Depp skips filming due to illness
Hollywood star Johnny Depp missed filming re-shoots for his new movie ‘Mortdecai’ this week after falling sick. The 51-year-old ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star was due at Pinewood Studios in England to shoot more scenes for the action comedy, but the production was cut short when the lead actor cancelled because of ill health, reported Daily Mirror. “The re-shoot is only meant to last seven days, so missing a whole day is a big deal. Johnny must’ve been really under the weather (sic) not to arrive at all. Everyone will have to work extra hard now to get it done,” a source said. A spokesman for Depp said, “He was sick and (the) production was aware that he would not be working. (PTI)
Bono apologises over unwanted downloads of U2 new album
U2 frontman Bono has issued an apology to iTunes users over the release of their recent album Songs of Innocence. Users of the software had a free copy of the new album automatically downloaded to their accounts as part of a marketing stunt in September that tied in with the release of Apple’s new iPhone. U2’s latest album Songs of Innocence was given away free but the marketing stunt backfired, reported Contactmusic. The apology was prompted by a criticism from a Facebook user during a question and answer session. “Oops, I am sorry about that,” said Bono. “I had this beautiful idea and we kind of got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard.” (PTI)
McQueen developing drama series
Steve McQueen is developing a drama for HBO called ‘Codes of Conduct which is set to star newcomer Devon Terrell. McQueen is on board as a director of the drama, which will explore a young African-American man’s entry into New York society—a man who has a shrouded and ambiguous past, reported Entertainment Weekly. Terrell will play that character, Beverly Snow, and the show will address the boundaries of social mobility. McQueen wrote the script with ‘World War Z’ screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan, and will make his television debut directing the pilot. “It was no easy task casting the character of Beverly Snow and, with the help of HBO, we left no stone unturned,” the director says.(PTI)
Kristen not worried about haters
Kristen Stewart is fine with people who hate her as an actress. The actress, who played the lead role in vampire romance ‘Twilight’, says she is fine with people judging her on the basis of her initial movies. It’s fine. I’m really happy doing what I’m doing,” the actress, 24, told the Daily Beast. “I’m sure there are a ton of people out there who would hate (all) my movies just as I’m sure there are people out there who are obsessed with Twilight and say, ‘I watched the series, and she completely let me down, and then I watched every one of her other movies, and I … hate her!’ And that’s cool! Just don’t watch my movies,” she said. Stewart will be next seen in ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’, ‘Still Alice’ and ‘Camp X-Ray’, in which she plays a green guard at Guantanamo Bay. (PTI)
Michael Jackson tops list of top-earning dead celebrities
King of Pop Michael Jackson has been named Forbes magazine’s highest-earning dead celebrity for the second year in a row. Publication researchers claim projects linked directly to the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker pulled in USD 140 million over the last 11 months, in part due to his second posthumous album release, Xscape. His ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley’s father Elvis Presley comes in at two on the list with an estimated USD 55 million in earnings, and Charles Schulz, the man behind the Peanuts cartoons, is third. Elizabeth Taylor, who kept Jackson off the top in 2012, is fourth on the new poll, while reggae legend Bob Marley rounds out the top five. (PTI)