lifestyle WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014 GOSSIP Cooper set to star as Mack Bolan

Neeson reluctant to radley Cooper is set to play the role of Mack Bolan, the fictional character of Don Pendleton, in a new film. The character was a terrorism fighter in the origi- Bnal Pendleton novels and the role will see Cooper, 39, reunite with ‘The Hangover’ director Todd Phillips, Deadline reports. Linda Pendleton, the wife of Don, appear in ‘phone call films’ said that her husband wrote the first novel in the series, ‘War Against the Mafia,’ “out of his desire to express his discomfort with the reaction of many Americans to our sol- diers who were dying for our country in the jungles of Vietnam and those coming iam Neeson is wary of accepting roles in He explained to Empire magazine: “When I first their roles - he finds it easy to tap into the film’s home to outrageous verbal and physical abuse”. She added: “Mack Bolan became films similar to ‘Taken’. Neeson, 62, has read Scott’s [Frank, director-and-writer] script, I dark mentality. He added: “I knew what was Don’s symbolic statement. He also became every soldier’s voice. Don created a heroic Lenjoyed huge success with the ‘Taken’ hesitated. Because I thought, ‘Here we go, required and I can easily access that kind of character in Bolan, a true hero who was dedicated to justice. “Don created a heroic franchise, which sees him play the role of a here’s another [expletive] telephone call, talk- darkness, you know.” ‘A Walk Among the character in Bolan, a true hero who was dedicated to justice. The enemy that Bolan retired CIA operative, but the Irish-born star ing to the bad guys.’ So there was this huge Tombstones’ also features ‘Very Good Girls’ star had to fight was no longer on the battlefields of Vietnam but right here on American admits he was initially reluctant to accept a role question mark before taking it on.” Neeson said Boyd Holbrook and Dan Stevens, who soil, and that enemy was the Mafia.” Depending on the success of the first film, there in new film ‘A Walk Among the Tombstones’ that unlike some of his co-stars - who took to appeared in ‘Dowton Abbey’ until 2012, and is every chance that more movies inspired by the Pendleton novels will follow. because he thought it was too similar to ‘Taken’. listening to strange music in preparation for will open in cinemas on September 19. Lennox announces Union J are much more than a boyband

nion J’s JJ Hamblett says they are “good new for the future of pop” music. The ‘Carry UYou’ singer has insisted the group - who nnie Lennox has announced her appeared on ‘The X Factor’ in 2012 - are much new album will be released this more than a typical boyband, and suggested Ayear. The 59-year-old singer will they will stand out over time as something dif- unveil her seventh solo LP entitled ferent. He told the Daily Star newspaper: “You ‘Nostalgia’ in October this year. The can call us a boyband but we have a lot more record will feature a collection of Annie’s about us and that’s gotta be good for the future takes on songs from the 1930s and of pop.”[Jaymi Hensley] came out as gay very 1940s, including songs originally made early on and I’ve become a dad recently.” popular by the likes of Billie Holiday, Meanwhile, the group have been in the US Nina Simone, Jo Stafford and Louis working on their new album - the follow-up to Armstrong. Speaking about the album, last year’s self-titled debut - and they have Annie said: “I was just curious. I thought, already noticed their popularity rising in Los ‘I wonder what my voice would be like. Angeles. JJ added: “We’ve been walking through Would these songs suit my voice?’ It was Hollywood and people have asked for auto- like a little challenge. “I just sort of got to graphs - it’s been nuts.” For Jaymi though, their know them, became friends with them fame an be difficult as he tries to plan a big wed- really and had a great deal of joy in the ding with partner Olly. He explained: “Mags process.” Annie got her inspiration for the offered us all sorts to have our pictures taken new album from watching vintage audio and then we realized it shouldn’t be about that.” recordings and video performances of music from the ‘Great American Songbook’. She also featured as a musi- cian on many of the tracks alongside her Deyn long-time collaborator and co-producer has launched Mike Stevens. ‘Nostalgia’ will be released Smith wants on October 27, 2014. her first clothing line Brown collaboration gyness Deyn has launched her first clothing line. The former model am Smith Aturned designer has released her took a break, would love to ‘Title-A’ collection on Net-A-Porter.com Swork with under the ‘New Designers’ section of the Chris Brown. The luxury label site. The line - which was first 22-year-old singer announced in February this year - chan- thanks to really enjoyed the nels the 31 year old’s love of menswear ‘Yeah 3X’ hitmaker’s and was inspired by androgynous style version of his track icons Patti Smith, Katharine Hepburn and abrinth says Simon Cowell told him to ‘Stay With Me’, Diane Keaton as Annie Hall. The collection take a break between . The rap- which Chris posted - which features, amongst other cross-sea- per has returned two years since the L on his Instagram sonal pieces, a she has collaborated with release of his debut album ‘Electronic Earth’, account last week. the past on lines for shoemaker Doc and he insisted part of the reason behind Martins. The 2009 British Model of the Year the long wait for new single ‘Let It Be’ was Talking about Chris’ video to radio show told The Cut: ‘While we were designing the advice of the media mogul. He told The this is slightly different. It has sexy dress- In:Demand at the these clothes for Doc Martens, we started Sun newspaper: “I was like I don’t have any ing. It has very feminine silks, which flow. Virgin Media V craving things that we wanted to wear so follow-ups!’ Then I saw Simon in St Tropez Silk dresses and silk nightshirts that are Festival, Sam said: much, which were menswear clothes with- and he said, ‘I just want you to have fun and very feminine. There’s lots of silk-velvet “It was amazing I out the feminine touch that people give do what you love. Even if it takes three draped shirts that hang.’ Agyness also love it. It’s really them sometimes, like with the darts and years, make an amazing album.’ “ The plans to extend her collection - which is weird because I’m a things like that. We wanted to do some- ‘’ hitmaker is signed available online from this week - by releas- massive fan of his thing very boxy with suits and suit sepa- to the ‘X Factor’ boss’ Syco Records label, ing four lines a year and eventually adding music. “I love Chris rates for the relaxed woman. She added: and he was pushed to the limit when he did leather goods, footwear and eyewear to Brown’s music so much yeah. I’d love to meet him so ‘I’ve always worn boys’ clothes growing up start working on the follow-up to his 2012 and menswear all the time, but I feel like the brand. debut. He revealed the effort he has been possibly who knows it would be cool to collaborate.” putting in for the record, which is said to Sam’s debut album, ‘In The Lonely Hour’, earned him a combine 70s soul music and space-age top five album in over 11 countries worldwide. The sound effects. He added: “I was in the studio singer even broke sale records in the United States but three days with no sleep!” Meanwhile, debuted at number two on the Billboard charts, after Rockboi recently ruled out a sibling rivalry failing to top Lana Del Rey’s ‘Ultraviolence’. The ‘Money with the ‘Earthquake’ star and ‘Britain’s Got on My Mind’ hitmaker’ sold 166,000 copies of his Talent’ drummer MckNasty. He previously album in the US in its initial week - the most copies told BANG Showbiz: “Not unless we’re hav- sold in the first week of a debut album by a UK male ing a pillow fight or something like that, you artist. Speaking about his Stateside success, Sam said: know what I mean. “We’ve all worked “I can’t put America into words. It’s something that I together since we were really young and thought would come later on. “Even when I talk about stuff so one day you never know, you might it now I just can’t quite believe what’s going on. I’m see the whole Mac’ pack getting poppin’ overwhelmed for my first record to do that.” together.” David Guetta regrets not getting Jackson collaboration Writers of Star Trek 3 avid Guetta wishes he had them. Guetta insists the reason he is got the chance to work with so successful is because he works complete initial draft DMichael Jackson. The super-DJ hard in the studio and tours constant- has worked with many of the biggest ly. When asked what the secret of his names in pop, including Rihanna, success is, the ‘Titanium’ hitmaker he script for ‘Star Trek 3’ is nearing and [Patrick] McKay. “They are true Star Trek Nicki Minaj, Kelly Rowland, Snoop said: “To be honest I think the whole completion. Roberto Orci, who is writ- fans, as well. So, I can’t even think anything Dogg and Usher, but he admits his work ethic is the secret of my success. Ting the script for the new flick along- about the future until I give them a script dream collaboration would have If you ask me what is the secret side John D Payne and Patrick McKay, con- and they greenlight it. Until that happens, been with the late King of Pop, who behind my hits (songs), I have to say I firmed an initial draft of the script has been everything else is just a rumor.” Orci thinks died in June 2009. Guetta said: “It have no idea. At the moment I work completed and is set to be sent to bosses at he is a unique position to assume the role, would have been awesome to work on my new album and tear my hair Paramount, the studio behind the franchise. saying: “Having seen one of the best guys in with Michael Jackson, but therefore out, because I can’t reckon, If a song is The 41-year-old recently expressed an inter- the business [J.J. Abrams] direct two of it’s too late now.” The 46-year-old pro- going to be a hit or not. It’s crazy that est in directing the film, telling Collider: “I them already, and to have seen it from the ducer is one of the most successful people think I would have a recipe, don’t want to count my chickens before vantage point of producer too, I know DJs in the world and is wanted by the but I haven’t. Live would be so much they hatch. The studio has yet to even read where a lot of the challenges are and where globe’s top pop stars to create hits for easier with a recipe like that.” the script. I’m in the middle of writing it, a lot of the fun is.” ‘Star Trek 3’ is expected to with the talented team of [John D.] Payne hit cinema screens in 2016.