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!

Actress, Ashley Judd is known for her roles in movies such as “Where the Heart Is” and “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”, in addition to her famous mother and sister. But this young Judd is also known for her dedication to the University of Kentucky basketball team. Having attended UK herself before receiving a Master’s from Harvard, Ashley has made many celebrity cameos at the games to show her support for her Alma Mater. We’re happy to report, that the recent Final Four games were no exception. Judd was spotted here in the crowd rooting for her favorite team. Perhaps she brought them luck, because the team did exceptionally well! NOLA is happy to welcome yet another famed celebrity to our city, and happy to see she’s been enjoying her stay!

For more on this story, visit USAToday!

 Recently, the Gambit reported on some of the more notable celebrity spottings of the week here in New Orleans. First, it appears that actor Leonardo DiCaprio was seen shopping at Saks 5th Avenue at Canal Place, and some are speculating that he may be staying at the Westin which is connected to the shopping center. Leo will be here throughout the filming of new movie, Django Unchained. Unchained director, Quentin Tarantino was later seen dining at the Freret Street spot, Ancora, Saturday night. Movie experts are not at all surprised with the directors choice in locale for this new film. The movie deals with tensions between a former-slave turned bounty hunter and his former plantation owner. The antebellum southern homes are a perfect setting to capture the essence of this story.  Unchained has also brought actor Samuel L. Jackson into the Crescent City, which Southern Celebrity Gossip reported on early this week. Joining Jackson and DiCaprio are actors Kurt Russell, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jamie Foxx, and Sacha Baron Cohen, who have yet to be spotted!

   The Gambit also referenced Sandra Bullock’s appearance at Super Saturday. It appears the beloved southern actress was taking in some of the sights as the Mardi Gras Indians took to the streets this past weekend. As the weather here in New Orleans gets warmer, our celebrity residents are soaking in that NOLA culture and Southern Celebrity Gossip is happy to report when they do. Stay tuned with us here, or visit the Gambit for more Hollywood South news.

New movie “On the Road” based off of the best-selling novel by Jack Kerouac filmed in Louisiana just last year. Shooting predominately in Amite, LA, directors brought an all star cast “on the road”. Leading in this picture are actors Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristin Stewart, Amy Adams and Kirsten Dunst. As well as local talent! Making yet another film appearance is also the local young actress, Madison Wolfe. Madison previously worked in the movie “Re-Kill” before taking on the role of Dodie in “On the Road”, and Will Ferrell’s daughter in “Dog Fight”. Madison began as a student of the John Robert Powers Performing Arts Academy and has had tremendous success in the past few years.



While this the production team for “On the Road” has yet to announce a formal release date, the trailer and some great new pictures have leaked their way onto the media circuit. The image below shows actress Kristin Stewart, along with Madison, which is gaining national attention for the budding entertainment community here in Louisiana.

For more on this story, visit ontheflix.com, or you can watch the official trailer on youtube!

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!

Brad Pitt has been flaunting his celebrity, in a good way, here in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Using his fame, and also his funds to help rebuild the Lower 9th, Brad has successfully developed a housing project here called the Make it Right Foundation. This organization has built over 75 homes here since 2007, and recently hosted a gala to help raise funds for future developments.  

This gala featured A-list celebrity guests, hosts and performers to help raise the desired $4 million dollars needed to take the project to the next level. Guests included Ellen DeGeneres, Rihanna, Kevin Spacey, Spike Lee, and of course Angelina Jolie. Jolie and Pitt also own a home here in the French Quarter which they frequently visit.

In addition to addressing the homelessness here in the Lower 9th, Pitt’s charity also strives to prevent this type of catastrophe from happening again. The times reports, “Multi-angled steel roofs, windows of ultra-strong glass and tough siding materials are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. Solar panels, rainwater collection systems and maximum air-circulation designs created homes with low utility bills.”. Brad’s “visionary” skills have earned him generous recognition as a New Orleans philanthropist, in addition to being a central figure in the Hollywood South.

For more on this incredible event, please visit the Times Online.

Russell Brand and actress Julianne Hough have been spotted filming a new, though untitled project here in New Orleans. A few images were captured of the two getting cozy as they filmed an night-scene outside of a popular pharmacy. We are anxious to learn more about this new movie as the two plan an extended stay in the Crescent City. The Daily Mail reports that this will be the second movie that the two have worked on together. They previously appeared together in "Rock of Ages" alongside Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin.





For more on this movie, and for more pictures of this celeb sighting visit the Daily Mail!

  Last spring, Zac Efron made a visit to New Orleans to film the new movie “The Paperboy”. At Southern Celebrity Gossip, we reported on the buzz of this film- as well as the candid shots of Efron around NOLA. Zac definitely enjoyed his trip to the Crescent City, but it was perhaps the company that he enjoyed best of all. In the Toronto Sun, the young star opened-up about his deep appreciation for actress and co-star, Nicole Kidman. In “The Paperboy” the two share more than one romantic scene, and Efron said that it was the highlight of his career! The Sun quotes Efron, “Nicole is so gorgeous. It was everything you dreamed of. She was such a lovely person. I pinch myself everyday, especially after doing love scenes with Nicole Kidman”. Now we’re all curious to see this pair on the big screen after the movie’s release sometime in 2012. The Paperboy promises to show off both new and mature talent, as well as the beautiful Louisiana scenery!

   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.

    Many of the stars from the hit movie “The Help” were recently honored at the 2012 Academy Awards. Jessica Chastain and Viola Davis were both nominated, and actress Octavia Spencer even took home the Oscar! “The Help” which filmed in Mississippi, parts of Alabama and Florida won’t be Viola Davis’ last project here in the Gulf South. The Oscar-nominee has already signed on to appear in the new movie “Ender’s Game”.

This movie is scheduled to begin filming in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana this month in preparation for its March 2013 release. Indie Wire reports that, “she'll be taking a solid role here, playing a psyschologist who oversees the children who are being trained, and develops games to test their skills.” So while Davis may not have landed the Academy Award, she did land a strong part in one of Hollywood South’s new pictures! Keep an eye out
for her and other stars, including Ben Kingsely and
Harrison Ford as they make their way to New Orleans for this film.