Dakota Fanning has decided it’s time to show the world her grownup self.
She’s starring in the movie “The Runaways,” the story of Joan Jett and her ’70s all-girl band the Runaways, with frontwoman Cherie Currie, played by Fanning.
Currie has been described as “the lost daughter of Iggy Pop and Brigitte Bardot.”
Fanning told Parade magazine, “A big reason I wanted to do ‘The Runaways’ was to do something unlike anything that I’ve done before. I’m ready to have people see me in a different way than like the kid in (the Sean Penn film) “I Am Sam.” You have to kind of grow up. Everyone has to do it. I am doing it through films, which may be more difficult but it’s what I love to do.”
The film reunites Fanning and Kristen Stewart (as Jett), who both star in “The Twilight Saga” as Bella and Jane.
Fanning says: “My mom loves the film. She loves the real Cherie, and the two of them have become close.”
The movie is the story of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll sweeping up one of the biggest girl glam bands of the era. In 1977 when the band arrived in Japan for a string of sold out shows, they found crowds rivaling those at the height of Beatlemania. The Runaways were the number 4 non-Japanese music act in Japan at the time, behind only ABBA, Kiss and Led Zeppelin in terms of album sales and popularity. The Runaways disbanded in 1979.
Fanning says she especially identified with her character Cherie, who reportedly modeled herself on David Bowie.
“She was 15 when she became famous and I was 15 when I did the role,” Fanning says. “It was perfect timing because she was going through some the same things as I do when it comes to dealing with growing up.”
Sarah Palin is close to a deal for her travelogue reality show, according to the Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
Discovery Communications reportedly has beat out A&E Networks for the project, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” An agreement could be announced in the next few days.
The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate reportedly is asking for $1.2 million per episode. That would make “Alaska” one of the most expensive nature series ever produced.
The program will be in high-def and produced in a style similar to “Planet Earth. In it Palin will act as a guide to Alaska outdoors.
Marvel has chosen Chris Evans to play Captain America.
Evans, best known to comic book fans as the Human Torch in the “Fantastic Four” movies, has been cast to play the red, white and blue super hero, Variety reported.
Evans beat out John Krasinski, Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe, for the part of Steve Rogers, the 98-pound weakling turned super soldier created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941.
Evans got the famous A for effort, signing on for at least three Captain America films and 2012’s “The Avengers,” according to the New York Daily News.
That film will unite Evans’ Captain America with a team of super heroes that includes Robert Downey Jr.‘s Iron Man, Ed Norton‘s the Incredible Hulk and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in a 2012 blockbuster straight out of the panels of comic fans’ fantasies.
Paramount’s “Captain America,” directed by “Wolfman’s” Joe Johnson, is scheduled for a July 22, 2011, release.
Hugo Weaving also has been cast to play the hero’s arch-nemesis, the Nazi criminal mastermind known as the Red Skull, Variety reported.
Evans isn’t the only actor to accept double duty in two super hero franchises. Ryan Reynolds was recently fitted with a ring as DC Comics’ Green Lantern – after also signing on to play the Marvel mutant Deadpool in a spinoff of Fox’s “Wolverine” franchise.
Robert Downey Jr., Tina Fey and Steve Carell will help host the Kids’ Choice Awards.
The stars join Chris Rock, Jackie Chan, Jonah Hill, Queen Latifah, David Spade, Lea Michele, Dev Patel, Miranda Cosgrove, Shaun White and more – to help host Kevin James dole out Nickelodeon’s 23rd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards this Saturday.
In addition to Rihanna and Justin Bieber performing, eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will attempt to set a new world record for being catapulted into the show’s trademark green slime via the Kids’ Choice Awards Slime Slingshot.
The awards will be telecast live from UCLAs Pauley Pavilion on March 27 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Until then kids can cast their vote online in 19 categories including favorite couple, movie actor, singer, athlete and reality show.
lsmith@denverpost.com
