Movies

Josh Henderson from "Desperate Housewives" looks so familiar. Where have I seen him before? --Dawn

Well Dawn, aside from his current role on ABC, you may remember Josh on "The Ashlee Simpson Show," as one of her boyfriends. He appeared on the show when it debuted in 2004, but they called it quits soon after. More recently, he had a role in the movie "Step Up," with Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.

Click here to check out Channing and Jenna!

Sly Stallone is still the man, and he proved it yesterday.

He patiently went toe to toe with mobs of fans in Hollywood at last night's premiere of "Rocky Balboa," signing autographs and smiling for photogs. Thirty years since Rocky first stepped into the ring, the Italian Stallion proved he's still a knockout.

Also showing up for the premiere: Three 6 Mafia walked by in a Steel City cap, James Caan, and Jason Hervey of "The Wonder Years." Benjamin McKenzie showed his face, along with handsome "Rocky" co-star Milo Ventimiglia, who scribbled his name for fans.

Also out for the night: former teen idol Frankie Avalon, and the most politically incorrect man we know; Bill Maher, along with a guy anyone would want in their corner -- Paulie (aka Burt Young) himself!

Check it out in today's Star Catcher.

What's Fred Durst been doing? He's been out of the limelight too long! --Melissa

Melissa, our boy's all grown up! Fred Durst has movies on the brain. He's going to be starring in and directing "The Education of Charlie Banks," about a young boy growing up in the 80s who learns to face his fears. We've all got to do it sometime!

We tried to find out if any music was in the making, but reps for Fred couldn't be reached. Stay tuned - we're still on it!

For one of our recent Fred Durst sightings, click on this!

Few movies have inspired moviegoers (and makers) as much as the original "Planet of the Apes." The movie has become a pop culture staple, in less than stellar sequels, a short-lived television series, a cartoon -- even the hilarious "Planet of the Apes Musical" sequence from "The Simpsons"

Thanks to the monkeys on eBay, you can now bid on an orangutan costume used in the classic simian sci-fi flick. While it's not the actual costume worn by Dr. Zaius, no one will be the wiser if you show up at a costume party as the Chief Minister of Science.

When apes take their rightful place as masters of the planet, you can toss on the suit and get by.

50 Cent is following in Madonna's footsteps. No, he's not adopting a Third World rugrat, but he is revealing Madge-a-trocious acting chops.

Fiddy, aka Curtis Jackson, stars in the abominably acted and amateurishly written Iraqi war drama, "Home of the Brave." The rapper's portrayal of a disturbed vet is quite possibly the only thing more painful than being shot nine times. Co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Biel should be shopping for new agents.

At an advance screening on Wednesday, the flick's director, Irwin Winkler ("Life as a House"), revealed that he was hesitant to cast Fiddy for fear the rapper would wind up partying all night. To Winkler's surprise, Fiddy never pulled a Lohan, and showed up on-time every day. In fact, Winkler was so impressed with Cent's acting (really!) that his role was expanded. Now you know where to send your grievances.

To his defense, Fiddy wasn't the only one phoning it in. Christina Ricci gives a performance so stilted, it makes her portrayal of Wednesday Addams seem positively giddy.

Be warned, "Home of the Brave" takes real courage to endure.

The Queen of the Paparazzi was spotted at L.A.'s Beverly Center yesterday, toting a script for a future film role.

Paris is the only "actor" currently signed to "The Hottie and the Nottie," a romantic comedy to begin filming in January for a 2008 release -- whether you're ready or not.

During a recent interview, a humble Beyoncé said she "knew that the character that I played wasn't the star ... I'm already a star. I already have nine Grammys. Everyone knows I can sing."

Beyoncé definitely belts out some beautiful melodies, but when she said, "I wish I could have gained 20 pounds and played Effie," we hear the flip side of her tune. Although most of Beyoncé's comments seemed a little backhanded, she did go on to give props to Hudson by saying, "She did incredible."

This interview, meant to defuse the rumored feud, could rekindle the diva dis.

A source close to Vin Diesel tells TMZ that contrary to Internet reports, the actor was not dropped from the upcoming movie "Hitman" -- in fact, he opted out long ago.

Rumors circulated yesterday that actor Timothy Olyphant had taken Vin's place after he was dumped from the film. While it's true that Olyphant will star in the film (based on a popular videogame), Diesel was off the project long before Olyphant got the part.

TMZ has learned that Vin jetted off to Prague today to star in the big budget, Mathieu Kassovitz directed FOX feature, "Babylon A.D.," based on the best-selling French novel "Babylon Babies." The film is set to be a major 2007 holiday release for the studio.

What's more, Cheadle has hired the Oscar-nominated screenwriting and producing duo, Chris Wilkinson and Steve Rivele ("Nixon"), a pair of lit heavyweights who adapted the life story of boxing's greatest heavyweight, Muhammad Ali, for Michael Mann's "Ali."

Himself a devotee of boxing, Davis would likely have approved. When Miles was making landmark jazz fusion recordings like "Bitches Brew" and "In a Silent Way," he was also contributing extensively to the soundtrack of a 1970 documentary about legendary African-American pugilist, Jack Johnson.

The Davis project has been an idea held dear by Cheadle for the last half dozen years, but until now, a music rights issue threatened to block its progress to the screen. No more.

We know him as Reese, the bullying dimwit older brother on Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle," but it seems Justin Berfield is no dummy. He's now on the fast track to become a Hollywood mogul.

The 21-year-old is stepping behind the camera to produce feature films and television projects through his own production company, J2TV/J2 Pictures. He's got two films slated, "Captain Trips: A Biography of Jerry Garcia," the first authorized biography of the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist, and the Jessica Simpson vehicle, "Blonde Ambition."

Berfield is also developing a challenge-based reality series featuring legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty. Justin also owns ten residential and commercial properties in the Los Angeles area, including Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's former home from MTV's "Newlyweds."

Not bad for 21.

Here's a situation: A reporter from Kazakhstan goes to Ohio and says he's covering the elections and making a documentary for his home country. One of the guys on the crew is named "Bolat." Needless to say, they weren't exactly welcomed with open arms.

In the wake of Sacha Baron Cohen's reign of chaos as bumbling Kazakh reporter Borat, it seems that real crews from the central Asian country are having a hard time being taken seriously. The crew that went to Ohio was contacted by State Department officials and the FBI before they were finally cleared. Even then, people were skeptical.

Now, people in the fashion industry are going on high alert as well. Cohen recently made a $42.5 million deal to bring another of his characters to the big screen -- a gay Austrian fashionista named Bruno. With the worldwide success of the "Borat" flick, some critics feel he might be too recognizable to fool people into humiliating themselves again. We're betting it'll work.

Even though she looks ready to sling beer at Oktoberfest, Simpson is playing a struggling secretary on an unconventional journey through the corporate world.

After "Employee of the Month," we're not sure that Jessica should clear a space on her mantle for anything other than a beer mug.

What's Alicia Keys up to? I heard she was doing a movie. --Pascal

Not just one movie, Pascal -- she's doing two! First up is "Smokin' Aces," with Ben Affleck and Jeremy Piven, in which Keys plays an assassin. If you can hold out, this movie hits theaters January 26. She'll also be seen this spring in "The Nanny Diaries" with Scarlett Johansson and Paul Giamatti.

But that's not all! She's also been making music -- expect Ms. Keys' new album in June.

For more famous faces who've pursued both acting and singing, take a look at this!

Breaking News: Later, turkeys.

That, apparently, is the post-Thanksgiving message Kate Hudson has for many of the men in her life.

A week and a half after hubby and Black Crowes front-man Chris Robinson filed for divorce from Hudson, the "Le Divorce" star is decamping CAA for rival talent agency Endeavor, TMZ has learned.

There, she's to be repped by Endeavor partner and former CAA agent Patrick Whitesell, whose mission will be to get her mind off of the Black Crowe -- and onto more meaty roles, like the one created by Cameron Crowe. His 2000 sleeper hit, "Almost Famous," got Hudson nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, after all.

Insiders say Hudson had, of late, felt that her CAA reps were focusing on big paydays, rather than on securing her the Oscar hardware that so many actresses crave -- including mom Goldie Hawn, who was nominated twice for "Cactus Flower" (a win) and "Private Benjamin" (a loss).

Wagged one agent observing the inter-agency fray: "After 'You, Me & Dupree' the road back [to Oscar nominations] isn't doing an Andy Tennant movie."

The acid-tongued agent was referring to the inauspiciously-named "Fool's Gold," a broad comedy that re-teams Hudson with her "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" co-star Matthew McConaughey, helmed by Tennant, who's directed movie like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Anna and the King."

Ouch.

The move came in response to a loss of its location at Emory University earlier this month.

Per Variety, "more than a third of the film was to be shot" at the venerable Southern institution, but the school backed out of its agreement to allow Fox to film on campus. The trade press reported that "Emory officials ultimately balked at the raunchy nature of the project" but an insider familiar with the film attributed it more to the disruptive nature of having a film crew shooting amidst classes.

In addition, the movie had a large cast of low-cost stars, like the seemingly ubiquitous Kristin Cavallari of "Laguna Beach," but many of those thespians have other commitments that won't allow them to wait around indefinitely. Insiders say the bad news was given to the film's director, "Fanboys" director Kyle Newman, only an hour ago.

It's an unfortunate stumble for Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice's nascent teen label, which somewhat understandably just passed on the opportunity to have its inner workings picked-over in the press last weekend.