The Latest in Latino Entertainment News

Antonio Banderas reveals new details from ‘Puss in Boots’

After actor Antonio Banderas revealed that “Puss in Boots” would indeed be an origin story for the character first introduced through “Shrek 2”, screenwriter David H. Steinberg confirmed that Puss will be the only original character kept for the spin-off. “No, all new characters – except Puss,” the scribe told Moviehole, dishing out possibility of Shrek, Fiona or Donkey making an appearance.

As for the reason behind the elimination of those popular characters, Steinberg pointed out on the fact that he is in the blank on the “Shrek Forever After” and “Shrek 5” scripts. “It doesn’t overlap with Shrek at all,” he explained. “Partly that was done to tell an original Puss story, but partly because we didn’t know what Shrek 4 (and now Shrek 5) were going to do with the characters and we couldn’t write conflicting storylines.”

Earlier, Puss’ voice actor, Banderas, has opened up to Coming Soon on what this spin-off will be dealing with. “…we’re going to go from the time he’s a very little cat, so you see actually why and how he becomes an adult killer, and the reasons why he ends up on that path,” he said. “It’s interesting because it goes away from that kind of use of popular culture that ‘Shrek’ has. It goes in a different way, and the movie sometimes gets almost emotional, I may say, and it’s kind of epic.”

“I found when they pitched the movie to me, and now reading the script, a total real connection with the character. Obviously, he’s a cartoon, but (I have) a real personal connection with him in terms of what he’s expressing. It’s very emotional at some points, it’s very special. It’s going to surprise people I think; they’re not going to expect what we’re going to do.”

Scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on March 20, 2012, “Puss in Boots” will be directed by “Shrek the Third” helmer Chris Smith. Its official synopsis is read, “Swords will cross and hearts will be broken in this adventure starring one of the most beloved characters of the Shrek universe – Puss In Boots. It’s a swashbuckling ride through Puss’s early years as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.”

David Carradine Dies at 72

David Carradine, the star of the 1970s television series “Kung Fu” and the title villain of the “Kill Bill” movies, has died in Thailand, The Associated Press reported. The United States Embassy in Bangkok told The A.P. that Mr. Carradine had been found dead in his hotel suite in Bangkok, where he was working on a movie. He was 72.

Mr. Carradine was part of an acting family that included his father, John; his brother, Bruce, and half-brothers Keith and Robert; and his nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

After a short run as the title character in the 1966 television adaptation of the Western “Shane,” he found fame in the 1972 series “Kung Fu” as Kwai Chang Caine, a wanderer raised by Shaolin monks to be a martial arts master. He enjoyed a career resurgence in recent years when he was cast by Quentin Tarantino in the action movies “Kill Bill: Vol. 1″ and “Vol. 2.”

Javier Bardem will play the villain in ‘Wall Street 2’

Rumor has it, Javier Bardem will be taking on the villain role of “Wall Street 2“. According to Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily, this 40-year-old actor has been lined up to play a stock-shorting worldwide hedge fund manager whom Shia LaBeouf‘s character suspects to be responsible for the death of his mentor.

If Bardem is indeed cast to play the antagonist, he will be sharing screen with Michael Douglas, who will reprise his Academy Award-winning role as Gordon Gekko, and LaBeouf, who Finke confirmed to have set to co-star in the movie despite earlier report claiming that the young actor was in negotiation. So far, there are no words from Bardem’s camp regarding the casting speculation.

More about the sequel itself, Finke reported that the movie is expected to start its principal photography on August 10 with the release plan for February 2010. It allegedly will begin 21 years after the end of the first movie and Gordon Gekko has finished serving his prison sentence. This time, the story revolves around LaBeouf’s character who is engaged to Gekko’s estranged daughter.

When LaBeouf’s mentor unexpectedly kills himself, LaBeouf suspects that Bardem’s character has something to do with it. Seeking for revenge, he then asks Gekko, who tries to mend his relationship with his daughter, for help.

Javier Bardem is an Academy Award recipient for his portrayal of hitman Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men“. This Spanish actor has starred in several English-language feature films, including “Collateral“, “Love in the Time of Cholera” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona“.

Jack Nicholson is reteaming with James Brooks

Jack Nicholson is closing in on a deal to reteam with James L. Brooks on the helmer’s untitled romantic comedy at Columbia Pictures.

Nicholson is the last piece of casting to come together on the ensemble project, which stars Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson.

For months, Bill Murray had been in talks to portray the blueblood father of Rudd’s character, but no deal closed. In recent weeks Murray’s interest in the project waned and he fell out of touch.

With Murray unresponsive and production scheduled to start in less than two weeks, Brooks reached out to Nicholson.

Brooks, who also penned the screenplay, is producing alongside Paula Weinstein (“Blood Diamond”), Laurence Mark (“Dreamgirls”) and Gracie Films prexy Julie Ansell.

Story involves a love triangle, with Rudd playing a white-collar executive vying for Witherspoon’s affections, and Wilson portraying a professional baseball pitcher who is also a love interest.

Two of Nicholson’s three Oscars have come via Brooks films: 1983’s “Terms of Endearment” and 1997’s “As Good as It Gets.”

‘Where’s Waldo?’ to be found on the big screen

Several studios were in on the search, but Universal and Illumination Entertainment were the ones who found “Where’s Waldo?”

U and Chris Meledandri‘s family film unit have acquired screen rights to turn the “Where’s Waldo?” book series into a live-action family pic. Deal was worth high-six against seven figures. Meledandri will produce.

Among other bidders, Warner Bros. chased the property for Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne’s Unique Features banner. The rights were brokered by Classic Media’s Eric Ellenbogen, who’ll be executive producer.

Written and illustrated by Martin Handford, the “Waldo” books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The books contain complex, full-page illustrations of large crowd scenes in which the main character is somewhere hidden, dressed in a red-and-white shirt, a hat, glasses and a walking stick.

U and Illumination will seek to create a movie with strong global appeal.

Series launched in 1987 in the U.K., spawning a TV skein, comicstrip and videogames.

Handford’s business partner Mike Gornall will also be involved in the film in some capacity.

Deal comes as Illumination readies its first picture, “Despicable Me,” for a July 9, 2010, release via Universal. Voice cast includes Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Danny McBride, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Julie Andrews.

Next up for Illumination is “Flanimals,” an animated film based on the children’s book series created by Ricky Gervais, who’ll voice the lead character in the film scripted by Matt Selman (“The Simpsons”).

Adam Rodriguez gets ‘Caught’ with 50 Cents

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is starring with Chris Klein, Adam Rodriguez and Richard T. Jones in “Caught in the Crossfire,” a police corruption drama. Newcomer Brian Miller wrote the script and is directing.

Lensing is just getting underway in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Jackson’s Cheetah Vision Films partner Randall Emmett is producing with R.D. Miller, who raised the equity to finance the film through his company Miller and Miller Films. Jackson is executive producer with Chris Lighty and Tim Roth.

The drama concerns two homicide detectives who find themselves caught in the crossfire of a gang-related homicide and a group of dirty cops. Jackson plays a gang-banger who becomes a reluctant informant.

Miller went to film school in Grand Rapids and is making his directing debut on “Crossfire.”

Jackson and Emmett launched Cheetah Vision at Sundance. Aside from “Crossfire,” they are producing “Jekyll and Hyde,” the Abel Ferrara-directed retelling of the classic story that will star Jackson and Forest Whitaker. They are also planning another untitled drama they will self-finance as a star vehicle for Jackson, with Benny Boom (“Next Day Air”) directing. Production will begin in October.

"UP" from Pixar is #1 at the box office!

The animated comedy about a widower and young boy who travel in a flying house raked in $68.2 million, according to studio estimates from Nielsen EDI.

And the film delivered on virtually every count, scoring an A-plus from CinemaScore and a recommendation from 98% of the nation’s films critics, according to RottenTomatoes.com.

“Pixar rarely has big stars in its movies,” says Gitesh Pandya of BoxOfficeGuru.com. “Ed Asner (the star voice of Up) is not known for opening big. Pixar relies on their reputation for quality. And they’re 10 for 10.”

Chuck Viane, distribution chief for Disney, which distributes Pixar’s films, says that while families drove Up‘s business, nearly a third of the audience was adults without children.

“I think Pixar has a way of turning stories into ‘gotta see’ movies for adults,” Viane says. “They get an unusually even blend of ages.”

Up marked the third-largest Pixar debut, behind The Incredibles‘ $70.5 million and Finding Nemo‘s $70.3 million.

The studio has created anticipation for its films with patience. Up is only the 10th film in the studio’s 14-year history.

“They take their time,” Viane says. “They’ll tweak a story over and over until they’re satisfied. The highest compliment you can pay to them is they’re in no rush and get the job done right.”

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was second with $25.5 million for a 10-day total of $105.3 million.

Despite stellar reviews, Sam Raimi’s return to schlock horror with Drag Me to Hell managed only third place and $16.8 million. Most analysts projected the horror film, which earned thumbs-up from 94% of reviewers, to collect at least $20 million.

Terminator Salvation ($16.1 million) was fourth, followed by Star Trek ($12.8 million).

Ticket sales dipped 24% from last weekend and 1% from the same weekend last year. Final numbers are out today.

1. “Up”, 68,2 millon

2. “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, 25,5

3. “Drag Me to Hell”, 16,6

4. “Terminator Salvation”, 16,1

5. “Star Trek”, 12,8

6. “Angels & Demons”, 11,2

7. “Dance Flick”, 4,9

8. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, 3,9

9. “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”, 1,9

10. “Obsessed”, 665,000