The Latest in Latino Entertainment News

Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day Lewis – First image from ‘Nine’

Set in Italy, but currently being shot in the UK, the star-studded film tells the story of a middle-aged film director distracted by the many women in his life.

The director Guido Contini, played by Lewis, is experiencing something of a mid-life crisis as he struggles to finish his latest film in 1960s Venice.

Cruz plays his mistress Carla, who is vying for Contini’s attention with his wife Louisa, played by La Vie En Rose star, Marion Cotillard, and his muse Claudia, played by Nicole Kidman.

Nine was originally a hit on Broadway in 1982 and ran for 729 performances, making a star out of the Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia.

The film version is being directed Rob Marshall, who directed the acclaimed screen version of the musical Chicago.

Nine’s impressive cast also includes Judi Dench, Kate Hudson and the Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie, who is said to be putting on weight for her role as prostitute Saraghina.

Cruz and Lewis were photographed on set in the Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough, but the Spanish actress appeared to suffer from the cold, shivering as Lewis wrapped his overcoat around her.

Filming is expected to finish in January.

‘The Soloist’ has another release date

DreamWorks and Paramount have agreed to release fact-based Jamie Foxx–Robert Downey Jr. drama “The Soloist” on April 24 instead of March 13.

DreamWorks was caught off guard last month when Par pushed back the release of “The Soloist” from this year to March 13 at the 11th hour.

The Joe Wright-directed pic was originally to have opened Nov. 21.

In the April 24 slot, “Soloist” will open one week before the official start of the summer box office, which is primetime for moviegoing.

Based on a series of articles by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, film tells the story of a homeless schizophrenic musician’s dream to play at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

After moving “The Soloist,” Par relocated Paul Rudd comedy “I Love You, Man” from Jan. 16 to March 20, according to Rentrak. Peter Jackson‘s “The Lovely Bones” is still tentatively skedded to bow on March 13, but the DreamWorks/Par film is ultimately expected to open later in the year.

Bond sets franchise record at the box office!

It’s a Bond market .

“Quantum of Solace,” with Daniel Craig returning as James Bond , easily made for the best opening weekend for the spy franchise, earning more than $67 million at the box office. The series’ first direct sequel opened with nearly $30 million more than its predecessor, 2006’s “Casino Royale.”

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Media By Numbers LLC:

1. “Quantum of Solace,” Sony/MGM, $67,528,882, 3,451 locations, $19,568 average, $67,528,882, one week.

2. ” Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ,” Paramount, $35,017,301, 4,065 locations, $8,614 average, $116,905,195, two weeks.

3. ” Role Models ,” Universal, $11,150,030, 2,798 locations, $3,985 average, $37,577,245, two weeks.

4. ” High School Musical 3: Senior Year ,” Disney, $5,656,162, 3,202 locations, $1,766 average, $84,169,216, four weeks.

5. ” Changeling ,” Universal, $4,254,080, 1,896 locations, $2,244 average, $27,631,772, four weeks.

6. ” Zack and Miri Make a Porno ,” Weinstein Co., $3,146,312, 2,210 locations, $1,424 average, $26,465,482, three weeks.

7. “Soul Men,” MGM, $2,350,141, 2,048 locations, $1,148 average, $9,370,925, two weeks.

8. “The Secret Life of Bees,” Fox Searchlight, $2,338,279, 1,449 locations, $1,614 average, $33,627,359, five weeks.

9. ” Saw V ,” Lionsgate , $1,767,405, 2,002 locations, $883 average, $55,380,488, four weeks.

10. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua ,” Disney, $1,579,080, 1,617 locations, $977 average, $90,878,127, seven weeks.

Guillermo del Toro preps new version of ‘Pinocchio’

A new version of “Pinocchio” is on its way to the big screen, this one to be co-directed by acclaimed children’s book illustrator Gris Grimly and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro.

The adaptation, being made by the Jim Henson Co., will be done as a stop-motion animated feature. Henson co-CEOs Brian Henson and Lisa Henson and senior vp feature films Jason Lust are producing.

The aim is to make a dark, twisted retelling of the famous Carlo Collodi fairy tale about the wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. In the retelling, when Pinocchio comes to life, he turns out not to be that nice of a boy, creating mischief and playing mean tricks. He eventually learns a few lessons. The story and the look of the feature will be based on the 2002 children’s book illustrated by Grimly, who is repped by Gotham Group.

Sitting with Grimly in the director’s chair will be Adam Parrish King, whose “The Wraith of Cobble Hill” won the short filmmaking award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the shorts category.

News of del Toro’s involvement initially broke on the horror Web site Bloody-Disgusting.

The new incarnation of “Pinocchio” looks to have better luck than the previous attempt, which involved Francis Ford Coppola. In 1991, Coppola tried to set up a live-action version at Warners; after an impasse emerged, he tried to set it up at Columbia. The project disintegrated in a costly lawsuit.

De Niro, Pitt to join cast of ‘The Departed 2’?

Mark Wahlberg says a possible sequel to The Departed may feature an appearance by either Robert De Niro or Brad Pitt.

The Boogie Nights star, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance as cop Dignam in Martin Scorsese‘s version of the Hong Kong crime drama, told Digital Spy that big names have been bandied about for a sequel.