Hollywood heartthrob, Paul Walker, is making his way down to New Orleans to begin filming on the new movie, “Hours”. In this movie, Walker is taking on the emotionally (and physically) demanding role of Nolan, who is riding out Hurricane Katrina with his newborn baby. Nolan’s wife has died in childbirth, and the premature baby is at odds with the elements as the father and child struggle to survive. Paul Walker is the central figure in this film and is in almost every scene, which is filming here in Louisiana this spring. The production team notes that this isn’t just a movie about Hurricane Katrina, but a family story. The writer says that he fell in love the characters and story of this screenplay, and even Walker has been drawing upon his personal life to add depth to his performance. Walker, a father himself made the statement, “my little girl means the whole world to me. I really want to believe that if I was placed in the same situation that I would rise above, that I would be able to see it through the end and do what it would take to make sure my baby came out on top.” This latest addition to the Hollywood South is set to hit the Sundance Film Festival in early 2013, as it plans to wrap in June.

For more on this story, visit the Washington Post online.

     New Sci-Fi flick “Ender’s Game” is all the talk in both Hollywood and Hollywood South. This movie, featuring Hugo’s Asa Butterfield, has been filming in and around New Orleans for the past month and seeks to recreate the epic adventures of the book on which it is based. In order to do so, the production team had to reach for the stars- literally. In order to realistically portray the grand scale of the setting, the cast and crew of “Ender’s Game” have been making use of the NASA sound stage. This area was previously used to build the actual space shuttles! The production team is keeping a pretty tight lid on what exactly this new picture requires such large set for, but it has everyone eagerly anticipating the film’s release. As if the setting and special effects weren’t enough, this new movie has recruited a long list of celebrated actors that shining an extra spotlight on New Orleans. In addition to Butterfield, the film has also cast Sir Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford, and Viola Davis. So until the movie’s 2013 release, we’ll all just have to settle with spotting this fantastic cast around the Bayou.


For more on this story, visit MTV.com.

Here at Southern Celebrity Gossip we previously reported on the new Quentin Tarantino film that is shooting throughout Louisiana. In our older posts, we only had a snapshot of the plot for this new thriller. But it appears that the director himself has released a much more complete synopsis for this new flick! As previously mentioned, the story follows the title character, Django who is a former slave turned-bounty hunter as he tries to free his wife from the plantation on which she is incarcerated. But that sounds a little tame for the director who released "Inglorious Bastards", “Pulp Fiction”, as well as the “Kill Bill” movies. How about including a slave ranched called “Candyland” where slaves are trained to fight one another to the death? That’s a bit more like it!

Actor Kurt Russell will be playing the overseer who is responsible for training the inmates for battle, include Kerry Washington’s character, and Django’s wife, Broomhilda. The owner of the Candyland Plantation is the Academy Award-Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. Leo is a new player to the Tarantino cast. Quentin, like many directors, has a habit of using the same actors in many of his films. This list includes Uma Thurman, Christopher Waltz, Tim Roth and Samuel L. Jackson. Tarantino has made a name for himself with his (almost) ridiculous plot lines and avant-garde direction, so we’re all anxious for how this plot line with translate onto the big screen.

For the complete synopsis, visit theguardian.com.

  Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet portrayed the iconic lovers in James Cameron's Titanic in 1997. The duo has once again captured audiences attention as the famous flick is now being released in 3D to honor the 100th anniversary of the shipwreck. The new version premiered in London recently and spectators were shocked to see an unaccompanied Winselt in attendance. It appears that Leo didn't make it to the showing! There was a great deal of controversy over this faux pas, but as usual it just came down to logistics. Dicaprio is currently on location here in New Orleans filming the new Tarantino film and couldn't make the international fight to join his lovely leading lady. According to sources, the two actors (who have gone on to have remarkable careers) remain close friends. One story even reports on how Kate joked about how they have aged since Titanic's release, and how Leo has gotten "fatter". Most local theaters are playing the new version, which this Southern Celebrity Gossiper highly recommends seeing!

Rewind just a few days, and you’ll see that we just reported on how a Louisiana actor landed a role in “The Hunger Games”. Well now we’re happy to announce that a “Hunger Games” actor has landed a role in Louisiana! Leading actor, Liam Hemsworth will be taking on a part in the new movie “Empire State” which will be filming throughout the state over this spring. The young actor can previously be seen in the movie “The Last Song” where he played the love interest of real-life girlfriend, Miley Cyrus. “Empire State” is starring Dwayne Johnson, who was recently here in New Orleans working on the newest G.I. Joe flick. According to sources at NOLA.com, “the film is about two childhood friends who plan to rob an armored car depository, and the NYPD officer who stands in their way". The project will be shot mostly in New Orleans, but also some of the surrounding cities such as Mandeville. Filming begins on April 30th and executives plan to wrap after just 3 weeks! Everything in Hollywood moves so fast- even here in the Hollywood South!

    Hollywood icon, Tom Cruise is making his way down to New Orleans to film a new sci-fi thriller this spring. Joining the cast will be local actress Melissa Leo, who was made famous by the HBO series “TREME” portraying the character, Toni Bernette. Before landing the role with Cruise, Leo was predominantly a television star having appeared in “Criminal Minds” and “Law and Order”. The actress is excited to join the cast for “Oblivion” which will be filmed mainly in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. The cast for this picture includes actors Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko. Local actress, Lindsay Clift, will also be appearing in the picture playing the part of “young mother”. Clift is an active performer in New Orleans, and also is an acting coach at the John Robert Powers Performing Arts Academy. Joseph Kosinski is directing the film. Kosinski is best known for the
"TRON: Legacy", which features similar themes and aesthetics to the
much anticipated “Oblivion”.

For more on this story, visit NOLA.com.

The HBO Series Sex and the City may have been off the air for several years now, but the momentum of this show continues to gain strength. With a movie release in 2008, and a sequel not long after the dynamic foursome continue to captivate audiences. This show may be known for its very mature content, but a new television series strives to make this trend more all-age accessible.

With the CW leaking news about the new show “Carrie Diaries” it looks like it won’t be another sequel- but a PREQUEL that takes SATC to the next level. This show will focus around a much younger Carrie as she first discovers writing, love, friendship and her signature style. Joining the cast for this exciting new project is Louisiana’s own, Chloe Bridges, who will be playing the enemy of young Bradshaw. Chloe began as a student of acting at the John Robert Powers Performing Arts Academy before landing a role in Disney’s Camp Rock 2, playing opposite of Nick Jonas. She has also starred in the movie Worst Prom Ever, and made several appearances on 90210. We’re happy to see that both her future, and the future of Sex and the City are so bright!

   A new film, featuring actresses Emma Thomson (Harry Potter, and Lovem, Actually), and The Help’s Viola Davis, begins filming in Louisiana this spring. This movie, experts explain is a “hauntingly intense coming of age story set in the South (about) two star-crossed teenage lovers, Ethan, a local boy, and a mysterious new girl, Lena, who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town”. Thompson will be portraying both the religious troublemaker Mrs. Lincoln, and the evil witch that possesses her. While Davis takes on a tamer role of the town librarian who is also the caretaker of Ethan. Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert have already booked the roles of Ethan and Lena, who are the story’s central characters. O’Connell is a young English actor previously seen in “Weekender”, and Englert is an actress from New Zealand. Casting directors are still auditioning many roles for this picture, and anticipate opportunities for extras  here in Louisiana.

For more on this picture, visit IMDB.com.

Don’t let the title “The Last Exorcism” fool you- because the creative team is already making plans for the sequel! That’s right, “The Last Exorcism II” is already in pre-production, with plans for a 2013 release date. Actress Ashley Bell is cast to revisit the role of Nell Sweetzer in this new addition in the Exorcist saga, however no other actors names have yet been released for this project. The Director will be Ed Gass-Donnelly who has been making a name for himself at various film festivals. This horror flick begins filming here in New Orleans this spring, and local casting directors have already been scouting local talent. Check back to Southern Celebrity Gossip for more updates about this project.

For more on this movie, visit NOLA.com.