Rob McQuarrie dies at 82

Conceptual designer Rob McQuarrie, who designed the feel of "The Exorcist" figures including Darth Vader and Chewbacca, died Saturday, March 3, in Berkeley, Calif. He was 82 coupled with been struggling with Parkinson's. McQuarrie, area of the team that won an Oscar in 1986 for that visual effects in "Cocoon," done the 3 from the original "The Exorcist" films and designed the spaceships in "Close Encounters from the Third Kind" and "E.T.: The Additional-Terrestrial." He seemed to be credited on "Raiders from the Lost Ark" and done the initial "Battlestar Galactica" series. McQuarrie was created in Gary, Ind., but gone to live in California. He would be a technical illustrator for Boeing in the beginning, but additionally designed film posters and provided animation for CBS' coverage of NASA's Apollo missions. George Lucas hired him as one example of moments from his "The Exorcist" script, and McQuarrie not just produced the feel of figures Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO but additionally of a few of the sets, including from the desert world Tatooine. His conceptual sketches assisted convince twentieth century Fox executives to invest in the film. The artist even made an appearance in "The Wild Bunch,Inch playing General McQuarrie, who had been one of the figures converted to figures. Inside a statement, Lucas stated: "His genial contribution, by means of unmatched production works of art, powered and inspired all the cast and crew from the original 'Star Wars' trilogy. When words couldn't convey my ideas, I possibly could always indicate certainly one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations and say, 'Do it such as this.AInch McQuarrie later done the flicks "Star Wars IV: The Voyage Home," "Batteries Not Incorporated" and "Nightbreed" called the conceptual designer of To the near future: The Ride at Universal Galleries in Hollywood and Florida. He was later requested to operate around the "The Exorcist" prequel trilogy but rejected. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Sarah Wright & Amy Huberman Get Leads In NBC Pilots, Austin Butler In Carrie Diaries

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Wright (Parks & Recreation) is set for the lead in NBCs untitled Hilary Winston single-camera pilot. It centers on Agnes (Wright), a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fiance, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge. Wright, who joins Mena Suvari and Kyle Howard on the pilot, recently guest starred on ABC’s Happy Endings, produced by the companies behind the Hilary Winston project, Sony TV and Fanfare. Wright, repped by ICM and Ellen Meyer Management, will next be seen in the feature 21 And Over. In her first U.S. audition ever, Irish actress Amy Huberman has landed the female lead opposite Justin Kirk in NBCs single-camera comedy pilot Animal Kingdom. The project, from Universal TV and American Work, centers on a House-like veterinarian, Dr. George Coleman (Kirk), who loves animals but usually hates their owners. Hugerman will play Dorothy, George’s intelligent and beautiful old girlfriend, now engaged to another, who is assigned to run the animal hospital. Huberman, repped by KLWGN and the Lisa Richards Agency, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 9th Annual Irish Film & TV Awards for her role in Stella Days. Austin Butler (Lifetime’s The Bling Ring) has been cast as the male lead in the CW pilot Carrie Diaries.The project, based on Candace Bushnells novel, chronicles Carrie Bradshaws (AnnaSophia Robb) coming of age in the 1980s when she asks her first questions about love, sex, friendship and family while exploring the worlds of high school and Manhattan. Butler, repped by WME and Anonymous Content, will play Sebastian Kydd, a brooding heartthrob and ultimate insider who always plays the outsider. His presence at Carrie’s school will shake things up in a big way.

Musicians endorse SAG-AFTRA merger

The American Federation of Musicians has endorsed the proposed merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, joining Actors' Equity in blessing the union. The exec board of the AFM said it is in "full support" of the merger pact. "When ratified by the groups' memberships, the uniting of the two groups will result in a more powerful and united face to represent workers in both film and broadcasting," the AFM said. Ballots went out this week to 120,000 SAG members and 70,000 AFTRA members, who include actors, broadcasters, DJs, singers and dancers, with a tabulation date of March 30. To be approved, the merger must receive at least 60% of the votes from each union. "The proposed merger is a historic step and is a symbol of unity for the entertainment sector and for the entire labor movement," said AFM president Ray Hair. "For decades, AFTRA and SAG have stood prominently and proudly for dignity and justice in the entertainment industry workplace. The joining of these two great unions will focus union power toward a better future for the media business, not only here in the United States but throughout the world." Should the SAG-AFTRA merger agreement be approved, new mergers would have to be approved by 60% of the voting membership or by 60% of the delegates of the new SAG-AFTRA. That means future combos with such performer unions as Equity and AFM could be OK'd without being subject to direct approval by the members of SAG-AFTRA. Merger proponents have long asserted that combining unions is a logical response to the increasing power of the mega-congloms and contended that the combined unions will have more bargaining clout. Merger opponents, who lost power at SAG in recent years, have argued that SAG will lose its unique character as a performers union and that the combined entity won't have more power at the negotiating table. SAG members voted down a proposed merger in 2003, when the merged union would have been called the Alliance of Intl. Media Artists. The Actors' Equity Council unanimously backed the "consolidation and affiliation" proposal in 2003. Opponents of the merger filed suit last week against SAG to block the combo, alleging that leaders have not conducted "the necessary due diligence." SAG's labelled the suit "a clear attempt at circumventing the will of the membership" and "a public relations stunt." Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Report: Stephen Colbert Takes Hiatus to look after Ailing Mother

Scott Speedman Felicity alum Scott Speedman will star opposite Andre Braugher in ABC's drama pilot from Shawn Ryan. In Last Measure, a renegade crew of the nuclear submarine, lead by Males of the Certain Age's Braugher, go on the move after repel a purchase to fireplace nuclear missiles. They find sanctuary in a NATO base where they declare the world's littlest nuclear nation. Speedman will have XO Mike Kendal, the 2nd-in-command from the U.S.S. Nevada, who's moral and sees every side of the confrontation. Pilot Season: Obtain the scoop! Also cast within the pilot is Camille p Pazzis, who'll portray Sophie, an understanding European researcher responsible for the NATO listening station the U.S.S. Nevada commandeers. As formerly introduced, Fall Reeser, Daisy Betts, and Serta Lissing will even star. The Shield's Ryan will executive-make the pilot, that they authored with Karl Gajdusek (Dead Much Like Me).

Ratings: Cougar Town Returns to all or any-Time Low

Courteney Cox and Busy Phillips Will we supply the Cougar Town crew a b - for trying?No matter the cast and producers' valiant guerrilla marketing effort for your extended-postponed third season, the comedy returned Tuesday to 4.8 million audiences together with single.8 rating inside the grownups 18-to-49 demo - both series lows.Social TV: Cougar Town creator offers ponies, drunken raves to loyal fansThe silver lining? The show experienced relatively small drops in measures - 4 and ten percent, correspondingly - within the Season 2 finale (if the broadcast on Wednesdays after Modern Family) and released the finest retention rate from Last Guy Standing (82 %) all season. Still, Cougar Town's premiere amounts are below people in the timeslot's previous (now-canceled) citizens Guy Up and Push The Button.Cbs television studios television galleries won the evening, run by NCIS, which came 19.4 million audiences together with a 3.9 rating.8 p.m.CBS: NCIS 19.4 million audiences (3.9 demo rating)ABC: Last Guy Standing 7.6 000 0000 (2.2) Cougar Town 4.8 million (1.8)Fox: Glee 6.9 million (2.8)NBC: The Finest Loser 5.8 million (2.) [8-10 p.m.]CW: Hart of Dixie (R) .7 million (.3)9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: La 16 million audiences (3.2)ABC: The Forest 4.9 million (1.7) Fox: New Girl 6.6 000 0000 (3.2) Raising Hope 4.68 million (2.1)CW: Ringer 1.07 million (.3)10 p.m.CBS: Memorable 10.9 million audiences (2.)ABC: Body of Proof 6.millions of (1.2)NBC: Motherhood 4.4 million (1.6)

Sports Illustrated's 2012 Bathing suit Edition Cover Leaks Online

Kate Upton, The 2012 Sports Highlighted Bathing suit Problem The previous Rookie of the season has switched professional. Kate Upton may be the cover girl for Sports Illustrated's 2012 Bathing suit Edition. Sports Highlighted was set to unveil the coverage Monday evening in an event, but a couple of issues were apparently sent early to some service station in Michigan and rapidly hit the web. TMZ.com published the coverage early online. Browse the relaxation of present day news Upton, one and actress, was named the Rookie of the season within the 2011 Bathing suit Edition. An e-mail to Sports Highlighted wasn't immediately came back.

New Horizons finds 'Jesus'

Reaching beyond its usual festivals and distribution procedures, Poland's New Horizons Assn. has boarded "Comrade Jesus," from helmer Urszula Antoniak. New Horizons, which runs the completely new Horizons Film Festival in Wroclaw, Belgium, also provides Przemyslaw Wojcieszek's "Secret" world premiering inside the Berlinale Forum. It's Wojcieszek's third film to unspool inside the section. New Horizons produced along with Dynamo Karuzela. New Horizons is creating "Comrade Jesus," starring Andrzej Chyra. Pic notifies the story of Jesus, who, while likely to a nouveau riche Polish family, won't leave to cause many trouble for your family members. New Horizons is presently hunting for a co-producer round the project. The ultimate film in the Polish-born and Holland-based Chyra was "Code Blue," which carried out in Directors' Week in Cannes this season. New Horizons distributed it in Belgium. Contact Carole Horst at carole.horst@variety.com

Henry Cavill In Talks For Historic Epic 'Great Wall'

Henry Cavill is heading from "Guy of Steel" to participate director Erection dysfunction Zwick within the "Great Wall." Meanwhile, Morgan Freeman might be the most recent actor to participate "Oblivion," Take advantage of Fiennes picks his next directorial effort and Haley Joel Osment is positioned to star in another sci-fi film. It's February 10, and you're simply attentiveness for current day casting call. Henry Cavill Heads For The "Great Wall" Henry Cavill is jumping in a single epic film to another. With production on "Guy of Steel" overall, Variety is verifying that Cavill is at predicts star in Erection dysfunction Zwick's approaching historic film "Great Wall." The film will think about the mystery behind how a Great Wall of China was created. Morgan Freeman Joins Tom Cruise In "Oblivion" The cast of Ernest Kosinski's "Oblivion" is constantly have more effective and much more effective. Deadline is verifying that Morgan Freeman has grew to become part of the cast inside an as-yet unknown role. He'll join Tom Cruise since the last guy around the publish-apocalyptic Earth, additionally to leading ladies Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko. Take advantage of Fiennes Will Star Within The Next Directorial Effort Screen Daily is verifying that Take advantage of Fiennes follows-up his directorial debut of "Coriolanus" while using period drama "The Invisible Lady." The film concentrates on an affection affair between Charles Dickens (being carried out by Fiennes) and also the mistress Nelly Ternan (Felicity Manley), with Fiennes's "The British Patient" costar Kristin Scott Thomas playing Ternan's mother. Stark Sands Goes "Inside Llewyn Davis" Broadway star Stark Sands might be the most recent youthful talent to participate the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis." The "American Idiot" star may have a forlorn but gifted music artist, according to Deadline. He'll be joining a star-studded cast including Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and John Goodman. John Cusack And Evan Peters Join Emma Roberts In "Adult World" Deadline is verifying that two new stars have grew to become part of Emma Roberts inside the cast of "Adult World." John Cusack originates aboard just like a famous poet named Rat Billings who's Roberts' character's idol and was the most effective poets in the 1990's. Peters, however, may have a personality named Manny. Haley Joel Osment Heads To Sci-Fi In "I'll Follow You Lower" Haley Joel Osment will most likely be headed to sci-fi territory inside the approaching Richie Mehta film "I'll Follow You Lower." Deadline is verifying that he'll be playing a man named Erol who discovers mysterious particulars about his missing father's disappearance. Reveal your opinions on current day Casting Make contact with should be genuine section below or on Twitter!

Watch The New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer!

Spider-Man does whatever a spider can, and that apparently includes spinning amazing trailers in addition to amazing webs. The second trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" swung online early Tuesday morning (February 7), bringing fans their best look yet at Andrew Garfield's take on Peter Parker. If you ever doubted his ability to crack wise and have fun while busting bad guy butt, doubt no morebut make no mistake, there is a sense of realism and darkness here that was not present in the Sam Raimi era of "Spider-Man." Certainly an intriguing trailer, even if Lizard still looks just okay. Check out the trailer below, and tune into MTV Splash Page throughout the week for plenty more "Spider-Man" updates!

New Lovelace images show James Franco as Hugh Hefner

A completely new batch on on-set images have turned up from pornstar biopic Lovelace, plus a start searching at James Franco as flesh-appreciator in chief, Hugh Hefner.Sporting a hideous velvet blouson and silk scarf combo, Franco looks every inch the louche lothario. We simply hope the matching smoking jacket is hiding because wardrobe somewhere... The newest number of pictures also sport Amanda Seyfried and Juno Temple out for just about any evening out and about. Seyfried plays titular adult artist Linda Lovelace, with Temple available among her pals. From the design of their clothes, the two are likely inside the same kind of work.Elsewhere, there's a look at Peter Sarsgaard searching mean and moody as Lovelace's abusive husband Chuck Traynor. Pleasingly, he's rocking quite the moustache.Directed by Make the most of Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Lovelace has yet to obtain the official release date, but is predicted to start later around. You can examine the completely new images below...

AFTRA board grants merger with SAG

The pending marriage between your Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists has moved one step closer.AFTRA's national board has approved a merger proposal with 94% from the panel OKing the program, after SAG's board approved Friday evening.The proposal would go to a election by SAG and AFTRA people beginning February. 27 with tabulation on March 30.The proposal will be delivered to 120,000 SAG people and 70,000 AFTRA people, who include stars, tv stations, DJs, performers and ballroom dancers. To pass through, the referendum would want a 60% approval margin from both orgs among votes cast.The brand new union is going to be known as SAG-AFTRA, should people approve the merger election.SAG people defeated merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both. In 2003, the merged union could have been known as the Alliance of Intl. Media Artists, who have been an issue within the defeat.Key particulars from the proposal will unquestionably be recommended by SAG persident Ken Howard throughout Sunday's SAG Honours ceremony in the Shrine Auditorium in La. The SAG prexy typically gives an on-air speech throughout the kudocast.Howard and AFTRA leader Roberta Reardon make the merger of these two unions their signature problem and received strong support from people in recent elections.The merger proposal was hammered out in a nine-day meeting earlier this year through the AFTRA and SAG Group for just one Union to sort out particulars like a title, governance, financing, membership needs and dues. That group had met five occasions since June.SAG's chosen leadership continues to be centered recently by individuals in support of a merger, who contend that the combined union could be more effective and take away jurisdictional overlaps. Competitors within SAG, whose influence has decreased recently, contend that SAG should remain for stars only and assert the new union will face problems in trying to mix the and retirement plans.SAG and AFTRA share jurisdiction on primetime TV. After many years of bitter disputes, AFTRA split from SAG on joint negotiating in 2008 and discussed another deal a complete year before SAG arrived at an accord -- resulting in producers choosing to sign with AFTRA for pretty much brand new shows.Howard suggests that people of SAG and AFTRA wish to mix unions to then resolve the dilemma of seeing pension and health contributions get into separate SAG and AFTRA plans, that are operated by joint industry-union boards. Howard was handily re-chosen to some second two-year term in September.If the suggested SAG-AFTRA merger pass, annual elections is a factor of history using the contests happening every 2 yrs rather. The program is targeted at mixing SAG's annual direct voting structure for many offices along with other slots filled using AFTRA's national convention structure, held every 2 yrs with associates chosen in the local level."I applaud the AFTRA National Board for his or her overwhelming approval of the historic merger package," Reardon stated following the approval. "The partnership we created around the G1 was among collegiality and consensus that went into lounging the building blocks for any new union. This plan of action brings together the thoughtful work and valuable perspectives from small and big marketplaces nationwide of numerous working stars, broadcast professionals, recording artists along with other entertainers who all labored together in solidarity with the G1."Both boards decided to have an oppossition statement within the official ballot materials Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Acad allows 4 producers for 'Tree of Life'

'Tree of Life'The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences determined Friday that it will officially credit four producers, instead of three, for "The Tree of Life." The Producers Branch Executive Committee determined that the official Oscar nominees for the film are Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill.Although Academy rules usually allow for no more than three producers for any nominated film, the executive committee determined that the film represented a "rare and extraordinary circumstance," as described by the rules, and that each of the foursome functioned as genuine producers of the film."Tree" star Brad Pitt is also credited on screen as a producer, but did not make the Acad's cut. Pitt is a best-pic nominee as a producer of "Moneyball," for which he also earned a best actor nom.Producers for the eight other motion pictures nominated in the Best Picture category -- "The Artist," "The Descendants," "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," "The Help," "Hugo," "Midnight in Paris," "Moneyball" and "War Horse" -- were announced Jan. 24 and remain unchanged. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Transmedia comes alive via tech toys

Rob Gomez states tech companies are interested in creative input. Transmedia needs to be an easy concept to understand: Create a project that could play across multiple platforms. Walking the show floor in the Las vegas Convention Center, throughout CES, all people various screens are saved to full display. But Rob Gomez, Boss of Starlight Runner Entertainment, which has aided art galleries develop transmedia storytelling with franchise like "Pirates in the Caribbean" and "Transformers," states there's still a lot more play the role of accomplished. He spoke to Variety in regards to the issues the biz still needs to handle to produce transmedia effective.How come the time to produce transmedia projects?"Basically a few years back there wasn't more you could do this. Tech was tech and content was produced being so specific: You produced a tv series for TV because that's what lots of people were searching at and weren't going anywhere. Description of how the will probably different media platforms and they're trading more hours on people platforms however the expense to develop this core distribution are extremely exorbitant that you'd like the data to make use of across many different platforms."What's Hollywood concern with implementing transmedia?"There's anxiety we've got the technology can provide the client a lot of access which they'll visit town in regards to the product within an adverse way." What's your reaction within the tech biz?"We're finding that tech companies are very considering storytellers. They are planning on creatives coming and finding by themselves technology to accomplish interesting things. They're efficient at building platforms but they're not capable at showing it well.InchIn whose job can it be within the art galleries to market transmedia?"It is not the job from the trademark manager but a specific kind of producer while using skillsets to understand the kind of storytelling and manage the way a tales are told as well as the politics inside the organization to produce that kind of content work and nurture the franchise generally. You will need somebody who knows just what the platforms are and the way to develop content that will play towards the talents."How extended before Hollywood and Plastic Valley get it?InchIt will need another few years to be going. The finish outcome is in the event you just escape the cab (within the Las vegas Convention Center) and start walking the floor, you'll probably see plenty of pretty televisions. There must be an infrastructure incorporated within the CES experience that produces imagination from Hollywood with regards to searching within the technology. I have found that is not an instinctive factor.How when the creatives view CES?"The problem is what they're searching when needed come in shops later this year. What we should must consider is when is certainly going next since we're developing content that won't emerge for three or four years. I'm coping with Microsoft which i realize what they're doing three years from now which is stunning."You didn't gold gold coin transmedia but you're pushing it forward."I'm not a real radical. I'm a a little more Professor X than Magneto. Transmedia has been around becoming an academic concept for several years before I kind of found that body at work and began interacting it. We've come really far because we've had the chance to articulate what this can be in words that people understand. And that we have experienced the chance to convey, 'Look, this can be new technology that are new techniques but we're utilizing your established infrastructure to acquire things done.'"How do you say storytelling has changed?"For just about any century, we required to shut up and give consideration towards the broadcaster. We've attended telling tales around a fireplace. A great deal at CES has focused on items that are nearly broadcasting. Age one-way broadcast, I'm, is going to an finish."What must change for industries to understand their new consumer?"These changes need a general change in attitude together with a brand new understanding of we have got we've got the technology that's presently being launched too as with development. Plenty of work should be implemented to usher the entertainment industry into this age, but furthermore to produce individuals who're building we have got we've got the technology more alert to the pressure of the dialogue." Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

One Existence to reside in Alums to Reprise Figures on General Hospital

Kassie DePaiva and Roger Howarth One Existence to Live's Kassie DePaiva, Roger Howarth, Michael Easton and Kristen Alderson will rapidly be a part of General Hospital, where they'll reprise their figures, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini introduced Wednesday.Have a look at photos from General Hospital"There is available a fantastic story planned for your people of Port Charles, with Sonny Corinthos at the center of it! I am confident audiences and fans alike will probably be excited for your arrival of John (Easton), Starr (Alderson), Blair (DePaiva) and Todd (Howarth)," mentioned Valentini. "Integrating figures in a single Existence to reside in continue the legacy in the show after we weave them into General Hospital."One Existence to reside in and many types of The Children not heading onlineProduction round the ABC daytime soap's new narrative will begin within the finish from the month.After several days of speculation in regards to the extended-running soap's fate, the network introduced in November that particular Existence to reside in won't have the following online. After 44 years (and many 11,000 episodes) the series finale will air Friday.