Academy lists 21 eligible animated movies
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Twenty-one movies are eligible for the Animated Feature Film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The academy said on its Web site the films are: "Adventures in Zambezia," "Brave," "Delhi Safari," "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," "Frankenweenie," "From Up on Poppy Hill," "Hey Krishna," "Hotel Transylvania," "Ice Age Continental Drift," "A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman," "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," "The Mystical Laws," "The Painting," "ParaNorman," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "The Rabbi's Cat," "Rise of the Guardians," "Secret of the Wings," "Walter & Tandoori's Christmas," "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Zarafa."
Not all of the films on the list of eligible pictures have been released yet.
The Los Angeles Times said because there were more than 16 eligible features, the list of nominees this year will contain five titles, rather than three, as it does in years when fewer animated features are placed on the long list.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced Jan. 10 and the Oscars will be presented Feb. 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, in ceremonies to be televised live on ABC-TV.
Stewart in talks to join Affleck in film
HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- "Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart is in talks to star opposite Ben Affleck in the con artist film "Focus," The Hollywood Reporter said.
The film features a young grifter -- potentially played by Stewart -- who joins Affleck, a more experienced vet.
"Focus" is written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who together helmed "Crazy, Stupid, Love," the magazine reported. Denise DiNovi will produce.
Stewart next appears in "Breaking Dawn Part 2," which opens Nov. 16, and "On the Road" opening next month.
Electra Hasselhoff's favorite beach babe
HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. actor David Hasselhoff said Carmen Electra was his favorite female co-star on "Baywatch" because "she just goes with the flow."
Among a bevy of swimsuit-clad female co-stars -- Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth and Brooke Burns to name a few -- Hasselhoff told "Access Hollywood" Electra was his favorite, in part because "she's got the most beautiful eyes."
"She's like one of the guys, she hangs out, she doesn't look like one of the guys, but she's cool ... she just goes with the flow," he said.
And it wasn't just her looks that appealed to Hasselhoff.
"She always knew her lines," he told "Access Hollywood" hosts Billy Bush and Kit Hoover. "[And was] ready to go, jump in the water. There are so many girls on 'Baywatch' that couldn't swim."
Diablo Cody to produce ABC comedy
HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody has sold a romantic comedy series to ABC called "Alex + Amy," The Hollywood Reporter said.
"Alex + Amy" revolves around a millennial guy and a Gen X woman in love, the report said.
The purchase of the single-camera comedy comes a year and a half after Showtime canceled Cody's Emmy-winning series "United States of Tara," starring Toni Collette.
Cody will executive produce the show along with her manager Mason Novick, and Amblin TV's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank -- both of whom produced "United States of Tara" when Amblin was known as DreamWorks TV, the magazine reported.
