Alex Cross started out as I, Alex Cross, and it was to star Idris Elba as James Patterson’s famed detective, who had previously been played by Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.

Not only did they drop Idris (as well as any interest I may have had in the project), they dropped, the “I”, thereby making the title as generic as possible. (Fitting for a movie based on a Patterson novel) and added Tyler “Medea” Perry as Alex Cross.

Having said all of that, these first pics have at least gotten my attention, even if I’m not yet ready to say I’m on board with this.  Anyone who remember’s Matthew Fox from “Party of Five” and/or “Lost” has never seem him like this. He’s practically unrecognizable. Now we know what was up with the shaved head, but holy schnikey! Those tats! And those muscles look deadly! I think he's about to snap some guys leg off and beat him with it in one pic.

I’m also encouraged by the presence of Edward Burns. I realize Burns sometimes takes big budget projects for the paycheck in order to finance his own small (and generally terrific) projects, but his presence is always welcome.

“After Washington DC detective Alex Cross is told that a family member has been murdered, he vows to track down the killer. He soon discovers that she was not his first victim and that things are not what they seem.”

Rob Cohen is at the helm (Dragonheart, Daylight) and directs from a script co-written by Marc Moss (Along Came a Spider) and Kerry Williamson.

The film also stars Jean Reno, Giancarlo Esposito, Cicely Tyson, John C. McGinley and Rachel Nichols (Conan the Barbarian). Alex Cross will be released in the US on October 26.  No word on a UK release date.

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photo source

Tyler Perry has been getting A LOT of flack for putting Kim Kardashian in his currently-filming movie the Marriage Counselor, so he addresses it with his fans because that's how Tyler does it! He's very open and takes the time to communicate with his legions of fans.

Let us know your thoughts on the matter. In his own words, Tyler explains the choice:

Hey guys,

I think many of you know that this is a very difficult time of year for me, so what I try to do is make sure that I’m working during this time. All I wanted to do was shoot a great film and try to keep my mind off the holiday grief that I have been experiencing for the past two years. I could not have imagined I’d be getting all these emails about Kim Kardashian. I HAVE SEEN THEM!! YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!! …LOL. Now, may I say something? Can a brother get a word in?….LOL. Y’all gave me a new movie title, Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman Cause You Hired Kim Kardashian, Don’t Make Me Take Off My Earrings and Boycott Yo A**.”…LOL.  Some of my ladies are upset. Ok, all jokes aside, can I have my say? Will you at least here me out?

 

I was in a Mexican restaurant and the cutest little old woman stopped me and said, “I want to talk to you about KAR-DAT- CHA-NEM.” I said, “Ma’am?” She said, “What is wrong with you putting her in the lead role of your movie?” By the time I explained to her that she was not in the lead role and why I thought she should be in “The Marriage Counselor”, she said, “Oh, I see your point and I can’t wait to see the movie.” So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to share with you what I said to her then maybe you’ll see why I wanted her in the film.

This movie is about a young lady named Judith (Jurnee Smolett), who grew up in the countryside of Virginia in a trailer park. She was raised in the church by her mother Sarah (Ella Joyce). Judith married her childhood sweetheart Brice (Lance Gross) and had the perfect life until she graduated college and went to work in the big city.  After college, all she wanted to do was be a marriage counselor, but the only job she could find was working for a matchmaker named Janice (Vanessa Williams). Janice has several employees that work for her, including a woman named Ava (Kim Kardashian). Ava is constantly trying to influence Judith on everything from her shoes to her hair. Judith meets a man at work named Harley (Robbie Jones). Harley challenges everything in her life from her marriage to her husband to her faith. Meanwhile, Brice (Lance Gross), Judith’s husband works at a pharmacy owned by Mrs. Waco (Renee Taylor). Brice has just hired a coworker named Melinda (Brandy), who has some major demons that she is running from. In the end, the choices that both of these young women have made come crashing down on them and their lives will never be the same.  I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.

After I finished writing this movie, I sat back and re-read it. Half way through my read, the gravity of what I had written hit me. I knew that this message was not only for my age group, but for all audiences, especially the youth.  ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH!!  YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO SEE THIS!!!   And not just the young people that follow me, but the young people that are following other young people, as well.  I wanted a younger cast, that’s why I put Jurnee in the lead and invited Lance Gross, Robbie Jones and Brandy.  About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim’s marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting. I said to one of my producers, “who else is out there that young people are looking up to?” One of my producers showed me pictures that his daughter had taken of several hundred kids lined up around the corner to get into a Kardashian store. They wanted to meet Kim. I thought, what better person! She literally has millions of young people following her. I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film. To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about, what happens in life when you make the wrong choices. Whether you’re aware of it or not, to be honest with you I wasn’t, millions of young people adore her and are following her every move. If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I’m being led to do here. I hope you understand. I really do!

And lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn’t Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God?  What is wrong with that??

I welcome your comments at http://www.tylerperry.com/talk.

 

Forbes has released their list of Hollywood’s 20 Highest Earners of 2010 and well, by the time you are finished reading this list, you will probably just as green with envy as I am.  Yes, there was a pun intended, that’s all I got!  Oh the things I would do with that kind of cash…….

Oprah Has Way Too Much Money People

Lady Gaga, How and WHY Do You Do THIS?

No surprise to see Oprah on top with Judy Judy rounding out the bottom.  Do any of the names below surprise you?

1. Oprah Winfrey, $315 million
2. James Cameron, $210 million
3. Tyler Perry, $125 million
4. Michael Bay, $120 million
5. Tiger Woods, $105 million
6. Jerry Bruckheimer, $100 million
7. Steven Spielberg, $100 million
8. George Lucas, $95 million
9. Beyoncé, $87 million
10. Dr. Phil, $80 million
11. Simon Cowell, $80 million
12. Jerry Seinfeld, $75 million
13. Britney Spears, $64 million
14. Lady Gaga, $62 million
15. Madonna, $58 million
16. Sandra Bullock, $56 million
17. Ellen DeGeneres, $55 million
18. Miley Cyrus, $48 million
19. Taylor Swift, $45 million
20. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million

Photo: WENN

Tyler Perry is exhausted and needs a break and being the class act that he is he personally addressed his fans to let them know that although he has to cancel some dates of his ‘encore leg’ of the MADEO Tour,  they will get a full refund:

You have no idea how hard this is for me to do but I wanted you to hear it
from me first. After 125 performances in 126 days last spring, and doing
two movies back-to-back this summer, then coming right back on tour and
doing another 30 performances in as many days it’s all become too much.
I’m truly so exhausted.

So, with that said, unfortunately starting next week, October 19th, I am
going to have to cancel some dates of the “encore leg” of the MADEA’s BIG
HAPPY FAMILY tour.  I know a lot of you worked really hard to buy those
tickets and I want to assure you that you will be refunded for the ticket
price at your point of purchase.

I feel terrible about this and hope you can understand but right now I’m
not capable of giving you the show you want and deserve.  I hope one day
soon I will be able to make it up to you.

I want to thank the nearly 750,000 fans who bought tickets and have
crowded these arenas and theaters across the country this year, and made
this one of the most special tours I’ve ever had. With me dealing with so
much personal grief after the loss of my mother, it could not have come at
a better time. You all helped me through it and feeling the love and
support of the people who started it all was just what I needed. I felt it
and I still do.  Thank you.

I am so sorry, but I am starting to realize that I am human and I have to
know when to slow down.  Again, I am so sorry.  I feel like I’ve let you
down.

Tyler

He’s been through so much and it is completely understandable that he needs to put the brakes on.  He is human afterall. Hope you get the rest you need, Tyler.

Photo:  JDH/JCP/WENN

Tyler Perry has been very busy with his films but is heading back out in September with his MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY tour and announced Saturday to his fans the tour dates and in some cases when tickets go on sale to the general public.

He wrote on his site to his fans:

Shhhh…

Ok, I wanted you to be the first to know that tickets start going on sale
for the Fall Tour of MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY as early as today.  As you
all know, I have been on tour all this year and I took this summer off to
do two movies, but  I am looking forward to finishing out the tour and
seeing all of your faces.

Before tickets are announced to the general public, I wanted to give you a
heads up so you could get good seats.  You’ve been following my emails for
so long that I wanted you to have an opportunity to be up close and
personal.   But not too close, Madea is really ugly up close…LOL.

This tour started in January and we have been filling theatres and arenas
all over the country.  I wish I had more time to go to more cities but I
don’t (studio stuff), so just know that if you can, you should be there to
witness this play.  I promise you will leave feeling better than when you
came in.  Get ready for a good time and bring some pain pills because you
will laugh until it hurts…I assure you!

I wanted you to know first before the advertising starts to the general
public.  Ok, so pass it on and I’ll see you in your city.

Boo  No Canadian dates.  Well I suppose he is quite a busy man with currently filming a movie and also having a few in development.

Tour dates and locations after the break

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Janet Jackson looks happy as she waves to fans on the set of Tyler Perry’s latest directorial project For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf filming in New York City. That is going to be a very long title to place on movie posters.

Janet is rocking a new very short haircut.  What do you think of it? I personally love it on her.  She has such a beautiful face she suits anything. Also on the set is Kimberly Elise.

The film also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Macy Gray, Loretta Devine and Phylicia Rashad to name a few. It is expected to open in theatres on January 14, 2011.

Pictures after the break

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Janet Jackson brought her sister Rebbie to the premiere of Tyler Perry’s movie Why Did I Get Married Too in New York last night.  The comedy is a sequel to his film Why Did I Get Married.  According to imdb the film is about:

Four couples reunite for their annual vacation in order to socialize and to spend time analyzing their marriages. Their intimate week in the Bahamas is disrupted by the arrival of an ex-husband determined to win back his recently remarried wife.

It opens on Friday, April 2.  At the premeire:

• Jill Scott
• Al Sharpton
• Cicely Tyson
• Ice-T
• Caroline Rhea
• Gayle King
• Damien Woody
• Quinton Aaron

and lots of other celebs.

Pictures after the break

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Tyler Perry has been understandably quiet since the passing of his beloved mother, and now he feels it’s time to get back to work.  January 4, 2010 will be the start of a very busy year for Tyler as he starts his tour that day in El Paso, Texas entitled MADEA’s BIG HAPPY FAMILY.

On December 26, Tyler addressed on his website what he has been going through grieving for his beloved mother as well as his need to keep busy and surprising an unsuspecting woman with a wrongly dialed telephone call:

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