By Jill Jackson
HOLLYWOOD … As if Angelina Jolie doesn’t have enough on her plate as the leading female star in action films today (her latest, “Salt,” has grossed upward of $250 million) and as the wife of Brad Pitt and the mother of all those kids, she now plans to step behind the camera and direct a film about the Bosnian War, which she has no doubt researched during all her visits to that region as a goodwill ambassador for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — now that’s a mouthful! But first she will star opposite Johnny Depp in “The Tourist” in December.
Look for Jeremy Renner, last year’s Oscar nominee as best actor for “The Hurt Locker,” to get the big Hollywood star build-up. He will give Tom Cruise a run for his money in the next installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, scheduled for release just before Christmas this year. Then Renner jumps right into “The Avengers,” set for a 2012 release.
And speaking of Tom Cruise, don’t expect his wife, Katie Holmes, to be sitting around waiting for him to come home from shooting. She’s set to star opposite Adam Sandler and Al Pacino (now that’s an interesting trio of casting) in “Jack & Jill.” But here’s the twist, folks: Adam Sandler plays twins … yes, Jack & Jill. We can’t wait for this one!
Get ready for a great new children’s book that tells the classic story of “The Wizard of Oz” in song. Illustrated beautifully by Warden Neil and sung by Tamara Walker, “It’s All About Dorothy” somehow manages to tell the entire story in only 36 lines. To sample a little of the book and song, go to www.itsallaboutdorothy.com.
Not everyone has gone Hollywood. Shia LaBeouf, star of the “Transformers” movies and now on the big screen in the “Wall Street” sequel with Michael Douglas, did not forget his humble beginnings. There were leaner days when he slept on the couch in his agent’s office for want of his own place. Then good parts in big movies came, and he left his agent for a bigger agency — with her blessing. He remembered his agent’s kindness with a small percentage of his earnings from that day forward. You might say he wasn’t “Shi-a” gratitude!
And hasn’t Michael Douglas had enough misfortune? His son in jail, his ex suing over the sequel money for “Wall Street” — which she thinks she got in the divorce — and now that little bout with the big C he’s fighting right now. Just when things couldn’t be better with his beautiful and talented wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and his kids. He’s in our prayers.
In case you only know the name and face of Paul Newman from salad dressing and popcorn boxes at the market, you’ll have a chance to see him as a movie star when Sony releases the 1981 drama “Absence of Malice.” The film co-stars ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters” multiple Emmy winner Sally Field, who was a TV star in “Gidget” and “The Flying Nun” before she was a two-time Oscar winning movie star for “Norma Rae” and “Places In the Heart,” then became a TV star again. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray. By the way, all the money from every Paul Newman product goes directly to charity!
© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.