Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015 Moore leaves ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me’ ulianne Moore has exited Nicole actual letters from library archives and JHolofcener’s drama “Can You Ever sold them. In 1993, Israel pleaded guilty Forgive Me” due to creative differ- to conspiracy to transport stolen proper- ences, Variety has learned exclusively. ty and served six months under house The Fox Searchlight project, also starring arrest. She died last year. Chris O’Dowd, had been set to start The film would have been Moore’s shooting in about a week and executives first since her best actress Oscar win for have begun seeking a replacement for “Still Alice.” She will be seen next in Moore. Anne Carey is producing. October in the drama “Freeheld” with Holofcener is directing from her own Ellen Page and Steve Carell and in script, based on the 2008 memoir of the November in “The Hunger Games: same name by journalist Mockingjay-Part 2.” Lee Israel. In 1992, Israel had fallen on Moore has also completed production hard times and began selling letters that on romantic comedy “Maggie’s Plan,” she had forged from deceased writers which also stars Greta Gerwig, Ethan and actors. When the forgeries started to Hawke, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and

raise suspicion, she turned to stealing the Monte Greene. — Reuters Julianne Moore Disney developing live-action ‘Aladdin’ prequel isney is developing “Genies,” a movie for Disney. (Fun fact: Vinson’s Day” with Peter Dinklage starring. Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts Dlive-action comedy prequel to its bachelor party was true-life inspiration Disney has been mining its library 1992 animated hit for 2009’s “The Hangover.”) of animated movies for live-action “Aladdin.”Tripp Vinson is on board to Shannon and Swift’s credits inspiration, evidenced by recent Gyllenhaal, Watts drama produce “Genies” through his Vinson include 2009’s “Friday the reboots “Cinderella,” “Maleficent,” Films banner. Damian Shannon and 13th” and the upcom- “Alice in Wonderland,” the Mark Swift are writing the script for the ing comedy upcoming “Jungle Book” and ‘Demolition’ gets prequel, which will center on a genie “O’Lucky “Beauty and the Beast” with trapped in Aladdin’s lamp. The original Emma Watson starring. It’s also April release date Aladdin story is contained in “The developing live-action versions of Book of One Thousand and One “Pinocchio,” “Winnie the Pooh,” ox Searchlight has opted to keep Jake Gyllenhaal-Naomi Nights” (“The Arabian “Mulan” and “Dumbo.” Disney’s FWatts drama “Demolition” out of this year’s awards sea- Nights”), in which a sor- “Aladdin,” with Robin Williams voic- son, dating the film for an April 8, 2016, release. The film cerer persuades the ing the blue genie, grossed more is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee from a screenplay by Bryan young Aladdin to retrieve a than $500 million at the worldwide box Sipe. Producers are Lianne Halfon, Russ Smith, Molly Smith, powerful oil lamp from a office. Shannon and Swift are repped by Trent Luckinbill, Sidney Kimmel and Vallee. Gyllenhaal portrays magic cave. UTA and attorney Jeff Frankel at a successful investment banker who struggles after losing his Vinson’s credits McKuin, Frankel. The news was wife in a tragic car crash. He continues to unravel despite pres- include exec produc- first reported by the Hollywood sure from his father-in-law, portrayed by Chris Cooper. His ing “San Andreas” Reporter. —Reuters character then forms an unlikely connection with a customer and producing service rep and single mother, played by Watts, after writing a “Journey 2: the complaint letter to a vending machine company. Mysterious Newcomer Judah Lewis plays Watts’ son in the movie. Island.” Vallee directed “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wild.” Fox He’s Searchlight bought the US rights to “Demolition” while it was also still in production in New York last October. Gyllenhaal has a develop- pair of potential awards films opening soon with The ing Weinstein Company’s boxing drama “Southpaw” launching “Bob July 24 and Universal’s mountaineering drama “Everest” open- the ing on Sept 18. He plays expedition leader Scott Fischer in Musical” for “Everest,” which recaps the disastrous 1996 climbing season Disney with Michel Hazanavicius on the world’s highest mountain. — Reuters directing, as well as a Prince Charming MS Viswanathan, Indian film composer, dies at 88

ndian film composer MS Viswanathan, Viswanathan told a biographer. He learned Tamil helmers, he also worked with the top who composed tunes for hundreds of music by listening in at local maestro directors of the time in Kannada, Telugu and ITamil and Malayalam pics, died July 14 in Neelakanta Bhagavathar’s lessons. Taken Malayalam films including CV Sridhar, K Chennai, India, at age 88. Partnering with TK under the latter’s wing, Viswanathan gave Balachander, KS Gopalakrishnan, KS Prakash Ramamoorthy, Viswanathan composed his first singing concert at age 13 in Rao, NT Rama Rao, Visu, Mouli and Komal songs for such classics as “Paasamalar” Kannanur, Kerala. He had worked as a child Swaminathan. Such tunes as “Yezhu “Server Sundaram,” “Ayirathil oruvan” and actor and later at odd jobs at Jupiter Studios. Swarngalukkul Ethanai Padal” in “Apoorva “Enga veetu pillai.” After 1965 he started His big break came with composing music ragangal” won singer Vani Jairam the working on his own, although the two part- for “Jenova,” starring MG Ramachandran, the National Award. nered on an unsuccessful film in 1996. Tamil matinee idol. After teaming with top He also composed “Neerarum Maniyanga Subramanian Viswanathan lyricists of the day like Kannadasan, Kadalodutha,” which became the state was a child prodigy whose life was nearly cut Viswanathan composed for films of all the anthem for Tamil Nadu. Among later com- short when his poverty-stricken mother leading stars, who, besides Ramachandran, posers who worked with Viswanathan are decided to end both their lives after his included Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan (no Illayaraja and AR Rahman. Viswanathan is father died. However, his grandfather relation) and Nagesh. survived by four sons and three daughters. stepped in and stopped the attempt, While the bulk of his composing was for His wife preceded him in death. — Reuters