At Comic-Con, ‘Twilight’ actor says he and John Singleton studied film. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Taylor Lautner Photo: MTV News SAN DIEGO — Taylor Lautner is ready to abduct the title of Hollywood’s resident action star when “Abduction” hits theaters September 23, but he didn’t get there without a little inspiration from some of the genre’s greatest actors. When MTV caught up with the “Twilight Saga” star at Comic-Con 2011 this week, he revealed that he did more than admire the top action actors: He studied them. Considering “Abduction” is being described along the lines of the “Bourne” movies and “Minority Report,” it makes sense that Tom Cruise and Matt Damon are among Lautner’s biggest role models. “I studied film with John Singleton while preparing for the movie, and I chose Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford; we just went down the list,” Lautner explained. “It would be an honor to have a tenth the career that those guys have.” Having spent so much time watching the movies, Lautner said he sometimes found himself copying their moves during his takes. It took him time to take a step back and figure out how to tailor — or “Taylor” — their concepts to his own acting style. He got a chance to meet Cruise while filming a promo for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, and though their work together wasn’t action-oriented, Lautner said working with the “Mission: Impossible” actor was “surreal.” But was he able to hold it together around his idol? “I definitely played it cool,” Lautner said with a laugh. “It was hard.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Abduction.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV News’ Comic-Con Takeover With Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried And Jon Favreau Geeking Out At 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Related Photos ‘Breaking Dawn’ Stars Take Over San Diego Comic-Con
Director Bill Condon tells Comic-Con crowd that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s real-life growth parallels Bella and Edward. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “Breaking Dawn” Photo: Summit SAN DIEGO — Bill Condon was tasked with the difficult job of wrapping up the final two installments of “The Twilight Saga.” But judging by the glowing response to two brand-new “Breaking Dawn” clips at San Diego Comic-Con , so far it seems safe to bet he’s done a great job. But for the director, the task was as much about creating a finale that will please fans as it was making something that he could be proud of. During Thursday afternoon’s (July 21) “Breaking Dawn” panel in the Convention Center’s Hall H, Condon called the event “the most incredible test screening I will ever have,” because it was the first time he would be hearing fans’ reactions to part one of the last two “Twilight” movies. “It’s amazing in this movie how much happens,” Condon told the Comic-Con audience. “Bella’s getting married or Bella’s going to make love for the first time. People have been waiting for these moments, and everyone’s imagined them, so you do want to get to the essence of what people might want but you can only do it the way, ultimately, you think is the most beautiful or the most powerful.” “Twilight” fans’ possible reactions to a few scenes in particular have Condon feeling nervous, he admitted. “There are big scenes — the childbirth — that you just want to make sure that it’s as powerful and as complete as it could be,” he said. It helps that his two stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, have come into their own as actors over the course of the movies. Condon called Stewart “the real deal,” while revealing that Pattinson was able to bring “more of himself” to the role of Edward Cullen in “Breaking Dawn” then he had in the previous installments. “They’re growing up. There was a year gap between the making of this movie and the last one, [‘Eclipse’], so they’re just a lot more comfortable in themselves,” Condon explained. “I keep saying it’s like ‘Twilight Grows Up.’ It’s adult concerns: they’re married now, it’s like they’re going to have a kid, it’s that kind of stuff. You could see that it’s connecting more to what their lives were like now than if they were still playing high school kids, because they’re not high school kids anymore.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos Geeking Out At 2011 San Diego Comic-Con MTV News’ Comic-Con Takeover ‘Breaking Dawn’ Special Related Photos ‘Breaking Dawn’ Stars Take Over San Diego Comic-Con
Pee-wee makes a plea from Comic-Con for singer to cameo in his Judd Apatow-produced film. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Eric Ditzian Justin Bieber Photo: Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Images SAN DIEGO — Beliebers are in luck, because Justin Bieber might be heading to the big screen once again soon, if Pee-wee Herman has his way. Turns out Herman, who has been working on a new film alongside producer Judd Apatow , has recently written the VMA nominee in as one of the celebrity cameos. The only problem? Bieber doesn’t know yet. “I can’t really tell [what the cameo is], but he makes an appearance toward the end of the film,” Herman (actor Paul Reubens, but we definitely interviewed Pee-wee) told MTV News at San Diego Comic-Con . “He doesn’t know about it yet, so if you’re watching this, Justin!” That’s not the only grade-A cameo Herman has written into the script. He has his eyes on lots of stars — and the White House. “There’s a party scene in the film that I think will have a lot of the stars. We just wrote President Obama into them. We have an offer out to him,” Herman unveiled. Will any other government officials be given a role in the movie? “Sarah Palin wasn’t asked. I have to draw the line somewhere, and unfortunately that’s where it was drawn. I’m sorry, Sarah, I’m sorry,” he whispered. The script for the currently unnamed comedy is being looked at by Universal Studios at the moment, and Herman said he hoped filming could begin within the next couple of months. It only helps that he has Apatow in his court and that the director/producer has words of wisdom to pass on to Herman to make the best comedy he can. “He’s given us the same advice over and over again, which is ’emotional arc,’ ” Herman explained. “He wants the character to go through an emotional arc and to come out on the other end arced. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re adding an emotional arc. Emotional growth, so there’s a change in Pee-wee Herman during this film. Pee-wee makes a change.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Geeking Out At 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Related Artists Justin Bieber
‘For those who have been so involved and grown up with the series, it feels like a chapter of your life has closed,’ one expert says. By Josh Wigler Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” has been in theaters for a week, kicking magical tail at the box office and basking in the glow of rave reviews from critics. All good things, to be sure, except for one not-so-tiny wound: “Harry Potter” is officially over. “Wait … there’s no ‘Part 3’?” joked a wistful Micah Tannenbaum of MuggleNet , commenting to MTV News on the fact that the “Potter” series is finally ending. “It’s a bittersweet feeling. For those who have been so involved and grown up with the series, it feels like a chapter of your life has closed, but at the same time, you’re eager to see what’s next. J.K. Rowling always has something up her sleeve.” MTV’s very own “Potter” expert Terri Schwartz, who was one of our main commentators during the “Harry Potter” World Cup , is one such reader to have grown up alongside the Boy Who Lived, giving her a unique perspective on the cinematic ending of Jo Rowling’s magical franchise. “It is fair to say that I grew up with ‘Harry Potter,’ so now that the movie series is over, there is an overriding sense of finality to the era that wasn’t there when the last book came out,” she said. “I definitely feel like I will never experience another pop-culture phenomenon quite like this again in my lifetime.” Indeed, it’s a popular sentiment. For many fans, the end of “Potter” marks not just the end of a franchise, but the completion of a massive zeitgeist-defining tale the likes of which won’t be repeated anytime soon. There’s a sense of pride among “Potter” fans for having been around to witness such a narrative gift, but it doesn’t come without a bittersweet cost. “I think the fans are experiencing mixed emotions,” Tannenbaum said. “It’s a bit different than when ‘Deathly Hallows’ the book was released in 2007, because you still had several movies to look forward to. Now what?” Thankfully, there is a place to turn: Pottermore , Ms. Rowling’s online haven where muggles across the world can rediscover the majesty of “Potter” all over again. “It’s a good thing [she] decided to announce Pottermore just before the last film hit theaters,” Tannenbaum said. “I have a feeling it will cure any lingering post-Potter depression and provide fans the ultimate online experience. With all the books being re-released over time with new content, fans can experience the series all over again.” Pottermore is still several months away, of course, but fans aren’t without options: “Deathly Hallows, Part 2″ is still in theaters, of course, and judging by last weekend’s record-breaking box-office numbers, it’s a sure bet that many Potterheads will be heading back to Hogwarts this weekend. ” ‘Part 2’ is definitely the strongest of the ‘Potter’ films, so it is exciting to see that this last movie is holding steady to be the strongest of the bunch,” Schwartz said. “It just solidifies the fact that this is the most successful movie franchise in cinematic history, which is a title it well-deserves.” “The box-office results are impressive,” Tannenbaum added. “I think the fact that ‘Part 2′ shattered midnight, opening-day and opening-weekend records here in the U.S. as well as records overseas shows the series’ reach. It’s the fastest film ever to the half-billion mark, and it has only been in theaters for a week! Plus, it just passed ‘Star Wars’ as the highest-grossing franchise of all-time. Definitely going out with a bang.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 2’ Related Photos ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2’ Opening-Night Madness ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Premieres In NYC
‘I don’t want to say it felt like a real wedding, but it definitely felt like a ceremony, ‘ she tells MTV News at Comic-Con. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” Photo: Andrew Cooper/ Summit Entertainment SAN DIEGO — For her third visit to San Diego Comic-Con , Kristen Stewart was happy to report to MTV News about getting married and giving birth — onscreen, that is. While “The Twilight Saga” star was quick to specify that it was Mr. Cullen she shared these milestones with, not rumored beau Robert Pattinson, she spilled the beans about filming the hotly anticipated wedding scene in “Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” “I think the most surreal experience was getting married,” Stewart said. “It was right at the bitter end. I was amping up to it the entire time. They left me on my toes for six months. And then it was just sort of very cathartic to see the entire cast in the pews and everyone excited to see how it was all going to go down. “It had a kind of feel of everyone kind of excited to see how it’s all going to go down,” she continued. “I don’t want to say it felt like a real wedding, but it definitely felt like a ceremony. It definitely felt ceremonial and celebratory.” This is the first time Stewart has had an opportunity to get in on the action with the boys of “Twilight,” and from what we’ve heard, she’s held her own against them. Stewart especially got to face off against Taylor Lautner, which she said was a lot of fun. “Taylor’s funny about it too. He’s like, ‘You’re so cute,’ ” Stewart said. “I think he was a little more intimidated then he led on. Maybe not.” “Breaking Dawn” isn’t the only movie Stewart is promoting at Comic-Con this year. She also has “Snow White and the Huntsman,” which has its panel Saturday. Stewart shared her enthusiasm about the movie without giving too much away about the plot. “I am so, so excited. We’re in pre-production right now. I think [Snow White] represents so much that I can’t wait to get across to the entire world,” she said. “Rupert [Sanders], the director, we’re so in the middle of forming the story and getting into it that it’s hard for me to talk about. I mean, I’m training. I’m riding horses all the time.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV News’ Comic-Con Takeover ‘Breaking Dawn’ Special Geeking Out At 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Related Photos ‘Twilight’ Stars Break Dawn At San Diego Comic-Con ‘Breaking Dawn’ Stars Take Over San Diego Comic-Con
Rapper was also hit with felony possession of an assault weapon charge, following alleged altercation in June. By Gil Kaufman Tone Loc Photo: Todd Williamson/ Getty Images “Wild Thing” rapper Tone Loc was in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday, where the 45-year-old MC (born Anthony Smith) pleaded not guilty to felony possession of an assault weapon and domestic violence charges. Loc was arrested last month for suspicion of felony domestic violence following an alleged altercation with the mother of one of his children. According to TMZ , police found an unregistered military-grade assault rifle, a semi-automatic Colt AR-15 Sporter, during their investigation into the incident on June 18. He is slated to return to court in the case on July 28. Last December, Loc was arrested for DUI, but his manager told TMZ that his client does not drink and it was a seizure that caused him to drive erratically. Best known for his gravelly voice and laid-back attitude, Loc had two best-selling singles from his 1989 debut, Loc-ed After Dark, which was followed by the less-successful 1991 disc Cool Hand Loc. After his music career cooled off, the rapper used his unmistakable voice to launch a second career as a voice-over actor and sometime movie actor, appearing in films such as “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and “Posse.” He’s also lent his voice to the movies “FernGully: The Last Rainforest,” “A Cool Like That Christmas” and “Titan A.E.,” as well as the TV shows “King of the Hill” and “C-Bear and Jamal.”
‘Captain America’ star opened up in rapid-fire Twitter session with MTV News’ Josh Horowitz. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Chris Evans Photo: MTV News Though the world’s attention is focused on Chris Evans in anticipation of his turns as Captain America in “Captain America: The First Avenger” and “The Avengers,” at heart Evans is just an average Joe who likes singing show tunes in the shower. MTV News’ Josh Horowitz set out to find the softer side of America’s superhero during a rapid-fire Twitter session with him on “MTV First: Captain America.” Evans revealed that he prefers his eggs scrambled, has a celebrity crush on Salma Hayek and still gets starstruck around Michael Jordan. But fans who submitted their Twitter questions wanted to know the real Chris Evans, the man that they would bring home to meet their parents. When asked whether he’s a good date, Evans admitted that he has some pretty good moves for the ladies. “Oh yeah, I’m a great date,” he said with confidence. “Chivalry was a big thing in my household. If you didn’t hold the door for a woman, my mother’s going to knock your head in.” Considering his superhero background, questions quickly became comic book-based. Apparently Evans’ favorite masked hero growing up was neither Captain America nor Johnny Blaze, both of whom he’s played on the big screen, but Spider-Man. At least he kept the answer within the Marvel family. Evans again voted against his onscreen alter ego when asked whether Iron Man or Captain America would win in a fight. “Unfortunately, probably Iron Man,” he confessed. “I’ve got to be honest. I’m being real.” Hopefully fans will get a chance to see that showdown once “The Avengers” hits the big screen. The most important question of the bunch, though, ended up being the one with the most surprising answer. One Twitter follower asked Evans what song he likes to sing in the shower, but Evans was too embarrassed to give a direct answer. “I grew up doing theater, so unfortunately it’s probably going to be in the world of show tunes,” Evans said with a laugh. When Horowitz prompted him to give up just one song he loves, the “Captain America” star refused. “It’s bad. I can’t even go any more than that,” he said, but then let slip that he’s a sucker for “Rent.” Well, today for you, tomorrow for us, Chris! Check out everything we’ve got on “Captain America: The First Avenger.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV First: Captain America
‘The images of me still haunt me,’ Rupert Grint tells MTV News of his flash-forward makeup. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” Photo: Warner Bros. Though the story of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” ends with Harry’s battle against Voldemort, the real goodbye to the franchise comes through an epilogue sequence at the end of the movie. It’s a scene MTV has been talking to the cast of the “Harry Potter” films about for many years, especially after the creative heads decided to age the stars using makeup instead of cast a new set of actors. Now that the film is less than 24 hours away from being released, the stars were ready to open up about how they felt about the final “Harry Potter” scene. “With the way it ends, it definitely got balanced right, it was believable, but it was a weird scene to film,” Rupert Grint told MTV News. The actor better known as Ron Weasley had to shoot the epilogue sequence twice after director David Yates decided that the first attempt didn’t work as well. In the scene that is used in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” Ron has gained a pot belly and some stubble, but the first version also featured a serious receding hairline and some unflattering jowls. “The images of me still haunt me,” Grint admitted with a traumatized look on his face. “It was like this monster Donald Trump kind of mixture. It was scary.” His co-star Tom Felton agreed that Grint had not looked particularly attractive the first time, but he wasn’t entirely happy with how his character, Draco Malfoy, turned out either. His real-life girlfriend, Jade Olivia, played his onscreen wife in the sequence and he got to wear a muscle suit — “It was quite cool, I felt quite ripped” — but despite his “lovely goatee” and longer hairstyle, Felton wasn’t entirely satisfied with the results. Unfortunately for the “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” star, he and Olivia “nailed it” the first time, and thus weren’t called back for reshoots. “They were pretty cruel, don’t you think?” Felton asked. “Nineteen years, they were supposed to base it on Jason Isaacs! I look like Jason Isaacs’ dad! I mean, come on.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 2’ Scenes From ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
MC also tells MTV News that hit ‘How to Love’ was inspired by Tupac’s ladies’ anthem ‘Keep Ya Head Up.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting Rahman Dukes Lil Wayne Photo: MTV News Tunechi’s back and Tha Carter IV is done! During an interview with MTV News last week, Lil Wayne confirmed that the recording of the highly anticipated fourth installment of his Tha Carter series is finished and will drop at the end of August, a day after the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards air live on August 28. “The album is done and it’ll be out August 29. It’s totally done,” Wayne told us. While the MC’s upcoming mixtape, Sorry for the Wait, will no doubt feature Wayne spewing rapid-fire rap over concussive beats, judging by the latest Carter IV single, the album will offer even more diversity. According to Wayne, the acoustic-flavored, sing-songy “How to Love” was actually inspired by Tupac Shakur. “That song is just sweeping the world. It’s touching every woman, that’s what it was for,” Wayne said. “It was like Tupac had ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ and it was a message to women and little girls across the world just to keep your head up even though things are hard. That’s what my song was.” ‘Pac’s 1993 song became one of his biggest hits. On it, Shakur rapped about the plight of single mothers and battered women. For “How to Love,” Weezy also lends a sympathetic ear. “A lot of women don’t know how to love because there’s deep reasons for them not knowing how to love,” he explained. “And what I mean by deep reasons is deep and dark reasons. A lot of people don’t open up that can and I figured that I can open up that can of worms and see what happens.” How do you think Wayne’s “How to Love” compares to Tupac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists Lil Wayne
MC also tells MTV News that hit ‘How to Love’ was inspired by Tupac’s ladies’ anthem ‘Keep Ya Head Up.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting Rahman Dukes Lil Wayne Photo: MTV News Tunechi’s back and Tha Carter IV is done! During an interview with MTV News last week, Lil Wayne confirmed that the recording of the highly anticipated fourth installment of his Tha Carter series is finished and will drop at the end of August, a day after the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards air live on August 28. “The album is done and it’ll be out August 29. It’s totally done,” Wayne told us. While the MC’s upcoming mixtape, Sorry for the Wait, will no doubt feature Wayne spewing rapid-fire rap over concussive beats, judging by the latest Carter IV single, the album will offer even more diversity. According to Wayne, the acoustic-flavored, sing-songy “How to Love” was actually inspired by Tupac Shakur. “That song is just sweeping the world. It’s touching every woman, that’s what it was for,” Wayne said. “It was like Tupac had ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ and it was a message to women and little girls across the world just to keep your head up even though things are hard. That’s what my song was.” ‘Pac’s 1993 song became one of his biggest hits. On it, Shakur rapped about the plight of single mothers and battered women. For “How to Love,” Weezy also lends a sympathetic ear. “A lot of women don’t know how to love because there’s deep reasons for them not knowing how to love,” he explained. “And what I mean by deep reasons is deep and dark reasons. A lot of people don’t open up that can and I figured that I can open up that can of worms and see what happens.” How do you think Wayne’s “How to Love” compares to Tupac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists Lil Wayne
