James Badge Dale Back On Lone Ranger?

Now the budget is sorted...This is not exactly the biggest surprise, since he was linked to the role back before the film got shut down over budget worries, but James Badge Dale is now back in the frame to play Armie Hammer's brother in The Lone Ranger.If he signs on, Dale will be Dan Reid, a former Texas Ranger himself and something of a hero in the old West.Ranger, adapted from the classic TV series, is set to gear up properly next month with Gore Verbinski in the director's saddle, and sees Hammer as the titular hero and Johnny Depp as sidekick Tonto. The current cast includes Luther's Ruth Wilson (playing Dale's wife), Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper, Helena Bonham Carter and Dwight Yoakum.Dale has made a name for himself on the small screen rather than the big one, with meaty roles in series such as The Pacific and Rubicon. But this year is shaping up to be the one that may see him break out in cinemas, between appearing in this month's Shame alongside Michael Fassbender, having a key role in World War Z and completing work on Robert Zemeckis' recently-wrapped return to live action, Flight.

TCA: ABC prexy talks skedding, midseason bows

Above: ABC Entertainment Group prexy Paul Lee within the net's TCA panel on Tuesday in Pasadena.Championing an even more year-round approach to organizing, ABC Entertainment Group prexy Paul Lee mentioned his choice of midseason shows gives ABC the most effective recipe for ongoing success. In addressing scribes within the Television Experts Assn. tour in Pasadena on Tuesday, Lee mentioned holding back numerous skeins for midseason allows the Alphabet "the chance for that finest shows available." "My job isn't to make a week's cost of television, but to produce great television and spend yearly beginning it," he mentioned. The web features a slew of approaching programming set to debut over the following handful of several days, including dramas "The Stream,Inch "Scandal" and "Missing" additionally to laffer "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23." For veteran comedy "Cougar Town," which Lee had removed the fall sked and contains been looking for returning date, the ABC topper mentioned the Courteney Cox starrer will return in March. One reason Lee feels confident about his midseason skeins is the internet has the advantage of while using the Oscar telecast just like a marketing launch pad. Getting a powerful female aud tuning towards the Feb. 26 Academy awards, skeins for instance "Missing" -- where Ashley Judd does anything to discover her boy -- as well as the soapy "GCB" could easily get a bump from femme audiences. "It's simpler to make sure people shows stand out within the crowd," Lee mentioned. Lee reported careful analysis restrain the launch of fantasy skein "Not such a long time ago" until March. 23, well following a crush of mid-September premieres round the Large Four nets. Lee mentioned focusing ABC's marketing assets around the program may have developed a difference. "The postponed launch felt good in those days. It might have its day on the planet as well as the network could throw everything advertising online,In . Lee mentioned. For "The Stream,Inch ABC will screen the arrival skein in theaters across the country -- including college grounds -- to produce enthusiasm. Internet only shot eight episodes, but Lee confirmed the supernatural thriller does showed up in a appropriate conclusion when not restored for just about any second season. Searching to the beginning of the current season, Lee's satisfaction was apparent in speaking about ABC's refurbished two-hour Wednesday block. New laffer "Suburgatory" has hit paydirt inside the 8:30 p.m. timeslot, hammerlocked between strong artists "The CenterInch and "Modern Family." Even though it handles to get rid of lots of its "Family" lead-in, 9:30 entry "Happy Being" has proven signs and signs and symptoms of improvement. "We thought we'd a effective fall," he mentioned. "Everyone knows it's where it starts, however i was very happy to see Wednesday end up being the place to choose our audiences and entrepreneurs. We're pleased with this.Inch On Tuesdays, "Last Guy Standing" with Tim Allen has completed admirably in leading in the evening. Transgender comedy "Push The Button,In . which received an important backlash and opened up up poorly, follows at 8:30 and won't be around for extended. "Cougar Town" usually takes the "Arrange ItInch timeslot when the sitcom returns in March, although Lee wouldn't give any longer specifics of a specific date. He anticipated obtaining a solution inside a few days. "We have less than got the jigsaws in place for where you need to put it,In . he mentioned. For "Cougar Town," professional producer Bill Lawrence remains very vocal with complaints in regards to the show not round the fall schedule but nonetheless not receiving the state return date. Lee mentioned he doesn't begrudge Lawrence for speaking out. "I had been Bill once i will be a sailing showrunner," he referred to. "He's doing an admirable job of getting his audience excited and achieving someone around it." Lee also addressed the network's references for the term "bitch" by 50 percent series game game titles, before skeins "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23" and "GCB" were re-named. The 2nd was referred to as "Good Christian Bitches." "It is a challenge," mentioned Lee round the difficulties to advertise and promote a drama for instance "GCB," which stars Kristin Chenoweth and doesn't say much in regards to the story within the title. "I am hoping it'll pique people interests. We wish to have people visit. It's something that's edgy." Round the daytime front, Lee mentioned he would never know because he would decide on not able to "General Hospital," the ultimate remaining sudser round the internet. A year ago ABC canceled "One Existence to resideInch and "The KidsInch because of lowering ratings and the price of production. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Tim Burton and Robert Downey Junior in talks for live-action Pinocchio

In slightly odd news, The Hollywood Reporter features that Tim Burton is interested in pointing an energetic-action version in the Pinocchio story that's presently being developed at Warner Bros.And charisma-factory Robert Downey Junior is mentioned to be thinking about the film (and also the options of coping with Burton).RDJ would play Gepetto in story that sees him around the mission for reunite along with his wooden offspring.If Warners handles to acquire these two (probably the most bankable names inside their fields) to register, it'd potentially be among their finest characteristics.Bryan Bigger (Pushing Daisies) has written the script for your one, which isn't to become mistaken using the Large Sea food-esque Pinocchio prequel that Shawn Levy is installed on.Guillermo del Toro also provides a 3 dimensional stop-motion adaptation of Carlo Collodi's classic story inside the works.So, with the sounds from this, Pinocchio is planning being the completely new Snow White-colored...

Ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston dies

LONDON (AP) -- Bob Weston, an english guitarist who performed with Fleetwood Mac, has died aged 64. Shop dead Weston's body was discovered in the north London home on Tuesday after neighbors elevated the alarm. Police stated Friday that his dying wasn't receiving treatment as suspicious. An autopsy revealed what causes dying as gastric intestinal hemorrhage, cirrhosis from the liver and throat problems. Weston became a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1972 as alternative for Danny Kirwan, and performed around the band's albums ''Penguin'' and ''Mystery in my experience.'' But throughout a united states tour the following year, Mick Fleetwood discovered Weston was getting an affair together with his wife, Jenny Boyd. Weston was fired. He launched several solo albums and performed with music artists including Lengthy John Baldry, Murray Mind, Sandy Denny and Steve Marriott. He's made it with a brother. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Ruling looms on FCC's authority

Chers f-bomb helped lead to the FCCs new fleeting-expletive regime. Seven years ago, when the FCC was in the midst of a crackdown on fleeting expletives uttered in primetime, and Congress was on the warpath after Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, I asked a network chief what to make of the situation.The end result, he predicted, would be a showdown in the Supreme Court, where the FCC's very ability to regulate indecent content could well be watered down -- or maybe eliminated all together.Well, here we are. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, the networks' challenge to the FCC's current indecency regime. Broadcasters not only want the high court to throw out the FCC's W-era hardline on so-called fleeting expletives and images, sanctions for a stray f-bomb or shot of a woman's behind, but to reconsider the landmark 1978 Pacifica decision that upheld the FCC's authority to regulate indecent content on the airwaves after George Carlin gave his infamous "seven dirty words" monologue on the radio during the daytime.In the eyes of the networks, Pacifica is ripe for re-evaluation given the changes in technology and viewing habits. Back in 1978, the high court's justification for a lower First Amendment threshold for broadcasters was that stations have a "uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of all Americans" because their reach extended into the privacy of the home. Now it is more than likely that cable and satellite, which don't face the same scrutiny, are what viewers watch in their living rooms.The case stems from Fox broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards in 2002 and 2003 in which Cher and Nicole Richie, in separate incidents, uttered expletives during the live telecasts. But the high court also is taking up a sanction against ABC for a 2003 "NYPD Blue" episode, "Nude Awakening," that showed a woman's behind and a small portion of the side of one of her breasts. Officially, the high court is not taking up the most famous of all incidents, the 9/16th of a second shot of Janet Jackson's nipple during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, but their decision will undoubtedly have an impact on the future disposition of that case. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down a $550,000 fine on CBS stations for the exposure.The networks found sympathy in appellate courts that the FCC's rulings were unconstitutionally vague and violated the First and Fifth amendments. Oddly enough, they responded optimistically when the Supreme Court ruled against them in 2009. In the 5-4 decision, the high court ruled that the FCC was within its authority in its rulings, but the justices kicked constitutional questions back to the lower courts. Justice Clarence Thomas voted in the majority but, in a concurrent opinion, wondered whether the indecency policy made sense in a landscape where broadcast television is no longer "uniquely pervasive." Broadcasters not only see the FCC's regime as outdated but believe that the crackdown on fleeting expletives went beyond the intent of the court in the Pacifica decision. The Roberts court has given a wide berth to the First Amendment, as in the decision last year striking down a California law banning the sale of violent videogames to minors. So the question here is of scope: Will they limit their decision to the question of cracking down on fleeting profanity and nudity or address the entire indecency policy itself. The FCC argues that its regime is not only constitutional but reasonable. They noted that Pacifica allowed for a "contextual" approach to indecency -- news broadcasts have more free reign than award shows. As for the policy being vague, the FCC notes in its brief that Fox bleeped out the swear words in later broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards, meaning it had little trouble understanding what was indecent and what was not.Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council, which has led the drive to clean up the airwaves, believes there is a good chance the high court will at least send the "fleeting expletives" policy back to the FCC. If they go further, he fears an FCC stripped of its authority. Obviously, the high court's decision, like so many they are considering this term, has enormous ramifications for Hollywood. If the networks win, expect a backlash. Winter said such a ruling could inspire a new drive to demand that cable channels be provided on an "a la carte" basis to customers. This is an election year, and as much as the economy is on the minds of voters, the "uniquely pervasive presence" in the living room has a way of making it to the stump. Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Diane Keaton Birthday: 16 Reasons Why 'Annie Hall' Features the Best Screen Meet-Cute Ever

Straighten your tie: it's Diane Keaton's 66th birthday! 2011 was, you know a ... like, I mean, really big -- big doesn't even do it justice -- huge year for the actress. Her memoir, 'Then Again' was released, which relies on her mother's journals and details her neat life, lauded career and famous romances. So, when love is too weak a word to describe our affection -- we lurve her, you know, we loave her, we luff her (two Fs) -- we thought it would be nice to celebrate Keaton's big day with the moment when we first fell in love with her: 'Annie Hall.' Woody Allen's 1977 film was Keaton's fourth major screen role. It not only nabbed her the Oscar for Best Actress, but she also stole hearts playing the titular la-di-da-whistling Annie. (And she's been cornering the adorable hat-wearing market ever since.) Below is a clip of Alvy and Annie's first encounter (click here to watch the full scene). Take a look at 16 reasons why it's the most perfect on-screen meeting ever. Seems like old times, indeed. 1. She plays tennis with her collar popped. And it looks good. 2. Banging legs. 3. Woody's tube socks. 4. Yes, she's terrible; but she's so cute! 5. The outfit, obviously. 6. She awkwardly backs away. 7. (Woody looks kind of good, right?) 8. SHE'S SO EARNEST! 9. "Oh, god. What a...what a dumb thing to say...Oh, well. La di-da, la di-de, la la...yeah." 10. And insecure. 11. Woody is surprisingly cool. 12. Annie laughs to herself and calls herself a jerk. (If she weren't so adorable, she'd sort of be crazy.) 13. She makes raspberry with her mouth. 14. "I got this VW out there..." 15. Woody accidentally pokes her between the legs with his tennis racket. And he giggles. 16. "What the hell. I mean, it'd be nice to have some company, you know? I mean, I hate driving alone." (Nice save, Annie!) Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Keri Russell Gives Birth To First Daughter

First Launched: The month of the month of january 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Keri Russell and Shane Dreary attend Dallas Mavericks versus NY Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, New you are able to city, on December 10, 2007Keri Russell has produced her second child a baby girl. On Thursday, a repetition for your former Felicity star confirmed to get into Hollyood the actress gave birth on December 27 with a youthful girl Keri and husband Shane Deary have named Willa Lou. Willa might be the 2nd child for Keri and her husband, Shane. The Two are parents to boy River, who was simply born in 2007. Keri told Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford on Today, in November 2009, how as being a mother made her more attentive to children. You are feeling a parent and you also type of think, Does it change everything? However it doesn't. You will still like everything you like, Keri formerly mentioned. However think the primary one factor can it be allows you to definitely very sensitive too as with tune to kids. If any kid is at peril, youre like, Thats my kid! Keri and her husband married on Valentine's 2007, before just a little quantity of pals. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.