SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015

Dave Franco to return for ‘Neighbors 2’

Isis Valentino, Chuck Lightning and Janelle Monae perform during the Eephus tour ave Franco will be reprising his “Neighbors” role in yesterday in New the comedy’s upcoming sequel. Seth Rogen and York City. —AFP DZac Efron are set to return for “Neighbors 2” as well, with Chloe Moretz joining the cast. Universal’s origi- nal was a surprise, grossing $268.2 million worldwide. The first film followed a couple whose lives were turned upside down after declaring war on the fraternity that Terrence Howard takes witness moved in next door. The sequel, also directed by Nicholas Stoller, has a vague plot revolving around a sorority caus- ing trouble rather than a frat. Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver will produce stand in divorce hearing under their Point Grey Pictures banner. Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien will serve as executive producers ctor Terrence Howard began tes- much testimony about the discussions alongside Good Universe’s Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake. tifying Thursday in a hearing in between Howard and Ghent can be Writers include Cohen, O’Brien, Rogen, Stoller and Awhich the “Empire” star is offered. Ghent has accused the actor of Goldberg. Exec vice president of production Erik Baiers attempting to overturn a 2012 divorce domestic abuse and said he owes her and creative executive Chloe Yellin will oversee the proj- settlement on the grounds his ex-wife money promised in the agreement. The ect for Universal. Erin Westerman is handling on behalf of extorted him. Howard took the stand in Oscar-nominated actor claims Ghent Good Universe and Josh Fagen will be the point person for a Los Angeles courtroom and began tes- threatened to leak personal information, Point Grey. Both Westerman and Fagen will co-produce. tifying about the settlement agreement including images of him naked and a The sequel is slated for release on May 20, 2016. Franco before a judge stopped the inquiry to sex tape, if he didn’t meet her terms. recently wrapped production on the thriller “Nerve” and decide legal issues. Attorneys for Ghent’s lawyers say she denied during a also has “Now You See Me: the Second Act” on the horizon. Howard’s ex-wife, Michelle Ghent, con- deposition that she blackmailed her He is repped by CAA and Felker Toczek Suddleson tend that Howard cannot testify about husband. Audio of Ghent berating Abramson LLP. TheWrap first reported the news. —Reuters any discussions the pair had during a Howard and threatening to sell a video Terrence Howard attends the FOX four-month period between when the of him dancing naked in the bathroom Network 2014 Upfront event in pair engaged in mediation and when it was played for a judge Tuesday. The New York. — AP was signed. audio was recorded in 2011. Howard Los Angeles Superior Court Judge received a best actor Oscar nomination Aghdashloo joins Thomas Trent Lewis is considering how for 2005’s “Hustle & Flow.”— AP Bale’s ‘The Promise’ hohreh Aghdashloo has joined Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac in the historical romance “The Promise,” Variety Recording engineer Al Shas learned exclusively. Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”) is Schmitt (front center) directing from a script he wrote with Robin Swicord, centering with guests music on a love triangle in 1922 with a medical student, an American producer Don Was journalist based in Paris and a beautiful and sophisticated (back center) and woman, portrayed by Charlotte Le Bon. Bale will play the musician Joe Walsh reporter, and Isaac will portray the student, conflicted by old- (back right) at the world traditions. ceremony honoring Aghdashloo will play the strong-willed mother of Isaac’s Schmitt with the character. The story is set amid the final days of the Ottoman 2,557th Star on the Empire. Javier Aguirresarobe (“Blue Jasmine”) has come on Hollywood Walk Of board as cinematographer. Angela Sarafyan, Daniel Giminez Fame in Hollywood, Cacho and Marwan Kenzari (“Ben-Hur”) also star. Shooting will California yesterday. begin in Spain in early September. Eric Esrailian will produce Al Schmitt is a on behalf of Survival Pictures with Mike Medavoy for Phoenix renowned recording Pictures, Ralph Winter and William Horberg (“Milk”). Survivial and mix engineer was unveiled as a production company last month by whose acclaimed music Tracinda Corp, the holding company founded by the late Kirk career has spanned Kerkorian. more than half a Aghdashloo stars in Syfy’s “The Expanse” and in century. He is the “Septembers of Shiraz,” which will premiere at the Toronto recipient of 23 Film Festival. She won an Emmy for “House of Saddam” and Grammy Awards, was nominated for an Oscar for “House of Sand and Fog.” including the Grammy Aghdashloo, a native of Iran, is represented by CAA and man- Trustees Lifetime aged by Tamara Houston at Round Table Entertainment. Achievement Award in Aguirresarobe is represented by Michael Lewis & amp; 2006. — AFP Associates. — Reuters