Ryan Gosling and the South African actress Charlize Theron are in talks to play Oscar Pistorius and his late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a biopic. Gosling recently announced he was taking a break from acting but apparently couldn't reject the role, according to The Sun. The Daily Mail reported that a number of scripts are being developed in Hollywood about South Africa's Paralympic hero and the Valentine's Day morning when he shot and killed his girlfriend. Pistorious, who is currently on bail, claims he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. Sources say an announcement is expected soon from a major film studio. – IANS
Seth Rogen and his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg have announced they're directing a new movie together, The Interview, co-written with Dan Sterling (The Office, Girls). Rogen is reportedly courting his Pineapple Express co-star James Franco to headline the movie, about a talk-show host (Franco) and his producer (Rogen) "who find themselves involved in a plot to assassinate North Korea's prime minister", according to a statement. – IANS
The Academy Awards will be held on March 2 next year, later than usual to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics, to be held in Sochi, Russia, from February 6 to 23. The later date for the Oscars will also allow for a more relaxed voting period, after complaints this year over the limited time Academy voters had to consider late-season releases. Nominations will be announced on January 16. – AFP
Dionne Warwick has filed for bankruptcy, citing tax liabilities attributed to financial mismanagement. Warwick, 72, filed the petition in New Jersey, where she was born and currently lives. She listed assets of US$25,500 (Dh93,600) and liabilities of more than $10.7 million. The bankruptcy was because of "negligent and gross financial mismanagement" in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, said Warwick's publicist. – Reuters
Angelina Jolie is meeting with women and girls in eastern Congo, where sexual violence is rampant. Jolie, who is a special envoy for the UN refugee agency, travelled to the Nzulo camp near Goma on Monday along with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. The International Rescue Committee says it has provided care to more than 2,500 women and girls who have been raped or abused over the past year alone. – AP
