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

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…)

Production Weekly reports via its twitter feed that Shawn Levy’s Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman will commence filming this coming June in Michigan. This “action-drama” will see Jackman playing a washed-up pugilist who trains robot boxers. It’s being produced by Steven Spielberg and is currently scheduled for release on November 18, 2011. The project was first announced back in September and, with this news, we can now officially confirm that it was not, in fact, a joke…did not see that one coming.

You’ll remember director Shawn Levy from his work on Cheaper by the Dozen, Night at the Museum, and the third-best Frankie Muniz movie ever, Big Fat Liar. This flick will be a departure into more dramatic (though still family-friendly) territory for him…or, at least, that’s the plan. But honestly, seeing words like “drama” and “robot boxing” in the same sentence, along with a title like Real Steel, makes it sound pretty damn funny to me…which, I suppose, would also represent a change of pace for Levy.
Source: Collider.com

I also uploaded some high quality candids of Hugh arriving at and leaving a gym in NYC.

GALLERY LINKS:
• Candids from 2010 – 01-20 – In New York [HQ]

Hugh Jackman, the actor most famous as the testosterone-fuelled Wolverine in X-Men, is to show his softer side in a global advertising campaign for Lipton Ice Tea.

Jackman, who also played the rugged stockman Drover opposite Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, has signed a three-year deal to front a multimillion-pound campaign, the first he has starred in outside his native Australia.

The European marketing director for Lipton Ice Tea, Francois Bazini, said that it was Jackman’s singing and dancing performance as a host at last year’s Academy Awards that convinced the company to sign him up.

“He has a great personality liked by men and women,” said Bazini. “He is very different from many other actors. He is a true entertainer who can dance, sing and act. We will use all of his skills.” (more…)

MovieLine.com is reporting that Matt Damon and Brad Pitt will both be lending their voices to Happy Feet 2, the sequel to the 2006 animated movie. It’s being reported that both actors were recording for their characters this week, although there is no indication as to what characters they will be voicing.

Damon and Pitt will join the likes of Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and Hugo Weaving in the movie. The 2006 hit movie was the story of a tap dancing penguin named Mumble (Elijah Wood).

Happy Feet 2 will be in theatres on November 18, 2011.
Source: Empire Movies

Hard at work on a brand new ad shoot, Hugh Jackman was spotted planting a smooch on the lovely Ana de la Reguera at Grumari beach in Rio de Janeiro on Monday (January 11).

Filming the spot for Lipton Iced Tea, the 41-year-old Aussie actor has been accompanied on the overseas trip by wife Deborra-Lee Furness and their children, Oscar and Ava.

The work duties come not long after Jackman signed a three-year deal with Lipton Ice Tea to become its global brand ambassador.

According to press reports, the global TV campaign will be launching in March 2010 – with the ad featuring Jackman using the catch line “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it”.
Source: Celebrity Gossip

GALLERY LINKS:
• Candids from 2010 – 01-11 – Filming a Lipton Tea Commercial in Rio De Janeiro [HQ]

We can only assume that “Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman will be leaving his claws sheathed when he brings the word “concentrate” to the charming characters on “Sesame Street.”

The actor will pay a visit to Big Bird, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch and the gang Jan. 27 when he helps spread that word on the street.

A slew of other stars are gearing up to hit the imaginary block as well:

Kobe Bryant gives us “miniature” on Jan. 21.

Christina Applegate will shuffle down the street on Jan. 25 with the word “booth,” followed a couple of weeks later by Debi Mazar with a big one: “humongous” Feb. 16. (more…)

After the curtain went down on Tuesday’s performance of “A Steady Rain” on Broadway, Hugh Jackman and wife Deborah-Lee Furness enjoyed “a half date night” as they celebrated the DVD release of ‘Valentino: The Last Emperor,’ said the actor.

Legendary clothing designer Valentino is known for dressing the stars for the red carpet, but this time he was the star of the carpet. He told ET that he has finally “accepted the success” of his career and film. Originally, he humbly admitted, “You never like when they do something about you and you are always a little scared…thinking it is too much.”

He reached this epiphany when the documentary was screened at the Toronto Film Festival. He recalled, “They were a really good audience. They were really, absolutely enchanted about the film.” ‘Valentino: The Last Emperor,’ a full length feature which documents the life and career of the creative genius, is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

As the one-year reign of Hugh Jackman as PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive winds down, it’s time to pass the crown to a new deserving hunk. So who does the Australian screen star, Oscar host and current Broadway leading man want to see take the title next?

“Me! I want to be the first to have it back to back, buddy,” Jackman, 41, told PEOPLE’s reporter on Friday in New York, while attending the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert (set to air on HBO Nov. 29). “That would be fantastic!”

Though he would like to reclaim the title, the Steady Rain star (who costars in the Broadway drama with Daniel Craig, certainly another SMA possibility) says it’s been quite an exciting year as the Sexiest Man Alive, but also one that’s been a little demanding. (more…)