Vera Farmiga to star in 'Drummer'

FarmigaVera Farmiga will join Aaron Eckhart in helmer Randall Miller's indie music biopic "The Drummer," about Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.Farmiga, who received an Oscar nomination for 2009's "Up in mid-airInch and recently made her directorial debut with "Greater Ground," may have notable Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie.Burns is creating with scribe Jody Savin through their banner Unclaimed Freight Prods.(The pair were behind 2008's indie hit "Bottle Shock.") Record companies vet Kaira Rosenberger also produces."The Drummer" follows six years in Wilson's existence throughout they and McVie sparked another and tumultuous relationship before Wilson's dying in 1983. Fleetwood Mac's album "Mirage," released in 1982, features the hit song "Hold Me," co-put together by McVie and apparently inspired by her romance with Wilson.Farmiga joins the project just like a typically trained pianist. "She's numerous duets with Eckhart inside the film," Burns noted. "The mix of Aaron and Vera will probably be pure miracle."Slated to begin lensing June 15, "The Drummer" is co-produced by Wilson's children, Carl and Jennifer. Gerry DeKlerk and Irene Nelson of Rampart Films professional produce, along with Caribou Records' Jim Guercio and Julie Sultan, prexy of worldwide sales and distribution for W2 Media, that's co-financing and handling foreign rights for your film. Jonathan Gardner of Cohen/Gardner talked about the sale regarding the producers with CAA's Tracey Brennan and Jodi Peikoff of Peikoff Law Offices for Farmiga.She's repped by CAA and Jon Rubinstein of Authentic Talent and Literary Management. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Community's Danny Pudi and Wife Welcome Twins

Danny Pudi Community star Danny Pudi and also the wife, Bridget, are first-time parents with twins.See the relaxation in the newsSon James Timothy and daughter Fiona Leigh were born on Thursday, Jan. 12. Pudi, 32, tweeted his excitement about his new babies on Tuesday."Daddyhood occasions 2! Appreciate all the well wishes. We're able to not be excited. Here's to being pooped and peed on!"NBC at TCA: Scoop round the Voice, Smash, and Community's futureHis repetition confirmed the births to people, and extra reported Pudi as saying: ""The primary one-quarter Indian, one-quarter Polish, one-half Irish twins are keeping us busy and that we are loving every minute from this.Inch

Last Exorcism Sequel Has A Director

Ed Gass-Donnelly gets the gigThe only downside to making $70m at the box office from a budget of $1.5m and having that success spawn a sequel, is that it's slightly embarrassing if that original film had the word "last" in the title. Not that that's deterring the production team behind The Last Exorcism from moving forward with a follow-up in the slightest. It was announced last autumn that the film was being written by Damien Chazelle, and it now has a director, in Ed Gass-Donnelly.The Empire Award-winning The Last Exorcism was a sleeper hit in 2010, presented as a documentary about well-meaning but charlatan exorcist Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) stumbling upon what seems to be a genuine posession. Things didn't go so well for Cotton after that.Plot-wise, not much is being revealed about the sequel yet, but we do know that it takes place three months after the first film (so hasn't taken the prequel route that some might have predicted) and involves the further tribulations of the demon-ised Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell). The company line is also that it'll be on a much larger scale than previously, which might indicate that the found-footage schtick is being dropped this time around.Gass-Donnelly (who made the 2010 crime thriller Small Town Murder Songs, with Peter Stormare) replaces original director Daniel Stamm, who's had his hands full recently with Night Chronicle Reincarnate, and possible English-language remakes of 13: Beloved and Martyrs.Still aboard The Last Exorcism train however, is original producer Eli Roth, who told Deadline that he's "very, very excited to continue this story.""Obviously with the title of the first one we had not planned on a sequel", Roth laughs, "but we love the story and subject matter and had what we feel is an inspired idea to continue it. We want to go deeper and darker this time. The first film worked great as a PG-13 psychological film, but now we want to go R-rated and show the true horrorof what this subject matter offers. The biggest creative challenge will be coming up with the right title!"The Exorcism After The Last One: Not Nearly So Final As We May Have Led You To Believe, starts shooting next month in New Orleans.

Glam Slam: Whats Hot For 2012

First Published: January 20, 2012 1:43 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Eva Mendes poses onstage during the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations press conference at The London West Hollywood on November 30, 2010 I went shopping for the first time yesterday since before the holidays and boy have the stores made a Technicolor transformation! Color, color, color was everywhere- there was no escaping it! What else will be big? People StyleWatch gives us the style scoop! Prints are hot this season, says Kate Dimmock, fashion director of the magazine. Two of the hottest prints right now are florals and polka dots. With florals, the trend here is the bolder the print, the better. Go for vibrant colors, then add neutrals for accessories to balance it out. Polka dots are a great way to update a classic look and make it new. A polka dot top or dress can be chic, or for some fun, mix up the sizes and colors to create contrast. Color is popping up everywhere, and its the perfect way to welcome in a new spring season, says Dimmock. Some hot color trends: Mint green is the it pastel color of the season and its huge. Were seeing it on trousers and dresses and in even accessories. Red lips are universally flattering. Angelina Jolie had gorgeous red lips at the Golden Globe Awards and it really pulled together her whole look. Blue-green jewelry, these ocean inspired colors are great for accessories. Were seeing this color combo on chunky necklaces and bold rings. Metallic heels are great for day and night. They can amp up any spring outfit, and they go with everything---from jeans to dresses! For more style and beauty inspiration, check out the new issue of People StyleWatch. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Lionsgate may be upgraded by S&P

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1'Standard & Poors is considering an upgrade of Lionsgate's corporate credit rating, saying the purchase of Summit could put the studio on a sounder financial footing.The big ratings agency placed its "B-" corporate credit rating on what's called "CreditWatch with positive implications" and predicted the deal could end up reducing Lionsgate's debt "meaningfully." Wall Streeters expect Summit's "Twilight" franchise to inject half a billion dollars of fresh cash into Lionsgate over the next five years. The new listing reflects the possibility of an upgrade, which, S&P said, will depend on the combined company's new cash position, strategy and "acquisition orientation." The agency estimated Lionsgate's pro forma debt at roughly $1.1 billion -- or $1.5 billion including film financing obligations -- as of Sept. 30, 2011.It also said the acquisition modestly improves Lionsgate's business risk profile on account of increased leverage over exhibitors, and creative capabilities. The $412 million deal, a combination of cash, stock and bonds sale, was announced Friday. Lionsgate shares bounced higher late in the trading day Wednesday, closing up 2.24% at $9.14, a new 52-week high.Corporate credit ratings determine how much risk an investor is taking on. The idea is that the lower the rating the more likely a company is to default so it has to pay higher interest rates in order to attract investors. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

George Lucas sees 'Red'

Spike Lee, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Junior. party at Gotham Hall. George Lucas and Samuel L. Jackson Coming off yearly when handful of films featured black casts, George Lucas is for certain that situations are likely to change. "The art galleries say it can't work, that you will find no worldwide audience for black films," mentioned the "Red-colored-colored Tails" professional producer following a film's preem Tuesday within the Ziegfeld in NY. "But that's nonsense. Once we will get to the $20 (millions) next weekend and possibly beat 'Underworld,' we'll be fit. While others is going to be aware."Lucas fully funded the Fox-distributed pic about African-American airmen, despite the fact that he's hopeful that similar tales will emerge inside the wake of "Red-colored-colored Tails," he was quick to dismiss "The AssistanceInch consequently an effort.Inch'The Help' is not a black film," scoffed Lucas within the after-party held at Gotham Hall. "There's a sizable distinction from a film with black stars together with a black film."

Componen nabs worldwide rights to 3 dimensional 'Cirque' pic

Vital Pictures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to "Cirque du Soleil Cell phone industry's Away," professional produced by James Cameron. Andrew Adamson written and directed the pic, which has lensed in 3d. It features performances from most likely probably the most elaborate Cirque du Soleil productions. Adamson, Aron Warner, Martin Bolduc, Erection dysfunction Manley and Cary Granat are producers. No formal release date remains set nevertheless the studio needs it to bow this year. Adamson's credits include "Shrek" and "The Tales of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch as well as the Wardrobe." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Hugh Hefner's New Year's Resolution: Stay a Bachelor

Hugh Hefner Hugh Hefner will remember 2011 as the year he almost got hitched, and going into the new year, he plans to remain unattached. "This year has been a very interesting year for me, I almost got married," Hefner told People. "And as Holly [Madison] - a dear friend and former girlfriend - said, 'Well, you missed a bullet.' I think that's accurate. I am clearly not meant to be married. Married life isn't for me." Runaway bride Crystal Harris says sex with Hef lasted "two seconds" It appears that the Playboy founder associates his success with remaining a bachelor. Despite currently dating Shera Berchard and Anna Berglund, he says he'll be "on top of my game" as long as he avoids walking down the aisle. Hefner, 85, has been married twice before, first to Mildred Williams from 1949 to 1959 and later to former Playmate of the Year Kimberley Conrad.