Winslet escapes fire at Branson home
NECKER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Actress Kate Winslet and her children escaped unharmed from a fire Monday that tore through the home of Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands.
Winslet, 35, and her daughter Mia, 10, were staying in Branson's Necker Island Great House along with more than a dozen other people, including Branson's 90-year-old mother Eve and 29-year-old daughter, Holly, Britain's The Guardian reported.
"Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine," said Branson, who was staying in another Necker Island property 100 yards away with his wife, Joan, and son, Sam, 25.
"We had a bad tropical storm with winds up to 90 mph. A big lightning storm came around 4 a.m. and hit the house. My son Sam rushed to the house and helped get everyone out. The main house is destroyed and the fire is not yet completely out. My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs, which is very sad," Branson said.
Although the damage was extensive, Branson seemed positive toward its future.
"It's very much the Dunkirk spirit here. We want to rebuild the house as soon as we can. We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work. We'll all stay here for the time being. There's a lot of damage and we won't be able to stick it back together again right away. It was a beautiful house."
Pixar unveils new projects
ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Pixar has announced two new movies in production, moving from dinosaurs to the interior of the human mind, at the D23 Disney Expo in Anaheim, California.
Pixar officials said the first film, as yet untitled, envisions a present-day world where dinosaurs still survive and live among humans.
Longtime Pixar story artist Bob Peterson will direct the movie, set for a 2013 release, buzzsugar.com reported Sunday.
The second film is said to be set inside the human mind and deal with dreaming and memory. Little details were provided about Pixar's take on the subject, and the film will not be released until spring 2014, company officials said.
The announcement was made as Pixar is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Also announced was a prequel to "Monsters Incorporated" called "Monsters University," showing how Monsters stars Mike and Sully became friends.
Ray Bradbury celebrates 91st birthday
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Author Ray Bradbury, who turned 91 Monday, said a film version of his semi-autobiographical 1957 novel "Dandelion Wine" will be produced.
Phoenix Pictures will film the story, set in 1928, of a 12-year-old boy as he experiences life during summer in a small town, The Hollywood Reporter said.
"This is the best birthday gift I could ask for. Today, I have been reborn! 'Dandelion Wine' is my most deeply personal work and brings back memories of sheer joy as well as terror," Bradbury said.
"This is the story of me as a young boy and the magic of an unforgettable summer, which still holds a mystical power over me," the author said.
Mike Medavoy, whose recent films include "Shutter Island" and "Black Swan," will produce along with Bradbury and screenwriter Rodion Nahapetov, the Reporter said.
No Upstairs-Downstairs for Atkins
LONDON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- British actress Eileen Atkins announced she will not appear in the next installment of the updated Upstairs Downstairs series she helped to create.
The 2010 series was a follow-up from the original 1971-1975 series she created with fellow actress Jean Marsh, and although she did not appear in the original, she has played a featured role in the new version.
"It's with much sadness that we say goodbye to her wonderful character, the straight speaking mother-in-law Lady Holland," the BBC said in a statement Sunday.
"However, we respect her decision and we will be announcing new star casting soon."
Atkins reportedly has been unhappy with the direction the show is being taken in with its new scripts.
The new version features the fortunes of a diplomat's family and their servants upstairs and downstairs in a large London townhouse, with six new episodes set for filming in October for broadcast in 2012.
