HOLLYWOOD

Bryan Cranston

HOLLYWOOD — “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston has been unstoppable since his mega-hit series ended. He’s currently onscreen in “Godzilla” and on Broadway playing Lyndon Baines Johnson in “All the Way,” for which he’s already won a Theatre World Award and may receive a Tony Award on its June 8 telecast. His next film is “Get a Job” with Miles Teller, Anna Kendrick, Marcia Gay Harden and Bruce Davison later this year, and as Po’s father in “Kung Fu Panda” next year.

Cranston also is set to play blacklisted screen writer Dalton Trumbo, who was dragged in front of The House Committee for Un-American Activities, in “Trumbo” opposite Helen Mirren, who has been cast as famed Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper. Trumbo was eventually cleared of all charges. In 1993, he finally received an Oscar for writing “Roman Holiday,” which was presented to Ian McLellan Hunter (who fronted for him) in 1953, and an Oscar for “The Brave One” in 1956, which he wrote under the pen name of Robert Rich.
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The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas took a cheap shot at Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Ben Affleck because “he was counting cards” (which is not illegal), while playing blackjack and winning big. The Hard Rock Hotel should be boycotted because when you’re losing they love you, and when you’re winning they ban you from ever playing blackjack there again.

Affleck has bigger fish to fry. He’s completed the new “Batman,” which will be released May 6, 2016, against “Captain America 3,” and he’s just announced his first directing project since winning the Oscar for “Argo.” Ben will direct and star in “Live by Night,” which he adapted from Dennis Lehane’s novel about the son of a police chief who descends onto a life of crime.
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Emma Stone is bouncing from “Spider Man” to Woody Allen. She’ll star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in an untitled film that Woody is producing, writing and directing. Five actresses and one actor have won their Oscars for Woody Allen films. Can you guess them? Diane Keaton (“Annie Hall”); Dianne Weist (“Hannah and Her Sisters”) and (“Bullets Over Broadway”); Miro Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite”); Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Christina Barcelona”); Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”); and Michael Caine (“Hannah and Her Sisters”). Oh yes, Woody won five for himself out of 24 nominations.
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“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Terry Crews is taking over the hosting chores of the syndicated “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” from Cedric the Entertainer. The former NFL star and Old Spice pitchman will have to be quick on his feet to top Cedric. Insiders say he’ll “crews” through the job and become a millionaire quicker than the contestants.