Gossip Teen

Glee actress Lea Michele is taking on the beloved role of Dorothy in the upcoming animated feature Dorothy of Oz due in theaters in 2012. This version is a continuation of the original L. Frank Baum story written by the author’s grandson, Roger S. Baum. It brings Dorothy back to a Kansas that was shredded by the tornado; however the young girl soon finds herself zipped back to Oz again as it too has started to crumble. From the movie website:

In the story, Dorothy returns to Kansas to find it devastated by the tornado that had whisked her away to the magical Land of Oz. The home she had been so desperate to return to is no longer; the townspeople, with nowhere to turn, are packing up and moving out. However, before Dorothy can even begin to react to or resist this change, she is transported back to Oz by equally magical methods as her first trip. Oz is in trouble, and the people there need her help: Dorothy’s old friends – the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion – have disappeared and the land is in a state of decay. As Dorothy journeys to find her friends, she encounters a number of new companions and problems, including a man made of marshmallows who cant think for himself, a china doll princess whose bossiness is a cover for her fragility, and a tugboat with as many personalities as he has pieces. Dorothy must help this odd group band together against a wicked new villan – a Jester who thinks all of Oz should be under his own control.

The initial images of this are fantastic; with original songs and old and new characters voiced by talented actors Kelsey Grammer, (Tin Man) Martin Short, (Jester) Dan Aykroyd, (Scarecrow) Jim Belushi, (Cowardly Lion) Hugh Dancy, (Marshall Mallow) Patrick Stewart, (Tugg Boat) and Oliver Platt (Wiser the Owl.) Lea is in great company.

I always loved the original  series so I’d look forward to seeing what they do with this. I can’t wait to hear Michele give voice to Dorothy – she should be terrific.

Check out all the preview images below. Read more »

Zac Efron will be getting more work both in front of and behind the scenes as he has just signed a first look deal with Warner Brothers studios. The Charlie St. Cloud star will get first opportunity to use or pass on projects the studio purchases for Efron.

“Warner Bros plans to buy pitches, spec scripts, and books for Efron and his still unformed company to develop as star vehicles. His manager, Alchemy Entertainment’s Jason Barrett, will be an exec producer on the projects.”

Have any suggestions for Efron’s company name? Sound off in our comments below.

Check out pics of Zac surfing for charity in Australia earlier this week here.

How many movies will Breaking Dawn, the final chapter of The Twilight Saga be made into has been a guessing game for fans of the series for some time. Summit, the studio that gives us the popular movies, had said that there would be only one BD flick even after actor BooBoo Stewart (Seth Clearwater) confirmed what most fans hoped for and had been assumed – there would be two movies.

Previously, author Stephanie Meyer said in an interview with MTV that she knew right where the film should be split – if it were to be made into two films and at that time seemed genuinely happy to have a two part ending to the saga. In January however, it was reported that Meyer could not “decide whether or not [making two movies] is the right thing to do creatively” and perhaps there was tension between the studio and creator. Meyer, who has given few interviews over the past year, issued a denial regarding any problems between herself and movie executives but it did make you wonder what was the problem?

After all the hoopla and behind the scenes drama, two movies will be made. An official announcement is due as early as next week. No director has been chosen (Chris Weitz, New Moon’s man in charge, has passed) and filming/production dates will need to be nailed down for all the actors – especially Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning and Ashley Greene who have lots of offers and other commitments.

The third film, Eclipse is due in theaters June 2010, and the first full length trailer was rumored to be attached to Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, opening this weekend (February 12th) however that has been debunked.

What do you think? Happy with two movies or ready to see Rob and Kristen in other non vampire stuff?