R.I.P: Leslie Nielsen dies, aged 84

Leslie Nielsen has died at the age of 84.

The comic actor, best known for his roles in Airplane! and The Naked Gun, passed away at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he was being treated for pneumonia.

Nielsen's nephew Doug announced the news on Canadian radio station CJOB, saying: "Just in this last 48 hours, the infection has gotten too much and today at 5.30am, with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away."

Nielsen's agent John S. Kelly later confirmed the news.

The actor, born in Saskatchewan, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force before making his debut on US television in the late '50s, and eventually appearing in a string of hit comedy films in the '80s and '90s.

'Star Wars' director Kershner dies at 87

American film director Irvin Kershner has died at the age of 87.

Kershner was best known as the director of second Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back.

According to Yahoo News, Kershner's goddaughter Adriana Santini confirmed his death earlier today following his long illness.

As well as directing the most popular instalment in the long-running science fiction series, Kershner also helmed Robocop 2 and unofficial James Bond film Never Say Never Again.

Despite his advanced years, Kershner was still working on a number of film projects at the time of his death.

Hathaway may play Lois in new 'Superman'

Anne Hathaway is the latest actress linked to the iconic role of Lois Lane for Zack Snyder's new Superman film.

What's Playing claims Hathaway is currently being considered for the part of Clark Kent's famous love interest.

The news is supported by Hathaway's declaration to the LA Times that she wants a break from starring in romantic comedies and may be looking to take on a science fiction film instead.

It was also recently revealed that director Zack Snyder is searching for an unknown actor to play the film's titular character.

Superman: The Man of Steel is scheduled to begin filming in June 2011.

Farrell 'intrigued by London Boulevard role'

Colin Farrell has said that he was drawn to the conflicted loyalties of his London Boulevard character Mitchell.

In an interview with The AP, the actor explained that the reluctant gangster Mitchell is seemingly being chased by his troubled past.

"He has high ideals and he has a depth of experience that comes between him and those ideals. The life that he left behind, he didn't really leave behind," he remarked. "He walked away from it, but it's followed him and haunts him through this story."

Farrell also suggested that the gritty crime drama is not simply representative of the London underworld, but also of the struggles that every major city endures.

"You could move this film to Dublin, change the accents, and it would be an honest representation of a certain aspect of life in Dublin. And, I think most cities," the star said.

London Boulevard is now playing in UK cinemas and will be released in February in the US.

Jessica Alba 'considered quitting acting'

Jessica Alba has admitted that she almost gave up her acting career after being criticised by Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer director Tim Story.

In an interview with Elle magazine, Alba revealed that she reacted badly when the filmmaker chided her performance during a highly emotional scene.

"[The director told me] 'It looks too real. It looks too painful. Can you be prettier when you cry? Cry pretty, Jessica.' He was like, 'Don't do that thing with your face. Just make it flat. We can CGI the tears in.'" she said.

The star continued: "I'm like, 'but there's no connection to a human being'. And then it all got me thinking: 'Am I not good enough? Are my instincts and my emotions not good enough? Do people hate them so much that they don't want me to be a person? Am I not allowed to be a person in my work?' And so I just said, 'F**k it - I don't care about this business anymore.'"

The actress also suggested that some of her films have not succeeded at the box office because she has often worked with "first-time directors".

It was previously reported that Alba considers Angelina Jolie to be a role model.

Mark Wahlberg eager to make 'Broken City'

Mark Wahlberg has revealed that he wants to make crime drama Broken City with Book Of Eli co-director Allen Hughes.

The Brian Tucker-penned script centres on a private detective who gets drawn into New York City's corrupt mayoral race. Broken City appeared on the 2008 'Black List', an annual compendium of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood.

Speaking to MTV about the project, Wahlberg - who will play lead character Billy Taggart - called it an "amazing piece of material".

"Broken City I want to do at the end of next year with Allen Hughes directing," he said. "[It's] on the Black List. It's one of the best unproduced screenplays - an amazing piece of material that should attract amazing talent."

Wahlberg compared the movie to Roman Polanski's crime classic Chinatown and LA Confidential.

The 39-year-old recently confirmed that he will star in a movie based on video game Uncharted.

First Look: Karl Urban as Judge Dredd

Karl Urban is looking to banish the memory of Sylvester Stallone in the latest big screen incarnation of 2000 AD antihero Judge Dredd. Below is the first pic of Urban as Mega-City One's judge, jury and executioner from director Pete Travis's action flick.

Comic fans will be delighted to know that in Dredd (yep, that's the title) the eponymous character will not remove his helmet.