Bay casts supermodel Paly in 'Pain and Gain'

Michael Bay returned to the runway to find another female lead, casting Israeli supermodel Bar Paly opposite Mark Wahlberg in Paramount's "Pain and Gain," which has also added "Monk" star Tony Shalhoub to its ensemble cast. Film follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Paramount had no comment on the castings. Paly is in final negotiations to play Sabina Petrescu, an illegal immigrant and former beauty queen who dreams of becoming the next Marilyn Monroe. Bay went back to the modeling pool to cast his Sabina, having previously cast Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the female lead in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Shalhoub has closed a deal to play Marc Schiller, the target of Wahlberg's kidnapping scheme. Anthony Mackie, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris and Rob Corddry will co-star in the pic, which Bay is producing with Donald De Line and Ian Bryce. Paly, who appeared in USA Network's 2008 miniseries "The Starter Wife," will next be seen alongside Charlie Sheen in Roman Coppola's "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III." Shalhoub, who recently voiced a role in "Cars 2," will soon be seen in Relativity Media's omnibus comedy "Movie 43." Paly is repped by Innovative Artists and Principato-Young Entertainment, while Shalhoub is repped by ICM and manager Mary Goldberg. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Paramount Sets December 2012 Release Date For Cirque Du Soleil Pic

A day after Cirque du Soleil’s one-off performance at the Oscars (pictured), Paramount Pictures has announced that it will release its 3D concert pic Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away on December 21, 2012, the Friday before Christmas. Deadline told you last month that the studio acquired worldwide distribution rights to the feature that Shrek and Chronicles Of Narniahelmer Andrew Adamson wrote and directed and James Cameron executive produced. Cameron and his tech partner Vince Pace oversaw the 3D work on the pic, which features performances from Cirque productions. Also today, Paramount said it is shifting the release of its teen comedy Fun Size from October 12, 2012 to October 26. And the title of its road trip comedy My Mother’s Curse– starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen — has been changed to The Guilt Trip. Its release date remains November 2. (Photo: Getty Images)

Might Be The Killing's Joel Kinnaman Your Brand-new RoboCop?

These deals-in-the-making tales also have a little suspicion since nothing in Hollywood is extremely sure nearly prior to the cameras roll, nevertheless the trade scoop the Killing's Joel Kinnaman may be the next RoboCop is just too enticing. Joel Kinnaman who, you may request, and properly so? The Swedish-American actor's experienced numerous stateside film projects occasionally (like the recent Safe House and, briefly, Fincher's Girl while using Dragon Tattoo) nevertheless the closer I have a look at his work, the higher enticing this casting move becomes. With different Tweet by Variety's Rob Sneider (also confirmed by Deadline as well as the Hollywood Reporter), Kinnaman remains offered charge in Jose Padilha's reboot of Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi pic. "Dealmaking is predicted to begin imminently," produces THR's Boris Package, whatever that really means. Regardless, it's the first solid movement around the RoboCop lead since people Michael Fassbender fantasy gossips were waved away with the secretive Padilha. Kinnaman's no apparent choice to headline a hollywood franchise reboot, but he's been dancing round the cusp of breakout status for just about any few years. The 32-year-old Kinnaman got his come from Swedish film, most particularly while using lead in Daniel Espinosa's crime adaptation Quick Money (Also called Snabba Cash), based on Jens Lapidus's novel the film continues to be released inside the U.S. about this summer time 27 and you'll be remade in British with Zac Efron, while a Kinnaman-starring follow-up, Snabba Cash II, is positioned for release in Sweden this season. In line with the Swedish website Ostran.se, Kinnaman was once up for your leads in Thor and Mad Max 4 (the roles visited Chris Hemsworth and Tom Sturdy, correspondingly), so Hollywood filmmakers are actually searching at him to carry a substantial studio release. But while he's clearly pretty easy about the eyes, it's his screen presence -- whether speaking British and Swedish -- that's impressed me most likely probably the most. Take a look at Kinnaman below and weigh in: Will there be provocke be excited if this describes indeed your brand-new RoboCop? Snabba Cash trailer: In the scene from Swedish franchise entry Johan Falk: National Target (opposite Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol's Samuli Edelmann): Behind the curtain on AMC's The Killing (via Slashfilm): Inside the trailer for Snabba Cash II (via Playlist):

T-Mobile Asks FCC To Block Verizon Spectrum Deal

What a difference a few months makes. T-Mobile, which late last year asked the federal government to approve its merger with AT&T (the feds didn’t), is now asking the FCC to block approval of Verizon’s $3.9 billion acquisition of wireless spectrum. The sale, announced in December, would provide Verizon with 122 licensesfor wireless airwaves that reach about 259 million people and is designed to bolster what has become a shortage of spectrum owing to the proliferation of mobile services. But T-Mobile arguesin a filing today that the deal would allow its rival “to accumulate even more spectrum on top of an already dominant position, while checkmating crucial avenues for growth of its smaller competitors.” The FCC is reviewing the sale, which involved Comcast, Time Warner Cable and BrightHouse Networks selling the mostly unused licenses in a deal that will net them a 60% profitfrom the investments they made beginning in 2006. Verizon argues that putting that spectrum to use is good for consumers increasingly craving mobile services.

Actor Dick Anthony Williams dies

Actor Dick Anthony Williams, who drew Tony nominations for "Black Picture Show" and "What the Wine-Sellers Buy" in the 1970s and was noted for his portrayals of Malcolm X both onstage and on television, died Thursday, Feb. 16, in Van Nuys, Calif. He was 77. Over the course of four years beginning in 1972, Williams starred on Broadway in five shows, including "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death," "We Interrupt This Program" and "The Poison Tree." He was a co-founder of the New Federal Theater in NY. Later he played Malcolm X onstage in a number of productions of Jeff Stetson's play "The Meeting" -- after having played the African-American leader in the 1978 NBC miniseries "King," about Martin Luther King Jr. (He also reprised the role when "The Meeting" was presented on PBS in 1989.) His theater work also included directing and starring in "Big Time Buck White" in a production staged in Watts before the show's move to NY. In the 1970s Williams appeared in supporting roles in films such as "Slaughter's Big Rip-Off" and "Five on the Black Hand Side"; film credits also included "Dog Day Afternoon," "The Jerk," "The Star Chamber," "Gardens of Stone," "Mo' Better Blues," "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Rapture," and he continued to do bigscreen work into the 2000s. On the smallscreen he was a steady presence from his 1968 debut on "Dragnet" until his 2002 appearance on two episodes of "The Shield" as the Rev. Neal Cook. In between he recurred on ABC's "Our Family Honor" in 1985-86; was a regular on the network's series "Heart of the City" in 1986 and "Homefront" in 1991; and guested on shows including "Nanny and the Professor," "Ironside," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Rockford Files," "The Jeffersons," "Lou Grant," "L.A. Law," "Roc," "The X-Files," "Law and Order," "Chicago Hope" and "NYPD Blue." He was among the stars of the made-for-PBS play "Freeman," directed by Lloyd Richards and appeared in Harriet Tubman telepic "A Woman Called Moses." Born in Chicago, Williams took up acting in college. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Keanu Reeves to provide masterclass in Hong Kong

BEIJING -- Coordinators are preparing for any record quantity of participants at Filmart, the Hong Kong Film and tv Market, while Keanu Reeves can give an expert class on film in the Hong Kong Film Festival, which runs simultaneously.The big event will probably attract considerable interest after landmass China, that is strongly related to the biz in Hong Kong, decided to considerably increase market access for U.S. movies to solve a superb trade dispute, compelling about a boom in Hollywood-China relations.Filmart runs March 19 through 22 in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, and can feature some 640 participants from nearly 30 nations.The U.S.' Independent Film and television Alliance will show a number of American shingles within the U.S. pavilion.The very first time you will see pavilions for participants from Poultry and Mexico, along with other pavilions includes Unifrance and IIe p France, Film Export United kingdom, Kofic and Kocca from Korea, and Unijapan, Okinawa Film Office, Hokkaido Contents Distribution and Jetro from Japan.Filmart will even host pavilions, including Germany, Indonesia, Italia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam."Filmart is Asia's premier film industry event and among the world's top three film marketplaces when it comes to exhibitor amounts. Along with other occasions underneath the expo, we anticipate featuring the greatest annual entertainment event around the world,Inch stated Hong Kong Trade Development Council assistant executive director Raymond Yip.You'll also have workshops on conferences searching at New Media an internet-based distribution, screenwriting for that global market, yet others.Keanu Reeves is going to be guest of recognition in the Jockey Club Cine Academy Master Class on March 18. The actual class will show "Alongside,Inch a documentary created by and including Reeves meeting with filmmakers for example George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron, which explores the introduction of digital cinema technology."A talent of his worldwide stature in the Master Class is indeed a encouragement to the youthful individuals to develop their curiosity about film and film culture," stated Roger Garcia, an professional in the festival.The big event is going to be moderated by filmmaker and art connoisseur Yonfan, who's involved with digital restoration of their own films.The occasions all belong to the umbrella from the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, that will feature nine multimedia occasions, covering film, television, digital entertainment and music.Also incorporated would be the sixth Asian Film Honours, along with the Hong Kong -- Asia Film Financing Forum, the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival, the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, Ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia) and also the Digital Visual Effects Summit. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter' Teaser Trailer Loves Axes, Hates Trees

Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently driving stakes through vampire hearts and plowing axes through overflowing trees. If there is something relevant for this proven fact that doesn't suit your needs, you have to probably close this short article now. For your relaxation people blood stream-thirsty movie fans, you with thankful to consider the very first "Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter" teaser trailer the next, at this time around! Benjamin Master plays Honest Abe, getting a really notable twist: in this particular modified history, Lincoln subsequently subsequently spent just as much time slaying vamps while he did signing documents and addressing individuals from the united states . States. See the incredibly fun "Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently" trailer inside the video below.

'Space: 1999' to time-travel a hundred years

"Space: 1999," an legendary seventies British series that was syndicated inside the U.S., continues to be redeveloped by ITV Art galleries America and HDFilms as "Space: 2099." HDFilms prexy Jace Hall is professional creating the project. Hall recently professional produced ABC's "V," another reincarnation from the science-fiction series in the previous decade. "This is often a rare and exciting creative opportunity for anybody associated with storytelling then one that i am honored to obtain,In . Hall mentioned. "Sci-fi can be a effective format in a position to imagining an individuals overuse injury in thought-invoking ways. "When we are indeed re-imagining the franchise and becoming something totally new and strongly related current day audiences, I'm strongly that the couple of from the overall tones set with the original "Space: 1999" tv series represent a fantastic platform to educate yourself regarding options." ITV was the first broadcaster inside the U.K. of "Space: 1999" (which starred American thesps Martin Landau and Barbara Bain), compelling ITV Art galleries Amerca prexy/Boss Paul Buccieri to comment that "after greater than 35 years, we are thrilled being developing a new vision within our much beloved franchise for audiences worldwide." Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

ABC gives series pickup to 'Mistresses'

SteinbergABC is already getting a jump on summer 2013 programming plans, giving a series order to an ABC Studios sudser from scribe K.J. Steinberg."Mistresses" revolves around four woman with scandalous love lives who find themselves at the mercy of the relationships they've created. Steinberg penned the pilot and will exec produce with Bob Sertner.Steinberg is already busy at ABC and ABC Studios working on the drama pilot "Gilded Lillys" with Shonda Rhimes. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com