Hugh Jackman has revealed his attempt at Chinese song baffled Rupert Murdoch’s wife.

The Aussie actor is currently in Shanghai to shoot scenes for director Wayne Wang’s Snow Flower And The Secret Fan, in which his character breaks into song in Chinese, and joked his pronunciation was lost on the movie’s producer Wendi Murdoch, who is Chinese-born.

“I sang it and the very first couple of syllables she was like, ‘great,’ and then gradually she said like, ‘what?’” he said.

“But I think I got at least one take,” he laughed.

The movie is based on Lisa See’s novel by the same name, which follows the friendship of two women in 1800s China.
Source: The Press Association

We spoke to Nicolas Winding Refn, writer/director of last year’s Bronson and the upcoming Valhalla Rising, yesterday, and he had some interesting words about the next film he’s planning to make.

“Hopefully next is a movie with Ryan Gosling at a studio in America. It’s called Drive, and it’s about a stuntman by day, a getaway driver by night.” When we followed up, he said that that central character was Ryan Gosling’s part, and that it’s set in LA. So far, so no big shock – but last we heard about Drive, Hugh Jackman was lined up to star in it, and Neil Marshall was looking at directing.

Still, the project, based on James Sallis’ novel, hasn’t moved very far since 2008, so it could be that a new star and director will get it moving again. After the success of the low budget Bronson, and after displaying a flair for violence in the almost dreamlike Valhalla Rising, this could be a good fit.
Source: Empire Online

ET Online reports that DreamWorks Studios is holding an open audition call for a young male actor for a lead role in upcoming film ‘Real Steel,’ starring Hugh Jackman. The role to be filled is Max, a “street-smart, tough, charming kid with a hard, untrusting outer shell which hides a warm enthusiastic spirit…a complicated, strong-willed and resourceful boy.” DreamWorks is looking for a 10-14 year old male actor for the part.

In the action film, Jackman plays an ex-fighter who becomes a promoter when human boxing is outlawed for being too violent. In their place are 2000-pound fighting robots with human qualities. Unable to adequately compete in Robot Boxing, the character instead focuses on a discarded robot that always seems to win. Meanwhile, he also learns that he is the father of a 13-year old son, and they bond as the robot fights its way toward the top (this is Hollywood, of course).

For additional information on the open call, including steps to submit an audition online, visit http://www.realsteelcasting.com/. (more…)

AUSTRALIAN actor Hugh Jackman has confirmed he would come to China this month to lead in a film based on a Chinese-American writer’s novel about love between two women in 19th century China.

The 42-year-old actor will join South Korean starlet Jeon Ji-Hyunand and actress Li Bingbing from Chinese mainland to take the leading roles in the film directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Wayne Wang.

The film, co-produced by Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan has kicked off yesterday in Hengdian, a large film studio in Zhejiang Province. (more…)

Actor Hugh Jackman has taped several public service announcements urging support for earthquake relief in Haiti, the humanitarian agency World Vision said.

The announcements are to air on television stations and social media platforms in the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and other countries where the aid group is fundraising for its Haiti response.

“The earthquake in Haiti left thousands of children homeless and vulnerable,” Jackman said in one of the statements. “World Vision aid workers have been rushing life-saving relief to survivors. Join me in standing with the people of Haiti.” (more…)