UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

'Hellboy' claims top spot in U.S. theaters

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (UPI) -- The summer action adventure movie "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" hit U.S. theaters at No. 1 this weekend, Box Office Mojo said.

The Universal production, starring Ron Perlman and John Hurt, brought in an estimated $35.89 million in ticket sales in its first weekend. "Hancock," last week's top film, was No. 2 with $33 million in estimated gross receipts. No. 3 was another new offering, "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D," another action adventure movie starring Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem, with $20.58 million in ticket revenue.

Coming in at No. 4 was "Wall-E," down from second place last week, with $15.51 million, and No. 5 was "Wanted," down from third, at $11.59 million.

Filling up the top 10 were "Get Smart," $7.11 million; "Meet Dave," a science-fiction comedy starring Eddie Murphy making its debut, $5.3 million; "Kung Fu Panda," $.3 million; "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," $2.36 million; and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," now in its eighth week, $2.25 million.

Falling out of the top tier were "The Incredible Hulk," "Sex and the City" and "You Don't Mess with the Zohan."

Playboy eyes London

LONDON, July 13 (UPI) -- London may one day have a Playboy club again after a nearly three-decade absence, an executive with the entertainment company says.

Playboy Executive Vice President Dick Rosenzweig said London was a perfect addition to the company's international expansion plans since it once housed one of the clubs where attractive women serve cocktails wearing skimpy bunny outfits, The Sunday Times of London reported.

"We are looking for opportunities around the world. London will be logical for us. We had some very good years there," Rosenzweig said.

London's Playboy club was closed 27 years ago after becoming the focus of illegal gambling allegations by police, the Times said.

Playboy, which is looking to expand its business ventures beyond its magazine base, could obtain its London gambling license in as little as two months and have its club and casino open by 2010.

The Times said the U.S. company opened a Las Vegas club two years ago and already has plans to create a Playboy casino and hotel in the Chinese region of Macau.

Bon Jovi rocks Central Park

NEW YORK, July 13 (UPI) -- The rock group Bon Jovi treated its fans to a great performance at New York's Central Park, those on hand say.

Concert attendee Kelly Van Dyke said Saturday's Central Park concert, the first in the public locale since 2003, was "fantastic" thanks to the efforts of the "Livin' on a Prayer" rockers, the New York Post reported Sunday.

"It was fantastic," the 44-year-old Dallas native said.

"I was so close, I could see the sweat rolling off his face," he added, referring to lead singer Jon Bon Jovi.

For Bon Jovi, who also enjoyed a successful solo career, the performance was especially memorable since the New Jersey rockers filled Central Park with more than 50,000 fans.

"We dreamt about this for 25 years," the singer said Saturday.

"This is the one you dream of. It's the one the Beatles and the Stones never did."

The Post said the concert was part of Bon Jovi's tour that will conclude at New York's Madison Square Garden with two sold-out shows.

Source: Spears rebounding with new album

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (UPI) -- Britney Spears is focusing on her sons while trying to revive her career by working diligently on her newest album, a source in the U.S. pop singer's camp says.

The unidentified source said Spears was spending more time with her boys, Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2, and is trying to get the album done by the end of the year, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

"She's the best I've seen her in three years," the source said. "She has her kids back now and she's working on a new album."

The pop star's renewed focus comes just months after she spent time in a psychiatric institution after divorcing singer Kevin Federline.

The 26-year-old singer's most recent album, "Blackout," did not reach platinum status and Spears soon became hounded by paparazzi, the Daily News noted.

The source said Spears will likely concentrate on her family rather than tour in the near future.

"She's taking every opportunity to see her kids, and the last thing she'll do is tour for three months or take the lead in a feature and be away from them again," the source said.