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PowerGrid's Biggest Movers of the Week: Chris Pine, Noah Baumbach's Projects Boost Their Rankings

Rebecca Rosenberg — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:42:06 +0000

Chris Pine is climbing up the TheWrap's PowerGrid this week, thanks to "Star Trek Into Darkness." The actor is now among the Top 200 list, which none of his co-stars can boast.

Indie "Frances Ha" saw its director, writer and producer move up this week. Noah Baumbach, who worked with Greta Gerwig on the project, jumped up just behind "The Hobbit's" Peter Jackson.

Plus, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is on his way back to directing English-language films.

Aviva Drescher Signs on to 'Real Housewives of New York' (Again)

Jethro Nededog — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:41:10 +0000

Aviva Drescher is back on for the sixth season of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City," a Bravo insider told TheWrap.

The housewife, who held the production hostage along with her cast mates for bigger paychecks earlier this month, broke the news on Twitter.

Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell React to Mentor Mike Darnell's Fox Exit

Greg Gilman — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:51:03 +0000

Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell are praising Mike Darnell following the alternative programming chief's announcement of his departure from Fox on Friday.

"Mike Darnell was a pioneer in reality television," Seacrest said in a statement to TheWrap. "He brilliantly paved the way for all of us, creating a powerful entertainment genre that audiences can't get enough of. I've had the privilege of working with him for more than a decade, and I've learned so much from him."

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Cannes Deal Wrap: Weinstein Co., Lionsgate Score Sunny Sales at Rain-Drenched Market

Jeff Sneider — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:06:21 +0000

Despite the miserable weather, film financiers reported a strong market at the Cannes Film Festival, with Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co. making the biggest splashes with their acquisitions of Guillaume Canet's "Blood Ties" and Stephen Frears' "Philomena," respectively.

"Cannes was a strong market and titles were priced at the right levels," said the Gersh Agency's Jay Cohen, who noted that equity funds were very active and distributors seemed to buy what they wanted early on.

Cannes: Sony Pictures Classic Acquires Jim Jarmusch's 'Only Lovers Left Alive'

Greg Gilman — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:18:20 +0000

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North American rights to Jim Jarmusch's "Only Lovers Left Alive," the company announced on Friday.

The vampire romance, which stars Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin and Jeffrey Wright, will world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.

See photos: 15 Must-See Movies at Cannes Film Festival

Mike Darnell Talks Fox Exit, 'American Idol,' Whether 'X Factor' Was a Mistake

Jethro Nededog — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:20:59 +0000

Fox sent a wave through the television ranks when it announced on Friday that Mike Darnell, its alternative programming president, is leaving the network at the end of June.

3 Reasons Lena Dunham Can't Laugh Off 'Girls' Porn Parody

Greg Gilman — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:57:17 +0000

While some creatives may consider a porn parody of their work a confirmation of their success, "Girls" creator Lena Dunham "can't just laugh off" Hustler production "This Ain't Girls XXX."

And Dunham took to Twitter on Thursday night to explain exactly why.

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YouTube's Most Popular Rappers Are White and Nerdy - and Bigger Than Bieber, PSY

Lucas Shaw — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:00:39 +0000

Peter Shukoff and Lloyd Ahlquist, known to their fans as Nice Peter and EpicLLOYD, are more popular on YouTube than Ellen DeGeneres, PSY and Justin Bieber.

Their channel, "Epic Rap Battles of History," has amassed more than 5.4 million subscribers thanks to videos of the two rappers dueling as Adolf Hitler, Darth Vader, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

'The East' Filmmakers Go From Dumpster-Diving to Sundance Darlings

Chris Willman — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:07:01 +0000

"The East" is the rare thriller that hinges on dumpster diving as a plot point.

Thursday night after TheWrap screening of the Fox Searchlight film, director Zal Batmanglij and co-writer and star Brit Marling explained how their experiences living with homeless anarchists provided inspiration for their movie, which centers on a private investigator's undercover infiltration of an eco-terrorist group bent on increasingly vengeful anti-corporate tactics.

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Cannes: Critics All Over the Map on James Gray's 'Immigrant' but Love Marion Cotillard

Steve Pond — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:16:40 +0000

The Cannes Film Festival really loves James Gray. But do viewers at the Cannes Film Festival really love James Gray's new movie, "The Immigrant?"

The answer, judging from the initial reactions coming from the South of France: Yes. And no.

The New York-based filmmaker has only made five movies, none of them commercial hits, but the last four – "The Yards" in 2000, "We Own the Night" in 2007, "Two Lovers" in 2008 and now "The Immigrant" – have all premiered in Cannes.

WME Signs Departing Fox Exec Mike Darnell (Exclusive)

Lucas Shaw — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:37:14 +0000

Fox executive Mike Darnell has signed with WME for the agency to represent him as he transitions from being a network executive to his next business venture.

Fox announced on Friday that Darnell, its longstanding president of alternative programming, would be leaving the company at the end of June.

Also read: Fox's Alternative Programming Chief Mike Darnell Exits Network

'Only God Forgives' Director Responds to Boos of His Ryan Gosling Thriller

Tony Maglio — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:47:35 +0000

DIrector Nicolas Winding Refn defended his hyper-violent movie, "Only God Forgives," after it was booed at the Cannes Film Festival this week saying on Friday, "Art is meant to divide."

The critics, who ripped the film starring Ryan Gosling as "soullless," "suffocating," "pretentious" and "despicable," might not agree with that designation.

Want to See 'Fast & the Furious 6' in IMAX? There's Only 1 Choice

Brent Lang — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:53:49 +0000

Moviegoers hoping to catch "Fast & the Furious 6" in IMAX this weekend are out of luck, unless they happen to live near Times Square in New York.

Only one theater in the United States is showing the cars and criminals sequel in the 70 mm format and that's AMC Empire 25 theater, located in the heart of Manhattan. That's not the only place in North America to see "Fast & the Furious 6" in IMAX. The film will also be shown in two IMAX locations in Canada, according to a company spokesman.

Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara Clash With the Law in 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Trailer (Video)

Greg Gilman — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:47:18 +0000

Casey Affleck is such a gentleman that he takes the blame for outlaw girlfriend, Rooney Mara, after she shoots a cop in the first trailer for "Ain't Them Bodies Saints."

And he's such a devoted father, that he escapes from prison years later to see his young daughter's face for the first time ever. But another lawman, played by Ben Foster, appears to set his eyes on Ms. Mara and then things get complicated -- and deadly.

Fox's Mike Darnell, Alternative Programming Chief, Exiting Network

Jethro Nededog — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:31:58 +0000

Fox's president of alternative entertainment, Mike Darnell, has announced his departure.

The executive will be exiting the network at the end of June, Fox announced on Friday.

Hulu Bid Pileup: Yahoo, KKR, Silver Lake Latest to Join the Fray

Lucas Shaw & Tony Maglio — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:25:28 +0000

Yahoo and private equity firms KKR and Silver Lake Management have all made bids to acquire Hulu, an individual with knowledge of the company told TheWrap. That brings the total number of bids to seven.

Hulu owners Disney, News Corp. and Comcast will spend the next few weeks evaluating the different suitors, the individual said.

All of the bids are for the whole company except for Time Warner Cable's bid for an equity investment.

Carrie Underwood Donates $1 Million to Oklahoma Tornado Disaster Relief

Jethro Nededog — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:12:45 +0000

Carrie Underwood is making sure she sends support to her native Oklahoma in the wake of this week's devastating tornado.

The hit country star and "American Idol" winner donated $1 million from the proceeds of her "Blown Away Tour" the American Red Cross's disaster relief fund.

10 of 'Arrested Development's' Best Inside Jokes (Videos)

Tony Maglio — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:01:03 +0000

"Arrested Development" is finally back. At 12:01 a.m. PT Sunday, Netflix will stream all 15 new episodes of the revived show's Season 4 at once.

In the spirit of one a program that's had some of the heaviest and most successful "inside jokes" in the history of television, we proudly present you with the 10 best.

1. "Hey, Brother!"

Buster (Tony Hale) pretty much had one greeting for every member of his family -- especially the male siblings. Here's a bunch in one hysterically repetitive montage.

'Great Gatsby' Becomes 1st Baz Luhrmann Film to Cross $100M Domestically

Brent Lang — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:59:28 +0000

Baz Luhrmann's boisterous and opulent "The Great Gatsby" has overcome some withering reviews to emerge as an unlikely box office hit.

Warner Bros. announced Friday that the Roaring '20s love story has crossed the $100 million mark domestically after 14 days of release. "The Great Gatsby" is the first of the Aussie director's films to reach that milestone stateside. Luhrmann's previous highest grossing domestic release, "Moulin Rouge!," netted $57.4 million when it debuted in 2001.

NBC to Air Blake Shelton's Tornado Relief Concert Next Week

Tim Molloy — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:28:56 +0000

NBC will air Blake Shelton's benefit concert for Oklahoma tornado relief next week, the network announced.