Tom Sturdy joins WB's growing first-look roster

HardyTom Sturdy has signed an initial-look deal at Warner Bros., just a little at least a year after he came aboard to portray the villain Bane within the studio's "The Dark Dark night Increases." The British actor's recent roles include "What This Means Is War," "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Warrior." Additionally to "The Dark Dark night Increases" in This summer, he'll be also observed in August in "The Wettest County."Hardy's deal was signed around the heels of Warner inking a 2-year, first-look cope with Bradley Cooper for his 22 & Indiana Pictures production company (Variety, March 2).Warner Bros. has around three dozen first-look production and distribution deals, a lot more than every other studio. Its roster of producer-stars includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Brand, Zac Efron, Robert Downey Junior., Morgan Freeman, Steve Carell, Film Clip and Matt Damon. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Universal dates 'Identity Theft'

Universal has set a May 10, 2013 release daet for Seth Gordon's crime comedy "Identity Theft."Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are attached to star with Scott Stuber to produce through his Stuber Pictures banner, alongside Bateman and Peter Morgan for DumbDumb. Pic revolves around a man whose identity is stolen by a woman.Universal used the same weekend last year for the opening of "Bridesmaids," for which McCarthy received an Oscar nom."Identity Theft" will open against Warner Bros.' sci-fier "Pacific Rim," directed by Guillermo del Toro in the tale of an alien attack threatening the Earth's existence. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Paywalls enforced on March Madness

Some aspects of March Madness will need audiences having to pay a $3.99 fee as opposed to the online for free use of all games that's been in position since 2006.Time Warner and CBS Corp. are switching to some zone defense with this year's multiplatform coverage from the NCAA men's basketball tournament.Some aspects of March Madness will need audiences having to pay a $3.99 fee as opposed to the online for free use of all games that's been in position since 2006. For that second consecutive year, CBS and Turner Sports are splitting the 67 games, coverage which starts March 7.Hoops fans who wish to watch games online which are scheduled to air on taking part cable systems TNT, The best spinner's and TruTV will have to give a password verifying they sign up for cable, satellite or telco services. Individuals wishing to look at the experience on wireless products such as the iPad will need to spend the money for fee no matter when they have been multichannel monthly subscriptions or otherwise. Monthly subscriptions aren't needed to look at online any games survive CBS.The paywall obstacles really are a reflection from the growing momentum behind the industry's embrace of TV Everywhere, a movement to boost the need for multichannel monthly subscriptions that counts Time Warner Boss Shaun Bewkes among its greatest advocates. Cable operators and satcasters leaned on developers to curtail the free accessibility to programming online considering their new readiness to pay for retransmission consent costs, a billion-dollar revenue stream that did not exist only a couple of years back.The paywall obstructing mobile and tablet products no matter authentication represents how privileges to TV programming typically work, without having-of-home viewing not technically covered under existing affiliate agreement.Just this past year, March Madness is made on the iPad the very first time free of charge. However, this season marks the very first time wireless availability is going to be extended to products run by Google's Android operating-system.CBS and Turner might be gambling that even when paywalls lower the amount of eyeballs which come towards the games across platforms, they'll still monetize individuals audiences in a greater rate compared to what they would through advertising alone. This past year, March Madness averaged 2.six million daily unique site visitors and it has gained hundreds of huge amount of money in ad revenue recently, which makes it probably the most lucrative video encounters online for the reason that time. The paywall strategy is not unparalleled, however. CBS billed $15 for online use of March Madness for any three-year period starting in 2003.March Madness would be the greatest profile test yet for that ease of access from the authentication experience, that has been belittled because of not being user-friendly. The proper change is available in the 2nd year of the massive 14-year pact where the companies ponied up an believed $11 billion. The games, that was formerly referred to as March Madness When Needed, happen to be renamed this season as March Madness Live. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Atkins becomes 'Smart Ass'

Essence Atkins is set to star opposite Marlon Wayans in the indie "Smart Ass," which Wayans will direct with Mike Tiddes. Pic is described as a spoof of a various found-footage pics like "Paranormal Activity" and "The Devil Inside Me." Rick Alvarez and Lisa Blum are producing the pic, which is currently filmming in L.A. Atkins previously worked with Wayans on Paramount's "Dance Flick" and can currently be seen in the TBS skein "Are We There Yet?" She is repped by Buchwald-Fortitude. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Exclusive Secret Circle First Look: Cassie's Witch Issues Turn Deadly

Britt Robertson As if Cassie Blake wasn't in enough trouble already, The Secret Circle's newest witch will be spending Valentine's Day with a few extra, ahem, people around. The Secret Circle Scoop: Diana's new love, John Blackwell's arrival and the Balcoin child While Faye (Phoebe Tonkin) and Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy) are tempting Diana (Shelley Hennig) with "Devil's Spirit" at their anti-Valentine's Day slumber party, Cassie (Britt Robertson) will turn to Adam (Thomas Dekker) and Jake (Chris Zylka) for help after the daughter of John Blackwell becomes haunted by the spirits of some vengeful witches - and by the looks of the clip below, those spirits are seriously powerful. The Secret Circle airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

SOC to recognize Eastwood, Radin

The Society of Camera Operators will recognize director Clint Eastwood and Panavision professional Phil Radin having its 2012 lifetime achievement honours inside a ceremony on Feb. 19 within the Leonard Goldenson Theater within the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood.Eastwood can get the Governors Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his creative contributions and advancement for the art and craft of cinema.Radin, Panavision's professional V . p . of marketing, can get the President's Award for Lifetime Achievement. The Lifetime Achievement as Camera Operator Award would go to Paul Babin. Beginning his credited behave as a camera operator later, Babin has operated on movies for instance "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," "Magnolia" and "The Soloist," additionally to several television shows.For Lifetime Achievement as Camera Specialist, the SOC has selected Zoran Veselic. Beginning in 1979 Veselic remains the A camera specialist for a number of major movies. His credits for focus assistant include "Moneyball," "The Muppets," "Males in Black," "Spider-Guy" and "Up in mid-air.InchThe Lifetime Achievement as Mobile Camera Platform Operator visits Harry Rez. Starting with credited be employed in 1973, Rez features a resume filled with movies and tv shows. His credits as dolly and key grip include "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Providence" and "Nashville."Andrew Cooper can get the Lifetime Achievement as Stills Digital digital photographer award. Since 1984, his credits have incorporated "The Departed," "Braveheart" and "War Equine."The Historic Shot Award is going to be presented to George Richmond for his handheld shot inside the scene titled, The Siege of Bexhill inside the feature film "Kids of Males."The SOC's Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Intend to the film Industry is going to be presented to d.p. Sol Negrin, leader of IATSE Local 600 and film school professor at NYU and Five Metropolitan areas College. He's famous for his concentrate on "Kojak," "The Patty Duke Show" and "Going to America." The award is going to be supplied by his boy, d.p. Michael Negrin.The SOC can have two honours for Camera Operator of year. Nominees for feature film camera operator are: Will Arnot, "The AssistanceInch Stephen Campanelli, "J. Edgar" Mitch Dubin, "War Equine" Peter Rosenfeld, "Cowboys & Aliens" and P. Scott Sakamoto, "The Descendants."TV camera operator nominees include: Grayson Austin, "Memphis Beat" Gregory P. Collier, "Bones" Simon Jayes, "True Blood stream" Andrew Mitchell, "Glee" and Chris Tufty, "The Closer."To recognize technical achievement the SOC will award Thales Angenieux for your Optimo 15-40, 28-76, 45-120mm number of handheld zoom contacts and Plant Ault's Grip Trix Shadow Tracker and Tracker XL electric camera platforms.The SOC holds its annual honours event to be able to raise funds for your Vision Center at Children's Hospital La. Each year SOC gives creating a film using the Vision Center to help spread the word of a simple diagnostic tool to help steer clear of the tragedy of certain children's eye ailments. The title and theme from the year's SOC film presentation is Be familiar with Glow. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Get The Gringo Trailer Online

How Mel Gibson spent his summer hols...Mel Gibson's much touted big comeback with last year's dark comedy The Beaver might have fizzled at the box office, but he'll be hoping for better results with his next film, Get The Gringo, which finds him squarely back in action man mode. Take a look at the trailer below. Now, we say box office, but from the sounds of the announcement picked up by Deadline, Gringo will be bypassing cinemas altogether in favour of a risky gamble with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on Video-On-Demand and Blu-Ray releases. It'll arrive, in the US, at least, on DirecTV May 1 and then hit other US telly providers' VOD services once DTV's exclusive period is up. After that will come the usual disc/digital download opportunities.Formerly known as How I Spent My Summer Vacation, the film itself finds Gibson in Lethal Weapon territory, a blend of violence, laughs and Mel beating people up (or getting hit himself) that he co-wrote with director Adrian Grunberg. He plays Driver, a criminal who smashes across the border to Mexico during a high speed car chase with the authorities. Picked up by the local cops, he's thrown in a brutal Mexican slammer and from there mixes with dangerous gangster types while wooing a beautiful, troubled woman and bonding slowly with her son.Lionsgate UK has the film over here, and plans to release it on May 11. There's no indication yet that this new deal will change that plan...

James Murdoch to prevent as GlaxoSmithKline director

James Murdoch will exit becoming an outdoors director of GlaxoSmithKline at its annual shareholders' meeting later this year, the big pharmaceutical company mentioned today. Compelled having a phone-hacking scandal in the uk, Murdoch resigned within the boards of News Corp.'s U.K. newspapers last fall. ''James has already established this decision to give consideration to his current duties as non-executive chairman of BSkyB, and following his decision to re-locate towards the united states . States, as chairman and leader, worldwide, of News Corporation,'' London-based GSK mentioned.''On account in the board, I have to thank James for your very good contribution he's made since he was hired last season and desire him well money for hard times.''In November, News Worldwide mentioned Murdoch forget about sits round the boards of News Group Newspapers, which creates The Sun's Sun rays, or of Occasions Newspapers, which creates The Occasions as well as the Sunday Occasions located in london. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Technicolor pacts with IndoorDirect

Technicolor's Premier Retail Networks and the Restaurant Entertainment Network operator IndoorDirect have formed a joint venture to expand their digital channels into retailers and restaurants. IndoorDirect co-founder Michael Winton and board member Charlie Rutman will operate the new venture, which could provide Hollywood with a new outlet to promote their properties. The Restaurant Entertainment Network unspools on screens in more than 1,200 fast food restaurants across the U.S., including Taco Bell, Wendy's, Denny's, Carl's Jr., Hardee's and Arby's. The network is viewed by more than 150 million consumers annually. PRN's own network plays in 8,550 retail locations in the U.S. and Mexico, including Albertsons, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Sam's Club, Target and Walmart locations. Company's major advertisers include the major film studios, TV networks, record labels and magazine and newspaper publishers. Under the agreement, PRN will take a 50% equity position in the joint venture in exchange for an undisclosed capital investment. The remaining half is owned by a number of investors, with Syncom Venture Partners as the largest. The duo hope to expand the network to 2,500 dining locations by the middle of the year. PRN will also manage all advertising sales, programming and network operations, while IndoorDirect will contribute a host of assets, such as its brand name, existing dining venue agreements, technology infrastructure and personnel. PRN and Dallas-based IndoorDirect previously brokered a strategic alliance in 2009 for PRN to provide national and regional advertising sales services for the Restaurant Entertainment Network. "We value our successful relationship with PRN, and this commitment will help us further expand our platform, reach more diners and provide marketers a more effective way of reaching consumers throughout the day," Rutman said. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Hot In Cleveland Gets a Fourth Season and a Spin-off

Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli Hot In Cleveland has been renewed for a fourth season, TV Land announced at Saturday's TCA press panel. The series, which stars Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Betty White, was given a 24-episode order to premiere next November. In addition to the pickup, the network has also greenlighted the spin-off Have Faith, starring Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash. Cedric's character Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine was first introduced on Cleveland last August. The first 12-episode season will follow the R&B singer-turned-minister after he takes over his father's church. Nash will play his wife Lolli.

Report: Louise Locklear Put in the hospital After Mixing Prescription Medications and Alcohol

Louise Locklear Louise Locklear was put in the hospital Thursday after taking a mixture of prescription medications and alcohol, TMZ reviews. The Melrose Place actress' sister known as 911 at roughly 2 p.m., based on the site. The fireplace department and also the Ventura County Sheriff's Department taken care of immediately the phone call and paramedics determined she must be put in the hospital after a test. Melrose Place alums Louise Locklear and Jack Wagner call off engagement Locklear, 50, lately broke her engagement to former Melrose Place co-star Jack Wagner. In 2008, Locklear's physician known as 911 and stated she was attempting to commit suicide after taking prescription medicines, however it later switched to be considered a false alarm. She was arrested that same year for any Drunk driving.

Betty White-colored Unveils New Celebrity Crush, Unveils Hopeful Legacy

First Launched: The month of the month of january 7, 2012 5:32 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Dish Of Salt: Betty White-colored On Her Behalf Account Two 2012 SAG Nominations La, Calif. -- Along with her 90th birthday just nearby, Betty White-colored is simply as feisty of course. The beloved actress nine-decade milestone will probably be celebrated in the public special filled with celebrity site visitors (set to air on NBC around the month of the month of january 16 at 8 PM), even though Betty remains greater than vocal about her extended-standing crush on actor Robert Redford, she states he must not produce a surprise appearance at her party. No, no, no! Betty introduced to AccessHollywood.coms Laura Saltman, when asked for if she wanted to finally fulfill the Butch Cassidy as well as the Sundance Kid legend at her party, throughout the interview carrying out a NBC Television Experts Association Winter Session on Friday. Thats the bargain I never desire to meet him! I merely would rather admire him from afar. It may be this kind of disappointment essentially met him, she ongoing. Ive taken his title in vain lots of occasions I'd be so embarrassed! They know. While very faithful to Robert, Betty recommended she might have developed feelings for an additional dapper star. George Clooney is not chopped liver, she told Laura getting fun. In my opinion [I] should expand [my] horizons a little, dont you? All jokes aside, Betty who boasts 63 years in show business states she hopes being appreciated this is not on her illustrious entertainment career, but also for her devotion to her feathered and furry pals. When asked for what she hopes her legacy will probably be, Betty quickly clarified, Animals. The positive thing about in e-commerce I have to stay in e-commerce to pay for my animal business [is always that Im capable of kind of further this content [to] not only be kind to animals, but appreciate them and luxuriate in them, she told Laura. Furthermore to starring on tv Lands sitcom, Hot in Cleveland, Betty will rapidly executive produce and play host on Off Their Rockers a hidden-camera show featuring senior citizens people pranking the youthful. Forget whatever you considered to request senior citizens because there's a spontaneity and they have a sense of fun nearly around anybody else, she mentioned. Its just senior citizens acquiring the visit naive youthful people. Off Their Rockers premieres around the month of the month of january 16 at 9:30 PM on NBC. Along with her 90th birthday just nearby, Betty White-colored is simply as feisty of course. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Crisis jams Hollywood in Southern Europe

Hollywood might be buoyant in Germany and solid in France -- but it is harming in southern Europe. Drawing a definite north-south divide, twelve month 2011 figures for many of Europe's Large Five nations raise a obvious question: Are U.S. three dimensional films, whose premium ticket costs are driving box office hikes in northern the region, too pricey for money-careful families within the south? German B.O. increased 3.8% this year to $1.17 billion, thanks largely to three dimensional perfs of "Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" ($74.a million) and "Pirates from the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"($57 million), plus German comedy hit "Kokowaah" ($39.3 million). Eight from Germany's top ten films were Hollywood fare. France smashed all-time records this year. Tix sales rose 4.2% to 216 million, repping around $1.9 billion. Goosed with a 2.5% increase in vat, 2011 U.K. B.O. is almost 4% on 2010 around 1.1 billion ($1.7 billion). In France and U.K., local fare -- French comedies "Intouchables" ($138.7 million) and "Absolutely nothing to Declare" ($67 million) in Blighty "The Inbetweeners" ($73.4 million), "The King's Speech" ($71.7 million) and U.K.-U.S. hybrid "Hallows, Part 2" ($118.six million) -- largely explain B.O. spikes. "U.K. cinema has already established a very buoyant year," stated Film Distributors' Assn. Boss Mark Batey. "Local product this past year just carried out from its skin. U.K. cinemagoing has demonstrated to become up against the recession." Italia and The country hardly invite such optimism, with Hollywood losing significant traction. Italia is monitoring for any 10% drop on 2010's $947 million B.O. -- U.S. movie share of the market has dropped from 60% to 48% while local photos arrived at an astonishing 40%. Clunkers in Italia this year incorporated three dimensional movies "Tintin" ($4.7 million) and "The Lion King" release ($5.a million). Total The spanish language B.O. fell 2.7% this past year as Hollywood perf stepped. Three U.S. blockbusters made north of $26 million this year, none this year. Driven by three dimensional prices, average The spanish language tix prices have risen 35% since 2004 to $8.70. This attempts family film attendance, stated a resource at Spain's Acec cinema circuit. Even just in Germany, Cinemaxx's Arne Schmidt stated, "The marketplace has already been partially flooded with three dimensional. We'd 'The Smurfs,' 'Kung Fu Panda 2,' 'Cars 2' and 'Rio' very close together. It had been too much." The lesson for 2012? three dimensional has not morphed from B.O. cure all to poison however it might be showing too pricey for a lot of cash-strapped Men and women. Nick Vivarelli in Rome and Erectile dysfunction Meza in Berlin led for this article. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

News Corp. opposes U.K. media rules shift

LONDON -- News Corp. has opposed calls for the U.K. government to set new limits on media ownership, and is convinced that a greater range of voices across broadcasting, print and online have emerged in recent years. In its submission to British communications regulator Ofcom's review of media plurality, the Rupert Murdoch-led org said it would be wrong to "set absolute limits on news market share." "Markets are working and the trend continues to be towards greater plurality rather than less plurality," News Corp. observed. But the conglom, still reeling from the phone hacking and police corruption scandals at its now defunct U.K. tabloid the News of the World drew attention to the power of the BBC in the U.K. media landscape. It described the BBC "as the largest provider, by any measure, of news on TV, over the radio and over the Internet" in Blighty. And that "it is therefore difficult to imagine that any cross-media market share test that would be adopted would not already be triggered by the BBC's news provision." There have been calls from pols and media campaigners to tighten U.K. media ownership rules following the phone-hacking row and the revelations about the Murdochs' close ties to Britain's political elite. In a separate submission to the media plurality review, BSkyB, which is controlled by News Corp., also urged Ofcom to include the BBC in any assessment of media plurality. "There is no logical basis for not including the BBC in any assessment of media plurality on the same basis as any other news and current affairs provider," it said. The Daily Mail, a fierce critic of the pubcaster, called for a cap limiting the amount of U.K. news provision any one org can have, but said the BBC should be excluded from this because of its "special status" by virtue of its public service activities. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'The Demon Inside' Clip: A Glance Within the School of Exorcism (VIDEO)

Carrying out an exorcism is, not remarkably, nasty business. You need to shout hopes and throw holy water and pray the satanic being will go back to the awful put it originated from. However, as you can tell out of this clip of 'The Demon Inside,' that isn't preventing some priests (or, stars who're playing priests) from trying to discover them. On the other hand, within this exclusive consider the film, which opens countrywide this Friday, we watch an organization taking courses in the Vatican School for Exorcism in Rome. Within the crowd is Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade), whose mother, Maria, continues to be possessed for 2 decades. Isabella is wishing to locate help on her mother, who's presently located inside a psychological hospital. As you can tell from video, Maria is within pretty rough shape. Best of luck to whomever attempts to tame that demon! 'The Demon Inside' hits theaters this Friday. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook