Gossip Teen

Citing his busy touring schedule, Jesse McCartney has dropped out of M. Night Shyamalan’s big screen, live action movie of The Last Airbender and will not be playing the Fire Nation’s Prince Zuko. According to Shyamalan, McCartney cannot make time to begin martial arts training, however McCartney has said he already is training.

“Jesse had tour dates that conflicted with a boot camp I always hold on my films, and where the actors here have to train for martial arts,” Shyamalan said.

Did the controversy of all white actors win out? Shyamalan has now cast Dev Patel, of Slumdog Millionaire to play the part. Patel will do a great job, no doubt, but the excuse that McCartney can’t make the boot camp seems weak. Jackson Rathbone has cleared time from his New Moon filming for it, so I’ve got to wonder. Regardless, I loved the Nickelodeon series, so I’ve got high hopes for this Avatar film. Shyamalan, do it right!

Slumdog Millionaire is on everyone’s mind right now as we head into Awards season and the unknown London teenager who is the star, Dev Patel, is anonymous no longer. Patel is still reeling from his nomination at the Golden Globes one week ago and he is awestruck over the celebrities who want to meet him.

Patel says, “It’s been like a whirlwind. I was taken straight from the airport in my jeans to a posh tea party. I was still holding my passport when I got introduced to Clint Eastwood. I was embarrassed because I felt a bit smelly! When we got to the Golden Globes it was completely full-on. Demi Moore came up to me on the red carpet. Then Drew Barrymore took me to one side for a 10-minute chat.”

“Later, Alec Baldwin said some amazing things. Sting came over and said he loved the film and gave me a lovely hug. Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio shook my hand. Even P Diddy recognized me! How mental is that! I’m just some lad from Harrow (in London)!”

Great for Patel! That’s an amazing ride he’s on. Enjoy it.

 Have you seen Slumdog? Let us know what you think of it. If you haven’t seen it – check out the trailer below.