Sean Astin Matt writes: I know you guys do updates on LOTR acting vets. Well Sean Astin found something else in New Zealand to love apparently because he is in a rugby movie about a famous American high school team called Forever Strong which will be released this coming fall. There are some YouTube clips online, I would love to see a news story or an interview with him about it. The website for the movie is foreverstrongmovie.com Continue reading “Sean Astin is ‘Forever Strong’”

ianmckellen.jpg Celebrity guests including Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen, rugby great Sean Fitzpatrick and Flight of the Conchords comedian Rhys Darby were among those at a memorial service for Sir Edmund Hillary at Windsor Castle today. New Zealand opera singer Jonathan Lemalu sang the aria Lord God of Abraham, described by Prime Minister Helen Clark as a “very special performance by one of our most talented young singers”. Miss Clark said a karanga by Mereana Hond was “very, very emotional” and “very moving”. Celebrities and friends attend Sir Ed memorial

ianmckellen.jpgFrom Gigwise.com: Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will make a cameo appearance in the new Guillemots video. The English actor, who admits to being a fan of the group, filmed his guest spot earlier this week.

“A young relative of mine, who’s a fan of the Guillemots took me along to a concert of theirs in London and I really took to them, I really liked the music,” Sir Ian told Sky News.

Thanks to board member diedye for the link. Read More

gandalf.jpgThings are looking up for those of us who are hoping to see Sir Ian McKellen return to the role of Gandalf in The Hobbit. Many of you have pointed us to the Q&A Sir Ian posted on his blog today:

“Q: Have you been approached yet by Peter Jackson or anyone else about reprising your wonderful role as Gandalf for the two upcoming “Hobbit” movies. I read that principal photography begins in 2009, and I can’t imagine those movies without you!

A: Encouragingly, Peter and Fran Walsh have told me they couldn’t imagine The Hobbit without their original Gandalf. Their confidence hasn’t yet been confirmed by the director Guillermo del Toro but I am keeping my diary free for 2009!”

Keep that calendar clear, Sir Ian! Read More

Orlando Bloom From NYPOST.com: DISNEY execs are annoyed at a self-styled Persian prince who’s angling to beat out Orlando Bloom, Milo Ventimiglia and Zac Efron to star in “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time,” Jerry Bruckheimer’s movie version of the video game. David K. Zandi is suspected of circulating an official-looking “Worldwide Audience Poll” that shows him as the favorite of 17 million movie fans. “Most people are fascinated that a real Persian with royal lineage could be hired to play this role,” Zandi told a reporter. But a Disney rep said: “There is absolutely no truth [to the rumor that Zandi is being considered]. The speculation is self-created.”

Orlando Bloom From The Hollywood Reporter: LONDON — Orlando Bloom has pulled out of Lone Scherfig’s “An Education” because of scheduling clashes just as the movie began rolling, the producers said Monday. Bloom was replaced by Dominic Cooper (“The History Boys”) in the movie penned by oft-adapted British novelist Nick Hornby. Producers have moved quickly to replace Bloom on the film, which began shooting Monday and will be in front of the cameras until May on location in and around London, Oxford and Paris. Bloom drops out of ‘Education’