It took decades before J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” (LotR) trilogy was lovingly made into a movie trilogy by Peter Jackson. Now it seems that it’s going to take longer than expected for the prequel novel, “The Hobbit”, to be made into a film – two films, in fact. After two years of production delays, Guillermo del Toro says he’s forced to quit, as far as directing goes, but will still co-write the screenplays with Jackson and Fran Walsh.

Del Toro’s no stranger to niche filcks, having directed one or more of Hellboy and Blade, and one of my all-time faves, Pan’s Labrinyth, amongst numerous foreign language films. Now when you look at the list of films he’s currently part of that are in development, you realize how busy he really is. Amongst the 10 films he’s currently involved in are Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (Though some of these projects might disappear, depending on how the sale of in-debt MGM goes.)

The logical choice to direct would of course be Peter Jackson, but he had declined previously, and if I remember correctly, it had been because of scheduling problems. MGM has yet to give their approval, yet the two movies are still scheduled for Dec 2012 and Dec 2013. All three movies in the ‘Rings’ trilogy were released in consecutive years around Christmas time.

While legions of Tolkien fans are likely to see the movies no matter when they come out, no matter who directs them, or how well they’re made, it’s obvious that with Jackson and Del Toro still handling writing duties that the material will be top notch. Hopefully they’ll find a worthy replacement — I can’t think of any one director who has the ‘fantasy’ touch of either of these two men. Maybe we can all hope and pray that Peter Jackson’s commitments work themselves out and eventually does take the directing role. A lot could happen between now and the expected production start date, which is Dec 2010. I’m crossing my fingers that it’s not Tim Burton, who’s style just isn’t suited to these stories.

I’ve always wondered why Celine Dion only ever had one child with husband/ long-time manager Rene Angelil, but apparently it’s because of pregnancy difficulties. Now, at the age of 42, after six attempts at in-vitro fertilization and the use of acupuncture, she’s said to be pregnant with twins. Good luck to Celine, but given how skinny she is, I’m not sure how she’s going to handle being pregnant with twins.

So wait, what? Brad and Angelina are openly affectionate in public, albeit at a private beach party. So I guess rumors of their relationship’s demise were just that, rumors. (Then again, rumors of them splitting have happened before.) On the other hand, Naveen Andrews (Sayid Jarrah on Lost) and Barbara Hershey, who started her film and TV career before Andrews was born, have called it quits. Actually, they called it quits six months ago but news of the split only surfaced now. According to People, they’ve been together for most of the span of time since they met in 1998.

Gary Coleman’s “heartbroken” parents want answers about his death? Um, aren’t these the same parents, along with his business manager, that Coleman sued because they appropriated many millions of his earnings, leaving him with so little that he eventually was working as a security guard? About you giving some answers? Do you wonder that you weren’t called to his bedside before he passed away?

Yeah, that’s what society needs. Michelle Homewrecker Bombshell McGee promoting Ashley Madison, in the nude. This is the pimping dating agency whose commercials seem to encourage people to cheat on spouses almost to the point of justification. Hey, if you want to pay Bombshell, whose name is now associated withbreaking up marriages, go ahead. Maybe it’ll put some sense into would be cheaters who don’t want to end up like her: despised.

He was a good bad boy – if you know what I mean. Another Hollywood icon has said farewell to this world, and we will all remember him with fond memories. Dennis Hopper passed away yesterday at the age of 74 in his home in Venice, Los Angeles. Last year, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He valiantly battled the disease, which eventually took his life.

Dennis Hopper’s career was full of ups and downs – much like many other personalities out there. One big difference is how this man handled the stuff that life threw at him. Despite all the discouragement he had met in his career, he was able to achieve a lot of things, including two Oscar nominations, his own Hollywood star (which he got this year, by the way), and a reputation for being one of the best bad boys in Hollywood.

He is probably best known for Easy Rider, which changed a lot of things for him and movies in general. Indeed, his co-star Peter Fonda says that they “rode the highways of America and changed the way movies were made in Hollywood.” In tribute to Hopper, he continues to say that he “was blessed by his passion and friendship.”

More than being an actor, Dennis Hopper was also an accomplished director. In fact, the last several years of his life could be described as nothing but frenetic. This is a guy who was filled with passion for his life and work, and for that, we cannot do anything but admire him.

So long, Dennis Hopper!

Sandra Bullock’s not letting her breakup with Jesse James Douchebag get in the way of her relationship with his three children. The Star says she managed to have a girl’s day out at The Beverly Hills Hotel with Jesse’s youngest girl, Sunny. Kind of tells a lot, doesn’t it? Jesse has said he wants to see the baby boy they adopted together, Louis Bardo, and Sandra will see Jesse’s other two kids, Jesse Jr. and Chandler. Oh and Jesse, just another reminder, above, of what you’re going to miss out on.

Charlie Sheen is possibly pleading guilty as part of a plea bargain in a domestic case, which stems from his being arrested for assaulting wife Brooke Mueller in Aspen. If he does plead guilty, he’ll spend up to 45 days in jail. The current charge is “felony menacing,” which carries a bigger penalty that might interfere with his $2 trillion dollars per episode day job as Charlie Harper in Two and a Half Men. For the record, good ol’ Charlie says he’s innocent. Sheen currently pays out over $125K/month to ex-wife Denise Richards and current wife Mueller.

So Alicia Keys is not only pregnant but engaged to rapper Swizz Beatz, aka Kasseem Dean. If you’re not sure who he is, according to People, he’s produced music for his fiancee — and inspired her — and worked with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani. This player already has two kids from previous relationships. As in plural. So at this point I guess he’s heading towards having three baby mommas. But Alicia is looking forward to the experience of being a mother.

Wow Glen Beck, aren’t you so effing brave and clever, putting down a little girl on your stupid show? Seriously, you’re such a hater that you have to mock Malia Obama? What the eff did she ever do to you, moron? You want your family left alone but you pick on little girls? Do you feel all smart and powerful now? Were you dropped on your head a few too many times as a child?

Hollywood is always getting accused of all sorts of things, so I am not at all surprised by the recent accusations being thrown left and right. You might have heard of the latest dirt being thrown at Hollywood people. It involves the recently released movie, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

The news is that the casting was done in favor of white actors. Obviously, many of the characters in the movie are supposed to be of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. However, as we all know, many of the actors taking on the lead roles are not exactly from that part of the world.

Let’s take a look at hunky Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the lead role. He’s definitely not Middle Eastern – he’s American with Swedish and Jewish blood in him. (At least there’s a bit of Asian in him.)

Then there’s his leading lady, the princess, who is played by Gemma Arterton. She’s a full blooded Brit. No Asian blood in her.

It’s really not a surprise that critics are up in arms about the way the cast members – the leading cast members most especially – were chosen. Of course, there must be some reasoning behind the choices. There may be things that the general public – and the critics even – may not be aware of.

Then again, independent filmmaker Jehanzeb Dar might just be right. He said something like choosing white people to play the roles of other races is an insult to everyone involved. What do you think? Have you seen the movie?

He’s already a star – there is no doubt about it, but surely, Sir Ben Kingsley surely still aspired (even if it was secretly perhaps) to have his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This year is a good year for the British actor – his new movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has just been released in the United States. The ceremony for his Walk of Fame star coincided with the release.

It was held at the Hollywood Boulevard and of course, many other stars were present. Bruce Willis – a star in his own right –was among the people who witnessed the honor being given to Sir Ben Kingsley. So what did the 2,410th recipient of a Hollywood star have to say about the accolade?

“Standing here today amongst you is one of the many things I thought growing up in England that would never happen to me. It was a privilege to be an enduring part of the architecture of this extraordinary city.”

Indeed, having your own star is akin to being immortalized. Not that Sir Ben Kingsley had not been immortalized in other ways prior to his being awarded a star. He has starred in countless films that have touched the lives of so many people – and they are certain to make an impact in the lives of future film-loving generations. Think Schindler’s List, Gandhi, and Oliver Twist.

Here’s to Sir Ben Kingsley and his most recent accolade!

Country singer Carrie Underwood is going to marry real soon, according to source for The Awful Truth. She’s been engaged to hockey player Mike Fisher. Also, Megan Fox, who is not engaged, might marry on/off-again beau Brian Austin Green — he who had one of the least liked characters on the original 90210 TV series. E! Online says that someone close to the couple indicated that Brian had moved into the new 5-bdrm home Megan purchased in LA, and that they will get married. (I wonder how Brian puts up with the fact that Megan doesn’t like to cook or clean and has all these obsessive-compulsive quirks.) Now, there’s a bit more to the story. Before Megan came into his life, Brian was with another hottie, Vanessa Marcil (92010 and Las Vegas; pictured above), who mothered his child. Vanessa is now engaged to Carmine Giovinazzo (CSI:NY) but was once married Corey Feldman. (If I continue this line of thinking, Kevin Bacon will probably appear somewhere along the way, according to the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon concept.)

Singer Cheryl Cole, aka Cheryl Ann Tweedy, has filed for divorce from husband and soccer player Ashley Cole. Reason: “unreasonable behavior” of her estranged husband. I have no idea what that means (actually, it apparently means he was unfaithful) but she did once say that notorious celebrity meanie Simon Cowell was the most charismatic man she’s ever met (as per her IMDB profile). Just saying. She apparently wants a clean break and none of Ashley’s money. Just wondering if she’ll keep his last name, now that she’s had it for five years.

Oooops. Sarah Jessica Parker accidentally called husband Matthew Broderick average, while on David Letterman, then dug herself a deeper hole as she tried to explain that she was referring to his height, “not in personality, intellect, charisma, talent… Anyway he’s average in height as I understand, so the odds of our son being average in height and weight is perhaps promising.”

Radio/ television personality Art Linkletter, born Arthur Gordon Kelly in Moose Jaw, Canada, passed away yesterday at the age of 97. In addition to being appointed to President Richard Nixon’s national advisory council for drug abuse prevention (after one daughter’s suicide upon which he blames LSD), Linkletter was a talk-show pioneer, a motivational speaker and creator and/or host of several shows, including Kids Say the Darnedest Things (1998).

Reese Witherspoon might be taking a cue from Britney Spears in the relationship department. Reese has been dating her agent slash boyfriend for four months and is now shacking up with him. Spears is dating Jason Trawick, whom she recently fired as her manager. Then again, not all stars date other stars, though Reese was formerly with Jake Gyllenhaal, whose Prince of Persia movie opens in N. America this Friday, May 28th.

Country singer Mindy McCready was hospitalized in Florida for a possible overdose. McCready, who had been beaten by ex-boyfriend back in 2005, spent 9 episodes in Feb-Mar 2010 on Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew. On the other hand, McCready told TMZ that she didn’t OD, only had a bad reaction to a painkiller she took, possibly because of a broken toe.

Wow, it must be nice to be Naomi Campbell. Seems like all supermodels seem to have billionaire lovers these days and Naomi is no different. Heres, Vladimir Doronin, gave her a $1M birthday bash for her 40th, which was actually on May 22nd. Black Eyed Peas and Grace Jones played for her. Nice.

Actress Monica Belluci (above) recently gave birth to her second daughter, Leonie, with husband Vincent Cassel. Other new moms include Betheny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York City, whose daughter Bryn arrived early.

Oh, so apparently Kelly Killoren Bensimon — who recently threatened to quit Facebook if people didn’t stop wasting her time saying hurtful things — didn’t have a nervous breakdown on The Real Housewives of New York City last week when she blew up at her costars. She had a nervous breakthrough, according to her. Apparently her mean castmates were bullying her and she reacted — something she promises not to do again. Honestly, I don’t understand her comment about her time being wasted, given that she seems to spend most it in a bikini and presumably away from Facebook anyway.

Elin Nordegren and Rachel Uchitel aren’t the only ones getting relationship hush money. Kanye West apparently gave Amber Rose a million bucks to keep quiet about their relationship. Ok, it doesn’t compare to the $10M Itchypuss Uchitel suposedly got from Tiger Woods (and she didn’t even keep quiet, I’m guessing), nor to the $750M Elin will probably receive in her divorce settlement from Tiger, but it’s a start.

Kate Gosselin of the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8 moved on with her life after hubby left, and it looks as if she’s done quite well. Word is that she received over $100K per episode on Dancing With the Stars. She only lasted 5 weeks, but $500K is a pretty nice haul for a single mother of 8 children.

Today’s celebrity birthdays include Kristin Scott Thomas (50; wow, already?), Alfred Molina (57), John C. Reilly (45), Bob Dylan (69; no way!), Will Sasso (35), and Priscilla Presley (65; yikes, it’s Vampirella).

Alicia Keys doesn’t let a little thing like being pregnant and already showing her baby bump stop her from performing. Good for you, girl.

A TV movie about President Obama, Little Obama, will cover his time spent in Indonesia in his youth. The movie airs Jun 17th in Indonesia. No word yet on whether it’ll be available in the U.S.

If you’re spending some time enjoying Southern California’s beaches this week, you ought to know that there are some dangers involved. It is true that you could have some of the most exciting times in the beaches of LA and the surrounding areas; however, the Los Angeles Times warns surfers and beach lovers that rip currents are presenting higher risks than usual, especially this weekend.

According to the report, the high surf has combined with runoff from storm drains (this goes straight into the ocean waters) to result in substantial changes in the formation of the sea floor. As such, the currents have also changed, posing more danger with regard to rip currents. Even those who are quite familiar with the usual currents in the beaches may have a surprise or two waiting for them.

Tourists may not have the beach as the main reason for visiting this part of the world, but anyone visiting Los Angeles would end up at the beach at one point or another. Whether you are an expert swimmer or not, you have to be aware of the dangers these rip currents present. Expert swimmers and surfers would know what to do, but panic can easily override common sense. The sensible thing to do is to swim parallel to shore instead of against the current. In the midst of danger, however, the instinct is to swim straight to shore – which will almost always end up in tragedy.

So, if you’re hitting the beach in Southern California anytime soon, consider yourself warned and prepare yourself!