HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD — Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have worked together only once, in “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in 2005. Both said that they wanted to give up acting: Angelina, presumably, for directing, and Brad for producing. Angelina wanted to direct the film “Africa,” but there are legal problems between Jon Peters and his former wife, Christine Forsyth Peters, over who owns the rights to it. So Angelina instead will direct “By the Sea,” which she wrote, to be produce by Brad Pitt. Oh yes, they’ve also hired each other to star in the film. The dynamic-duo already is filming at Mgarr ix-Xini bay on the rocky island of Gozo, off Malta in the Mediterranean. Let’s see the paparazzi follow them there.

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Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn have taken over for Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in the new season of HBO’s “True Detective.” The story revolves around three cops and a career criminal who navigate a web of conspiracy after a murder.
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When Dan Stevens left the role of Matthew Crawley on “Downton Abbey” after 25 episodes between 2010 and 2012 to break into films, no one had any idea how well he’d do. Currently, he can be seen in theaters in “Walk Among the Tombstones” with Liam Neeson, and his own starring vehicle, “The Guest.” He’ll next be seen as Sir Lancelot in “Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb” (out Dec. 19) with Ben Stiller, Ben Kingsley, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke and the final performances of Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney.

Stevens also stars in “The Cobbler” with Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman and Steve Buscemi, awaiting a release date, while “Criminal Activities” with John Travolta is slated to open June 1. Stevens currently is filming “The Ticket” on the streets of New York. His gamble to leave “Downton Abbey” to star on Broadway, with Jessica Chastain in “The Heiress,” has really paid off. We’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future.

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“The Lion King” went from an animated film to the Broadway stage so successfully that after 17 years, it has earned $6.2 billion worldwide and has taken in more money than any other film in the history of movies. Even “Avatar,” the No. 1 grossing film of all time, earned only $2.8 billion. Ah, but then there’s “Avatar 2, 3 and 4” coming, along with the prequel!

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Barbra Streisand said in a recent interview that she would only star in the classic film “Gypsy” next year. She said, “I began my film career in ‘Funny Girl’ and it only seems fitting to end it with ‘Gypsy.’” Her love interest, Herbie, could be played by her husband, James Brolin. If there has to be nepotism … keep it in the family!