Charlie Sheen to play the US president

Plus: Mel C upset with Olympics snub for Spice Girls, Streisand returns to the director's chair, Matthew McConaughey has had enough of romcoms, and Todd Palin joins reality TV show.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Roastee Charlie Sheen arrives at Comedy Central's Roast of Charlie Sheen held at Sony Studios on September 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Christopher Polk/Getty Images/AFP
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The filmmaker Robert Rodriguez has cast Charlie Sheen to play the US president in his new action film Machete Kills, which also stars Mel Gibson and Jessica Alba. In an interview with the New York Times last week, Sheen said he'll retire from acting after his new TV series Anger Management comes to an end, so he can spend time with his family. "When I'm done with this business, it's just going to be about soccer games and amusement parks," he said.

Spice Girl upset with Olympics snub

The web is abuzz with a leaked playlist the director Danny Boyle is reportedly using for the Olympics opening ceremonies. The 86-track list features all British acts, including The Beatles, Coldplay, David Bowie, Oasis, Sugababes, Arctic Monkeys, Duran Duran, Blur and the composer Edward Elgar. The former Spice Girl Mel C told The Mirror: "I'd be really upset if the Spice Girls weren't included, because I think we absolutely represented Britain in the 1990s."

Streisand to direct Firth and Blanchett

Barbra Streisand will venture into her first directorial venture in 16 years via the romantic drama Skinny and Cat, about the writer Erskine Caldwell and the photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White, which will star Colin Firth and Cate Blanchett. The film, which begins shooting on January, will be independently produced. Streisand will next be seen on the big screen this December in the comedy The Guilt Trip, co-starring with Seth Rogen.

McConaughey steers away from romcoms

Matthew McConaughey has said he's had enough of romantic comedies and now wants to do more edgy roles. "I did have to say no to a lot of romcoms. I think Hollywood got a little bit like, 'OK, he seriously doesn't want to do any more of these right now'," he told ShortList magazine. The actor is gearing up for the release of his new crime thriller Killer Joe. "My role as a riot man was exactly what I was looking for. I was like, all right, let's shake things up!" * IANS

Todd Palin joins reality TV show

Sarah Palin's husband Todd will compete against the boxer Laila Ali, the singer Nick Lachey and other celebrities in a forthcoming reality show called Stars Earn Stripes, where they will tackle missions inspired by real military exercises, each playing for a veterans charity. The retired Army General and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark will host the series, which premieres in the US on August 13. * AP