Jaden Smith is ShoWest’s ‘Breakthrough Male Star’

Source: www.eurweb.com

(March 15, 2010) *Jaden Smith, star of the upcoming Columbia Pictures remake of “The Karate Kid,” will be crowned Breakthrough Male Star of the Year at the upcoming ShoWest convention, organized by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). The son of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith will be presented with the award Wednesday during the group’s annual exhibitor’s convention at the Las Vegas’ Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas hotels. ShoWest also will screen “Kid” that same day, three months ahead of its June 11 theatrical release. “Jaden Smith is an exceptional young actor who has delivered a true breakout performance with his portrayal of Dre Parker in ‘The Karate Kid,’ ” Robert Sunshine, managing director of the event said. His film credits include “The Pursuit of Happyness” and a remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

David Oyelowo, Hugh Jackman in Lee Daniels’ ‘Selma’

Source: www.eurweb.com

(March 17, 2010) *”Precious” director Lee Daniels is moving forward with the casting of his civil rights film “Selma” despite a significant lack of funding. David Oyelowo, the British actor who appeared in “A Raisin in the Sun” and stars in George Lucas’ “Red Tails,” has been cast as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the film surrounding his historic marches in 1965 in Selma, Ala. Hugh Jackman joins the cast as a racist sheriff.  The part of Alabama Gov. George Wallace is still up for grabs. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Pathe International had been attached to finance the project, but might be scaling back its involvement, the extent of which was not immediately clear. It is known that the film is currently being shopped around in the hope of raising funds. Financial straits aren’t new for Daniels, who faced similar hurdles when making “Precious,” which relied on then-obscure financier Smokewood Entertainment and went on to win two Oscars.