HOLLYWOOD — Matt Damon, last seen on the small screen as Liberace’s boy toy in HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra,” will explode onto the big screen in three pictures before the year ends. August 9 will bring the $90 million science-fiction epic “Elysium” with Jody Foster. The film is about a high-tech utopian metropolis located in orbit around the Earth in the year 2154. “Elysium” began shooting in July 2011 in Vancouver and Mexico City, but like “World War Z,” needed some reshooting in October 2012. Damon shaved his head for this one.
We’ll see Matt again starting Dec. 18 in “Monuments Men” with George Clooney, (who’s also producing with Grant Heslov, and directing), Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray, “The Artist” Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin and “Downton Abbey’s” Hugh Bonneville. Some of the World War II military scenes could reach epic proportions with a cast of thousands.
Then on Dec. 20, Damon will hit screens in “The Zero Theorem,” yet another sci/fi film, with Oscar-winners Christoph Waltz and Tilda Swinton. Damon has been itching to find the right project to direct, not to be outdone by his good friend Ben Affleck.
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Bet you didn’t know that Tom Cruise passed on playing Tony Stark in the “Iron Man” franchise? Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage wanted the role, but producers passed, so he starred in “Ghost Rider” instead. Quentin Tarantino was originally set to direct “Iron Man,” whose alter ego, Tony Stark, was based on the very rich and mysterious Howard Hughes, who was played by Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator.” And finally, Robert Downey, Jr. will play Tony Stark/Iron Man in “The Avengers 2 and 3.” But have no fears, since “Iron Man” only cost $200 million and grossed $1.2 billion, there undoubtedly will be an “Iron Man 4.”
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A Super Bowl commercial for Greek yogurt has stirred up a new career for John Stamos, whom we first met when he played Blackie Parrish on “General Hospital” in 1983. After “Full House,” Stamos played drums for The Beach Boys when they toured. He currently is going to produce a film about the popular California group with John Cusack as Brian Wilson and Paul Giamatti as his therapist. Stamos, who turns 50 on Aug. 19, also has been added to the cast of season three of USA’s “Necessary Roughness,” and will portray a playboy in the October release of “My Man Is a Loser.” Who’d ever think that yogurt would not only be good for a body, but also incredible for a career!
© 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.