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MEET RILEY KEOUGH: Elvis Presley's Granddaughter Who Is Stealing The Limelight 35 Years After His Death

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Riley Keough

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death on August 16, 1977.

On Wednesday, thousands of fans converged at Graceland to commemorate the King and got a surprise welcome from the music superstar's former wife and daughter—marking the first time Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley have appeared together at the annual gathering.

Noticeably absent was Lisa Marie's beautiful, 23-year-old budding actress daughter: Riley Keough.

But Keough is busy shooting a "Mad Max" reboot in Africa alongside Charlize Theron and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, after starring in this summer's Steven Soderbergh-directed "Magic Mike."

And she has three films lined up after that.

From taking over the big screen today to modeling in her younger years, Keough, who was born 12 years after her famous grandfather died, has chosen to follow in her family's show business footsteps.

With Elvis officially gone for 35 years and Lisa Marie putting her music career on hold, it is Keough who is set to take her grandfather's place in the limelight.

May 29, 1989: Danielle Riley Keough is born to Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough. Riley, as she is called, is the eldest grandchild of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.



Riley (center) has one brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, and two half-sisters, twins Finley and Harper Lockwood—from her mother's current husband, musician Michael Lockwood.



Before Lockwood, Riley's stepfathers included Michael Jackson, who her mother Lisa Marie Presley was married to from 1994 to 1996 and Nicolas Cage, Presley's husband from 2002-2004. Check out the below family photo from elvis-postcards.com.



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WATCH: Rihanna Breaks Down To Oprah About Chris Brown Incident

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You don't want to miss "Oprah's Next Chapter" this Sunday.

The legendary talk show host and media mogul is sitting down with pop star Rihanna to discuss the singer's ex-boyfriend Chris Brown and the domestic abuse incident in 2009.

In the preview clip, Rihanna reveals to Oprah that she was "more concerned about" Brown's emotions than her own injuries.

The singer explains, "as angry as I was, as angry and hurt and betrayed, I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help and who’s going to help him?”

The full interview will be airing this Sunday, August 19 at 9/8C on OWN.

Watch the full clip below.

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SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert get exclusive merchandising deal with Urban Outfitters >

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Casting Agent Reveals The 'Snooki Formula' That Gets People On TV

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sarah monsonSarah Monson knows how to get you on TV. 

The former casting director has found talent for shows including "The Bachelor" and "Survivor." And now she has a new book about achieving reality stardom, called "Me On TV: The First Ever Kick-Ass Guide To Get You On Any Reality Show."

Monson says that casting directors these days look for the "Snooki formula."

But it doesn't just involve one-part bump-it and two-parts spray tan.

"Start with a polarizing stereotype, saturate with unapologetic flaws, and then add in a dash of humanity for good measure," Monson told us in a phone interview. 

snooki jersey shore silicon valley"Snooki is this partygirl with tons and tons of make-up and she's loud and obnoxious," explained Monson. "But then she cries and calls her mom or gets pregnant or something and then you find yourself kind of liking her." 

This draws people in because they can't decide whether they like the character or not, Monson said. The confusion keeps viewers entertained and increases the show and character's longevity.

It's important to pick a stereotype and stick to it, adds the author. 

"You might think you're interesting, but in a worldwide pool it's hard to stick out," Monson explains. "So we're looking for characters." 

DON'T MISS: 11 Haircuts That Ruined Celebrity Careers >

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WAIT A MINUTE: Nielsen Says Television ISN'T Dying

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death of television

Despite cable TV subscription numbers being down in Q2, and the rise — and ease — of watching television for free online, Nielsen says television isn't dying. 

In fact, Nielsen claims just the opposite: it's thriving!

During ARF's recent Audience Measurement Conference, Pat McDonough, Nielsen's SVP Insights Analysis and Policy, said, "People talk about ‘the TV is dead, or that it’s dying,’ but it doesn’t look like it yet,” said McDonough.

The charts and figures from her 18-minute video reveal a slight underlying decline in traditional TV watching but an increase across other platforms, primarily smartphones and tablets.

This isn't a surprise given the trend of A-list actors doing Web projects, and Hulu's and Netflix's expansion of original programing.

Nielsen says television audiences are getting older, as the American population lives longer.

 

 



Americans still spend the equivalent of a working week watching video.



94% of that video consumption is on traditional television.



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THE HOBBIT HEDGE: The Real Reason MGM Needs 'The Hobbit' Split Into 3 Movies

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The Hobbit

The announcement late last month that the two previously planned "Hobbit" films would become three was met equally with applause and groans from fans and critics.

Forbes asked whether Warner Bros. — MGM's co-funder on the franchise — was getting greedy with another film.

(Note "The Lord of the Rings" is a $3 billion franchise, so there's plenty of incentive to create a new franchise trilogy, considering three-quels are faring pretty well these days.)

MGM, however, has the most riding on a third Hobbit film. 

$500 million in debt

The company was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection in November 2010, but resurfaced after raising $500 million and announcing a plan to wipe out $5 billion in debt.

In February, MGM announced it obtained a $500 million credit facility to further manage its debt and build up its film and television business.

But according to MGM's Q2 financial report, its first filing since it reorganized, the studio's revenue declined by $85.5 million in the first six months of the year, from $393.3 million to $307.8 million. 

It also lost $233.7 million in cash from its balance sheet in the last 6 months, after paying off $311 million in debt and spending another $147.5 million on operations.

That's why MGM needs "The Hobbit" to do as well as possible, and why fans are being asked to buy tickets for three movies instead of two or one.

The rocky Robo-reboot

Robocop

Currently, the studio is benefiting from the Bond franchise — "Quantum of Solace" made its television debut on USA in summer 2011 — and it's already promoting the "Hobbit." MGM spent $45 million, up $7.5 million from 2011, in the first six months on distribution and marketing expenses primarily to promote both films.

However, the studio has a big upcoming slate, with eight films to be released between now and 2013. Among them is "Robocop," with an estimated $80 million budget. According to the release, MGM has all its bets on Q4, with the 50th anniversary promotion for James Bond DVDs and the release of the latest Bond flick, "Skyfall," in November. There will also be further activation around "The Hobbit."

Now, it's looking likely the Robo-reboot may very well be a bust. Earlier this week, film critic and screenwriter Drew McWeeny took to Twitter ripping apart the remake after claiming to have read a version of the script.

mcweeny tweet

mcweeny tweet

The Hobbit Hedge

The first two Hobbit films are estimated to have cost $500 million. A third Hobbit film thus provides a safety net, especially since it would cost next to nothing to produce: "Hobbit" director Peter Jackson admitted he already had enough source material and left over footage from the first two films to expand into a third, cutting production costs.

Assuming "Skyfall" and "Hobbit" perform well this winter, MGM can breathe easy through 2014, the current schedule for the next two Hobbit movies.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most profitable trilogy finales of all time >

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Watch Lady Gaga's Bodyguard Take Down An Innocent Autograph Seeker—Here's Today's Buzz

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  • Jenna Jameson pleads guilty to DUI after the porn star was arrested in May after crashing her car into a pole in Orange County, Calif. She was later discovered to have had a blood alcohol content level of .13, in addition to prescription drugs in her system.
  • Despite moving to Chicago to be closer to her Bears boyfriend, Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher have called it quits. McCarthy said in a statement Thursday, “Brian and I have decided to turn our romance into an amazing friendship. I will continue to be the biggest cheerleader for him. Go, Bears!"
  • Watch Lady Gaga's bodyguard take down an innocent autograph seeker in Romania:

SEE ALSO: Full "Dexter" trailer reveals season 7 plots >

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Independent Theaters Need To Convert To Digital Or Die

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bonham theater

For almost 90 years, the Bonham Theater has been a center of social life and a place where the tiny town of Fairbury, Neb., (population 3,942) can gather to catch the latest Hollywood movies.

But two weeks ago, owner Allen Hinkle switched off the movie projectors for probably the last time and closed the theater’s doors, leaving the community without a movie theater for more than 25 miles.

Like the small town Texas theater in “The Last Picture Show,” turning off its marquee forever in the face of competition from television, the Bonham Theater is under fire -- the victim of a shift from film to digital projection.

It is a scene playing out for more than a thousand independent and community theater owners across America, who must fork over between $65,000 to $150,000 per screen for digital theater systems or face extinction. And with each cinema that goes dark, a piece of the social fabric unravels with it, theater owners argue.

“They’re cutting the throat of the small guys,” Hinkle told TheWrap.

Also read: Never Mind 'The Avengers': Overseas Markets Are Hollywood's Box-Office Superheroes

Studios have been pushing for the change for nearly a decade, because digital distribution allows them to save thousands of dollars in print fees. As an incentive to theater owners, they have played up the enhanced picture quality that comes with digital projectors and the ability to show films in 3D -- a format that allows exhibitors to charge higher ticket prices.

Hinkle had hoped to sell the Bonham, but he told TheWrap that in order to find a buyer he has to pay more than $100,000 to convert the theater from film to digital projection.

Also read: What Ails Hollywood? Six Movie Experts Weigh In On a Cure

Bonham theater

After asking the town to help him raise the money, but receiving little in the way of donations, he decided that it no longer made any sense to stay open and wait for the rapidly approaching day when studios decide to stop providing theaters with 35mm film prints.

“We’re closing it," Hinkle said, "because we’re not going to extend ourselves out with another loan when we want to sell.”

Scores of other independent movie theaters are in the same position, and time is running out. The message from studios is clear: convert or die.

“This is existential at this point,” Patrick Corcoran, director of media and research for the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), told TheWrap. “It’s not how much can you make from digital. It’s if you want to be in business, you have to be in digital.”

So far, 3,447 theaters have converted to digital out of 5,700 theaters in the United States, Corcoran said. But those stragglers must act fast, because at some point in the next year he believes it will no longer make economic sense for studios to continue to provide film prints.

dolby theaterNATO has estimated that 10 percent to 20 percent of theaters may opt not to convert and will join the Bonham Theater in closing their doors.

“We don’t have any hard and fast numbers about how many people have decided to not [convert], but some people still believe it’s not going to happen,” Corcoran said. “It’s been a decade-long process of preparing the industry, and saying ‘it’s coming, it’s coming,’ and some folks are finally getting it.”

In particular, a note that 20th Century Fox sent to theater owners last November sent off alarm bells throughout the exhibition community.

“The date is fast approaching when 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight will adopt the digital format as the only format in which it will theatrically distribute its films,” the note read.

"We strongly advise those exhibitors that have not yet done so to take immediate steps to convert their theaters to digital projection systems,” it added.

Also read: How IMAX Became the Hottest Brand in Movies

For Gary Pollard, owner of the Empire Theatre on Block Island, R.I., the letter was a punch in the gut. Pollard had been expecting studios to continue manufacturing a small number of prints to meet demand from rural theater owners like himself who cannot afford to convert. But now he thinks that’s unlikely. He told TheWrap he’s bracing for a day when he may have to turn his one-screen theater into a different kind of business entirely.

Located in a resort community, Pollard’s theater is a seasonal enterprise that is open for only a few months a year. Recently he’s noticed that audiences have begun to taper off, making the prospect of sinking an estimated $70,000 into a conversion an unattractive option.

“It’s not feasible,” Pollard said. “In the last 10-plus years, there’s been a slow and steady decline in theater attendance. It’s not encouraging to want to invest money in building a business that is diminishing."

To their credit, organizations like NATO and studios have worked to ease the financial burden on theater owners by arranging for virtual print fees to be paid to companies that undergo conversion. Under this funding model, exhibitors are given a piece of the savings that studios receive by shipping digital copies instead of film prints, potentially allowing them to pay for roughly 70 percent of the cost of conversion.

However, the upfront financing falls to theater owners like Pollard, who often find banks unwilling or unable to make loans to fund the overhaul, and as NATO is quick to note, the expiration date for signing virtual print fee agreements will likely come by the end of 2012.

In desperation, some theater owners have turned to local economic development corporations, others have asked patrons for donations. A few are even considering the possibility of becoming a non-profit enterprise.

bonham theaterRandy Lizzio is one of those who is making his case directly to ticket buyers. Along with his wife, Cheryl, Lizzio owns and operates the Onarga Theatre in Onarga, Ill. This year, he started a fundraising drive on his website that has brought in $8,000 toward the cost of installing a $65,000 projector. Lizzio plans to start a Kickstarter campaign and host special screenings of movies from the public domain to help bolster those numbers.

“The movie theater is really the heart of this town,” Lizzio said. “I always tell people that the only times there is traffic is when the movie theater is open or when there’s a funeral... I’ll just be happy if we can pay the bills and keep the place going. That’s my attitude towards it.”

But the noose is tightening on those theaters that have yet to convert.

Michael Hurley, owns two theaters in Maine and books films for other theaters around the country. He tells TheWrap that with studios producing fewer and fewer 35mm prints, it has gotten increasingly difficult to book the latest releases. Often it means waiting longer to run a film or paying more to get a copy.

“I’ve had studios say, ‘Hey if you had digital I could give [the film] to you right now, but right now it’s not going to happen,” Hurley said.

Ultimately, Hurley decided to convert one of his theaters this year, securing a bank loan and entering into a virtual print fee agreement. He says he’s pleased with the results and with the fact that having a digital copy means that the films he shows are never scratched or damaged after making the trip to Maine.

Hurley believes that the future is bright for independent movie theaters that survive the often financially painful process of entering cinema’s digital age.

“When I bought my theater, there were no DVDs, no internet, no cell phones and no Netflix,” he said. “The movies have been counted out since radio, but the industry has just made the biggest investment in new technology since the birth of film and it’s not doing that for a business that’s on its way out.”

SEE ALSO: The real reason "The Hobbit" is being split into three >

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Full 'Dexter' Trailer Reveals Season 7 Plots

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Dexter, Michael-C-Hall

Relax, fans, the end of last season was not a dream! 

Dexter, everyone's favorite serial killer, was indeed caught in the act (finally) by his sister Deb, and the next season will deal with the aftermath.

Teaser trailers showed Dex putting the pieces together, and going under the covers, but finally we are given actual footage from the upcoming season.

And it looks like a return to form following a disappointing season six

So we don't spoil anything for those who don't want to watch a plot-detailing trailer, we won't go into detail here. 

We will say season seven appears to call back to season two, where Dexter was discovered by Doakes (remember him?) and was named in the press as the Bay Harbor Butcher. Will Deb end up like the ill-fated Doakes?

The penultimate season debuts September 30 on Showtime. 

Check out the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: How close Deb's been to discovering Dexter's Dark Passenger >

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Britney Spears Is Caught Tweeting With Mars Curiosity Rover

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Britney Spears

Before NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars, Britney Spears was queen of the Red Planet in her music video for "Oops... I Did It Again" back in 2000.  

Twelve years later, it sounds like the the pop-princess, now a judge on the "X Factor," is still a flirt.

The singer showed off her playful side, tweeting at the rover, “So @MarsCuriosity… does Mars look the same as it did in 2000?” Spears also added a link to her video in which she famously dons a tight red latex jumpsuit (because what else would you wear on Mars?)

The rover, who is also known to have a sense of humor, responded in equally adorable fashion, "Hey Brit Brit. Mars is still looking good. Maybe someday an astronaut will bring me a gift, too. Drill bits crossed." 

 NASA tweet

(h/t The Huffington Post)

More on Mars:



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-mars-rover-is-just-like-a-real-human-being-2012-8#ixzz23odvFLlB

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WATCH: Penélope Cruz Dons Mario's Iconic Suit In Nintendo's Latest Ad

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penelope-cruz

Spanish actress Penélope Cruz is the latest celebrity to appear in an advertisement for Nintendo.

Past celebrity spokespeople have included Joel McHale, Beyoncé, and "Sex and the City" star Kim Catrall.

Cruz appears alongside her sister Monica as they battle it out in Nintendo's latest Super Mario Bros. 2, available for the Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL.

After a truly terrific battle, Monica emerges the victor and Penelope... well, she has a bet to keep.

Watch the funny minute-and-a-half clip below to see Penelope Cruz's best imitation of the legendary Italian plumber.

SEE ALSO: Full "Dexter" trailer reveals season 7 plots >

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50 Years After Her Death, The Business Of Marilyn Monroe Is Still Booming

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marilyn monroe statue

On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe died at the age of 36.

50 years later, Monroe remains as much of a cultural icon as ever. And the Hollywood bombshell's selling power is just as powerful—if not more.

Her name and estate could generate nearly $30 million in sales this year.

After Monroe's image and likeness were purchased by Authentic Brands Group and partner NECA in 2010, "the company is in the midst of upgrading Monroe offerings from trinkets to cosmetic lines, spas, salons and apparel," reports the AP.

In addition, "a new digital emphasis" will now be placed on the late star's estate, which includes a wealth of photos, fashion, films and other cultural touchstones.

Part of the digital emphasis includes a Twitter account—@MarilynMonroe, "tweeting on behalf of the Estate of Marilyn Monroe"—which, at last count, has 64,352 followers and is even verified. Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry are among the 22 people she follows.

MArilyn Monroe Facebook PageHer Facebook page, which keeps fans up to date on any Marilyn-related news and posts the actress' past quotes, has 3.5 million likes.

"Of all the people who've clicked the 'like' button at [the Marilyn Monroe] Facebook page, the top two age groups are the 13-to-17-year-old age group and the 18-to-24 group," Authentic's chief marketing officer Nick Woodhouse told the LA Times. "She really resonates with youth."

And it doesn't hurt that the NBC drama "Smash," which is produced by Steven Spielberg and stars "American Idol" alum Katherine McPhee, follows fictional efforts to create a Broadway show based on Monroe's life. Authentic Brands promotes sales of the show and memorabilia.

"In some ways, she's more popular and well-known today than she was even then," said Lawrence Schiller, a photographer friend of Monroe's who penned the memoir "Marilyn & Me."

Authentic Brands CEO Jamie Salter told the AP "Our aim has been to clean up the brand" with a shift away from "souvenir-type stuff" and toward what he calls the mid-tier luxury business. Current partners include Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, MAC Cosmetics and Marilyn Monroe Cafes, a group of high-end coffee shops.

And Salter's plan is working. Forbes estimates that Monroe raked in $27 million in 2011, falling third behind music superstars Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

SEE ALSO: The surprising real names of 25 celebrities >

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TIMELINE: The 40-Year Evolution Of Video Game Consoles

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angry birds

Microsoft's Xbox 720 is rumored to be released in 18 months, perfectly timed for 2013's holiday season. 

But the year-and-a-half delay has gotten industry execs flustered—because the year-and-a-half delay is actually an eight-year delay between the release of the last Xbox and the new Xbox. Decades in the world of technology. 

The delay is so drastic it has some people, including Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, claiming that the age of video game consoles has finally run its course, giving way to the faster, more convenient mode of online and mobile games.

So from Atari to the Xbox, we're honoring the major consoles of past—the iconic machines that paved the way for Angry Birds and other highly addictive mobile and online games.

Atari Pong

Release Date: 1972

The Console: This early console was certainly not the first of its kind (both the "Brown Box" and "Odyssey" pre-dated the Atari) but Nolan Bushnell's Pong single-handedly defined the video game industry (and its future) with his ping-pong themed arcade game. Named after the sound the ball made on the paddle ("Ping-Pong" had already been taken), Pong marked the beginning of Atari's legacy as a video game legend.



Sega Master System (SMS)

Release Date: 1986

The Console: The original SMS was released as competition to the NES and was superior in many ways, including technologically. The console had better graphics and better sound than the Nintendo console, and could also play game cartridges and credit card-sized "Sega cards." Sales eventually fizzled out after Nintendo took over the console market. Sega released a series of consoles following the Master System, including the Genesis (1989), Mega-CD (1992), Multi-Mega "Genesis CDX" (1994), Saturn (1995), and their very last console, the Dreamcast (1999).



Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Release Date: 1985

The Console: Designed to look like a household appliance (and not like a video game console), the NES was the first console released post 1984-tech crash. The console was sold in the USA with the classic games, Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt, along with the accompanying lightgun, robotic operation buddy (R.O.B.), and original controllers. Reaching its height of popularity during the '80s, the NES paved the way for the Japanese gaming giant.



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Tom Hanks Producing JFK Assassination Film

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Tom-HanksTom Hanks sure does love his history. 

Variety is reporting the "Saving Private Ryan" star is re-teaming with his "Pacific" and "Band of Brothers" producing partner Gary Goetzman to make an independent film about the John F. Kennedy assassination under their Playtone Productions banner.

Peter Landesman penned the script and will direct for the first time. 

The script is currently titled "Parkland," after the hospital where JFK, his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and Oswald's killer, Jack Ruby all died. The film will follow several characters including a doctor, reporter, Secret Service agent, Kennedy's staff, and Jackie Kennedy.

The Kennedys have been a presence in TV and film for five decades, with countless TV movies, miniseries, and documentaries devoted to various members of the family, historical events, assassinations, and resulting trails. 

The most successful project is Oliver Stone's "JFK", which grossed  $205 million worldwide and garnered eight Oscar nominations in 1991.

Most were not as lucky. Emilio Estevez's "Bobby," based on the events at the Ambassador Hotel in the hours leading up to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, didn't fare as well. The 2006 film opened to middling reviews and finished with a worldwide gross of $21 million.

Last year's miniseries "The Kennedys" moved from History channel to ReelzChannel after History worried historical inaccuracies would harm their brand. The $30 million miniseries starred Greg Kinnear as JFK and Katie Holmes as Jackie, and found a small 1.9 million viewers (to compare, History Channel's "Hatfields & McCoys" attracted 17 million viewers this may).

While not strictly a "Kennedy" movie, the upcoming film "The Butler" about a White House butler serving eight presidents over three decades, stars James Marsden as JFK and Minka Kelly as Jackie O, and may compete for the same audience as "Parkland."

No word yet on casting for Hanks' "Parkland" but he will likely stay behind the scenes as he did on "Pacific" and "Band of Brothers." If he chooses to act in it though, a big name like his in front of the camera might add the legitimacy to the project that could propel it to the success of Stone's "JFK."

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift is dating a Kennedy >

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This Week In Movie Trailers: Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes A 'Last Stand' And More

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Arnold-Schwarzenegger

In this week's trailers, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone leave "The Expendables" for their own action films, and Colin Farrell leads a band of "Psychopaths."

Thor enlists Peeta to fight the North Koreans, and "Harry Potter" alums take on another classic novel.

Plus, James Franco takes "low budget indie" to a new level, and Channing Tatum goes to his high school reunion, which was apparently the coolest high school ever.

"10 Years" — September 14

Channing Tatum leads this cast of over a dozen upcoming stars getting together for their 10 year high school reunion. The film has a very 90's feel to it in the best way possible. Cheesy but heartfelt, this looks like the cast had fun making it, which the audience should appreciate. 



"Seven Psychopaths" — October 12

While this trailer certainly looks promising, there's not nearly enough yet to justify the talk of a Woody Harrelson supporting Oscar nod. A quirky cast including Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken makes this Colin Farrell film worth paying attention to. 



"Red Dawn" — November 21

We've already covered the tumultuous history of this project, but it looks like such over-the-top, pulpy fun, we're just glad it's finally coming out. 



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Here Are The 20 Most Popular Celebrities On Facebook

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rihanna

Hollywood's biggest actors may be some of the wealthiest, but that doesn't mean they're the most "liked" celebrities on Facebook. 

Some of them aren't even well-branded on the social media site. (Tom Cruise's page has slightly more than 2 million likes. And, as far as we can tell, Kristen Stewart doesn't even have a "real" Facebook outlet. Instead, she has a fan-made timeline and an old page with little more than a Wikipedia entry on the "Twilight" star.)

Rather, the most popular celebrities on Facebook are singers and television shows. 

The list includes the biggest entertainment brands pulled from data curated by Likester, who's adCenter follows trending topics on Facebook.

Among the top 20 entertainment timelines, only two actors appear.

Even more surprising may be the huge names left off the list. On the overall list of most-liked brands and celebrities on Facebook, Britney Spears is nowhere near the top, clocking in at the 92nd spot on the list. And three television shows–and one film franchise–kick Adam Sandler, Taylor Swiftthe Black Eyed Peas, and Vin Diesel off the list.

20. Will Smith: 34,279,739 (Joined: September 8, 2008)

WHY IT WORKS:

Smith posts some of the most artistic photos of himself to Facebook—just take a look at his Timeline photo.

The actor keeps us up to date with his family sharing his kids' and Jada's latest ventures, sends out photos while prepping for films.

He also shares links with his fans encouraging them to register to vote and check out charities, like water, he and his wife Jada support. The non-profit helps bring clean water to those in developing nations.



19. David Guetta: 34,638,812 (Joined: November 16, 2007)

WHY IT WORKS:

Guetta's appearance isn't that surprising after his latest album had seven big radio hits off last year's "Nothing But the Beat."

The artist expands his social network through posts in both English and French.

He gives fans direct access to new music, tour dates, and his YouTube videos. A hidden gem is a Guitar Hero-esque game, "Summer Blitz."

On Tuesday, Guetta revealed his latest single, "She Wolf," on his timeline.



18. Avril Lavigne: 35,283,821 (Joined: October 1, 2007)

WHY IT WORKS:

Shocked? You're not the only one; however, the singer is attempting a comeback with a new album out soon.

Lavigne's huge presence is probably due not only to personal photos, but also the amount of stories and music she shares that aren't her own. The posts make like a genuine person on the social networking site as opposed to a filler bot.



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The New Full Trailer For 'Homeland' Features An Eerie Soundtrack

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Claire-Danes

Finally, a full "Homeland" trailer is up, and it's two minutes of slow-building brilliance. Season two of the Emmy-nominated series can't come soon enough.

The trailer features Claire Dane's character Carrie Mathison going undercover with brunette hair. (Remember, last season, Mathison was canned from her CIA position.)

The lyrics, "I'll be watching you," from Scala & Kolacny Brothers "Every Breath You Take" cover fits perfectly with the theme for the season opener. (They're the same minds behind the incredible version of "Creep" from "The Social Network" trailer.) 

"Homeland" returns September 30 on Showtime, right after the premiere of "Dexter," and quite possibly riding the momentum of some big Emmy wins. If nothing else, Claire Danes is a good bet to win best actress. 

Check out the full trailer, and a couple of paranoia-fueled teasers, below:

SEE ALSO: 'Dexter' got a full trailer too! >

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15 Public Figures Who Were 'Killed' On Social Media

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Taylor Swift

Fake death reports are all the rage lately on social media.

@OfficialSkyNews, a fake Twitter account, created an international uproar Tuesday by tweeting ex-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had died.

That rumor, like many celebrity death reports on social media, turned out to be false.

From Demi Moore to North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un, public figures everywhere risk virtual assassination.

Kim Jong-un

Weibo, a Chinese microblogging site similar to Twitter, first "broke" the news that North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un had died, The International Business Times reported in February.

The rumor mill began churning when a man who works near the North Korean embassy in Beijing posted a concerned message on Weibo.

"Downstairs from the office, the cars at the Korean embassy are increasing rapidly, now there are over 30 cars. It's the first time I've seen this situation, did something happen in Korea?" he wrote, according to The Daily Mail.

News organizations weren't able to verify the rumor given North Korea's insular attitude, but the U.S. government ultimately shot it down.



Demi Moore

After she was hospitalized for reportedly inhaling nitrous oxide, "RIP Demi Moore" began circulating on Twitter, The International Business Times reported in January.

Gossip Cop struck down the rumor at the time, calling it "100% false."



Charlie Sheen

The former "Two And A Half Men" star has been the subject of multiple death hoaxes throughout the years.

A group called "Global Associated News" claimed Sheen died in December 2011 in a freak snowboarding accident, The Christian Post reported at the time. It appears "Global Associated News" is still trying to push that "developing" story.

In July 2011, Twitter was flooded with rumors the oft-troubled star had died of heart attack, the BBC reported in February.

But Sheen laughed the whole thing off, tweeting "Warlock: long nap...very much alive."

#WINNING?



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Jay Leno Accepts A Pay Cut To Save Jobs At The Tonight Show After 2 Dozen Workers Are Laid Off

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Jay Leno Tonight Show

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — "The Tonight Show" has laid off about two dozen workers, prompting host Jay Leno to accept a pay cut to spare other staffers as NBC clamps down on expenses.

NBC Universal imposed the cutbacks Friday, according to a person familiar with the moves. The person asked not to be identified because NBC Universal hadn't officially disclosed the cost cutting.

The payroll purge affected about 10 percent of the roughly 200 people who work on "The Tonight Show," still the top-rated late-night program. Viewers shouldn't notice any changes in programming at "The Tonight Show," the person said.

NBC Universal is trying to improve its financial performance under the ownership of Comcast Corp., which bought the entertainment company last year.

Leno had been making between $25 million to $30 million annually as the host of "The Tonight Show." His salary will be reduced to about $20 million after making the job-saving concessions. Leno also brings in substantial income touring as a stand-up comedian.

"Jay's foremost concern is for the wonderful people who work with him at 'The Tonight Show,'" said Bruce Bobbins, a spokesman for Leno. "He did what was necessary to ensure their well-being."

Several other staffers on "The Tonight Show" also absorbed pay cuts.

David Letterman, the host of a rival late-night show on CBS, accepted a significant pay cut in 2009.

The show's cost-cutting measures were first reported by Deadline Hollywood, a website that tracks the entertainment industry.

Comcast bought a controlling interest in NBC Universal for $6.2 billion in cash and several cable-TV channels valued at $7.25 billion. Besides its TV network and several cable channels, NBC also owns the Universal Pictures movie studio and theme parks.

Comcast, which is based in Philadelphia, makes most of its money selling cable TV and high-speed Internet access.

Despite its solid ratings, "The Tonight Show" hasn't been a big moneymaker. That prompted the cuts Friday, which are expected to trim the program's weekly budget by about $600,000, or 25 percent, to $1.7 million. That's back to its levels of a few years ago.

Leno outmaneuvered Letterman to succeed Johnny Carson as "The Tonight Show" host in 1992 and remained in one of television's most sought-after jobs for the next 17 years. At NBC's behest, he left the show in 2009 and was replaced by Conan O'Brien. After a few months hosting his own show in an earlier time slot, Leno returned as "The Tonight Show" host in 2010 in a decision that provoked a nasty fight between O'Brien and NBC.

O'Brien now hosts a late-night talk show on TBS

During Leno's brief stint hosting his prime-time program, his show's weekly budget escalated and wasn't reduced significantly to reflect his return to the late-night slot until now.

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AP Television Writer Frazier Moore contributed to this story.

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Darren Criss And Deborah Cox Serenade Fab.com's CEO At His Wedding

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Jason Goldberg and Christian Schoenherr

Fab.com CEO Jason Goldberg married his longtime boyfriend, Christian Schoenherr, Saturday at Craft, a restaurant in New York City.

As we noted when we reported on Goldberg and Schoenherr's visit to City Hall last month to pick up their marriage license, it's been a busy summer for Goldberg, who just raised $105 million for his website, which sells designer wares at a discount.

Glee star Darren Criss and R&B singer Deborah Cox performed at the wedding.

"Deborah and Darren have been avid supporters and promoters of gay rights and marriage equality," Goldberg told Business Insider via Facebook. "Darren in particular has been a huge supporter of the Trevor Project. Chris and I we're thrilled to have them perform on our special night."

(The Trevor Project is a nonprofit effort to prevent suicide among gay and lesbian youth. In 2010, Criss performed at a benefit for the project with singer Katy Perry.)

"It was great," a wedding guest told us. "Just like Jason: Efficient, fun, high quality."

Guests included tech figures like Shervin Pishevar, whose firm, Menlo Ventures, invested in Fab.com; and coworkers, including Fab.com CTO Nishith Shah and Bradford Shellhammer, the firm's chief creative officer.

Goldberg and Schoenherr asked guests to make donations to support efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in four states where, unlike New York, it is not yet legal. The couple made a $100,000 donation to back referendums in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington state.

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K-Pop Is The World's Hottest Music Trend, But Its Stars Make Almost No Money At Home

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korean pop psy gangnam

Korean musicians must export or starve

PSY (pictured, also known as Park Jae-sang) is having the time of his life. On August 12th at a stadium in Seoul, the rap star's concert felt like the only party in town. He entertained 30,000 fans for almost four hours. And this veteran of the South Korean charts has suddenly become popular in the West, since the video for his song "Gangnam Style", in which he rides an imaginary horse around a posh part of Seoul, went viral on YouTube. The track even hit number one on the iTunes dance chart in Finland.

Korean pop (known as K-pop to fans) is turning into an export success. Groups such as Super Junior and 2NE1 now sell millions of CDs and concert tickets in other parts of Asia. As K-pop zooms up the foreign charts, share prices of leading labels, such as SM Entertainment, have soared too.

But the outlook at home is less rosy. With the world's fastest broadband connections, Koreans have embraced downloading. This in itself is not a problem, but the way they do it is.

In other countries, many music-lovers still pay for downloads, through the likes of Apple's iTunes shop. Fans typically shell out at least 99 cents per track (and more in countries such as Japan and Britain). Of this, 70% goes to music labels and artists.

In South Korea, the market works differently. Subscription-based services, which allow the listener to rent music, are extremely popular. For a period of one month fans of rock and pop music pay a fee of around 9,000 won ($8) for 150 tracks. Such services have helped to drive overall music sales to 430 billion won in 2011.

Alas for labels and artists, however, their payout is miserly. Under subscription deals, they collect as little as 30 won per track. This must then be split between performers, writers and the label itself. SM Entertainment's boss complains that even 1m downloads cannot cover the cost of making a music video.

The fear of illegal downloading keeps the average price per track of digital music low. That the subscription-service operators are a powerful oligopoly further reduces the labels' bargaining power. Thus, SM Entertainment took in a trifling 1.9 billion won in domestic digital sales in the first quarter of 2012. By contrast, the firm sold CDs worth 3 billion won, despite the physical format's supposed demise.

SM Entertainment and other purveyors of K-pop cover this shortfall at home by having their stars hawk the latest phone, or appear on television variety shows. The biggest labels have become adept at squeezing cash out of their pop stars' names, rather than their music. But only a handful of musicians are famous enough to benefit.

South Korea's old business model, perfected by its carmakers, was to use a captive home market as a launch-pad from which to invade foreign shores. The country's pop musicians have turned this model upside down: they have to export their tunes to make up for meagre pickings at home.

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