Source: IFMagazine.com

Keanu Reeves will indeed by leading the cast of the upcoming live-action Cowboy Bebop.

Reeves has been tapped for the role of Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter who travels through space in the year 2071. Cowboy Bebop, which follows a group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop.

The anime’s production team at Sunrise Inc. will be closely involved with the film. Sunrise’s Kenji Uchida and Shinichiro Watanabe and series writer Keiko Nobumoto will be associate producers, while series producer Masahiko Minami will be a production consultant.

Erwin Stoff (The Day The Earth Stood Still) will produce, with Joshua Long exec producing.

Source: IndiaInfo.com

Shilpa Shetty is no longer a part of Uru Patel’s Hanuman, a Hollywood project in which she was supposed to play Sita opposite Keanu Reeves who was slated to play Ram. Sources are giving conflicting reports on the status of the project.

A source maintains: “Shilpa apparently asked for Rs2.5 crore for playing Sita which Uru wasn’t to keen on paying. But Shilpa did not budge and so she could not be included.”

Another insider says: “The news that Uru was making Hanuman and Shilpa was a part of it was doing the rounds since mid 2007 but there was no update on the project. When talks about the project started, Shilpa was then the winner of Celebrity Big Brother and riding on a huge wave of popularity in the West. So she was the best choice to play Sita.”

Uru could not be contacted for comment but Shilpa’s publicist confirmed to us that she is no longer a part of the film.

Source: Reuters

Keanu Reeves, an actor known for his offbeat movie choices, added another unlikely box office hit to his collection on Sunday with “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” a chart-topping remake of a 1951 sci-fi movie.

The film, largely ridiculed by critics, sold an estimated $31 million worth of tickets in the United States and Canada since opening on Friday, distributor 20th Century Fox said.

It was also the top pick internationally, raking in $39 million from 90 markets. Fox, a unit of News Corp, said the film was No. 1 in 53 of those markets, with Russia ($5.6 million) and Britain ($4.1 million) leading the way.

The film cost about $80 million to make, said Fox.

The North American tally was in line with expectations. It marks Reeves’ biggest opening since 2003’s “The Matrix Revolutions,” the third film in the blockbuster “Matrix” franchise, kicked off with $48 million on its way to $139 million. Since then, he has starred in a series of art-house pictures (2005’s “Thumbsucker”) and middling studio pictures (2006’s “The Lake House”).

Reeves, 44, plays the alien Klaatu, who comes to save Earth from itself. The film co-stars Jennifer Connelly. Scott Derrickson (”The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) directed.

“It’s an environmental as well as a political statement,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s senior vice president of domestic distribution.

Critics were less impressed. The Wall Street Journal said the movie was “insufferably full of itself,” while the Houston Chronicle described it as “a stunningly misconceived folly.” On the other hand, the Los Angeles Times said the film was “enjoyable.”

After two weeks at No. 1 in North America, the holiday comedy “Four Christmases” slipped to No. 2 with $13.3 million, taking its total to $88 million. The film, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

The only other new entry in the top 10 was also a Christmas tale. The Latin-themed ensemble piece “Nothing Like the Holidays” opened at No. 7 with $3.5 million. Industry analysts had expected an opening in the $5 million-$6 million range. It was released by Overture Films, a unit of Liberty Media Corp.

Rounding out the top five were the vampire romance “Twilight” at No. 3 with $8.0 million (total: $150 million); the canine cartoon “Bolt” at No. 4 with $7.5 million (total: $89 million); and the period drama “Australia” with $4.3 million (total: $38 million).

“Twilight” was released by Summit Entertainment LLC, which is privately held. “Bolt” was released by Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. “Australia” was also released by Fox.

Source: AHN

Keanu Reeves is not doing any more “Speed.” The actor has denied online rumors that he will be reprising his role as Jack Traven in a possible 3rd installment of the film.

Ongoing rumors say that the 44-year-old actor, who passed up the opportunity to reprise his role on “Speed 2,” will be on board on the 3rd film. According to AintItCool.com, a new “Speed” project is on its way, and the studios are hoping to get him back.

However, IGN.com asked Reeves about his reported involvement, and here’s what he had to say:

“I honestly don’t know anything about it. I don’t know if they are going to make another one, and if they are it won’t be with me… honestly!”

Suffice it to say that the actor – who will next be seen in sci-fi thriller “The Day The Earth Stood Still” – will not be in any “Speed” movie in the near future.

While, Reeves looks set on saying no to the rumored project, he is open to the idea of another “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

He said, “Well, you know, never say never…”

He even has an idea of a possible storyline for the comedy, saying, “Maybe we could do it with them both grown up – they haven’t saved the world and they’re just living their lives as middle-aged men. That sounds quite funny.”