Crowe To Play Beyonce’s Lover In New A Star Is Born?

Filed under: Alicia Keys,Barbra Streisand,Beyonce,Movie News,Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe and Beyonce have emerged as the front runners for the lead roles in a remake of classic movie A Star Is Born.

Robert Downey, Jr. was attached to the male lead at one point, but now it seems the Gladiator star has taken his place.

Crowe is the new favorite to play an aging, alcoholic musician who mentors and falls in love with a younger female star.

The film was a big screen hit in the 1930s and it has already been reworked twice, with Judy Garland and James Mason in 1957 and Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in 1976.

Nick Cassavettes is on board to direct the film, which is rumored to feature Mad Men star Jon Hamm, Alicia Keys and Rihanna

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Downey Jr. And Beyonce Wanted For A Star Is Born

Filed under: Barbra Streisand,Beyonce,Movie News,Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. and Beyonce are tipped to take the lead roles in a new remake of 1930s movie classic A Star Is Born.

First released in 1937, the musical has been reworked twice in the past, with Judy Garland and James Mason in 1957 and Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in 1976.

Actor-turned-director Nick Cassavettes is behind the latest version and has signed a deal with Warner Bros ahead of a 2012 release, reports Deadline Hollywood Daily.

This is one remake that I think would be a good idea. It’s a classic story that bodes well to be updated every 30 years or so. Love Beyonce for the Esther roll and while I think RDJ is a brilliant actor I’m not so sure he’s right for this part. I think Kristofferson set the bar for the Norman Maine character and you need a male lead that oozes sex appeal.

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Dustin Hoffman Says No To Fockers

Filed under: Barbra Streisand,Movie News

Dustin Hoffman will be absent from the Meet The Fockers sequel – he’s refused to sign up for the latest installment of the comedy franchise.

The actor, who played Ben Stiller’s dad in the 2004 follow-up to Meet The Parents, was rumoured to be returning for a part in the upcoming third movie, Little Fockers.

But Hoffman has not signed up to act alongside confirmed stars Jessica Alba and Robert De Niro in the latest film because of scheduling issues, according to reports.

Barbra Streisand is yet to confirm whether she will return as Stiller’s mum.

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UK Singer Cheryl Cole Scores A Chart Double

Filed under: Barbra Streisand,Cheryl Cole,Girls Aloud,Lady Gaga,Madonna

Singer Cheryl Cole’s debut solo album joined her first solo single at the top of the British pop charts on Sunday.

Cole, a member of Girls Aloud and a judge on the hit British TV talent show “The X Factor,” becomes only the 12th female artist to have claimed top spot in both charts at the same time, the Official Charts Company said.

She follows in the footsteps of the likes of Barbra Streisand, Madonna and Celine Dion. Lily Allen and Lady Gaga have also matched the achievement this year, as did last week’s albums and singles champ “X Factor” winner Alexandra Burke.

Cole’s album “3 Words” entered the charts in top spot ahead of Canadian singer Michael Buble’s “Crazy Love” with Michael Jackson’s posthumous “This Is It” debuting in third place.

“’3 Words’ now looks set to be one of the biggest albums of this coming Christmas,” said Martin Talbot, Managing Director of the Official Charts Company.

“Coming Home,” a debut album of covers by the Soldiers, three serving British servicemen to raise money for a military charity, was another new entry in fourth. Burke’s “Overcome” fell to fifth.

Meanwhile Cole’s “Fight for This Love,” which has already become the fastest-selling song of the year, remained in top spot in the singles chart.

Irish boy band Westlife’s “What About Now” debuted in second place with “Down,” a new entry from British R&B singer Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne, in third.

Burke’s “Bad Boys” fell to fourth, while Buble’s “Haven’t Met You Yet” was in fifth.

Congrats to Cheryl.

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Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nicole Kidman Delighted by Barbra Streisand At Village Vanguard

Filed under: Barbra Streisand

The last time Barbra Streisand played a club as small as the one she poked into Saturday night, a subway ride cost 5 cents and President Kennedy sat in the White House.

Saturday night, another former President came to see her play that teeny space – Bill Clinton, along with current Secretary of State Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea.

Though the 97 highly-prized tickets to this free show, held at the Village Vanguard, were meant to go to fan club lottery winners, a clutch of the powerful did manage to find their way in, including Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker, and, naturally, the star’s husband, James Brolin.

Streisand staged this miraculously rare appearance to send up a flare about her new CD, “Love Is The Answer,” out Tuesday.

Like the new CD, last night’s 13-song, 80-minute set featured the kind of woozy saloon songs Streisand first crooned nearly half a century ago at nearby clubs like the Bon Soir.

Streisand appeared comfortable and chatty in the tight surroundings.

“This is hysterical,” she said as she mounted the stage. “Are we a box of sardines here or what?”

But once she sang, Streisand couldn’t have taken her mission more seriously.

Not only did the singer go back to the kinds of low-lit standards she crooned in her youth, but she performed them with the sort of spare support she has rarely allowed in the decades since.

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Streisand Is A Living Doll

Filed under: Barbra Streisand

Doll collector Barbra Streisand now has her own mini-me, courtesy of toymakers Mattel.

The limited edition doll, which will be released in November 9, was debuted during the star’s recent appearance on Oprah, which aired on Thursday.

The thrilled Funny Girl star said,

“I worked on this doll very hard. The slit (in the dress) was at the back, (it) had to go on the side; the fabric; the bow had to be limp, it couldn’t be straight.”

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