Those nice people filming The Island (no official site…yet) have released their first publicity still.
Here’s a look at Ewan McGregor with co-star Scarlett Johansson courtesy of ComingSoon.net.
General Solo? Are your troops ready?
Oh. My bad. Not General Solo. It would appear Harrison Ford’s newest role is that of General Jim Mattis in the upcoming movie The Battle for Fallujah.
Guess he’s getting tired of waiting for Indiana Jones IV to materialize.
Tidbits from those who brought you Star Wars
The production of Guys and Dolls featuring Ewan McGregor has found a home. I see Wantons booking their flights and hotel rooms, now…
Ewan’s trip around the world in Long Way Round has inspired others in the UK to take “gap years.”
Liam Neeson studied hard for his role in Kinsey.
Natalie Portman, fellow Golden Globe nominee with Liam, makes USA Today’s list of the Top 100 People of 2004.
Samuel L. Jackson won a Video Game Award for Best Performance by a Living Male. (I’m sure his wife is proud.)
And George Lucas wins accolades, again, for THX-1138 and the Star Wars Trilogy, as two of the best DVD’s of 2004.
Liam claims his first award of the season
Congratulations to Liam Neeson for getting his first film award of the pre-Oscars season.
The LA Film Critics Association named Liam Neeson Best Actor for his work in Kinsey.
The nominations to awards ratio is a good indicator of who will get the coveted Oscar nominations. Here’s hoping he continues to have good luck!
UPDATE: Liam Neeson has just been nominated for the Golden Globe’s Best Actor, Drama award!
John Williams Gets Some Sweet Music of His Own
Our sincere congratulations to the man who makes the collective pulses of Star Wars fans everywhere beat a little faster. Every time the opening swells of Star Wars (and Indiana Jones, ET, Harry Potter, and on and on…) start to play, we have John Williams to thank for our rising excitement.
And last night, the United States thanked Mr. Williams with a Kennedy-Center Honor; the highest US honor for contribution to the arts.
You can see the honors for yourself later in the month on CBS.
Congratulations and thank you!
Princess Armadillo
The folks at Fametracker serve up Natalie Portman’s Fame Audit. She gets off pretty easy, but this is not a link for your oversensitive fans. The snark-impaired should stick with FT’s take on Moulin Rouge-era Ewan McGregor and Shaft-era Samuel L. Jackson.
Natalie Portman to play Idaho Jones?
The rumor mill is buzzing that Natalie Portman wants to work with George Lucas again:
Portman, 23 , obviously doesn’t have to break into cold sweat to reflect on her time on the Star Wars films. There’s already talking about the actress working with George Lucas again on another multi-million dollar franchise entry, Indiana Jones. Even before filming had wrapped on The Phantom Menace, Portman let the director know that she’d love a part in the next Indiana Jones movie back, and the word is, he might have found a slot for her in the anticipated sequel. Smells like Indiana Jones has an offspring.
For Star Wars fans, that could be more than a little weird.
Star Wars actors make good
Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor’s ride around the world on Long Way Round inspired him to sponsor a young Mongolian girl until she is 16.
His kindness also inspires some love on the part of Natalie Portman who reports admiring Ewan more after meeting his wife.
Liam Neeson
Score another acting nomination for Liam Neeson. He is one of the nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards for his work in Kinsey; the casual awards show held the day before the Oscars in honor of independent films. The current buzz is that he might be up for an Oscar nod, as well.
Ewan is Quite Valiant
Continuing Ewan McGregor’s foray into the world of animated adventures, the trailer for Valiant has just been released.
In Valiant, Ewan plays the lead role as a currier pigeon who saves the day in World War II with his need for speed.
Probably not much of a stretch for Ewan, considering his latest documentary Long Way Round.
Hayden causes mad crush and other Star Wars news
Apparently, Hayden Christensen has the power to inspire mad crushes on the part of Japanese reporters. Note this rather love-struck article written during his promotion of Shattered Glass.
In other Star Wars news, Yoda talks to Costco. Interesting place to do your first media interview.
You can also have the rather interesting honor of owning a staple autographed by Samuel L. Jackson or Jimmy Smits.
And finally, an interview with Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker done before a Boston convention in which Tony actually seems pleased with Episode 3. (No spoilers, though.)