MTV News |
- Katy Perry, Pitbull, Britney Spears Battle For Summer Jam Crown
- 'True Blood' Star Ryan Kwanten Promises 'A Whole New Twist'
- Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester Recall 'Monte Carlo' Perks
- 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': Hunting For Easter Eggs
- Beyonce Shrugs Off 'Fear' In 'Year Of <i>4</i>'
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Video 'Crazier' With Kreayshawn Calling Shots
- Pete Rock Says Police Hit His Wife During Post-Party Melee
- Justin Bieber Doing NKOTB? Jim Jonsin Reveals Ideas
- 'Transformers 3' Box Office: How High Can It Go?
- 'Thor' Sequel Set For July 2013
- Britney Spears? Beyonce? Fans Pick Their Best Albums Of 2011 (So Far)
- Selena Gomez, Cory Monteith Cop To 'Monte Carlo' Sing-Offs
- Michael Rapaport Eyes Roots, De La Soul For Next Docs
- 'Transformers': Can Series Go On Without LaBeouf And Bay?
- 'American Idol' Contestants Hope Jennifer Lopez Returns
- Kanye West's Label Goes International With D'Banj
- CyHi The Prynce Is Kanye West's 'Ally'
- Christina Aguilera Will Return To 'The Voice'
- 'Harry Potter' Bank Heist Footage And More Revealed
| Katy Perry, Pitbull, Britney Spears Battle For Summer Jam Crown Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT Here's our look at early contenders for 2011's Song of the Summer.
Well, school's out and summer is officially here, which means it's time to handicap the race for Summer Jam 2011 — the annual sweepstakes of sweaty, sex-drenched (and, this year, sax-heavy) songs that turns our nation's finest beaches and waterfront drinking establishments into an all-out battle for summer-soundtrack superiority. Last year, it was Katy Perry who emerged victorious, thanks to "California Gurls," her slinky ode to daisy dukes and melting popsicles, and she's back to defend her crown this summer with "Last Friday Night." But she'll face considerable competition from a host of big-name stars — Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Adele — each of whom are looking to take home the title. And even if she manages to outgun them, will Perry have enough left in the tank to takedown the suddenly sizzling Pitbull or the unstoppable LMFAO? We'll just have to wait and see.
And with the action just getting under way, here's our up-to-the minute standings in the Song of the Summer Sweepstakes. If there's a song we've missed, you can let us know about it via Twitter, using the hashtag #mtvsos, or in the comments below. So without further ado, let's slather on some sunscreen and get to the jams! 1. Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)": She dominated the summer of 2010 with "California Gurls," and now Perry is out to make it two in a row with the ebullient "T.G.I.F.," the 183rd single from her Teenage Dream album. It currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100, and it seems like it's only a matter of time before it makes the leap to #1. Call it manifest destiny. 2. Pitbull (featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer), "Give Me Everything": Perhaps the only man standing between Perry and her second-straight Song of the Summer crown is the suddenly ubiquitous Pitbull, whose "Give Me Everything" just went to #1 on the Hot 100. It's from his well-received, club-approved Planet Pit album, and its success only validates the fact that the Miami rapper may finally be having his moment. 3. LMFAO (featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock), "Party Rock Anthem": Aptly titled hit from America's leading purveyors of sublimely stoopid odes to inebriation, "Party Rock Anthem" is basically the spiritual sequel to all of LMFAO's earlier jams (like "I'm in Miami, Bitch" and "Get Crazy," the theme from MTV's "Jersey Shore") only, you know, times one thousand. Could this be the jam that finally puts them over the top? 4. Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass": Ms. Minaj's ode to the guys with the booming systems (and she's not necessarily talking about the ones in their cars), it's breezy, sexy and unspeakably catchy — which means it's a mortal lock to be the soundtrack to a million wet T-shirt contests, only, you know, the ones featuring dudes. 5. Maroon 5 (featuring Christina Aguilera), "Moves Like Jagger": Riding high off the success of NBC's "The Voice," this jam from one-half of the judging panel debuted on the Hot 100 at #8 and seems like it could be poised to go all the way to #1. As a bonus, it's basically about guys who dance like Mick Jagger, and, really, what summertime girl doesn't want someone like that? Also, whistling! 6. Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" (featuring Bruno Mars), "Lighters": Unexpectedly bright single from Em and Royce's decidedly dark Hell: The Sequel EP, it may not seem like a logical Summer Jam, but when you hear the hook (courtesy of Bruno Mars, a guy who knows a thing or two about summertime smashes) and consider the tremendous fanbase Mr. Mathers possesses, you know this one's a contender. 7. Britney Spears, "I Wanna Go": On one hand, it's yet another club-ready jam from Ms. Spears. On the other, it's not as good as "Till the World Ends." Still, with her just-launched tour and a near-constant presence on pop radio, you can bet Britney's not going away anytime soon. 8. Enrique Iglesias (featuring Usher and Lil Wayne), "Dirty Dancer": Iglesias' "I Like It" was a sneaky runner-up to "California Gurls" in the Summer Jam 2010 sweepstakes, and "Dirty Dancer" follows a similarly clubby path. Add hard-working guest appearances from Usher and Wayne — both of whom know a thing or 13 about making hits — and "Dancer" could end up shocking the world this summer. 9. Jason Derülo, "Don't Wanna Go Home": It opens with Derülo aping the "Day-O" chant from "The Banana Boat Song," rolls on a sample of "Show Me Love" and is basically about one never-ending party. Yeah, we wouldn't bet against this one either. 10. Adele, "Rolling in the Deep": Unstoppable lead single from Adele's equally unstoppable 21 album, "Deep" has been with us for a minute now, yet there's the very real feeling that more and more people are discovering it every day. She's already conquered the Billboard charts, but now, could Adele conquer the summer too? 11. Lady Gaga, "The Edge of Glory": Not the most conventional choice, but given the fact that, A) It features a wailing sax solo from the late Clarence Clemons (which, when considered alongside the wailing "T.G.I.F." saxophone majesty, seems to suggest we're currently living in "the summer of sax") and B) It's from Lady Gaga. We wouldn't be surprised to see it take the Summer Jam crown. 12. David Guetta (featuring Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida), "Where Them Girls At": French DJ David Guetta continues his bid to take over the entire universe with this walloping, galloping party starter. Throw in cameos by Flo and Nicki, and you've got all the makings of a certified smash. Equally important, it takes the work out of actually inquiring about the location of females, which makes your summer approximately 75 percent easier already. 13. DJ Khaled (featuring Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne), "I'm On One": A sun-drenched ode to excess in just about every conceivable way, it's a song that sounds best when blasting out of a high-end system. It's got the superstar pedigree and the shelf life (check the ever-growing list of remixes), so who's to say Khaled can't also take home the Summer Jam crown? 14. Chris Brown, "She Ain't You": Built around a sample of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," it's a smoove, supple jam, equally suited for those late-night make-out sessions and those hazy, lazy days of tanning. A true multipurpose Summer Jam indeed. 15. Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks": Ultra-catchy tune from the Los Angeles-based rock outfit, it's easy and breezy enough to be considered a dark-horse contender, so long as folks don't pay attention to the lyrics, which are dark indeed (it's about a kid and a gun, in case you hadn't noticed). Then again, when it comes to Summer Jams, no one actually listens to the lyrics, do they? What did we miss? Share your Summer Jam picks in the comments! Related Videos |
| 'True Blood' Star Ryan Kwanten Promises 'A Whole New Twist' Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT After the season-four premiere, Jason Stackhouse 'has to get out of that icebox, first and foremost,' the actor tells MTV News.
For anyone who tuned into the season-four premiere of HBO's southern vampy soap "True Blood" last Sunday, you were treated to a fangtastic, envelope-pushing blend of all the things that have made the show so popular. We're only one episode in, and already it looks like we can expect trouble from fairies, witches and werepanthers this season. (Lost already? Check out our "True Blood" season-four primer.)
One of the characters who has already found himself in trouble with the supernatural shifters is Jason Stackhouse, played by Ryan Kwanten. The last we saw of him, he'd been trying to bring a bit of good will to the poor community of Hotshot and was clubbed over the head and locked into an icebox for the gesture. When MTV News caught up with Kwanten as he promoted his upcoming Indie romantic comedy "Griff the Invisible," we asked what he could tell us about how closely his character's story line this season will follow that of Jason's arc in the fourth Sookie Stackhouse book, written by Charlaine Harris (the series upon which the show is based). "The good thing with the show, even with people who are well-researched, is that you're constantly surprised," Kwanten said. "In season one, Lafayette was supposed to die — and he's still alive, thank God. [Series creator] Alan Ball prides himself on doing a very TV-savvy version of the books," Kwanten explained. "Keeping the fans of the books happy and also making it appealing for an audience." But what about the trouble Jason has already gotten himself into and what we've seen teased in the trailers? "I'm kind of sworn to secrecy. The disclosure agreements I feel are getting bigger and bigger every year, in terms of how much we can and cannot say," he said, before giving us a few hints of what to expect in upcoming episodes. "He has to get out of that icebox, first and foremost. He's got to fight for his life. I think out of everyone this season, he has by far the hardest time staying alive — if he does," Kwanten added with a smile. The Aussie went on to say that we'll be seeing a lot of Jason and Andy scenes, followed by a lot of Jason and Crystal, and then after that, expect the unexpected: "Toward the latter third of the [season], there's a whole new twist that you'll be very, very surprised by." What are you expecting from Jason Stackhouse? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos |
| Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester Recall 'Monte Carlo' Perks Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'We rented out the Eiffel Tower, no big deal,' Gomez jokes.
The cast of "Monte Carlo" really lucked out: Not only does the movie, opening Friday (July 1), star some of the biggest young actors in the business — Selena Gomez, "Gossip Girl" Leighton Meester and Cory Monteith of "Glee" fame — but the crew also got a chance to spend two months overseas shooting in some of the most spectacular places in the world.
The film stars Gomez as a young teenager mistaken for a British heiress while vacationing in Paris. The flick follows Gomez, Meester and Katie Cassidy as they encounter adventures on their European tour. Yet, it seems as if the fun continued well after the cameras stopped rolling. "It was fun both on- and off[screen]," Meester said. "A lot of what was happening offscreen was just an extension of the fun we were having outside." The cast filmed in several locations, including France, Monaco and Hungary, which was a first for Gomez. "It was really cool to experience all those places for the first time," Gomez said. Out of all those places, the girls point to Paris as their favorite destination. "We got up in the Eiffel Tower," Meester recalled. "But it wasn't just go up for a trip, we got there all alone. It was just us at 5 a.m. when the sun was just rising. It was really beautiful." Gomez joked: "We rented out the Eiffel Tower, no big deal." Yet, Gomez and Meester weren't the only ones to take some offscreen adventures: Monteith made sure to take full advantage of his downtime. "I worked probably one out of five days in the shooting schedule," Monteith said. "I have four days a week off, and I was able to roam around Europe, so I saw 10 countries a month. It was incredible." Check out everything we've got on "Monte Carlo." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': Hunting For Easter Eggs Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT Hidden treasures in the threequel include new 'bots and a not-so-new heroine.
As is to be expected with Michael Bay movies, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is jam-packed with a lot more than his patented brand of eye-popping action sequences. The movie is two hours and thirty-seven minutes, after all, so even with all the Autobot vs. Decepticon fighting action, there is plenty of room for an actual plot and, more importantly, a ton of fun Easter eggs for the most perceptive fans out there.
In addition to all the "Star Trek" nods, Bay and company have cleverly inserted five "Transformers"-specific Easter eggs in the film. Thanks to the eagle eye of Splash Page editor Rick Marshall, along with his extensive "Transformers" knowledge, MTV News is proud to provide you with a few key things to look out for while watching "Dark of the Moon." Not-So-New Girl Carly The Ark of the Moon Spock's Speaking-Part Past Bridges in Space Old New Faces Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Beyonce Shrugs Off 'Fear' In 'Year Of <i>4</i>' Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:59 AM PDT 'I've never been afraid to fall,' she says in the special, which debuted Thursday on MTV.
It's a good time to be Beyoncé. The singer just released her latest album, 4, and fans were taken behind the scenes of its completion in the special "Beyoncé: Year of 4," which debuted Thursday (June 30) on MTV. The intimate special opens with black-and-white footage of the singer swimming. "I'm always happy when I'm surrounded by water," she says. "I think I'm a mermaid or I was a mermaid. The ocean makes me feel really small, and it puts my whole life into perspective. ... It humbles you and it grounds you and it makes me feel almost like I've been baptized. Am I the same Beyoncé? Absolutely not."
The special is footage of B's life, complete with montages of the frenzy surrounding her: Video shoots, rehearsals, studio time and photo shoots all pepper her life as she prepares to release her fourth solo studio effort. However, she is quick to point out that, before she got back to work, she needed to decompress in a major way. "After I finished the last tour, I was a bit overwhelmed and overworked, and my mother was the person that preached to me ... 'You really need to live your life and open your eyes and you don't want to wake up with no memories,' " she explained. Beyoncé shows what she did on her off-time, which included playing aunt and wife. "I was able to spend time with my family and pick my nephew up from school, and it gave me time to reflect," she said. In that reflection time, Beyoncé made a major business decision: Her father, Mathew Knowles, would no longer serve as her manager. While explaining the decision, fans are taken back in time thanks to vintage video of the Knowles family. "A real change meant separating from him," she said. "It was scary, but it empowered me, and I wasn't going to let fear stop me." Fans are once again on Beyoncé's whirlwind world tour as she continues work on her album. "I am a workaholic, and I don't believe in 'no,' " she said. "If I'm not sleeping, nobody's sleeping." "My focus is not bigger; it's quality, and I want to make sure it's something I'm proud of years from now," she says later on. "It's very difficult managing myself. Every night when I go to sleep, I ask hundreds of questions. I'm making mistakes, and I'm learning from them. I've never been afraid to fall — and I say all these things, but now I'm being tested." As the special closes, Beyoncé shoots her "Run the World (Girls)" video and continues work on her album, including meetings with record executives. It all ends with B swimming once again, as she says, "I'm learning to drown out the noise. I only have to follow my heart. I run my world." What did you think of Beyoncé behind-the-scenes world? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers Video 'Crazier' With Kreayshawn Calling Shots Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:26 AM PDT MTV News spoke to director (and rapper) on the set of the Chili Peppers' 'The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie' clip.
When MTV News first broke the news that up-and-coming "Gucci Gucci" rapper Kreayshawn had been tapped to direct the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" video, the reaction from most seemed to be "her?" Yes, despite the fact that she went to The Berkeley Digital Film Institute — and has directed clips for the likes of Lil B — most couldn't believe that the Chili Peppers had gone with the Bay Area Based Goddess for the first video from their much-anticipated I'm With You album. But RHCP fans weren't the only ones feeling that way: Turns out Kreayshawn couldn't believe it either.
"My manager hit me up. He was like, 'Oh, Warner is looking for somebody to direct the new Red Hot Chili Peppers video. They want you to do a treatment.' So at that time, I was like, 'Oh sh--! I'm about to do it,' " Kreayshawn told MTV News on the set of the "Rain Dance" video earlier this week. "Later, I found out that [my treatment] was picked out of a whole bunch of them. ... So I was like, 'Oh, that makes it even crazier.' I went to film school and stuff, but, like, I never thought it was going to translate into something this big." Though she was overwhelmed, Kreayshawn said any doubts she had disappeared after speaking with RHCP frontman Anthony Kiedis and discovering that the two shared similar visions for the clip. "I talked to Anthony a couple times, and he was like, 'I want to do a couple changes to the video,' but all the changes he had were, like, stuff we were already doing with the video, like slow-motion and stuff. So I was like, 'We're dialed in,' " she said. "Everyone was completely ready and they came here, they're excited, which makes me even happier. ... There's a good vibe everywhere." Of course, while she was more than willing to speak about the vibe of the video, Kreayshawn didn't want to reveal much about the actual plot — though she did say that, well, certain groups of the Chili Peppers' fanbase will definitely be happy with the end result. "It's got that organic feel, but it still gives the band a great shine and they look f---ing awesome," she laughed. "They are looking off the chain, man. Anthony's in there looking like a swimsuit model." What do you think about Kreay getting behind the lens for the Chili Peppers? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Pete Rock Says Police Hit His Wife During Post-Party Melee Posted: 30 Jun 2011 06:51 AM PDT NYPD commissioner tells MTV News that officers 'used appropriate force' when breaking up the Smif-N-Wessun album-release party Tuesday.
What was supposed to be a week of celebration for hip-hop group Smif-N-Wessun and veteran producer Pete Rock turned violently wrong on Tuesday after cops busted up their Monumental album-release party in New York City. Concertgoers were attacked by cops, and for Rock, the drama hit especially close to home as police struck his wife and stepdaughter, he told MTV News on Thursday (June 30).
"We were coming out and someone was screaming, 'Yo, Pete, your wife, your wife.' So I ran out to make sure they were OK and to make sure the cop would stop hitting them," the Mount Vernon, New York, hitmaker told MTV News. "My stepdaughter said the cop was hitting her leg and she jumped in the way for her mother, which is my wife, to take the hits. And then my cameraman tried to jump in front of her, to take her hits. The cop was going bananas." A press release issued Thursday by the group stated that 30 minutes after "a minor argument" that "eventually was defused by the bouncers," approximately 15 to 20 uniformed police officers from the 7th Precinct in downtown Manhattan arrived at Tammany Hall. "The officers then hurried into the club and began macing and assaulting individuals inside the club, dragging one of them out and pummeling him directly in front of the club," the press release said. The group's attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, who was present at the concert, said the police "behavior was unjustified, unprovoked, and simply barbaric considering there was no provocation." When MTV News reached out to the NYPD for comment, we received this statement from Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly: "Police officers had every right to defend themselves against individuals assaulting them, and used appropriate force in doing so. They also protected civilians who were being pelted with bottles at the outset, as they responded to the location at the request of the club's own security." Various portions of the incident were captured on film by bystanders, who recorded the melee on their cell phones and video cameras and uploaded footage to YouTube and other social-networking sites. Tek and Steele (the two members of Smif-N-Wessun) and Rock weren't harmed physically, but for the producer, who witnessed his wife and stepdaughter being assaulted by police, it was difficult to exercise restraint. "I have to say that I'm very proud of myself that I held every bit of anger I had inside when that was happening," he said. "I'm very proud of myself." |
| Justin Bieber Doing NKOTB? Jim Jonsin Reveals Ideas Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:44 AM PDT Producer says he would like to help Biebs channel New Kids on the Block, New Edition and Kelly Rowland.
Multi-platinum producer Jim Jonsin has some interesting plans for when he gets in the studio with Justin Bieber. No, he won't be coupling the teen-pop sensation with B.o.B, but rather he will try to capture the vibe of NKOTB. "For Bieber, I think I want to reach back to New Edition, those days," Jonsin initially said before referencing another 1980s Boston-bred boy band. "I want to try to do something like that — 'Please Don't Go Girl,' New Kids on the Block — because the girls would go crazy. Maybe not that song, but something that feels like that: little bit of soul, R&B, but pop as well."
While the track pre-dates the 17-year-old Bieber by about four years, "Please Don't Go Girl" was the first single from NKOTB's sophomore album, Hangin' Tough, and ultimately put the group on the map. The ballad, which featured Joey McIntyre as the lead vocalist, drew comparisons to New Edition's 1983 single, "Is This the End" — not surprising considering both acts were founded and produced by Maurice Starr. It isn't all about the '80s however: Jonsin also would like to produce something more modern for JB as well, using Kelly Rowland as a reference. "And then I'd love to put him on something like that 'Motivation' type of track," he said of the hit Rowland single he helped create. "Just a hard beat that he could sing something super slick [on]." Jonsin admits that, at first, he didn't know what to make of Justin, but thanks to the Biebs' "Never Say Never" film, the hitmaker has a newfound respect for the young star. "When I watched the movie with my 8-year-old daughter, I was floored and inspired at who he was as a person. He's a good kid, he's a philanthropist, he's a good role model," Jonsin said. "I have a newfound respect for the young man, and I'm honored to work with him." Who would you like to hear Justin Bieber channel on his next album? Share your ideas below! Related Artists |
| 'Transformers 3' Box Office: How High Can It Go? Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:25 AM PDT 'Dark of the Moon' might not make as much as 'Revenge of the Fallen,' but that doesn't make it a failure.
Last month, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" corralled $92.2 million over its opening weekend — the highest total of 2011. How could Jack Sparrow possibly complain? Well, that lofty sum was still well below the openings of both 2006's "Dead Man's Chest" ($135.6 million) and 2007's "At World's End" ($114.7). The fact is, even the most robust of movie franchises tend to wane in terms of box-office bucks; the familiar pattern is a first film that sets the stage, a second installment that cashes in on the anticipation and then subsequent offerings that can't continue the upward trend. Such is the case with "Transformers."
There's much to celebrate with "Dark of the Moon," which enjoyed a first-day gross on Wednesday of $42.5 million (when you count midnight screenings), beating the first-day pull of "On Stranger Tides" (a Friday release, no less). That puts the third "Transformers" film on track for a seven-day debut of as much as $200 million or more. So why might Optimus Prime be dissatisfied with that opening? "Revenge of the Fallen" opened to $62 million on a Wednesday in 2009, on its way to a one-week total of almost $240 million. Yet any dissatisfaction must be tempered with historical box-office perspective. "The fact that 'T3' didn't measure up to 'T2' isn't really a surprise, as the fatigue factor finally caught up to the franchise," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "This is the case for most films series as they reach the threequel. Plus, it didn't help 'Transformers' that the second film was, for the most part, trashed by critics, fans and even the filmmakers." While "Dark of the Moon" is off to a comparatively slow start, some industry observers believe it could pick up over the holiday weekend. "Everything we're seeing on Facebook and Twitter indicates that word-of-mouth is extremely positive," said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com. "It's still a bit early to rush to judgment on how well this is going to hold up over the holiday frame. It could explode in a big way over the weekend." Perhaps. Or not. There's no doubt the franchise took a public-opinion hit after the second film. And while the third one offers perhaps the finest use of 3-D since "Avatar," it comes at a time when audiences are battling back against a host of shoddy 3-D offerings by simply not paying the extra bucks for another dimension. "Dark of the Moon" is a victim of the three-dimensional failings of "Clash of the Titans." At the same time, we can't ignore the worldwide situation. Globally, "Dark of the Moon" might well eclipse the $836 million total of "Revenge of the Fallen" (just as "On Stranger Tides" could end up being the biggest "Pirates" flick when international grosses are factored in). Thus, Optimus rejoices! So where does all this leave "Transformers" going forward? Both star Shia LaBeouf and director Michael Bay have declared, in no uncertain terms, that they plan to end their involvement with the series after three films. Both creatively and financially, that might not be such a bad thing. "This franchise needs new blood and a new angle going forward," Bock said, going on to suggest the fourth film needs to leave the familiar environs of Earth behind and deeply explore the robot alien's home planet. "Maybe a trip to Cybertron will be the spark 'Transformers 4' needs. Don't bring it to us, we'll come to you! But we will likely have to wait three to four years." Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Thor' Sequel Set For July 2013 Posted: 30 Jun 2011 05:14 AM PDT Star Chris Hemsworth will return, but director Kenneth Branagh will not.
Given its mighty haul at the box office earlier this summer, Disney and Marvel Studios have officially green-lit a "Thor" sequel to be released July 26, 2013. Deadline originally reported that Chris Hemsworth will return to play the titular God of Thunder, but director Kenneth Branagh will not be back, which Disney confirmed to MTV News.
When we spoke with Branagh prior to the film's release in May, the esteemed thespian seemed to be interested in continuing the story of the haughty Asgardian but was cautious about stating outright that he would be 100 percent in to direct a second "Thor" film. "The prospect of [a sequel] is very tantalizing and fascinating," Branagh diplomatically told MTV News. "I loved working with this group of actors and had a fantastic experience working with everyone in the Marvel family." At the time, Branagh mentioned the fact that getting a sequel off the ground would require major box-office success and support from the fans — which, with a $437 million worldwide gross, the fans and money talked. Branagh also added that whether or not he was directing future installments, he was still a fan of the world of the Marvel Thunder God. "When I first got involved with this, I was so thrilled. The first big, really exciting moment when I started really going through the comic books was all the descriptions of powers," he explained. "I loved it, amazing. People's body weights, how tall they were, what they could do, all of that kind of stuff. There's a vast amount of that from the Thor universe that I'd like to see." Check out everything we've got on "Thor." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Britney Spears? Beyonce? Fans Pick Their Best Albums Of 2011 (So Far) Posted: 29 Jun 2011 11:07 PM PDT You can vote for your favorite album of the year over on the Newsroom blog!
On Wednesday, I published my picks for the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far), a list that included the likes of Lady Gaga, Eminem, the Foo Fighters and Adele, but not Beyoncé, Britney Spears or Chris Brown. And while I definitely heard some complaints about the albums I did include (Born This Way was too low, 21 was too high, Hell: The Sequel should've been in the top 10, etc.), it seems that the overwhelming majority of folks out there had a bigger problem with the albums I didn't — namely, Femme Fatale, 4 and F.A.M.E. So, in the interest of fairness, we launched a poll over on our Newsroom blog and asked you to vote for your favorite album from the first-half of 2011; so far, more than 18,000 votes have been cast, and Born This Way leads Femme Fatale by a slim margin. But if you haven't cast your ballot yet, don't fret, because the poll will remain open until Thursday (June 30) at midnight ET. Vote for your favorite 2011 album right now in our Newsroom poll! But if you remain undecided, well, then we've got some compelling arguments for you: Comments and — very open — campaigning (plus some actual compliments) from MTV.com readers and Facebook users, each making a case for their favorite album of 2011. Of course, if you feel like sounding off with your picks, do it in the comments section below. And now, on with the acrimony! "How could you forget Britney Spears? Femme Fatale was the most anticipated album of the year. The thing I hate is that Britney doesn't get recognized enough. Femme Fatale is the best album!" — IfUSeekPeanut:) "You guys would put Lady Gaga [on the list] and not include Britney's Femme Fatale album! I'm sorry, but despite all of the Auto-Tune and lack of song writing, it's still one of the best dance albums of the new millennium! Gaga ... OMFG, don't even get me started, her album is NOT all that! JUST 'cause she writes her own songs doesn't make them the best songs lyrically! [And] Beyoncél's 4 is not even included? Completely DELUSIONAL list!" — Tony Moreira "Wow. Femme Fatale gets praises from pretty much everyone in the music industry and it doesn't make the list. Lady Gaga makes sales ... okay, [but] she has yet to top Britney's records (even when she pretty much gave away Born This Way)." — Jdtgu "Adele is good but all her songs are about breakups, which is depressing, She does deserve some Grammys. And where the f--- is FEMME FATALE? Britney Spears is NOWHERE HERE? That's insane!" — jonny A. "I was listenin' to Adele back in '07 and never looked back and I always kinda thought maybe she will be the big star she deserves to be. Her album 21 is so honest and real and vulnerable. I'm sorry but I don't think there is any album out or coming out that will be able to compare. [Also], so glad y'all shed a light on Lykke Li's album. She is a very underrated artist. I didn't think she could do better than Youth Novels, but, damn she did the damn thing on Wounded Rhymes. [It's] another classic from Lykke Li." — Mark Anthony Sanchez "I love that there aren't just mainstream artists on this list, but I will say Femme Fatale doesn't deserve to be on it. I'm not bashing the girl because some of her songs are good (they still weren't written or conceived by her) but it's not anywhere close to these albums. I do love Adele, but I think Gaga basically murdered everyone with her album." — L3M0NAQUA "I loved Adele's new album! Also I loved Chris Brown's new album too! Britney's was awesome!" — Kayla Copes "Okay, so let's start voting for people with some real talent, not people that can put on a show. FOO FIGHTERS AND ADELE. There's the talent." — Carrie Heuberger "Sorry, but you obviously placed Adele's voice at #2 and NOT her mediocre album. Yes, it WILL get the Grammys it deserves BUT it would be a dead-boring album without her strong voice ... In my opinion Adele is ranked too high, but can you blame [the writer] for ranking a HUGE voice at #2 ? Born This Way, well, it could be higher BUT it is a COMPLETE honor that it is the ONLY album from a mainstream pop artist that made it to NUMBER FREAKING FOUR!" — Spyros Venturis What do you think? Let us know in the comments or vote in our Newsroom poll. Related Artists |
| Selena Gomez, Cory Monteith Cop To 'Monte Carlo' Sing-Offs Posted: 30 Jun 2011 12:53 AM PDT 'I feel like we were very annoying to people on set,' co-star Leighton Meester tells MTV News.
Selena Gomez's When the Sun Goes Down was released on Tuesday, but the star isn't just celebrating a new album this week. She heads back to the big screen with a leading-lady role in "Monte Carlo."
In the movie opening this weekend, Gomez plays not one, but two characters: an American teenager, Grace, and British heiress Cordelia, which required the Disney actress to take on an English accent. "I did about two weeks [of training] before the film," Gomez told MTV News of learning the accent. "It was really fun [but] I was really nervous." And the fun didn't stop there. Gomez also bonded on the set with her "Monte Carlo" co-stars, including "Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester, who plays Gomez's stepsister; Katie Cassidy; and "Glee" heartthrob Cory Monteith, who had the tough job of working alongside some of Hollywood's most beautiful ladies. "Going to hang out with a bunch of hot chicks in Europe? Sign me up!" Moneith laughed when we asked what attracted him to the role. "It was a no-brainer. They approached me to do a movie, and I heard Selena Gomez wanted to do it and shoot in Europe." The cast spent two months filming overseas, primarily in Monte Carlo and Paris, and they had as much fun onscreen as they did off. "We sang a lot," Gomez said of her castmates. "I feel like we were very annoying to people on set," Meester added. Of course, considering Monteith, Meester and Gomez are all singers, it's hard to believe anyone found them "annoying." So what was their song of choice? "[We sang] to actual songs that were out," Gomez said. "But we would create our own lyrics; it was really fun." "There was a little jumping and jiving," Monteith admitted. "We were so taken away by the moment, shooting in Paris, shooting the Eiffel Tower," he speculated about what may have inspired all that singing. "It was incredible." Check out all of the stars in action when "Monte Carlo" hits theaters on Friday. Check out everything we've got on "Monte Carlo." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Michael Rapaport Eyes Roots, De La Soul For Next Docs Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:44 AM PDT A Tribe Called Quest doc director says he'd do another hip-hop film 'if things lined up.'
The controversy surrounding the documentary "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" has not killed director Michael Rapaport's hip-hop jones. The film has received rave reviews, and if given the chance, Rapaport told MTV News that he has his eye on a few other rap acts that he'd like to turn his lens on.
"I would love to document De La Soul," he said looking directly in the camera making his best pitch. Another group which Rapaport has interest in is Philadelphia hip-hop band the Roots. While the group has had a rotating cast since their 1993 debut, Organix, band leader and drummer ?uestlove, along with MC Black Thought and keyboardist Kamal have been mainstays. Multi-platinum producer Scott Storch was a one-time member, as was rapper Malik B. The Roots have released 10 studio LPs since the early 1990s, and of course, the Grammy-winning group are enjoying success as the in-house band for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." "I would love to document the Roots; I think they have an interesting story," Rapaport said. "I have a curiosity about them. Their musicality and their live performances I think would be great, and I have a feeling that there are stories behind each one of them." After filming A Tribe Called Quest for his current work, Rapaport has went back and forth with group member Q-Tip. In light of the experience, when he visited "RapFix Live" in March, Q-Tip urged other rappers to tell their "own stories," a concept that confused Rapaport. "I don't know if he meant, 'We're from hip-hop, it should be a hip-hop director,' " the actor-director admitted to MTV News. "I don't know who would go under the auspices of being a hip-hop director. Or if it was a racial thing like, 'We're black and shouldn't have a white director.' It was confusing to me." As of now, Rapaport isn't looking to do another rap film in the near future, but he wouldn't turn it down if the opportunity presented itself. "Right now I'm taking a break from hip-hop documentaries," he said. "But I would do it if things lined up." Would you support a Michael Rapaport-directed Roots documentary? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Transformers': Can Series Go On Without LaBeouf And Bay? Posted: 29 Jun 2011 10:28 PM PDT 'If they're going to do it again, they have to attempt it with somebody else,' LaBeouf told MTV News
Ask the stars, ask the critics, ask your friends: It looks like the universal consensus is that "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is the very best of the bunch. But it also might be the very last of the bunch, at least for director Michael Bay and leading man Shia LaBeouf, who have both announced their intentions to depart the series following this latest battle between the Autobots and Decepticons.
"If they're going to do it again, they have to attempt it with somebody else," LaBeouf told MTV News at the New York City premiere of "Dark of the Moon" on Tuesday night, reaffirming his plans to leave Sam Witwicky right where he is. "We took it to the limit. We tried as hard as we could. I don't think we can turn in a movie that's better than this, really." The question has been raised before: Can "Transformers" continue without Bay and Shia? From producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura's perspective, it would certainly be tricky. "You can't replace them. You'd have to go about doing it another way, that's what you'd do," he said. "Another way" is exactly the idea Shia had in mind for how to continue moving the multimedia franchise forward without him and Bay at the helm. "If you want to keep making more 'Transformers' movies, you need another anchor," he explained. "It's different than, like, 'Indiana Jones.' Harrison Ford has an age. He's human. Optimus Prime is going to be Optimus Prime forever. He's never going to grow older. So you just need another human anchor. I think you just need to find it. There's tons of great actors." But Shia says he won't be that anchor anymore. "I think I've taken Sam as far as I can, creatively," he said. "We set out to make a certain thing. We wanted to make the best movie we could, and we had three shots at it. On the third one, we did it. I don't think that either one of us wants to return to it and attempt it when it was this good." That's LaBeouf's perspective, at least, but what does Bay think? When we caught up with him on the red carpet, the Master of Bayhem reflected on not just what the series has meant to him, but what it's meant for fans across the globe. "I gotta tell ya. It's been a touching moment for me. It's bittersweet for me, having done this franchise for six years," said Bay. "Today we got an urgent call from Make-a-Wish. They said, 'There's a little boy in Texas. He's got two days. He wants to see 'Transformers 3.' So we made a special print. We're flying [the copy] to his hospital room right now in Texas so he can see it. That's the power of these movies. That touches your core, you know?" Still, for the moment, Bay is busy enough "birthing this one now. The movie's coming out tonight. Let's just enjoy this one!" It certainly seems as though the fans are following those orders, as are the film's castmembers. In fact, it's one actor in particular who feels the most confident that Bay and LaBeouf aren't done with "Transformers." "Let me tell you, I'm going to see what I can do. Leave it with me," grinned Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. "The boys listen to me. I've got it under control, people — don't worry. Who knows [if there'll be a fourth film], but you can never say never." Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| 'American Idol' Contestants Hope Jennifer Lopez Returns Posted: 29 Jun 2011 11:26 PM PDT 'It would be kind of sad if she didn't come back,' Naima Adedapo says.
While Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler are locked in for another season of "American Idol," Jennifer Lopez's presence at the judges' table next year is still to be determined. While the top 10 finalists on Tyler and Lopez's rookie season were rehearsing for their Idols Live! Tour, they told MTV News they'd be pretty upset if Lopez didn't return.
"I love Jennifer Lopez; she's been nothing but nice to all of us, and backstage, she is as nice as she comes across on TV," Paul McDonald told MTV News. "It'd be great for her to come back. It kind of depends on what path she wants to do with her own life now. Obviously, I'd want her back. I'll watch the show next year if she comes on there." Naima Adedapo fondly remembered J.Lo's warm demeanor on the set. "That was a big part of our experience: seeing her across from us and seeing her do her little rock while we were singing and what not," she recalled. "I feel like it would be kind of sad if she didn't come back. I think that's something we look forward to, just because it was something that we had." Pia Toscano also seemed to be bummed out by the possibility that Jenny from the Block might not come back to judge the reality show again. "She's amazing [and] such a great addition to the show," she said. "I think the panel this year was awesome. Jennifer was pretty spot on every time with her critiques and her constructive criticism. I'm gonna miss her if she goes. I think she added so much to the show." Scotty McCreery admitted that he was initially unsure the show would work with the new class of judges, and without Simon Cowell. However, once he was on he felt differently. "It was such a great a season for us," he said. "Now it's like I couldn't see it any other way. For us, it's weird to think about." Casey Abrams mirrored those remarks, adding, "First of all, they're incredible judges. We pulled in lots of viewers, and there's more votes than ever, and I hope she comes back." Haley Reinhart kept a sense of humor about Lopez's decision. "You know, maybe she figured we already made her the most beautiful woman in the world, and she can leave now, walk away," she joked. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's Label Goes International With D'Banj Posted: 30 Jun 2011 12:33 AM PDT 'Kanye is the first person to take a talent from Africa that has never been here,' G.O.O.D. Music signee tells Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: D'Banj On Wednesday, D'Banj sat down with Sway on "RapFix Live" and recalled the first time he met 'Ye during a trip to Dubai. While at the airport, an excited fan asked D'Banj for his autograph, confusing him for West. Another artist may have been insulted, but not Banj; he took the cue and prepared himself for the possibility of meeting with the American rap giant.
"I was like, 'Oh, no, I'm not Kanye.' And then I turned to my road manager and said, 'Kanye is coming here. All eyes open. We must get him,' " D'Banj recalled to Sway. Just as expected, West arrived, and D'Banj got the chance to play music for him. "The first five minutes of Kanye listening to the songs, he was like, 'Who produced this? Where are you from?' " the Nigerian vocalist recalled. "Then he said, 'You need to come to New York.' I thought he was a liar." 'Ye kept his word — though actually getting back in touch with him proved difficult for the international talent. During a four-day visit to NYC in 2010, D'Banj tried to reach West but was unsuccessful for the first three days, mostly because the G.O.O.D. Music honcho doesn't carry a cell. "If anybody tells you they got Kanye's number, they're a liar. Kanye West don't use no phone," D'Banj laughed, echoing what MTV News had already heard from Justin Bieber. "The fourth day, when I was about to leave, I got a mail: 'Kanye will see you today, 4 p.m.,' and I got the address." D'Banj, who won an MTV Europe Music Award in 2007 and several MTV Africa Music Awards, eventually signed to Kanye's label and tweeted about it on June 8, announcing: "Just like yesterday myself and my brother did Tongolo. 7yrs later Mo' Hits signs with Good Music. Best birthday gift ever. God thank u." Now, with his deal in place, D'Banj feels that not only can he and 'Ye make good music together, but also help strengthen relations between Africans in his homeland and African-Americans here in the United States. "Kanye is the first person to take a talent from Africa that has never been here. I believe that that bridge has been broken for a long time," he said. Now it's time to bridge the gap. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| CyHi The Prynce Is Kanye West's 'Ally' Posted: 29 Jun 2011 11:39 PM PDT 'I can't really speak on Consequence, 'cause I don't know the agreements they had,' CyHi tells 'RapFix Live.'
There has been a bit of dissention in Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music camp, but CyHi The Prynce won't involve himself in any of it. Instead, the self-proclaimed self-reliant Atlanta MC chooses to work on building his career up as much as he can, himself.
In May, former G.O.O.D. rapper Consequence sat on the "RapFix Live" couch to air some grievances with his onetime friend Kanye West. At the root of Cons' issue seemed to be his omissions from an XXL magazine photo shoot and BET taping, as well as the delay in the release of his sophomore album, Cons TV. When Sway asked Cons if his angst spread to any of the other artists on G.O.O.D.. he coyly said, "Wait till M.O.D. 3," plugging his still-unreleased mixtape Movies on Demand 3. "I can't really speak on Consequence, 'cause I don't know the agreements they had," CyHi said on Wednesday's "RapFix Live." "They had their relationship before I came along, so I don't have no problem with him. That's my guy." While Cy distanced himself from the rift between 'Ye and Cons, he did speak on his own situation, letting it be known that he does not feel as if Kanye owes him anything beyond what he has already given. "I say 'Ye don't have to do nothing else for me. He didn't even have to put me on the album; he could've just said, 'Yo he's dope,' like he did on his blog, and I was gonna run with that," CyHi said before revealing the surprising circumstances in which he got signed at a 2010 magazine cover shoot. "I didn't know he was gonna sign me. I got surprised with the signing at the XXL shoot. I was just rappin'." Every relationship has the potential to sour, and the Prynce, who is just beginning work on his debut album, The Hard Way Musical, is grateful for Kanye's assist but says he isn't reliant on it. "God forbid anything happen to [Kanye] and he's not going to be able to do that no more, then where are we gonna go after that?" he questioned. "So I try to build my own foundation and let him know I'm not just an artist of his; I'm an ally." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Christina Aguilera Will Return To 'The Voice' Posted: 30 Jun 2011 12:21 AM PDT Rest of the panel is also signed on to return.
Unlike the typical judges'-panel drama unfolding over at "American Idol," it looks like NBC newcomer "The Voice" has locked down its diva for a second season: Christina Aguilera will be back on the small screen in the spring. According to The Hollywood Reporter, despite rumors to the contrary, an unnamed source said Aguilera actually agreed to give it another go on the reality singing competition "weeks ago." The good news for fans of the upstart show is that Aguilera will be seated in the tall-backed chairs next to all her homeboys, as Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, country star Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green have also officially re-inked. Citing an unnamed source, Us Weekly reported Thursday (June 30) that the entire quartet have signed on for a second season. Shelton recently told a Knoxville, Tennessee, radio station that he'd love to come back for another run. "The reality of it is, you've got four different artists who are doing completely different things and a network that has a time schedule that they want things to happen in," he said. "Who knows what'll happen, but I'd hate to miss it." Levine — who mentored Javier Colon to a win on Wednesday night — also seemed eager to make a return engagement. "Yeah, that's the question that everyone's asking me," he told the Reporter earlier this week about the constant questions about whether he'll be back. "I'd hate to say for sure, but I think so. If they'll have me, I'd be delighted to be back." The show has been renewed for another season and is expected to make its second bow after the Super Bowl in the spring. The Reporter also revealed that the pay scale on the show has Aguilera far out-earning her fellow coaches, raking in a reported $225,000 per episode to the men's $75,000 each. The quick re-sign of Aguilera is in contrast to the drama at the granddaddy of hit TV reality singing shows, "Idol." While veteran judge Randy Jackson and newbie Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler are onboard for the upcoming 11th season, it remains unclear if the other new face of the series, Jennifer Lopez, will be back. With her music career revived, thanks to the exposure of "Idol," Lopez has been coy about whether she's willing to give it another shot. "You know, this is the question of the hour," she said earlier this month in an interview with BBC's Radio 1. "I don't know. I haven't been forced to make a decision, and I'm glad about that because, honestly, I'm very on the fence about it. I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening, and it's going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year, and we're not really at the breaking point of, 'You have to make a decision right now!' I'm just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing." Are you happy the panel will be back on "The Voice"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Harry Potter' Bank Heist Footage And More Revealed Posted: 29 Jun 2011 10:09 PM PDT Two new featurettes show Harry and gang breaking into Gringotts Wizarding Bank and trying to destroy the Horcruxes.
"This is Harry's last chance to finish this once and for all." So says Daniel Radcliffe in one of two new "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" featurettes that reveal tons of new footage both from the upcoming film and the on-set production that brought those scenes to life. Taken together, the fresh videos give us even keener insight into what it's going to take for the Boy Who Lived to complete the task of slaying Voldemort and saving the wizarding world. In one featurette, posted by Entertainment Weekly, we go inside what director David Yates calls "a bank heist." The scene features Harry, Emma Watson's Hermione and Rupert Grint's Ron as the three break into Gringotts Wizarding Bank, gaining access to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. Harry dons his invisibility cloak, Ron wears a funky bearded disguise and Hermione creates a potion to become Bellatrix herself. "Hermione is very uncomfortable about playing Bellatrix," Watson explained. "She wears a corset and she's evil and she wears leather. I think she just feels insecure about it." The shoot required the makeup department to outfit 45 actors in full facial prosthetics to become goblins, bringing the total number of actors in makeup for the scene to 175. The featurette delivers our closest look yet at this key Gringotts scene. Harry and his pals are there to locate and destroy a Horcrux, one of seven in which Voldemort has stored parts of his soul. The second featurette, posted by Yahoo! Movies, takes us inside their hunt for the Horcruxes and again unveils a lot of new footage. As "Part 2" begins, they've already destroyed three of the Horcruxes and need to destroy four more before they can vanquish He Who Must Not Be Named. "Voldemort knows that as each Horcrux is destroyed, he loses his power and is actually diminished to nothing," said Ralph Fiennes, who plays the Dark Lord. And as Harry and his friends begin to destroy the Horcruxes, Voldemort starts to lose his mind — a transition Yates sought to focus on in "Part 2." "I wanted to explore the vulnerable side of Voldemort — his fear, his anxiety, the things that make him the monster that he is," the director said. Who is the best "Harry Potter" character of all time? The "Harry Potter" World Cup will find out! Voting is going on now over on the MTV Movies Blog, and you can also get the debate going on Twitter with the hashtag #mtvpottercup. Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
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