Nolan shoots down Ledger Joker rumours

Christopher Nolan has dismissed recent rumours that unseen footage of Heath Ledger is to feature in The Dark Knight Rises.

A New Zealand website had alleged that the director was considering whether to include unused scenes from Ledger's turn as The Joker from The Dark Knight in the new Batman film.

However, Nolan and producer wife Emma Thomas shot down the reports at an awards season party for their Oscar contender Inception

Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter: "I heard the rumour. We're not doing that."

The couple again denied that Ledger would appear in the film at all and expressed a desire for his performance as the manic villain to remain confined to the 2008 film.

Nolan recently reiterated that The Dark Knight Rises will be his last Batman picture.

Nolan confirms 'Batman' departure

Christopher Nolan has confirmed that The Dark Knight Rises will be his last Batman film.

The upcoming movie will bring an end to the trilogy of Christian Bale-starring films helmed by the Inception director.

"I must say that I'm glad - I'm very, very glad - to be embarking on the last chapter of our Batman saga without any sense of obligation or duty to the studio," Nolan told Entertainment Weekly.

"They did very well with Inception. So I'm able to go into finishing our story in a very enthusiastic way."

He added: "I feel very glad that I'm doing another Batman film. I think it would have been daunting to sit down and write an original script after Inception.

"I love working within the realm and rules of our Batman world. It's kind of nice to have someplace to go that I'm super-excited about."

The Warner Bros and DC Entertainment movie is due for release in summer 2012.

Hilary Swank 'struggles to gain weight'

Hilary Swank has revealed that she struggles to gain weight.

The actress was required to put on 15lbs for her role in the drama Conviction but admitted that she had to more than double her caloric intake and stop working out to achieve the task.

"I personally have difficulty keeping weight on, and for this role I had to add 15lbs. My character, a single mum, hadn't any opportunity to stay fit," she explained to the New York Post.

"For my own needs, I like working out. But to gain weight I stopped that. Besides, this was an independent film. Small budget. We filmed long hours, long days. No time to work out."



Swank added: "Normally I only eat until I'm full. On this shoot, I kept eating more. Even when I was full, I'd eat more. With nowhere to go, the weight stays on you."

Bonham Carter: 'Parenting lessons help'

Helena Bonham Carter has admitted that she has been having parental lessons as she is struggling to juggle her career with family life.

The actress said that her children have been appreciating her new skills.

Bonham Carter, who raises 7-year-old son Billy and 2-year-old daughter Nell with her partner Tim Burton, told the Los Angeles Times: "You give them positive attention and then they start to crave it.

"It absolutely works. Billy is lapping it up. And as a parent, you become happier because you're observing all these good things about your child."

The 44-year-old, who plays evil witch Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films, also revealed that children are "terrified" of her on-screen character.

She explained: "The young kids recognise me, and they are terrified, genuinely terrified, but also drawn toward you. The little girls feel ambivalent too; they kind of love her, and they like dressing up as her and, believe me, it's honestly fun to wear the costume.

"I made her childlike deliberately so kids could relate to her as the ultimate naughty one. And there is fun in being naughty. She is a total version of age 3. There's no parenting class on handling that one."

'A Christmas Story' actor producing musical

A Christmas Story star Peter Billingsley has signed to produce a new musical based on the 1983 film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Billingsley has boarded the project as executive producer.

Billingsley, who portrayed Ralphie Parker in the original film when he was 12 years old, said that the movie means a lot to him.

"I’m excited to bring this film to the stage because the story and the characters lend themselves so well to the world of musicals," the actor said.

He added: "I am honoured to be a part of this project and look forward to bringing the play to more stages. Just think about the idea of a leg-lamp kickline."

Previews of the show are scheduled to begin on Wednesday at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. A Christmas Story: The Musical! will run from December 9 to December 30.

Duvall receives career achievement honour

Robert Duvall is to be honoured at the upcoming 22nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival's Awards Gala.

The veteran actor will receive the 'Career Achievement' award at the January event, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Oscar winner Duvall has starred in a number of classic films, including The Godfather, The Conversation and Network.

The Get Low star has also directed four films, including The Apostle and Assassination Tango.

"For nearly 50 years, Robert Duvall has transfixed cinematic audiences with his gritty, intuitive performances," said festival chairman Harold Matzner.

Matzner further praised Duvall's latest performance in Get Low.

He added: "In Get Low, his most recent role, Duvall portrays a backwoodsman who stages his own funeral while still alive. Duvall gives a virtuoso performance, challenging audiences to understand his character who is caught between myth and reality."

The 79-year-old will join Natalie Portman, Javier Bardem, Colin Firth, Jennifer Lawrence and Carey Mulligan as honorers during the festival, which kicks off on January 8 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Mila Kunis: 'Justin sex scene was easy'

Mila Kunis has revealed that she didn't have a problem performing her sex scenes with Justin Timberlake in the upcoming movie Friends with Benefits.

The actress said that Timberlake put her at ease by constantly joking with her.

She told Parade: "Justin Timberlake and I play friends who are in a relationship where they try to have casual sex without any emotional attachment.

"Justin and I have quite a few unclothed moments. But he made it easy for me by kidding around and keeping me laughing."

However, although Kunis felt comfortable doing the scenes, she doesn't think that they will be appreciated by her father.

She explained: "I feel sorry for my dad though. If I'm not mistaken, he walked out during the sex scene in Black Swan.

"I just don't think he wants to envision his daughter doing that kind of thing. I'm not sure if he's going to be able to see Friends with Benefits. He'll be leaving the theatre a lot. I think I might have to ban him."

Paul Dano linked to 'Looper' role

Paul Dano has been linked to a part in Rian Johnson's upcoming sci-fi thriller Looper.

According to Variety, the Little Miss Sunshine actor is in talks to star in the film, while The Playlist reports that Dano is being lined up to play Seth, a hitman.

Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt are already attached to the project. Looper is said to be about a crime syndicate which sends intended victims back in time to be killed without a trace.

Production on the film is to start early next year in Louisiana.

Exec wants full cast for 'American Pie 4'

American Pie producer Craig Perry has revealed that he is hopeful of bringing back the original cast for the fourth film in the series, despite it being seven years since the release of American Pie: The Wedding.

Speaking to Comingsoon.net, Perry also said that he was aware scheduling could be a major issue.

"A lot of it has to do with scheduling of the actors because they're all busy. Alyson [Hannigan's] got the show [How I Met Your Mother] and the baby, so she's got plenty on her plate," he stated. "I think if we get a script - which I think we will - that everybody is excited about, then it's going to be about the schedule, because it's going to be really hard to get that gang back together."

On which characters could be returning, given that not all of them were involved in The Wedding, Perry added: "For me, it makes sense to bring everybody back, because at a certain point, if you start winding it down, it isn't what it's meant to be. I feel like those characters have become part of the cultural lexicon. You kind of know who they are, and I think there's an interest in seeing where they are, because they haven't been on screen for seven years."