rita wilson Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Could Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy be the next IT couple? Probably not, but that's not stopping them from bringing their romance to the big screen. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Hewitt and Kennedy are going to star in a new indie drama called Cafe from writer/director Marc Erlbaum. Hewitt will play an employee at the local West Philly Grounds coffee shop where Alexa Vega and other ensemble members stop by for a cup.

Already, "indie drama" separates this project from the likes of Kennedy's supremely cringe-worthy feature work, so I can't help but wonder: Is Jennifer the muse that will wipe away our reservations and give Jamie work more worthy of his post-Randy Meeks life?

Meanwhile, Rita Wilson is gearing up to write a new college comedy, according to Variety. Not only that -- she's going to star. Look out Rodney Dangerfield, Rita's going back to school. Titled Terms of Embarrassment, the film will focus on a middle-aged couple who end up attending the same college as their son.

Maybe I'm just being influenced by the other news bite here, but could this possibly be a film that will reunite her with hubbie Tom Hanks on the big screen? The pair haven't appeared together in a film since the '90s, and never one where they were the focus.

Here are some romcom news bites for your Monday:

Move over, Jennifer Hudson! Just last year, Sarah Jessica Parker had a romantic assistant who passworded all of her love letters with "love." Now THR reports that the Sex and the City star is getting a new assistant for her upcoming romcom Did You Hear About the Morgans? (The same project I mentioned here.) The assistant in question: Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss. But unlike her meek television personality, Moss will get to be a "controlling and almost obsessive-compulsive personality" -- which must get set off when her boss is shoved into witness protection.

Anyhow, it's about time she got a mainstream gig! Moss has had some other big feature work like Girl, Interrupted (she played Polly, the burned girl) and Virgin, which got her an Independent Spirit nomination, but it's been all television and low-buz gigs these days. It might be a romcom, but at least she won't have to be all soft and sweet this time around.

Meanwhile, the untitled Nancy Meyers pic is quickly turning into a who's who of the older funny set. Last we heard, the film boasted the likes of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin. Now THR reports that Rita Wilson has been added into the mix, to play one of Streep's best friends. This definitely sounds like an improvement from Old Dogs for Wilson. And I can't help but hope: Who could be next? Teri Garr? Martin Short? Or, I cherish the thought -- Wilson's hubby Tom Hanks putting on his comedic hat once again?

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Cinematical has just been informed that Nia Vardalos' My Life in Ruins has scheduled a May 8, 2009 release date, which, so far, puts it opposite Star Trek as the weekend's only other wide release. And yes, we're told it will be a wide release, and that a brand, spanky new trailer will arrive soon (pay no attention to the one leaked online earlier in the month). Produced by Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Ruins stars Nia Vardalos as she returns to her Greek roots (and to the country itself) as a tour guide who discovers her romantic side while showing a ragtag group of tourists around. Directed by Donald Petrie (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), Richard Dreyfuss and Rachel Dratch also star.

Fox Searchlight must have a good feeling about this flick if they're throwing it out right at the beginning of the summer -- and opposite the giganto Star Trek -- though the film's low-key vibes and romantic scenery will counter the ridiculous Trekker fanboy-ish quite well. Will My Life in Ruins bring Vardalos some more big, fat Greek luck? We shall see ...

The first official trailer for Mamma Mia! has been released online, in addition to an international trailer over at YahooUK. You can either watch the trailer above, or head on over to Moviefone to see it in glorious HD. Ah, that music. I'm sorry, but this little gem holds a special place in my heart. After seeing it a whopping four times on Broadway, my parents finally dragged my sister and I to see it one Mother's Day. Long story short; I've seen it twice now, and wouldn't mind seeing it again. But will all that magic translate to the big screen? I hope so. The trailer looks like a lot of fun; we have huge dance numbers, lots of singing and plenty of pretty blue ocean. Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried and Christine Baranski, Mamma Mia! was written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd (both of whom brought us the staged version). Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson serve as executive producers. Cinematical brought you the first official photos from the film yesterday; Mamma Mia! looks to entertain moviegoers (as Hairspray did last summer) when it arrives in theaters on July 18.

For those who never got around to seeing Mamma Mia! when it hit the stage, or for those who are dying to see it again (I saw it twice, just so you know ...), the widely popular Broadway musical is now heading to the big screen -- and Cinematical has your exclusive first look at images from the film. Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried and Christine Baranski, Mamma Mia! was written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd (both of whom brought us the staged version). Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson serve as executive producers. Of course, and I shouldn't have to tell you this, the film also comes with more than a few awesome ABBA tunes. Here's a taste of what you're in store for (from the film's official synopsis):

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends-practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)-from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA's songs from "Dancing Queen" and "S.O.S." to "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me," Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. Mamma Mia! will dance its way into theaters on July 18, 2008. Additionally, Moviefone will debut the first Mamma Mia! trailer tomorrow -- so watch for it! Check out our gallery of exclusive pics below (click on the images to head to our gallery) ...

Earlier this year, the film world was buzzing about Peter Jackson's lawsuit against New Line for unpaid cash from the huge Lord of the Rings series. Jackson and Bob Shaye batted back and forth for a while, and then the story faded into the ether. Now we've got a new lawsuit to chew on, but this one took a few years to come together. Word has it that Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Nia Vardalos have come together to sue one of the producers of their huge hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, for owed profits. The suit is asking for full accounting for the film's profits and unspecified damages for the trio, because "The accounting statements rendered by defendants have been vague and inadequate in failing to provide information consistent with industry standards." (Gotta love legal talk!)

As we know, Vardalos wrote and starred in the movie, while couple Hanks and Wilson produced it along with Gary Goetzman. They claim that they are still owed their "share of net profits" -- the lawsuit says that the movie cost $5 mil, we know that the film grossed well over $350 million and they say that Gold Circle Films claims that the gross receipts total $287 million. That's a bit of a discrepancy. Of course, the company is saying that the suit is bull, or rather, "frivolous" and "completely without merit." If they get anywhere with this case, the cash will be awfully handy, since they're coming together again for Vardalos' next project -- My Life in Ruins.

Honestly, it was only a matter of time before another one of Broadway's hit shows, well, hit the big screen. Dreamgirls (though an older Broadway show) is now out in theaters, Hairspray (which was originally a movie-turned-musical) is coming this summer and pretty soon we'll get to see what Tim Burton and Co. have in mind for Sweeney Todd (which just left Broadway recently). Before those shows came feature film versions of Chicago (of which I'm seeing the staged version for the first time tomorrow night), Rent, The Producers (another movie-turned-musical), Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line ... and the list goes on. Hey, am I the only one surprised to never have seen Cats make the cross-over? Who didn't love those cats?

Anyway, yes, Mamma Mia! is officially being turned into a major motion picture, with theater director Phyllida Lloyd in talks to helm the big screen adaptation for her feature directorial debut. Universal Pictures will shovel this one out, along with Playtone, and ABBA fans will most certainly want to line up for a ticket as the musical features 22 ABBA songs! Didn't get enough of Dancing Queen at the last wedding reception you attended? Well fear not, it's in there. Catherine Johnson (who co-created the show alongside Judy Cramer) wrote the screenplay, which revolves around a bride-to-be whose mother invites three male strangers to her daughter's wedding -- one of which might be the long lost father she never knew. Did I mention Dancing Queen? Yay!

Currently, there's no cast lined up, although Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are executive producing. Personally, I'd love to see Hanks belt out a little ABBA -- though chances of that happening are probably slim to none. The show itself (which I've seen twice) is one of the more enjoyable Broadway musicals currently on the scene -- I won't spoil the ending, but let's just say it requires a little audience participation.

Anyone see Mamma Mia!? Are you excited for a big screen version?