Hollywood pix boost Pinewood fortunes

LONDON -- A boom within the quantity of large-budget Hollywood movies shooting in Blighty throughout 2011 has driven revenues at U.K. studio group Pinewood Shepperton to have an all-time high. Sales hit accurate documentation 50.7 million ($80.millions of) inside the 12 several days to December 31, up 17%. Film revenues alone were up 24% to $56.7 million, due to projects for instance "Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman," "Anna Karenina," "Prometheus," "Skyfall," "The Hobbit" and "Dark Shadows." The crowd, which has Pinewood and Shepperton Art galleries near London, the U.K.'s two greatest film and tv plants, also reported a 14% rise in operating profits to $16.3 million. Nonetheless, the business fell in to a pre-tax insufficient $6.2 million after exceptional items, lower in the profit of $9.2 million this season. That developed because of needing to discount the $11.2 million five-year development cost of their recommended $320 million extension for the Pinewood site, named Project Pinewood, following its failure to get planning permission. The crowd has furthermore embarked around the way of worldwide expansion, through partners in Toronto, Berlin, Malaysia and tobago. Up to now this signifies basically a modest part of its business, with worldwide revenues up 50% this season to $1.4 million. "The business has shipped a effective performance for your twelve month, with overall revenues substantially up," stated chief professional Ivan Dunleavy. "The ongoing demand from large-budget films and huge-scale Tv shows for that unique facilities remains resilient. Our worldwide strategy is constantly deliver growth and extra opportunity to boost the Pinewood brand overseas." Dunleavy noted his disappointment that Project Pinewood did not have the greenlight within the U.K. government. "The board according to its major investor are going to utilize the us government and stakeholders to supply the extended-term vision for Pinewood it requires whether it's to remain an international center for your film and artistic industries," he mentioned. "We'll therefore still engage, to make certain the website meets the needs for growth over the following 20-thirty years.In . The crowd was already developing a significant acquisition of developing the current Pinewood site, having a completely new 30,000 sq. feet. soundstage presently being built. It is also buying and selling within the digital TV services. Projects shooting at Pinewood Toronto Art galleries this season incorporated Universal's "Mama" and Legendary/Warner's "Off-shoreline Rim." Pinewood Studio Berlin attracted its first project, "Planet B Boy" from Sony's Screen Gems label. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia, the greatest purpose-built facility in the region, will open for business in 2013, because the Pinewood Indomina studio in tobago will complete its first phase of construction this season. The crowd mentioned it's ongoing to find fresh options to develop its brand worldwide. Pinewood Shepperton reported its 2011 figures as unaudited interim results, because it has changed its accounting year-finish to March 2012. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive: Soap Queen Lauralee Bell Spoofs Paula Abdul on Castle

Stephen Colbert The Colbert Report is taking an unexpected break. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show will air repeat episodeson Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16," Comedy Central said in a statement. VIDEO: Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart vow not to coordinate, poke fun at Super PAC Prior to Wednesday's taping, audience members received a last-minute email saying that their reservations had to be canceled. No further details were provided. Will you miss Colbert Report this week?

Survivor Alum "Coach" Weighs in at in at in on one World, Calls the Males "Tool Academy"

The famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey will join Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel on Because Of Due To Jimmy Kimmel Live: Following a Academy awards, ABC introduced on Thursday. Winfrey, who's the individual finding the Academy's Jean Hershold Humanitarian Award this year, will probably be grew to become part of round the publish-Oscars show by George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese and Helen Mirren, among others. Billy Very will begin the program and Coldplay will close it getting a performance round the Kimmel outdoors stage. Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Billy CrystalGeorge ClooneyHelen MirrenMartin ScorseseOprah WinfreyTom HanksJimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy KimmelColdplay

No Endorsements on their behalf! Who're probably the most Resented Professional Sports athletes?

Kris Humphries A significantly-mocked 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian will get you among the list of the ten most resented professional sports athletes in the usa. Kris Humphries - who also did not exactly insinuate themself in to the good graces of Kourtney & Kim Take NY audiences - ranks fifth inside a survey made by Nielsen and E-Poll Researching The Market. (For which it's worth, the 27-year-old Nj Nets forward is getting his best year in the game, calculating 13.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.)Rankings: Implosion of Kim Kardashian's marriage helps set series recordTiger Forest, whose mere participation inside a golf tournament accustomed to increase its TV rankings, also helps make the list (released by Forbes) at No. 2, showing exactly what a sex scandal as well as an ugly divorce can perform to tarnish the sheen.Topping their email list? Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, whose efforts to redeem themself after likely to prison for operating your dog-fighting ring, have apparently not been effective. Another National football league player, NY Jets receiver Plaxico Burress, who shot themself within the leg and did time for illegal gun possession, may be the third-most resented professional athlete. As well as an National football league star stands at No. 4 - Ndamukong Suh, the Detroit Lions defensive lineman who stomped with an opponent's mind as they was lower on Thanksgiving.Browse the relaxation from the news on TVGuide.comRounding the list (so as): Lebron, Kobe Bryant, Terrell Owens (the topic of reality TV's The T.O. Show), Alex Rodriguez and Kurt Busch.Will they all should be out there? Who'd you nominate?

Naomi Watts Is Princess Diana In 'Caught In Flight'

Natalie Portman is marking her big return to acting following her "Black Swan" Oscar win with not one but two Terrence Malick flicks. Meanwhile, Naomi Watts has landed the much-coveted role of Princess Diana in a new movie, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep could star in a movie about the making of "Mary Poppins" and John Goodman joins "Trouble with the Curve." It's February 9, and you're tuning in for today's casting call. Natalie Portman Returns To Acting In Two Terrence Malick Films It sounds like the post-baby acting hiatus is over for Natalie Portman! Deadline is reporting that the "Black Swan" star is filming two of Terrence Malick's films -- "Knight of Cups" and "Lawless" -- back to back. No word yet on how "Thor 2" fits into that picture, but "Knight of Cups" starts filming in the summer and "Lawless" will lense in the fall. Naomi Watts To Play Princess Diana In New Film British-born Naomi Watts just landed the role of a lifetime. Ecosse Films announced in a press release that she'll be playing Princess Diana in an upcoming film about the Princess of Wales's last two years of life. Called "Caught in Flight," the movie will begin production in the UK later this year. Tom Hanks And Meryl Streep Rumored For "Saving Mr. Banks" Few people might know that behind the Disney classic "Mary Poppins" there was actually a whole lot of drama. But that's the story that Kelly Marcel's 2011 Black List script, "Saving Mr. Banks," is going to be telling. In an interesting move, The Walt Disney Company is nearing a deal to acquire the film, which tells the story of how Walt Disney persuaded Australian author P.L. Travers to sell him her script to "Mary Poppins," which took 14 years. Deadline has the news, and also reports that Meryl Streep is eying the role of Travers while Tom Hanks is considering the role of Disney. John Goodman Joins "Trouble With The Curve" John Goodman is the latest actor to join Clint Eastwood's latest directorial effort, "Trouble with the Curve." Variety has learned that he'll play Pete Klein, an old friend of Eastwood's character who is also a baseball scouter. The movie also stars Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake. Glenn Close, Tom Felton And Elizabeth Olsen For "Therese Raquin" Deadline has learned that Glenn Close, Tom Felton and Elizabeth Olsen are in negotiations for a big screen adaptation of classic Emile Zola novel, "Therese Raquin." Olsen will play the titular character, Felton will play the husband she murders and who later haunts her as a ghost, Camille, and Close will play Madame Raquin, aunt to Therese and mother of Camille. Jaimie Alexander To Star In "Intersection" Variety is reporting that Jaimie Alexander has taken the female lead in the upcoming thriller, "Intersection." She'll star opposite "The Grey" star Frank Grillo as a woman who, along with her current beau, plans to murder her husband. Things get complicated quickly, though, as her lover and husband end up in a car accident with one another on the side of a road in Morocco. Tell us your thoughts about today's Casting Call in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Social TV: Madonna's Halftime Performance Luv It or Hate It?

Madonna Was there a football game last evening? Since it appears as if Madonna's halftime show may be the only factor which has everybody speaking! We received an outpouring of comments about Madge's performance, and consequently, Super Bowl XLVI is holding steady because the No. 1 most spoken-about show within our Social Energy Ratings. @Jasdestiny tweeted, "Which was the very best #superbowlhalftime show in a long time. Stage was crazy." On Facebook, Jamie Durkin loved the show too. "I loved the truth that she will still do this at her age. I believe Gaga must remember who made it happen first. Madonna was and it is the Icon." Super Bowl Halftime Show: Did Madonna get all of your Luvin'? Although not everybody was feeling the romance for that "Just like a Virgin" singer. @Camicoquin tweeted, "Sad, pathetic, uninspired, absurd, lame, boring, silly." Inform us the way you sense! "I have seen Madonna placed on one heck of the entertaining show and that one wasn't whatsoever entertaining for me personally,Inch TVGuide.com user Humminbirdy said. Within our poll, 48 percent of voters thought Madonna was great, while only 15 % thought she was horrible -- and 36 percent of individuals did not care in either case, they simply wanted a artist who did not lip-sync. What is your opinion? Did Madonna kill it, or are you looking for that 53-year-old to refer to it as quits? Return anytime to determine the most recent Social Energy Ratings, that are up-to-date instantly through the week.

5 Reasons to Watch Castle's 1940s Noir "The Blue Butterfly"

Castle Monday's Castle is taking its characters (and viewers) back in time.Exclusive: Castle boss and Stana Katic dish on Castle's first museAs Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) investigate the murder of a treasure hunter who was searching for the elusive "Blue Butterfly" necklace before his death, the pair stumbles onto the victim's guidebook: a diary from a 1940s private investigator named Joe Flynn. It's not long before Castle brings the old text to life by imagining himself as the P.I. who is trying to save a beautiful young woman named Vera (Beckett, naturally) from the notorious gangster Tom Dempsey (guest star Mark Pellegrino). Since Castle and Beckett are forced to find clues from the past to help them solve their current murder, viewers get to see Joe and Vera's twisty, tragic love story play out. Still need convincing? Here are five reasons we think the episode is worth a look.1. Lanie sings! In Castle's imagination, medical examiner Lanie Parish (Tamala Jones) becomes a Billie Holiday-like singer at Dempsey's club. "That was fun!" Jones tells TVGuide.com. "I have never sang before outside of the shower. When I was asked to do that, I was a little nervous. But I shocked myself. I'll let you guys hear for yourself, but I think I did a good job." We agree.Get more scoop on your favorite shows in our Winter TV preview2. The show nails the look and sound of the era. The writers, set-dressers and costumers outdid themselves here, which helps all the characters come alive in the past. From Vera's long gowns and furs to Joe's trench coat and Raymond Chandler dialogue, the show does the genre proud. There may have been one downside, though. "I got to wear a lot of crap in my hair," says Seamus Dever, who plays Detective Ryan. "I had to wash it five times every night to get it out. But it was nice."3. Speaking of Ryan and Esposito (Jon Huertas)... Castle imagines his other partners in crime-solving as two of Dempsey's thugs. "Esposito and Ryan get to rough Castle up a little bit," Dever teases. Jones says playing characters so different from what the actors are used to is part of the fun of the episode. "If you morphed the Castle characters into the 1947 characters and they're basically playing the same simultaneously, it kind of makes it boring," she says. "What you see, you're going to love."4. There's a kiss! Actually, there are two kisses. Will it be enough to satisfy the Castle-Beckett 'shippers? "The '40s episode is probably the fulfillment of what most any fan would like to see happen with the Castle and Beckett relationship," Katic tells us. "Fans will be seeing the ultimate expression of love for those two characters." Check out our list of TV's sexiest crime fighters!5. You can watch (some of) the episode now! Why wait until tonight when you get a taste of the fun now? Check out the video below! Castle airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.

New trailer for that Hunger Games

Another theatrical trailer continues to be launched for that Hunger Games, and following the action-centric first effort, that one is pleasingly heavy on dialogue.A clip opens with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) giving her more youthful sister Primrose a Mockingjay pin, which she promises, "as lengthy as you've it, nothing bad will take place.InchThat pin goes onto become something of the icon through the trilogy, as suggested at through the scene by which Lenny Kravitz's Cinna smuggles it to a stunned Katniss. Have a look in the new trailer to discover for yourself.... This trailer has most likely got us more excited than the others, because it takes time to exhibit the particular motivations driving Katniss and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Although she's doing everything to safeguard her sister, Mellark just wants the chance to exhibit the condition, "they don't own me."The Hunger Games opens within the United kingdom on 23 March 2012. Forget Harry Potter, there is a new fantasy epic around...