentioned that a lot was revealed about his past in the first season, and that he was pretty satisfied with all of it at this point, describing himself as “full.” Fonseca added that she was looking forward to finding out who her mother might be. They then were asked about what fans could expect with the interaction between Owen, Michael, and Nikita next season. Silverstein commented that Owen would be getting healthy and would find a mysterious source to fund him. He also mentioned how it would be great if they could all get together and be friendly, they would be a super team of sorts. Alas, they just don’t get along so that won’t quite work. The questioner dug a bit deeper and followed up by asking if Nikita would have to pick between the two, to which Silverstein said that she had pretty clearly chosen Michael.

Another fan seemed to introduce the word “Mikita” to the stars (a combination of Michael and Nikita), asking what their favorite “Mikita” moment was. West said that one of his favorite moments was in a flashback where he flips Nikita and he lands on top of her during a sparring session. Maggie joked that it was the first time they had smelled each other’s breath, adding that Shane’s always smells like coffee. Maggie went on to say that her favorite moment was right before they got together for the first time. She describes the scene and how it played out in her mind, with an uneasiness for Nikita who was unsure of whether Michael was there to “kill her or hug her.” Michael was in her space, something she hadn’t let happen before.
The next questioner stated that Lyndsy was her first choice for Katniss in The Hunger Games. Lyndsy visibly responded to that, with a blush and much gratitude, even thanking her for the comment. When the attendee mentioned that she could portray her in the remake, Fonseca thanked her again and said she had incredible support. The questioner then asked her question, commenting that she loved the strong women in the film, but she loved the bad guys in it even more and asked if we could expect “badder guys.” Silverstein answered, saying that there would be a lot more “badnees for you” and confirmed that the black box that Michael and Nikita have would bring out a lot of evil characters. He added that Alex, Michael, and Nikita would all have to deal with the worst of the worst, and hinted that there might even be some bad stuff on there about the trio as well.
Then a attendee asked if there was any chance that a scene or episode would be filmed Hawaii because Maggie grew up there, specifically mentioning on or around her old high school track. When she started to laugh a little, he mentioned that Coach Evans was in attendance as well. Maggie squealed a bit and asked, “Do you still love me? I was the worst.” She also added that they essentially saved her life when she was a kid and kept her out of trouble. When the man repeated his question, Silverstein seemed to give a non-committed answer, with Maggie joking “Are you paying?” and Silverstein laughing and saying, “Yea, start that drive.”
Next we heard from a questioner that praised the characters of Alex and Nikita, and specifically their strong, bonded relationship that you rarely see on TV or anywhere. She then asked Silverstein where the inspiration for the characters came from. For that, Silverstein gave a very interesting answer, saying that the plan was to start Nikita outside of Division, and needed someone to showcase how the faction grabs kids off of the street and reforms and trains them. He said that he felt the Alex and Nikita relationship was “the tragic love story of the series.” He also added that they are in a really rocky place right now, but that similar to last year it will end up vastly different.
Following on that, the next questioner asked Maggie Q if Naked Weapon was the closest thing she had made to Nikita to this point and whether it had special meaning. Maggie joked, “You still like me and you saw that movie? That’s loyal.” She then responded that it was kinda similar, and that it focused on a young girl taken and trained as an assassin. But she also explained that it was her first big action film in her career, and taught her a lot. Silverstein then said what was on a lot of people’s minds, asking “Why was it called Naked Weapon?” Maggie assured everyone that there was no nudity, joking that there wasn’t any nudity in Naked Gun.
When it was announced that there was only time for two more questions, a man stepped aside to let the final questioners move forward in the queue, which got awwws from the crowd and a compliment from Maggie. One of the last questioners? A little girl, asking their favorite scene to film. The question seemed to give West quite a bit of pause before he simply stated that he couldn’t pick just one. As for Maggie: “You know what’s fun? I just love beating guys up.” Then the final question was aimed at Fonseca, with the question of how this action-packed role compared to all of her decidedly non-action roles in the past and if she enjoyed the change.
Fonseca confirmed that she had never done stunts prior to Nikita and was thankful for Maggie because she took Fonseca under her wing. She described the experience, saying she “found something she didn’t know she loved.” When the moderator spotted a little girl in a Super Girl outfit, she asked whether she had a question. “Do you do your own stunts?” she asked, and after awes, they pretty much all agreed that they do their own as much as they could. Fonseca added a caveat, saying that she didn’t do the stuff where she gets thrown to the ground. She also thanked the stunt crew that does handle the heavy lifting and the sore bodies. With that, the panel ended.
As for the second season, you can mark September 23nd on your calendars, which you may note signifies the move from prime time on Thursday to a Friday night time slot instead.

Comic-Con 2011: Kate Beckinsale Interview UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING


Underworld: Awakening marks the return of Kate Beckinsale to the popular genre franchise. Shot in 3D, the vampire Selene escapes imprisonment to find that humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are waging an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. With Len Wiseman as a producer, and directing team MÃ¥ns MÃ¥rlind and Björn Stein at the helm, the fourth installment is taken in a different direction, in order to keep things fresh and avoid the usual connotations that come with the fourth film in a series.
Prior to their Comic-Con panel in Hall H, Kate Beckinsale did a press roundtable interview to talk about how she never planned to do a fourth film, what fans of the popular franchise can expect from this latest installment, how her character Selene fits into things now, working with two directors this time around, whether she’d consider a fifth film, and how proud she is to play such a strong, tough and interesting female character. Check out what she had to say after the jump:
Question: What can audiences expect from this Underworld? How is Selene involved in the story?
KATE BECKINSALE: In the very beginning of the story, she’s involved in no way at all ‘cause she’s been in a coma. She’s basically exactly who she is when she wakes up, it’s just that the world that she’s waking up into is completely and utterly different. Really, the first part of the movie is catching up, as she is, with everything that’s changed around her. The underworld is no longer really “under,” but it’s boring to call a movie World. So, it’s really a question of her waking up and going, “Where the hell am I, and what’s happening?,” and trying to figure that out, and who various significant people are. There are so many things that I’m not allowed to say. I feel very hand-strung.
Was it always in the cards for you to come back to the franchise?
BECKINSALE: No, not at all. Initially, it was conceived as a trilogy, and the third one was always going to be a prequel where I wasn’t born. I think, like everybody, I had and Len [Wiseman] and most people who are sensible, have a slight allergy to the number four coming after a movie title ‘cause it usually means it’s shit. But lately, there have been some movies that have actually taken it somewhere else. I guess we’re in a very different climate now, that that doesn’t automatically mean that. For us, it was really a question of, if you’re going to take these characters – and there are some people who really love them, but I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – in order to make it justifiable to make a movie, you really have to do something different and take it somewhere else, and not just continue exactly where we left off in the second one. That’s really what clinched it for us. It was so different, and there’s so much new stuff going on.
How was it to work with two directors?
BECKINSALE: It was great! I’ve done two with Len [Wiseman], and I did marry him and everything, so I quite liked him. Contemplating doing it without Len felt kind of funny, and the fact that there’s two and they’re Swedish was so different. You were never going, “Well, but Len did it like this.” No, we were in London or we were in Narnia. They were just not in the same universe, and actually that was great. I do think that it seems like such a weird idea to have two directors, but everybody should have that. It’s such a good idea. We weren’t sure whether they were going to argue with each other and fight each other, but the way that they work is that one of them is on a Monday and the other one is silent and doesn’t speak, and just does other things that are boring, that directors do, like plan the next week or get on the phone, and does all that stuff that stresses directors out when there’s just one of them. If you go up to the one whose day it isn’t and you say, “What do you think?,” he literally is a mute and doesn’t say anything. And then, the next day, it’s his turn. So, what it means is that they’re always thrilled that it’s their turn, so you never get a director who’s tired and jaded and sick of it. You get someone who’s like, “I’m going to do better than that guy did.” It’s a very energizing, positive, nice environment.
At the same time, were they also calm and composed?
BECKINSALE: So much so. And they have very similar taste, so it’s not like you’re suddenly doing it in a completely, radically different style or anything. It was a really good experience. I was wondering how that was going to work, but I thought it was excellent.
Now that you’ve down Underworld 4, do you feel like you’ve concluded the story, or would you like to go on with it?
BECKINSALE: I don’t know how long it’s seemly to rush about in that outfit. I don’t know. They’d have to do it quite quickly, I think. Otherwise, it would be sad. But, no, I don’t know. They always leave these movies on a, “Hmm,” so I think they’ve left it open-ended, but there’s certainly nothing planned, at this point.
What does it feel like to be one of this generation’s icons for action roles and to know that other young actresses want to be the next Selene, much like actresses wanted to be the next Ripley from the Aliens movies?
BECKINSALE: It’s neat. I have to say that it does feel like a real privilege to be one of the very few women who’s got a franchise, in this way, with a very strong, tough, interesting female character. I really am proud of that.

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