Daniels set as Johnson in 'Magic Bird'

Kevin Daniels has been tapped to portray Los Angeles great Magic Johnson in the upcoming Broadway play "Magic Bird." Legit production, from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo in association with the NBA, is set to open in Gotham in the spring. "In the Heights" and "Lombardi" helmer Thomas Kail is directing the play penned by Eric Simonson ("Lombardi"). The play will examine the relationship between Bird and Johnson, who were bitter rivals in both college and professional basketball but then formed an endearing friendship. Daniels has plenty of legit experience, including "Twelfth Night" and "Suge Knight." On the smallscreen, Daniels has appeared in recent episodes of "Modern Family," "Franklin and Bash" and "House." Previously, Tug Coker was cast as Boston Celtics great Larry Bird. He has guest starred in a handful of TV series as well, including "Torchwood," "CSI" and "Community." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

LISBETH The Truly Amazing

Stieg Larsson's new-style heroine, pierced punk Swedish hacker Lisbeth Salander, was the red-colored carpet focus for Columbia and MGM's "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo" 12 ,. 14 preem in the Ziegfeld. "Lisbeth is really a character we have never witnessed before: Stieg Larsson invented her," stated film writer Steven Zaillian. "She's a moral character, only one who takes proper care of things in their way." Stated co-star Difficulties: "The truly amazing factor about her is she's somebody who's been mistreated since she would be a child and in some way arrives another finish and constitutes a success of herself. I believe we are able to connect with that." Robin Wright noted: "She isn't that essential feminist. She's that quiet elusive strength with this sensitivity. She's a pet, right? She's invincible: really tough, but soft." Added Christopher Plummer: "She jogs my memory from the punks from the sixties. We have come full circle." For the actress who plays Lisbeth, Rooney Mara is not sure this really is her a-star-is-born moment. "I'm not sure," she stated. "I really hope people such as the movie and visit it." n Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

New Version Of 'Stop Online Piracy Act' As Controversial As Ever (Analysis)

If for years you have complained about the sound on commercials being pumped up louder than the program you are watching on TV, somebody has finally done something about it.our editor recommendsAnderson Cooper's Talk Show Is a News Program, FCC RulesSenate Defeats Bill That Would Have Limited FCC Control Over Internet On Tuesday the Federal Communications Commission passed rules that will make TV stations, cable operators and others responsible for keeping the volume on both national and local advertising to the same level as the program around it. PHOTOS: TV's Priciest Primetime Shows for Advertisers The new rules go into effect in about one year, on December 13, 2012. The new rules are part of legislation passed in 2010 and signed by President Obama called the CALM Act. CALM stands for the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation. STORY: Anderson Cooper's Talk Show Is a News Program, FCC Rules There is some flexibility in the rules for "imbedded ads," meaning those passed along by program distributors. There are also rules which require large operators to do annual spot-checking of commercials for at least the first two years. Small operators can seek a hardship waiver if they cannot afford to purchase new equipment. But they will still be responsible for the volume and could face punishment for violations. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery TV's Priciest Primetime Shows for Advertisers Related Topics FCC

Alec Baldwin Mocks American Airline carriers Debate on 'Saturday Evening Live' (Video)

It's something you'd think only the crassest of Hollywood producers would develop - placing attractiveness right into a celebration as ghastly within the Nanjing massacre - nevertheless it's an element central for the Flowers of War, a contrived and unpersuasive have a look in an oft-dramatized historic moment. One of the primary Chinese-funded features to topline a substantial American star (Inseperable, with Kevin Spacey, first demonstrated at Pusan in October), Zhang Yimou's ornately produced drama will instantly draw attention due to the presence of Christian Bale atop the cast but gets the misfortune of coming so close round the heels from the truly outstanding film concentrating on the same setting, Lu Chuan's Capital of scotland - Existence and Dying. Carrying out a 12 ,. 16 commercial launch on home turf, Wrekin Hill has set one-week runs beginning 12 ,. 23 in NY, La and San Francisco Bay Area, with wider release to follow along with together with next season. But commercial prospects, no less than within the U . s . States, look limited.our editor recommendsChristian Bale Chinese Epic 'Flowers of War' Will get near U.S. Distribution Deal (Exclusive)'Flowers of War' Trailer: Christian Bale Safeguards Women From Entering Japanese in 1937 China (Video)China to Submit 'The Flowers of War' in Foreign-Language Oscar RaceToronto 2011: Top U.S. Customers Get First Look at Christian Bale's 'The Flowers of War' PHOTOS: 6 Auteurs Won Over By Christian Bale With various historic novel by high-profile Chinese author Yan Gelingthat will probably be launched inside the U.S. next season and scripted by Liu Heng, whose collaboration while using director stretches to Ju Dou, Flowers comprises a conscious bid to produce the problems in the Nanjing story considerably open to a wider audience by placing a politically unaligned American in the heart of a desperate quantity of local regular people made up of convent schoolgirls and exotic courtesans. Offering little historic background, aside from to condition that 200,000 everybody was slaughtered throughout and following a Japanese invasion of China's then-capital (City put the figure more than 300,000, reflecting ongoing debate inside the extent in the casualties), the knowledge begins inside the city's big chunks of rock after its fall on 12 ,. 13, 1937. Ready of tenuous safety will be the female students at Winchester Cathedral, which sits behind walls and will be offering places to pay for within the victorious Japanese soldiers that are broadly rampaging without restraint. COVER STORY: An Oscar Champion Turns East Taking refuge there too is lone wolf American John Burns (Bale) who, along with his hairy beard resembles a ླྀs hippie too as with his kinds of speaking sounds both silly and anachronistic (he makes repeated usage of "whatever"). His description by one of the Chinese just like a "jerk" could not be apt, as Burns starts raiding the sanctuary's wine stash, demands nonexistent money and responds selfishly in every single instance. There can be various motives behind representing the white-colored guy inside the story just like a money-grubbing, unintelligent and uncouth mercenary but, clearly, the ideologically uncommitted Yank in foreign places can be a standard movie character, with Bogart's Ron in Casablanca because the wedding standard-bearer. Let's just say Bale's Burns doesn't quite measure compared to that standard. It's apparent within the start that Burns has to start at this kind of low point to make sure that he'll include a remarkable dramatic arc to forge, from self-centered sot to noble dark evening. Sadly, neither the script nor the actor give you the character with any backstory, real or invented he expresses shock within the suffering he witnesses, but where has he been in the last day or two? The level of smoothness brings no perspective or energy of observation to anything which is morally only a obvious vessel, waiting being filled. PHOTOS: 'The Dark Dark evening Increases' Start Searching Scaling the walls to discover some protection that goes for them are 13 fancy ladies in the local brothel. Decked as if prepared to carry out a chorus number from Flower Drum Song, the noisy, boistrous gals push the cowed teenage students aside making themselves right in your house. For his part, Burns can't believe his fortune and takes an immediate special fascination with the haughtiest famous them, the attractive Yu Mo (significant newcomer Ni Ni), who also provides unquestionably the most effective British. Reassuring Burns japan "won't touch Westerners," Mo withholds any favors for the time being, promising the eager fellow, "In the event you let us, I will help you in manners you could't imagine. A lot of us will." Burns's accidental transformation from miscreant to saint of sorts begins when he dons priestly robes for entertainment and for that reason deters intruding Japanese soldiers running to the chapel shouting, "We've got virgins!" Seeing the advantages of the pose, Burns is constantly placed on the vestments, shaves his beard and evolves to the personage of "Father John." PHOTOS: top ten Summer season Superheroes Ever A "good" Japanese officer later apologizes for his males's waywardness and supplies protection for a while. But he eventually demands the convent women sing inside a "party" for Japanese authorities, which everyone knows can result in rape and worse, triggering an excellent climactic act of self-sacrifice for that heretofore superficial, materialistic hookers, while using heroic participation of Burns. An indisputable emotional and moral potency lies behind the means by which these good-time lowlifes rise for the occasion to complete one great non selfish act when referred to as upon to get this done. But a lot of in regards to the conditions as well as the way the secret is attracted off is not practical and unbelievable, from both an authentic-world or film perspective, to produce the payback credible or as effective since it method to be. Despite the fact that some moments venture out to the corpse-tossed city streets to provide a perception of the encompassing barbarity and horror, a lot of the picture is restricted for the chapel and immediate surroundings. One of the youthful women, Shu (Zhang Xinyi), provides prospective through narration, along with a couple of other interesting figures emerge, plus a smart, bespectacled boy George (Huang Tianyuan) who takes proper care of his pubescent female co-employees, and Mr. Meng (Cao Kefan), a collaborationist by getting an uncertain lease on existence. Once the gears are set up for your large finale, there's a lot of dawdling inside the particulars, which has the double negative effect of slowing down lower dramatic momentum and emphasizing the far-fetched character in the plot being perpetrated. When Burns, which has unaccounted for capabilities just like a hairstylist and makeup artist, finishes concentrate on Mo, he's told, inside the film's hardest lapse into modern parlance, the comfort in the women "all would love you to supply them a transformation!" If Warner Bros. had developed a film using this plot in 1942, it could make effective anti-Japanese propaganda and many likely absorbing drama inside the bargain. Today it really plays like hokum. Opens: 12 ,. 23 (Wrekin Hill Entertainment) Production: Row 1 Productions, New Pictures Film Corp. Cast: Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Zhang Xinyi, Huang Tianyuan, Han Xiting, Zhang Doudou, Tong Dawai, Cao Kefan, Atsuro Watabe,Yangyang Chunzi, Sun Jai, Li Yuemin, Bai Xue, Shigeo Kobayashi, Takashi Yamanaka, Paul Schneider Director: Zhang Yimou Film author: Liu Heng, using the novel 13 Flowers of Nanjng by Geling Yan Producer: Zhang Weiping Executive producers: Chaoying Deng, David Linde, Bill Kong Director of photography: Zhao Xiaoding Production designer: Yohei Taneda Costume and makeup designer: William Chang Suk-Ping Editor: Meng Peicong Music: Chan Quigang 142 minutes PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Christian Bale Company company directors Posse: 6 Auteurs Won Over With the Actor Worldwide Asia Christian Bale

Harrison Ford Wanted For 42

The Jackie Robinson biopicWhile Legendary Pictures might not have discovered the best person to experience baseball legend Jackie Robinson in 42, the film about the most crucial occasions of his existence, the organization seems to shut to securing within the guy to experience Brooklyn Dodgers gm Branch Rickey: Harrison Ford.Rickey sliced with the famous colour barrier in 1947 by determining to employ Robinson, who was simply a star from the Might Chiefs but have been barred in the major leagues due to racism. Recognizing he had the desire to beat bigots both in the stands and also the dugout, Rickey broke with tradition and introduced him aboard.Director John Helgeland continues to be searching for anyone to play Rickey, with Robert Redford among individuals pointed out as likely candidates. Now, though, Ford continues to be offered the role. He's sought after right now between this, Black Hats and Gavin Hood attempting to snag him for Ender's Game.Helgeland has written the script for that movie, that is named after Robinson's jersey number, and Legendary Boss (a large Robinson fan) is busy developing it by using Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow. There is no word on when it'll start shooting.

Patriotic Lithuanian pic breaks records

MOSCOW -- A romantic costume drama about a 19th-century peasant rebellion has become the first Lithuanian film ever to take more than Euros 1 million ($1.3 million) at the local box office. "Tadas Blinda" -- a glossy, colorful romp that tells the true story of the Baltic country's own Robin Hood character, Tadas Blinda, who led a peasant revolt against a brutal Russian army in the 1860s -- has been seen by 9% of the country's 3.5 million citizens. Starring a locally famous singer Mantas Jankavicius in his debut acting role, the film is the first feature for director Donatas Ulvydas and also first for producer Zilvinas Naujokas. Pic had a budget of $1.35 million. Released late September on 13 screens, the film has been seen by nearly 282,000 people -- 15% more than achieved by the previous record holder, "Titanic," although its box office is 10% lower than "Avatar," which as a 3D movie sold tickets at a premium. Naujokas is one of Lithuania's leading film distributors, whose company Acme Film is the second biggest distributor in the Baltics, working with Sony, Warner and most independents, including Summit and Lionsgate. In the past two weeks, he has been in Chicago and Los Angeles promoting international sales of the film, targeting Lithuanian emigres in North America and South America. "We're doing premieres for the Lithuanian communities worldwide," Naujokas told Variety. "There have been screenings in London, Los Angeles and Chicago already, and there are plans for NY, Washington, Dublin, Cork, Edinburgh, Birmingham and other European cities too." Naujokas is also in talks with Canadian distributors and Australian Lithuanian communities, and was planning to see the Lithuanian ambassador to Argentina in Buenos Aires on Friday. "These screenings are strongly targeted at Lithuanian immigrants, but hopefully some territories will buy the movie, at least for TV and DVD," he added. Sales of the international version of the movie, "Fireheart: The Legend of Tadas Blinda," are being handled by Planeta Inform and offers were "on the table" following AFM last month, Naujokas said. A Russian dubbed version is being prepped as two of the main actors, mother and daughter Tatyana Lyutaeva and Agniya Ditkovskite, are well known in Russia, and Donatas Banionis, who played Kris Kelvin in Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky's cult 1972 sci-fi film "Solaris," also appears in the film. The film goes to DVD in Lithuania from the second half of January. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Glee' Recap: Sam's Return, Sectionals Showdown

Ray Mickshaw/FOX A former Universal Network Television employee might soon get to bring to a jury claims that behind the scenes of TV show House there's "hard-drinking, over-sexed, cussing, gun-toting males" who made life difficult for her.our editor recommends'House' Star Hugh Laurie Says He'll Retire From TV Acting Once Show EndsOlivia Wilde Makes Final 'House' Appearance Monday: 'I See It as a Really Important Chapter in My Life' (Video) In July 2010,Carl Jones, who spent four years working as an assistant property master on the Fox medical mystery show, suedHouseproducer Universal and two of its staffers, claiming that he was victim to sexual harassment and was fired when he spoke up about allegedly obnoxious behavior on the part of his supervisors. After nearly a year and a half of extensive discovery and pre-trial motions, Los Angeles Superior Court JudgeRichard Fruinindicated last week his willingness to have a jury decide whether Jones was retaliated against for objecting to a hostile workplace. Jones makes some wild allegations in his lawsuit about back-stage behavior on the show. He targets his supervisorsTyler PattonandMike Caseyfor repeated bad acts and says his genitals were groped and that he was called a "bitch," "faggot," "slave," and "pussy." In the prop trailer where Jones worked, the plaintiff alleges that adult magazines and adult movies were around and that his supervisors were hard drinkers who would invite females from the wardrobe and other production departments there to engage in sexual activity. Jones allegeshe was forced to clean up semen and condom wrappers and was ridiculed when he declined to go out to a nearby off-set strip club. The set ofHouseis also described as a dangerous place to work. Against Universal's policies, Patton allegedly brought a real gun there and would throw knifes in between bouts of tequila drinking. Jones says he was fired in March 2010, by an extremely drunk Patton, after which he complained to Garret van der Meer, the show's co-executive producer/unit production manager. Jones says his complaints were ignored, and the former staffer believes that speaking up about what was going on, including contacting his union, led to retaliation, included being "blackballed from all Universal Productions." Jones says he scored another job after his dismissal, but as a result of being placed on a blacklist, he wasn't able to get access to the Fox lot, so he then lost that second job. Universal wanted a summary judgment dismissal of this lawsuit, saying that Jones had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, that his claims were time-barred, and that the plaintiff couldn't show "discriminatory motive based on his gender or perceived sexual orientation." The studio said that each season was an independent one in terms of employment and that the decision to not rehire Jones for Season 7 of House couldn't be tied to Jones' allegations of sexual innuendo on the set. The defendant believes that Jones' theories about why he was dismissed are merely speculative. For their part,Patton and Casey vigorously denied they engaged in the above-described offensive conduct. At a hearing last week, Judge Fruin considered some of the evidence submitted in depositions so far and tentatively decided there are enough triable issues to reject Universal's motions to dismiss discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. He threw out claims based on the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and asked for additional briefings for a hearing scheduled for December 16. If the judge sticks to his tentative ruling, the case could be on track to be heard by a jury next year. Jones is represented byLawrence Organat Equality Law, and Universal is being repped byLori BowmanandMarrian Changat Ogletree, Deakins. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner House

'Live!' endures with good rankings

The November. 23 episode of recently re-entitled talkshow 'Live With Kelly!' featured Miss Piggy like a guest and Jerry Seinfeld as co-host alongside Kelly Ripa.Regis Philbin's final week on Disney-ABC's "Live! With Regis and Kelly" -- the syndicated series Philbin co-located for pretty much 3 decades -- was rankings gold for among the talkiest of talkshows. As well as in Philbin's wake, a parade of high-profile visitors has stored the show at a number of its greatest rankings levels in a long time.InchReside!Inch obtained a 4.2 same-day national household rating for that week of November. 14-18, based on Nielsen. Which was enough to shoot the show past CBS Television Distribution's "Dr. Phil," that has been leading the talk pack because the season began. On Philbin's final day (November. 18), the show skyrocketed to some 6.7 national household rating.The Gotham-based show, recently entitled "Live! With Kelly" with Kelly Ripa in the forefront, came back November. 21 with NY favorite boy Jerry Seinfeld relaxing in the co-host chair through November. 23. The pairing of Ripa and Seinfeld stored the show's rankings strong, calculating a 3.6/12 for Seinfeld's 72 hours. That's up 24% in comparison towards the show's November 2010 sweep average (2.9/10). "Live! With Kelly" would be a repeat with Russell Brand on Thanksgiving, which show was broadly preempted. Actor Jerry O'Connell co-located the following day. The 2nd weeks time of "Live!" publish-Philbin saw "The Way I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris co-hosting with Ripa, producing a 3.3/11 along with a 3.2/11 within the weighted metered marketplaces because of its first couple of days, lower a little from Seinfeld's run but nonetheless up 14% within the show's 2010 November sweep performance. Harris is frequently pointed out just as one alternative for Philbin or because the host of their own talk/variety show.The producers of "Live!" possess a lengthy listing of guest co-hosts with this month, including Derek Hough of "Dwts,Inch performers Josh Groban and Michael Buble, actor Taye Diggs and veteran broadcaster Bryant Gumbel -- plus they don't appear to stay in a rush to title a lasting co-host alongside Ripa. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Michael Fassbender: 'Shame' Assisted Me Go a 'Little Bit Loopy' (VIDEO)

Michael Fassbender is about 1 " from as being a household title. The German-born Irish actor has loved a breakthrough 2011, with roles in from 'Jane Eyre' to 'X-Males: Top Quality,A where he starred as Erik Lehnsherr -- also called Magneto. His role inside the considerably acclaimed new drama 'Shame,' however, might be his finest challenge yet. Fresh round the heels of his performance as Carl Jung inside the David Cronenberg-directed 'A Dangerous Method,' Fassbender stars inside the NC-17 drama as Brandon, a Manhattan-based sex addict fighting beneath the weight of his desires. Quiet and systematic, Fassbender nails the role (pardon the pun) and can most likely be among the five nominees this year. Moviefone taken track of him taken within the Toronto Worldwide Film Festival to -- what else -- discuss 'Shame,' sex and full-frontal nudity. Michael Fassbender: Journey Using the Age groups That Michael Fassbender sure is online assets period pieces. From Spartan occasions for the swingin' '60s, Fassbender proves they can tackle any era. 馄''Jane Eyre'A Dangerous Method'Band of Brothers and sisters''Inglourious Basterds''X-Males: Top Quality'Shame See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook