Song Of Zarathustra & other: July 2008

Rob Cohen - Director Cohen Slams Weisz

Director ROB COHEN has criticised British actress RACHEL WEISZ for refusing to return for the third installment of THE MUMMY trilogy.

The 37-year-old shot to international stardom after appearing in 1999's original movie The Mummy.

And, despite appearing in 2001 follow-up The Mummy Returns, she turned down a role in the forthcoming sequel The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - blaming the location for her decision. Her representative insisted the actress didn't feel comfortable spending five months shooting in China as her son Henry is not yet two years old.

But the film's director Cohen claims she actually turned down the part because movie bosses had made her character too old.

He tells Britain's Heat magazine, "I got a very angry phone from her agent, saying she'll never play the mother of a 21-year-old. I said, 'OK, good, fine, bye.'"

Weisz has been replaced by Maria Bello in The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor, which is due for release later this year (08).

See Also

Lily Allen Ropes In Lindsay Lohan For Second Album

Linday Lohan is to feature as a special guest on the new Lily Allen album according to OK! Magazine.

The publication reports that Allen is working on a song named 'Wherever You Go', which will include Lohan on vocals.

It's said the two met in Los Angeles through a mutual friend and hit it off. Lohan - herself a singer as well as an actress - has been vocal about her love of Allen's music prior to the collaboration.

Lily announced this week that her second album has a current title of 'Stuck On The Naughty Step', while Lindsay is working on her own new album expected later this year - the first single, 'Bossy', can be heard here.

See Also

Task Horizon

Artist: Task Horizon

   Genre(s):
Drum & Bass

Discography:

Ghost in the Shell

Year: 2005
Tracks: 2

DSCI4 (DSCI4015)

Year: 2005
Tracks: 2

Woody sued for alleged photog smackdown

Photographer Josh Levine sued Woody Harrelson for $2.5 million Friday, claiming Harrelson injured him both physically and emotionally when he roughed him up two years ago outside a Hollywood club, E! News Online reports, per the Los Angeles Times.

The video Levine shot at the time shows the star breaking Levine�s camera, choking him and shoving the camera into his ribs, the complaint alleges.

See Also

Jah Mason and Jah Cure

Artist: Jah Mason and Jah Cure

   Genre(s):
Reggae
   Other

Discography:

Collection

Year: 2001
Tracks: 29

Best of

Year: 2001
Tracks: 29

Heath Ledger - Ledger Not Troubled Before Death Say Co-stars

HEATH LEDGER's state of mind before his death has been defended by his THE DARK KNIGHT co-stars - who claim he was the perfect father to daughter MATILDA.

Reports that Ledger had become maniacal after filming the new Batman movie - in which he plays The Joker - have been blasted by those who worked with him shortly before his death.

Gary Oldman, who plays Lt. Jim Gordon in the film, reveals that, while filming, Ledger was in high spirits, slamming reports that he had mood swings, sleeping problems and difficult relationships with other cast members.

He tells People.com, "Because he died people want a dark story (that) he was so obsessed with the character, he was so contaminated by the Joker and he couldn't sleep and all of that stuff.

"(But) in between takes he would sit on the kerbside and smoke a cigarette and laugh and talk about his daughter Matilda. I thought he was just a beautiful kid. I thought he was just wonderful. I had a real affection for him."

And far from being unbalanced, Ledger would constantly gush about his two-year-old daughter, Matilda, his child with actress Michelle Williams.

"Heath showed me pictures of (Matilda). (He) would come in and say she did this and she did that," reveals Aaron Eckhart, who plays District Attorney Harvey Dent in the sequel.

But Ledger was also passionate about his role in the film - and put all his energy into perfecting the part.

Eckhart adds, "He really created his look. That character - Heath loved so much. He really cared about the Joker."

Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment in January (08). Toxicology reports released a month later (Feb08) state he was killed by an accidental overdose of prescribed medication.

The Dark Knight is due in cinemas later this month (Jul08).