Batman: Arkham Origins is in the works, and the developers have learned a few things from previous Batman games.

After changing hands from developer Rocksteady, Warner Bros. Games Montreal looks back on the previous successes of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, pulling lessons they can apply to Batman: Arkham Origins. They talk about how Batman: Arkham Asylum changed the industry of videogames as well.

Ben Mattes, senior producer for Batman: Arkham Origins starts:

“I remember the guy … coming to me one day and just asking me if I’d read about this Arkham Asylum game. I guess I was a little prejudiced … I had dismissed it. ‘It’s gonna be another licensed superhero title, and I don’t really expect too much.’ I remember one day hearing about it, it’s been pushed back, and I started going ‘Wow, wait a second, what’s that all about? You don’t do that for a license title, obviously, this isn’t a standard license title. There’s something deeper to this.’”

Reid Schneider, WB Games Montreal’s head of production picks up from there, “I remember first seeing the campaign for Arkham Asylum. … I was with a buddy of mine named Alex, who was the creative director on AC3, we were looking at this and we were like, ‘This looks good,’ and she was like, ‘It’s amazing.’ I’m like, ‘Really?’ … I guess the game came out a few months later, we’re like, ‘Well played, Remy.’”

Ben Mattes continues:

“Obviously when it did come out, it was all anyone on my team talked about for a solid month. In particular, what they talked about and what we all aspired towards was how immediately you were Batman. They did not break that fourth wall. Everything you did, every UI element, every mechanic, every narrative element just further immersed you into the fantasy of being Batman. We salivated at that, we broke it apart and analyzed every little bit of it to try and extract from that techniques that we could make sure we were applying to our game so that ideally, players would feel as immersed in our lead characters as you were in Batman in Arkham Asylum.”

The rest of the interview can be seen at Game Informer.

What do you think of what the developers of Batman: Arkham Origins learned from the past games?

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’: Lessons Learned is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kids should work to earn their school lunches, according to a West Virginia politician. The man, Delegate Ray Canterbury, make the comment during a debate on the West Virginia Feed to Achieve Act.

The act would require all schools to try and maximize their school meal participation in order to take advantage of federal money for meals. But, despite the overwhelming support the bill received, Canterbury, a Republican, did not approve.

Instead, the same delegate who previously suggested Sci-Fi should be a mandatory school course stated:

“I think it would be a good idea if perhaps we had the kids work for their lunches: trash to be taken out, hallways to be swept, lawns to be mowed, make them earn it.”

His reasoning for making kids work for their school lunches? The Greenbrier County Republican explained:

“If they miss a lunch or they miss a meal they might not, in that class that after noon, learn to add, they may not learn to diagram a sentence, but they’ll learn a more important lesson.”

Canterbury’s suggestion was met with anger by many of his fellow lawmakers. Delegate Meshea Poore (D) was so upset her voice shock as she responded, “I’m offended that anybody in this body would dare say that a child has to work for their meal.”

House Majority Leader Brent Boggs was also visibly upset by the debate. He added, “It is pathetic that in a country as wealthy as this, that we’re talking about whether we should feed kids or not.” Despite Canterburry’s opposition, the West Virginia Feed to Achieve Act passed by a vote of 89 to 9.

The bill recommends programs like “grab and go” breakfasts and eating breakfast in class as ways for schools to increase participation. The act also sets up foundations in each county to collect private donations to fund the expanded meal programs. It cited national data and pilot programs in Mingo and Mason County, West Virginia, which showed student performance and test scores increase when children eat breakfast at school.

Do you think that kids should work for their school lunches?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Kids Should Work For School Lunches, Politician Claims is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 2013 NFL Draft has a degree of uncertainty not seen in years, and it’s all thanks to the quarterbacks.

In a normal draft year, the first round is dominated by quarterbacks as teams pin their hopes on finding a franchise signal caller in the first round. Last year, a strong crop of quarterbacks meant that players like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III shot to the top of the board well in advance of the opening night of the draft.

But the 2013 NFL Draft has a weak crop of quarterbacks, with none seeming to rise above to be a high first round selection.

The result is that mock drafts have as many different combinations as there are mock drafts. There isn’t much debate over the draft’s top players — which include offensive tackles Eric Fisher of Central Michigan and Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M and defensive tackles Sheldon Richardson of Missouri and Star Lotulelei of Utah.

But there’s no consensus of which player rises to the top, and who will hear their name called first by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Sporting News puts Fisher at No. 1

“Possessing high upside and ideal length, along with a strong football IQ and polish to his game, Fisher gets the nod over Luke Joeckel,” the publication’s player rankings note.

CBS Sports agrees, giving Fisher the top spot. But fans surveyed by Sports Illustrated say Joeckel will be the top pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Then there is the wild card. While this year’s class of quarterbacks is seen as the weakest in years, there are still many teams that will reach for a first-round quarterback in the hopes of finding a gem, even if the quarterbacks don’t stand out as much.

The consensus seems to be that West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is at the top of the class, and mock drafts place him anywhere from the top three to the mid-teens. It’s likely that one of the teams with a high pick and uncertainty at quarterback — like the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, or Philadelphia Eagles — could call Smith’s name if he’s still on the board.

The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 pm ET Thursday on ESPN and NFL Network.

2013 NFL Draft Comes With Greater Degree Of Uncertainty Than Normal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sean Combs and Arian Foster have signed on for Draft Day, the latest film from director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Stripes), according to a Wednesday report from The Wrap.

The website noted that Combs (aka Puff Daddy, Diddy) will star in a supporting role as a character named Chris Crawford. We’re assuming Crawford won’t be an actual player since that would immediately make the movie too unrealistic to watch. Possible owner or coach? Maybe.

Sean Combs may be a stranger to creating original music, but he does know his way around a film set. He co-starred in the 2001 films Monster’s Ball and Made. He’s also been in direct-to-video fare like Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power (2005) and recently headed back to the big screen in Get Him to the Greek (2010).

This film will also mark the acting debut of NFL star Arian Foster, who is almost certainly playing it safe as a football star since his day job consists of scoring touchdowns for the Houston Texans.

Draft Day will follow a day in the life of the Cleveland Browns general manager (Kevin Costner), whose decisions will make or break the futures of hundreds of NFL prospects. (Of course, and I say this as a Browns fan, actually getting drafted by Cleveland pretty much means you will be broken at some point.)

Today’s casting additions come on the heels of last week’s announcement from The Hollywood Reporter that Chadwick Boseman would be featured prominently as a hot Louisiana prospect, who may or may not end up on Team Costner.

Boseman scored a hit this year in another sports drama, 42, playing opposite Harrison Ford. The film opened at the top of the box office and has continued to perform well.

According to the numbers at Box Office Mojo, the Jackie Robinson biopic has thus far racked up $56.2 million on a budget of $40 million.

As for Ivan Reitman, he has flirted recently with the idea of remaking Ghostbusters — check out those comments below — though Dan Aykroyd still claims a sequel could shoot as early as 2014, Digital Spy reported on Wednesday.

Are you interested in Draft Day, and what do you think about the casting additions of Sean Combs and Arian Foster?

[Image via cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com]

Sean Combs, Arian Foster Join Ivan Reitman For ‘Draft Day’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

A green galaxy has been discovered using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced Tuesday. Once they spotted the faint red galaxy with the infrared camera, they took a deeper look with the Hubble Space Telescope.

If you can see the tiny red dot in the above photo from NASA, you’re looking at a galaxy with a nearly 100 percent efficiency at creating new stars.

That’s right. You’re quick. The green galaxy isn’t green in the optical light spectrum.

Instead, it’s green in the sense that it’s super fuel efficient. NASA explained that the Hubble studies revealed that the most of the starlight in this unusual galaxy is coming from a small region a fraction of the size of our own Milky Way galaxy.

Yet, within that relatively small region, stars are forming at hundreds of times the rate that they form in our own galaxy.

“This is a case of star formation at its most extreme,” JPL said in their statement announcing the discovery.

Jim Geach of Canada’s McGill University and lead author of a study on the galaxy published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters is equally enthusiastic: “This galaxy…[is] converting its gas supply into new stars at the maximum rate thought possible.”

By the way, don’t you love the names of rare and distant galaxies? This one goes by the moniker SDSSJ1506+54.

I like that +54. That’s the kind of galaxy that doesn’t tolerate any nonsense. It’s just fast and efficient, going about the business of making baby stars as fast as it can possibly pump ‘em out.

“We see some gas outflowing from this galaxy at millions of miles per hour, and this gas may have been blown away by the powerful radiation from the newly formed stars,” said Ryan Hickox, a Dartmouth College astrophysicist who is a co-author on the study.

And I thought my dad’s Scion was reasonably fuel efficient. But none of us can keep up with the newly discovered green galaxy.

[green galaxy photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI/IRAM]

Green Galaxy Almost 100 Percent Fuel Efficient, NASA Says is a post from: The Inquisitr

Paul Ryan’s former intern has been accused of sextortion.

According to The Week, 21-year-old Adam Savader has been arrested by the FBI over allegations that he blackmailed women into sending him nude photos. Savader, who was Paul Ryan’s intern during the Mitt Romney campaign, has been charged with cyberstalking and blackmail.

The FBI reports that Savader sent text messages via a Google voice number to 15 women saying that he had nude photos of them. The 21-year-old then told the women that he would post them online if they didn’t send him more nude photos.

The FBI writes: “Adam Paul Savader sent anonymous text messages using Google Voice numbers to 15 women stating that he had nude photographs of the women and threatening to distribute the nude photographs to the women’s friends and family members unless the women sent him more nude photographs of themselves.”

One woman told the FBI that she had received a text from Savader that read: “Listen to me. If we don’t have a deal I will send the pictures to those people. Is that what u want? remember what’s at stake. do u want ur family and everyone in DC to see your t—s? Just agree to e-mail me a pic of you in a bra.”

If Savader is convicted he could face up to five years in prison. The FBI writes that Savader is currently in federal custody in New York and will soon be transferred to Michigan.

Savader describes himself on his Twitter profile as an American patriot, a Reagan Republican, and former Paul Ryan intern. Savader also said that he work on the Newt Gingrich campaign.

Savader has not commented on the accusations.

Former Paul Ryan Intern Accused Of Sextortion is a post from: The Inquisitr

About a week after her defeat at the hands of Cat Zingano at The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale, Miesha Tate is already in talks for her next fight.

Pending medical clearance, Tate could take on Liz Carmouche at UFC on FOX 8 in July. After her loss to Zingano — accomplished through a number of knees and elbows to the face — Tate was expected to be out until about mid-October due to her injuries, which could include a broken nose. However, if an ear, nose, and throat specialist clears Tate, she’ll be able to resume full-contact training as early as June 13.

After the fight, Tate questioned whether some of the knees Zingano landed were illegal or not, especially since a couple happened while she was still getting off the ground.

“I consciously think it was illegal but someone sent me a picture and was like, ‘On the first knee, you were on your hands and knees and you were going to get up,” Tate said. “She kneed you on the way up while your hand was still clearly on the ground,’ and sent me a picture and I was like, ‘Oh I guess that’s a valid point.’”

Zingano didn’t think she did anything illegal, and said she had “not yet been able to review footage of the fight and therefore wasn’t sure of the exact sequence reporters were asking about.”

Carmouche, for her part, is also coming off of a loss. She fought women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey in the main event at UFC 157, and was defeated by — what else? — an armbar submission with 0:11 left in the first round.

Should Tate be cleared to fight Carmouche, she’ll have a bit of an extra incentive. The fight will take place at Key Arena in Seattle — Tate is a native of nearby Tacoma. If the fight does happen, it will take place on the main card, making it the first UFC women’s fight on network television.

Do you think Miesha Tate should fight Liz Carmouche?

Miesha Tate Could Face Liz Carmouche At UFC on FOX 8 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Fired anchor A.J. Clemente made headlines, and David Letterman’s Top Ten list, this week when he dropped the f-bomb during his first television broadcast.

Clemente may be the butt of the joke at the moment but he’ll get a little shot of redemption tonight when he appears on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Clemente was nervous before his first broadcast as a news anchor and didn’t realize that his microphone was on. He let out a couple of curse words as the camera rolled and a few hours later he lost his job.

Now, in most cases Clemente’s story would end with a long and tedious job hunt as he tries to redeem himself. But this is America, the land where 15-minutes of fame can turn into international stardom and a reality TV career.

Are you guys ready for The Sh*t My Fired News Anchor Says?

Clemente hasn’t received any reality TV show offers yet but he has offered an invitation to sit on the chair next to Letterman tonight.

The talk show host has already done a “Top Ten Signs Your First Day as a News Anchor Didn’t Go Well” list but I’m guessing that Dave will hit the topic again tonight, this time with Clemente cursing his way through the jokes.

You can see the video that caused Clemente to lose his job, and consequently land a spot on Letterman, here.

That couldn’t have gone any better! #Letterman

— A.J. Clemente (@ClementeAJ) April 24, 2013

And it looks like Clemente has a few more interviews lined up. After the fired news anchor appears on Letterman he’ll be appearing on Live! With Kelly And Michael. Clemente just posted this photo on Twitter with the caption “sweet.”

Fired Anchor To Appear On Letterman is a post from: The Inquisitr

The death toll from a building collapse in Bangladesh has reached 120 and authorities have said hundreds more are likely still inside.

Broken concrete and twisted metal is all that remains of an eight-story commercial building that once housed five garment manufacturers that employed about 2,500 people.

While authorities are not yet sure what caused the building to collapse, several garment workers near the building’s ruins stated that a crack appeared on the seventh floor on Tuesday.

The workers added that managers ordered workers not to report to their jobs on Wednesday. However, the factory owners later changed their minds, saying the building was safe and to report to work.

Despite their hesitation, many workers did so, because they didn’t want to lose their jobs. Along with garment factories, the Savar branch of BRAC Bank and a shopping mall also rented space in the collapsed building. The bank’s employees were ordered not to show up on Wednesday and a strike had already shut down the shopping mall.

Because of this, it is likely the only people injured or killed in the Bangladesh building collapse were factory workers. The building’s second floor hosted a supplier to UK retailer Primark. The company released a statement about the collapse, saying:

“Primark has been engaged for several years with NGOs and other retailers to review the Bangladeshi industry’s approach to factory standards. Primark will push for this review to also include building integrity.”

The Bangladesh building collapse again underscored the unsafe conditions for garment factory workers in the country. The debate was reignited in November when a factory fire killed 112 workers.  Abdur Rahim, who worked on the fifth floor of the collapsed building, said that a factory manager assured them there was no problem with the building, despite the severe cracks.

Volunteers extricate an injured garment worker #SavarTragedy #Bangladesh twitter.com/basherkella/st…

— Basherkella (@basherkella) April 24, 2013

Rahim recalled, “We started working. After about an hour or so the building collapsed suddenly.” The next thing he remembered was regaining consciousness outside the building. Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir spoke with reporters at the site on Wednesday, saying that the building violated construction codes and that “the culprits would be punished.”

By Wednesday evening, the death toll of the Bangladesh building collapse was over 120. More than 600 people were rescued and hundreds were injured. The death toll is expected to rise.

[Image via Twitter]

Bangladesh Building Collapse Death Toll Hits 120, Hundreds Still Trapped is a post from: The Inquisitr

An Amy Winehouse documentary is on the way from director Asif Kapadia and Universal Music, according to a Wednesday press release from Focus Features International.

The project will be on the market at next month’s Cannes Film Market with James Gay-Rees producing. The duo worked together previously on Kapadia’s film Senna, based on the life and death of Brazilian auto racer Ayrton Senna.

In a statement, Gay-Rees and Kapadia had this to say about the untitled Amy Winehouse documentary project: “This is an incredibly modern, emotional and relevant film that has the power to capture the zeitgeist and shine a light on the world we live in in a way that very few films can.”

The pair continued: “Amy was a once-in-a-generation talent who captured everyone’s attention; she wrote and sung from the heart, and everyone fell under her spell. But tragically, Amy seemed to fall apart under the relentless media attention, her troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle. As a society we celebrated her huge success, but then we were quick to judge her failings when it suited us.”

Winehouse is known mainly for her smash hit second album Back to Black. A chronic drug and alcohol abuser, Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27.

The title cut from that album has been covered by Beyonce, and will be featured in the upcoming remake of The Great Gatsby. Earlier this month, it was reported the late singer’s father Mitch Winehouse was decidedly unimpressed.

For more on that, you can check out the video from Huffington Post below, but don’t jump to any conclusions just yet:

On Wednesday, The Hollywood Gossip had a somewhat different report, noting that the Amy Winehouse Foundation was okay with Beyonce’s version, citing Mitch Winehouse as tweeting “I like Beyonce’s cover and have no probs.”

Mitch even went on to say that Beyonce “could do another if she wants.”

Are you looking forward to the Amy Winehouse documentary, and what did you think of Beyonce’s “Back to Black”?

[Image via ThePenguin / Shutterstock.com]

Amy Winehouse Documentary In The Works is a post from: The Inquisitr

Zynga, the developers who gave us FarmVille 2, is shutting down four more of its games.

Anyone who has been on Facebook enough will recognize at least a few of Zynga’s properties, perhaps even its logo. You have probably been pestered with Zynga game invitations and even played a few of their games (likely more than you’ll admit, they’re addicting). FarmVille, Cafe World, PetVille and others have each seen their share of traffic, but it hasn’t been enough, according to the recent closing of four offices.

Zynga has been shutting down underperforming games almost regularly to cut costs, including previously planned titles like CityVille, Party Friends, and The Friend Game, with further plans to shut down PetVille and Mafia Wars 2. Chief operations manager David Ko is readying more cuts of once-big games as of today.

Also getting the cut are The Ville, Empires & Allies, Dream Zoo, and Zynga City.

Mark Pincus, Chief Executive at Zynga, has gone on record as saying that although the games canceled in the first quarter were good for short-term performance, they wouldn’t have done well in the long run. He said 2013 has been a transition year for Zynga as it moves to focus more on mobile games for tablets. This makes sense considering Zynga previously stated that tablets are going to be the ultimate gaming platform in the future.

Zynga projects revenues will be $225 million to $235 million for the second quarter, with net loss expected in the range of $36.5 million to $26.5 million. Of course, projected profits can be wrong, as Nintendo has discovered with the Wii U.

The Facebook titan Zynga is still going strong with FarmVille 2, with 65 million monthly active mobile gamers, and instead of spreading itself thin, it’s focusing on the few games that let it stay on top. Only the future will tell if Zynga can stay there.

What do you think of Zynga cutting four more games?

Zynga Will Shut Down Four More Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

Julie Bowen revealed that she has a crush on fellow Modern Family cast member Sofia Vergara.

“I sort of worship Sofia. A girl crush I feel like you would have on someone you don’t know like Katy Perry,” the actress told E! Online about her co-star.

She added, “I respect her so much, she is so comfortable being a woman. I’m more like pulling at my dress and feeling like my boobs shouldn’t be doing whatever they’re doing.”

Julie Bowen said that Sofia Vergara is one of the few women she knows who is entirely at ease with being who she is. She added that the actress also seems comfortable with “the power that comes with that and the money she’s made with it.”

Bowen said of herself:

“I’ve always felt like I’ve straddled this line between being a tomboy and I guess if you dress me up just right and put on the right bra I can sort of look girly, but I always feel like I’m playing dress up.”

Sofia Vergara is reportedly using her power to launch a line of shapewear with the folks at Kmart. Her collection will be expanded to include “toning bodysuits, camis, tanks, bustiers, waist-shaping briefs and boyshorts, thigh slimmers, and half and full-slips.”

The actress explained to Women’s Wear Daily:

“Usually, when I go to an event I wear shapewear. It’s not to hold anything in, but to smooth everything out. But I do have to wear a bra with everything. I’m not really a designer but my lines are based on what I like and what I wear. We have a lot of meetings and all of the product gets tried on by me.”

Given that Sofia Vergara is talented, beautiful, and successful, it’s not altogether surprising that Julie Bowen has a crush on her Modern Family co-star.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Julie Bowen Has A Crush On Sofia Vergara is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jon Bon Jovi’s son, Jesse Bongiovi, will be starting his football career later this year at Notre Dame.

Well, hopefully.

Jesse will be trying to join the Fighting Irish as a walk on. He’ll start his Freshman year this Fall and he is hoping to impress coach Brian Kelly on the football field.

Jesse told the IrishSportsDaily: “I’d like to play corner, but wherever they’d like to put me. I’m open to any suggestions for coach Kelly.”

Jesse hasn’t made the squad yet but he’s still pretty excited to be going to Notre Dame. Bon Jovi’s son said that he visited the campus when he was in 8th grade and has been dreaming about attending the school ever since.

Jesse said: “I came up here when I was in eighth grade and I just fell in love with the place … The culture here, the people here, the opportunities here, they’re unreal. They’re second to none. Given the opportunity to walk on to the team and become a part of this family was an easy decision for me.”

USA Today reports that Jesse was a star football and lacrosse player at Poly Prep Country Day in Brooklyn, New York.

Jesse is Jon Bon Jovi’s second oldest child with wife Dorothea Hurley. Jesse has two young brothers, Jacob and Romeo, and an older sister, Stephanie.

Stephanie Bongiovi made headlines this year when she overdosed on heroin at her dorm at Hamilton College in New York. The musician said that his daughter is doing fine now and that they are looking forward to moving on from the scary incident.

Jon Bon Jovi’s Son Wants To Play Football At Notre Dame is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new Stonehenge theory suggests that the ancient ruins may have been a hunting site. The new theory comes after archaeologists discovered a site with evidence dating roughly 5,000 years before the structure was built.

The site, which was occupied continuously for more than 3,000 years, also had evidence of burning, thousands of flint tool fragments, and the bones of wild aurochs.

Together, the data suggests that the area around Stonehenge could have been an auroch migration route. The site could have been for feasting in ancient times, with the migration route drawing different cultures in the region together for the purpose of hunting the extinct giant cows.

Lead researcher David Jacques of the Open University in the United Kingdom, stated, “We may have found the cradle of Stonehenge, the reason why it is here.”

The mystery surrounding the ancient stone structure has existed for decades and new Stonehenge theories are ruthlessly debated among scholars. The stone structure was erected about 5,000 years ago in the plains of Wiltshire, England. But no one can definitively say why the giant stone structure was built.

Some theories for its existence include a burial ground, a place of worship, a sun calendar, a symbol of unity, or even that Stonehenge was created because of a sound illusion. The structure consists of large megaliths, also called sarsens. They are up to 30 feet tall and weigh upwards of 25 tons.

It also includes smaller bluesones, which weigh up to four tons. Researchers believe the massive boulders came from a quarry near Marlborough Downs, which is 20 miles from the mysterious site. The bluestones likely came from Preseli Hills in Wales. The hills are almost 156 miles from it.

The new Stonehenge theory could also help identify the people who first built the massive structure. Aside from a few giant pine posts that could be totem poles, which were raised between 8,500 and 10,000 years ago, there has been little evidence of occupation predating Stonehenge. The new research also suggests that the ancient boulders could have been raised in honor of the sacred hunting ground.

Do you think Stonehenge is a sacred hunting ground? What about an ancient burial ground?

[Image via ShutterStock]

New Stonehenge Theory Suggests Ancient Hunting Site is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell have signed on for Disney’s adaptation of the 1972 children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Wrap reported on Wednesday.

According to the website, Garner and Carell will play husband and wife, and parents to Alexander, who awakens to find gum in his hair. The discovery marks the start of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

On the way, however, Alexander learns that other people have bad days as well and thus realizes the power of hope and perseverance.

The film will be directed by Miguel Arteta, who broke in to Hollywood with The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston. He has since done mostly television work with directing chores on hit series, such as American Horror Story, New Girl, and Nurse Jackie. His last feature films were Youth in Revolt (2009) and Cedar Rapids (2011).

Jennifer Garner has been getting in touch with her maternal side with this film, and 2012′s The Odd Life of Timothy Green. She just capped filming on Dallas Buyers Club, a based-on-a-true-story drama with Matthew McConaughey set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic in 1986. According to IMDb, the film will be something of a biopic on the life of Ron Woodroof. Garner’s next film is the football drama Draft Day.

Steve Carell has five feature films on tap for 2013 thus far, including The Way, Way Back, Despicable Me 2, Foxcatcher, and Anchorman: The Legend Continues. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing him reprise his Michael Scott role for The Office series finale.

(Even though he has no problem doing stuff like this:)

As for author Judith Viorst’s beloved children’s classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, it has been adapted one other time as a 30-minute animated short from HBO in 1990.

Arteta’s film will be the first feature length adaptation.

Are you excited about Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell teaming up for this project? Have you read the book?

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Jennifer Garner, Steve Carell, ‘Alexander, And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gwyneth Paltrow has caused an uproar with the kids’ bikini line that is available on her website.

In a recent installment of her online newsletter, the actress featured a line of bikinis for girls between the ages of four and eight. Dubbed the “Kids’ New York bikini set,” the $45 swimsuits are available only through the GOOP website.

If any moms are fan of the design, then they can purchase a black bikini that matches the one their daughter is wearing.

Celebrities such as Kelly Brook and Rihana are reportedly big fans of Melissa Odabash’s swimsuits. However, many critics believe that the kids’ bikini line available on Gwyneth Paltrow’s website makes girls grow up way too fast.

Claudia Knights, director of the children’s charity Kidscape, is definitely not a fan of these outfits. She told the Daily Mail that the organization is strongly opposed to the “sexualization of children and of childhood.”

She added, “The dangers have been discussed at length, so it is a great pity that such trends continue and that they carry celebrity endorsement.”

Although the kids’ bikini line certainly has its fair share of detractors, Paltrow’s representative doesn’t seem too concerned about the controversy. In a statement to E! Online, the spokesperson described the uproar as “absurd.”

“Two-piece bathing suits have been worn by young girls for decades,” the rep remarked.

The Iron Man 3 actress and GOOP are no stranger to rubbing people the wrong way. The actress and her website came under fire last year after they recommended a detox plan that was criticized by health professionals. The Indian Express said the diet involved “consuming just one low-calorie meal and two protein shakes a day.”

A picture of the offending swimsuit is currently featured on GOOP.

Are you a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow? Do you think the kids’ bikini line offered on her website is too revealing for girls?

[Image via lev radin / Shutterstock.com]

Gwyneth Paltrow Causes Uproar With Kids’ Bikini Line is a post from: The Inquisitr

Country singer Billy Currington was charged today for threatening an elderly boat captain.

According to the Associated Press, Currington was indicted on charges today in Georgia for making “terroristic threats” toward 70-year-old Charles Ferrelle.

TMZ reports that the incident occurred on the outside of Currington’s home in Georgia. Ferrelle was reportedly ferrying two passengers in his boat past Currington’s home when the singer started screaming at him.

The captain, confused about what the fuss was about, continued on his way down the river. But when he returned toward the dock Currington was ready to threaten him again.

The country singer reportedly jumped on the man’s boat and rode with him to the public dock. The singer was planning on reporting the man for driving to close to his dock but Currington ended up getting charged with making “terroristic threats” toward an elderly person.

Currington reportedly threatened the old man saying that he was going to “f*** him up.”

Currington hasn’t commented directly on the situation but he did thank his fans for their support.

Currington wrote: “Hey guys, I wanted to thank everyone for the huge amount of support that I have received already. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on this situation as this is an ongoing legal matter. It means a lot to me to have your support during this time.”

Last week, the singer sent out another tweet that may be related to the situation. Currington said that it should be illegal for fans to harass him by boat.

harrassing artists often at their home by boat should be illegal.thas all i know.

— Billy Currington (@billycurrington) April 17, 2013

Currington is best known for his songs “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer” and “People Are Crazy.”

Billy Currington Charged For Threatening Elderly Boat Captain is a post from: The Inquisitr

Metallica: Through the Never is coming to IMAX theaters in September.

The heavy metal band that was once larger than life is due to be larger than life again, only in a different way. Metallica is getting a feature film entitled Metallica: Through the Never, loosely named after a song on their black album.

Metallica has had a rollercoaster career to say the least, starting out as a garage band that grew fame purely underground. They have had a history involving members of Flotsam and Jetsam, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Exodus. Their success finally got them to release a commercially successful album under the direction of the Motley Crue manager Bob Rock. After that, they began to fall from memory and then infamy as the albums Load, Reload and S&M were released, angering most of their fans in the process. The “gods of heavy metal” had turned soft.

After controversy with Napster and realizing their fans hated them, they decided to try going back to their thrash metal roots with St. Anger, but it was too little, too late. Even a feature film showing their struggle in recent years wasn’t enough to make the fans come back, and Some Kind of Monster was quickly forgotten.

Several not so well known albums later, Metallica is back, and is planning to come to IMAX theaters. Metallica: Through the Never was directed by Nimrod Antal and produced by Charlotte Huggins.

Lars Ulrich, debatably the only original member of the band, had this to say about the film:

“IMAX! It doesn’t get bigger or cooler than that! For four guys in a rock band of average height, to get a chance to unleash their 3D film on IMAX screens the size of buildings across the country is a mind-blowing thought. ‘Hey look, Mom, I’m 50 feet tall (finally!)’ There is no better way to experience film and when you throw in the spectacle of music and sound this should amount to an unprecedented, unique and truly next level experience.”

We can only hope, for their sake, that this film will help bring them back.

What do you think of Metallica: Through the Never coming to IMAX in September?

‘Metallica: Through The Never’ Coming To IMAX is a post from: The Inquisitr

Armie Hammer has signed on to star opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie will helm the cinematic version of the 60s television series starring Robert Vaughn.

Tom Cruise is already set to tackle the role of United Network Command for Law Enforcement agent Napoleon Solo. It’s believed that Lone Ranger star Armie Hammer will portray his partner in Ritchie’s big-screen update.

Once upon a time the project was in the capable hands of acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. George Clooney was set to star in the flick until he was forced to drop out. The project sat around at Warner Bros. until Guy Ritchie decided to pick up the reins.

Even Ritchie wasn’t sure if he was going to direct the project for the studio. He was reportedly ready to jump ship until Tom Cruise decided to star in the flick.

Armie Hammer is quickly making a name for himself in Hollywood. He first popped up on the radar as the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher’s drama The Social Network. His box office mettle will be tested when The Lone Ranger arrives in theaters later this year.

Hammer recently explained to Collider how he managed to land the role of the iconic hero. After he learned about the talent involved in front of and behind the camera, the actor said he was definitely interested in playing the character.

The actor told the website:

“I went in and read with Gore and went back in another time and did a work session with Gore where we just talked about the character and then I went in a third time and sat down with Gore and Justin Haythe, the writer of the project, and we sat on Gore’s balcony and smoked cigars and talked about the project, then walked away and that was it.”

Director Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. starring Tom Cruise and Armie Hammer will open in theaters at some point next year. Are you looking forward to the big-screen adaptation of the classic TV series?

Armie Hammer Signs On For ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kylie Bisutti quit modeling last year, saying she intended to concentrate on honoring God and her husband. More than a year later, she seems happy with her decision.

Speaking to The New York Post‘s Kate Storey about her decision, Bisutti says she “felt like a piece of meat” during her brief modeling career.

“I was being paid to strip down and pose provocatively to titillate men,” recalls the 23-year-old. “It wasn’t about modeling clothes anymore; I felt like a piece of meat.”

Not helping matters were comments from one agent, who allegedly told Bisutti in the early days of her career, “[You] look like a fat cow right now, Kylie. You need to lose 2 inches off of your hips.”

That was despite Bisutti going to extreme lengths to maintain her desired figure. “I pretty much restricted my diet to oatmeal, fruits and vegetables to meet runway expectations,” she says. “I’m 5-foot-10, and I got down to 115 pounds with measurements of 34-24-34.”

The cruel comments from her agent forced her to go even further. “After cutting my diet to just pineapples, watermelon and liters of water while exercising two hours a day, six days a week, I finally dropped down to 108 pounds, which satisfied my agent, and the gigs started rolling in.”

Kylie Bisutti’s modeling career rocketed in 2009 when the model, then just 19 years old, beat 10,000 other hopefuls in a 2009 nationwide contest run by Victoria’s Secret. Yet after an initial burst of excitement, she gradually became more and more disillusioned with modeling. She tells The Post:

“Two years after I won the Angel Search, I realized I didn’t want to model anything that sold sex.”

In December 2011, she tweeted the news that she was quitting modeling to be closer to God:

I stopped being a Victorias Secret model to become a Proverbs 31 wife!@eklund2032 #Proverbs31Movement

— Kylie Bisutti (@VSKylie) December 21, 2011

(Proverbs 31 says a husband can trust a virtuous and capable wife, and that, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”)

23-year-old Bisutti now resides with husband Mike in Montana, where the couple carry out voluntary work at their church. She admits quitting modeling has “probably cost me millions of dollars,” but says she has found happiness in her new life:

“I’ve never been more content. I no longer restrict what I eat. I weigh 124 pounds right now, but my ideal weight is 125. I want young girls to see me at a healthy size.”

Bisutti’s new memoir, I’m No Angel: From Victoria’s Secret Model to Role Model, hits stands May 14.

Kylie Bisutti Quit Modeling After Feeling ‘Like A Piece Of Meat’ is a post from: The Inquisitr