Tag Archives: Willow Smith

Quvenzhane Wallis Lands Lead Role In ‘Annie’

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Quvenzhane Wallis Lands Lead Role In Annie

Will Gluck’s upcoming “Annie” remake has found its leading lady in the form of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” star Quvenzhane Wallis. The same weekend she made her appearance as the youngest ever Best Actress Oscar nominee, she was confirmed for the starring role.

That part had originally gone to Willow Smith, but she passed on it in January. Now Wallis is confirmed for the role, Deadline reports, which will be her first starring part since “Beasts.” Wallis also has a small role in Steve McQueen’s “Twelve Years a Slave.”

“She is an extraordinary young talent with an amazing range, not only as an actress but as a singer and dancer, and we can’t wait for audiences to further discover her,” Columbia Pictures’ Hannah Minghella said in a statement.

Thus far, Wallis is the only actor signed for “Annie.” This take on the movie will be set in the present day, and is slated to start filming in the fall. Gluck is currently rewriting the script, and “Annie” is expected to come out in the 2014 holiday season. Now the big question is: Who should be cast as Daddy Warbucks?

Do you think Wallis is a good fit for “Annie”? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Willow Smith Believes Tupac Is Still Alive

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Willow Smith Believes Tupac Is Still Alive

Tupac might’ve been a little before Willow Smith’s time, but clearly Will and Jada have taught her well. The 11-year-old, who previously admitted that Pac was her favorite rapper, penned a letter to the West Coast legend begging him to return. According to Willow’s letter she’s sure Tupac is still alive, and that’s amazing in itself.

If the handwriting is difficult to read, check the text below via Rap-Up. ”Dear Tupac, I know you are alive some place. I think that my mommy really misses you. Can you please come back so mommy and me can be happy! I wish you were here… I really do!” – Love, Willow

Willow Smith Believes Tupac Is Still Alive

Safe to say that Willow probably won’t get her wish here, but she does have a better chance of linking up with live rappers like Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator who she’s been crushing on.  “Life is complete… Love of my life,” she said of Tyler a few months back.

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Slaughterhouse, Common, Trey Songz Rep BET Awards Pre-Show

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60779 slaughterhouse1 Slaughterhouse, Common, Trey Songz Rep BET Awards Pre Show

The stars have aligned as the big show in LA has got underway.

On Sunday night (July 1), a myriad of celebs descended on the 2012 BET Awards pre-show and red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Hosted by “106 Park” duo Terrence J and Rocsi Diaz, along with radio/TV personality Big Tigger and Tamar Braxton of “Braxton Family Values,” the carpet showcased appearances from the worlds of music, TV and celebrity, including Rick Ross and the entire Maybach Music Group family, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz, La La Anthony, Young Jeezy and the main show’s host, Samuel L. Jackson.

Common took home the first honor of the evening, the Centric Award, and Willow Smith premiered her new introspective video for “I Am Me.”

Several performances from burgeoning talents, including Elle Varner, OMG Girlz, Slaughterhouse and Driicky Graham, kept the crowd moving. Harlem’s A$AP Rocky performed at the pre-show with “Goldie.” Pretty Flacko was then joined onstage by producer Swizz Beatz for their joint “Street Knock.”

Celebrities buzzed with excitement about the show’s Whitney Houston memorial performance, as well as singer D’Angelo’s first televised performance in years. Maybach Music Group, Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown are among the many that will also take the stage.

Before Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music family hit the BET Awards stage, Big Sean shared a hint of what to expect from his set with MTV News. “All white, all white, player,” Sean said with a mischievous laugh outside of music-industry veteran Kevin Liles‘ private luncheon in Hollywood Hills on Saturday.

Stick with MTV News as we bring you all the scoop from the 2012 BET Awards, including winners and must-see performances!

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Common Snags First Prize At BET Awards Pre-Show

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On Sunday night (July 1), a myriad of celebs descended on the 2012 BET Awards pre-show and red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Hosted by “106 Park” duo Terrence J and Rocsi Diaz, along with radio/TV personality Big Tigger and Tamar Braxton of “Braxton Family Values,” the carpet showcased appearances from the worlds of music, TV and celebrity, including Rick Ross and the entire Maybach Music Group family, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz, La La Anthony, Young Jeezy and the main show’s host, Samuel L. Jackson.

Common took home the first honor of the evening, the Centric Award, and Willow Smith premiered her new introspective video for “I Am Me.”

Several performances from burgeoning talents, including Elle Varner, OMG Girlz, Slaughterhouse and Driicky Graham, kept the crowd moving. Harlem’s A$AP Rocky performed at the pre-show with “Goldie.” Pretty Flacko was then joined onstage by producer Swizz Beatz for their joint “Street Knock.”

Celebrities buzzed with excitement about the show’s Whitney Houston memorial performance, as well as singer D’Angelo’s first televised performance in years. Maybach Music Group, Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown are among the many that will also take the stage.

Before Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music family hit the BET Awards stage, Big Sean shared a hint of what to expect from his set with MTV News. “All white, all white, player,” Sean said with a mischievous laugh outside of music-industry veteran Kevin Liles‘ private luncheon in Hollywood Hills on Saturday.

Stick with MTV News as we bring you all the scoop from the 2012 BET Awards, including winners and must-see performances!

Jay-Z Signs M.I.A. To Roc Nation Management Deal

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47999 miarihanna Jay Z Signs M.I.A. To Roc Nation Management Deal
rihanna instagram

By Sowmya Krishnamurthy

M.I.A. has joined Jay-Z’s Roc Nation fold as a management client, the entertainment firm announced on its website today. Fellow Roc Nation artist Rihanna tweeted, “welcome home MIA,” which should come as no surprise as the duo was seen recently cozying up on Rih Rih’s Instagram along with the caption “bad girls do it well.”M.I.A. joins other Roc Nation artists including J. Cole, Willow Smith and of course, Jay-Z.

The always controversial “Paper Planes” artist got into a Twitter tiff with CNN reporter Anderson Cooper earlier this year and caused some commotion when she performed “Give Me All Your Luvin’ ” alongside Madonna and Nicki Minaj at the Super Bowl and famously flipped the bird at the camera. Fans were divided on the gesture. Cee-Lo told MTV News “”Honestly, I did not hear anything about it,” he said. “There was no talk about it in the dressing room afterwards and we didn’t stay long after the performance, because it was honestly a relief we had had it done. So I didn’t hear anything until I got up to do the morning show, ‘Today.’And television is a very sensitive [thing].”

Madonna, on the other hand, said, “It’s such a teenager, irrelevant thing to do. … There was such a feeling of love and unity there. What was the point? It was just out of place.”

M.I.A. is working on her fourth studio album. Her latest track “Bad Girls” made its debut in January and per the Roc Nation website, a full length release is slated for the fall.

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Clive Davis Shoots Down Rumors Of Whitney Houston Biopic

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62cf5 whitneyhouston Clive Davis Shoots Down Rumors Of Whitney Houston Biopic
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives

By Jocelyn Vena

Anyone hoping that Rihanna would channel Whitney Houston in a big screen biopic about the late icon’s life should put that hope on the shelf–permanently. Despite a report that Rihanna was being considered to play the singer in a film version of her life, Gossip Cop confirms that it’s not happening.  The site reports that the rumored Clive Davis-produced film is not happening and Ri (along with Jennifer Hudson, Vivica A. Fox, Jordin Sparks and Willow Smith who were all rumored to play the star, at various points in her life) will not play the singer.

“There is no truth to this. Clive is not putting together a biopic,” Davis’ rep said.

In other Houston movie news, despite another report that her last film, “Sparkle,” will hit theaters early, Gossip Cop confirms that that rumor is also not true. The film, which also stars Sparks, is still slated to hit in August. TMZ had reported that the film could potentially get an early release date “partly due to fears that people will leak Whitney’s scenes and music… spoiling the flick for everyone.”

But a Sony rep is quick to note, “There is zero truth to this story.”

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Rihanna Set To Play Whitney Houston In Biopic?

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(Jennifer Hudson tributes Whitney Houston at the Grammys)

By Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Talks about a Whitney Houston biopic are swirling with some of entertainment’s biggest names vying for the lead role as Whitney. None other than Rihanna is considered a frontrunner to play Nippy (despite an obvious distinction in accents between the two). The Daily Mail reports that Whitney’s music mentor Clive Davis is helming the project and he reportedly wants filming to begin as soon as possible.

Jennifer Hudson Gives Soulful Grammys Tribute To Whitney Houston

Some of the others in contention for the lead include “Dreamgirls” actress/singer Jennifer Hudson, who sang a heartfelt “I Will Always Love You” tribute at the 2012 Grammys, Vivica Fox, Megan Good and American Idol album Jordin Sparks, who shared the screen with Houston in the upcoming flick “Sparkle.” There’s also talk that pint-sized Willow Smith may play a young Whitney.

Whitney herself was no stranger to films, appearing in the beloved 1992 film “The Bodyguard” and 1995′s “Waiting to Exhale,” among others. Yesterday, at the 84th annual Academy Awards Whitney was honored in the “In Memorium” montage alongside notables like Elizabeth Taylor an Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs.

The superstar singer died on February 11 in Los Angeles. The cause of death is still unknown. She was 48 years old.

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Willow Smith Professes Her Love For Tyler, The Creator

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By Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Willow Smith may be young but she knows what she wants. In a recent interview with Rap-Up, the pint-sized rapper met Odd Future frontman Tyler, The Creator and surprised everyone by admitting her eternal love for him. “Willow Smith met up with crew leader Tyler, the Creator at the Odd Future store in Los Angeles,” Rap-Up writes. “Wearing a Goblin sweatshirt and beanie, the “Fireball” singer professed her love for the “Yonkers” rapper, writing, “Life is complete… Love of my life.’”

Made U Look: Pharrell, Lupe Fiasco, Tyler The Creator In The Studio

Love of my life? Those are some pretty heavy emotions for an 11-year-old. No response from Tyler, The Creator on whether the feelings are mutual (albeit very, very illegal). For now, let’s chalk it up to puppy love and revisit this in seven years when Willow is well within the age of consent.

Willow may be able to team up with her future paramour on her upcoming debut album, Knees and Elbows, slated for release later this year.

She dropped the single “Fireball” featuring Nicki Minaj late last year. When asked about working with Minaj, Willow gushed, saying, “Nicki Minaj is absolutely an amazing person. She has so much energy, and working with her was like just [a] spark. We were coming together with all our art and everything, and it was amazing.”

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