Spike Lee Heading Back To Brooklyn

So what's happened to Oldboy?With Red Hook Summer currently dividing audiences at Sundance, Spike Lee has been talking about his next project... and it might not be what you expect. All eyes recently have been on Lee's Oldboy adaptation, but this week Lee seems more inclined to talk about Brooklyn Loves MJ.Lee's screenplay pre-dates Red Hook Summer, but was shelved when the director struggled to drum up the finances. "I never went to studios with Red Hook Summer," Lee explains. "I just bought a camera and said we're going to do this motherfucker ourselves. But I wouldn't have been able to finance Brooklyn Loves MJ that way. With Red Hook Summer we had a low-budget agreement from the Screen Actors Guild. Brooklyn I could not have done like that."The MJ of the title is Michael Jackson, and the film is an old-school Lee story of neighbourhood politics and simmering race-relations, which takes place on the day of the megastar's death in the summer of 2009.Touching wood, Lee told The Playlist that, "Hopefully Brooklyn will be the next story," although it's unclear whether he means his immediate next project, or the one following Oldboy (which he doesn't mention at all). Oldboy, which seems to be struggling with casting, has had its projected start date pushed to the latter part of this year. Does that give Lee enough time to put Brooklyn Loves MJ together in the interim? Or is Oldboy quietly going away altogether?We'll keep you posted. Red Hook Summer, where Lee reprises his Do The Right Thing role of Mookie, doesn't currently have distribution beyond the festival circuit.

Watch NBC's Smash Right Now Then Tell Us What You Think!

Smash NBC would love for you to start obsessing over its new musical series Smash early. Check out photos from Smash So while the show -- a soapy, backstage drama about the making of a Broadway musical -- won't premiere until Monday, Feb. 6, you can watch it right here, right now. All done? Now tell us what you think! Who should play Marilyn - experienced Broadway gal Ivy (Megan Hilty) or unpolished ingenue Karen (Katharine McPhee)? Are you interested in a musical about Monroe? What is up with Tom's sneaky assistant? Thoughts on the original song that closed the show ("Let Me Be Your Star")? Is there room for both Smash and Glee on your DVR? Hit the comments below! And take our poll: What do you think of Smash? Obsessed this show is already on my season pass Liked it -- will tune in to see more Still deciding may or may not give it another shot Not for me won't be watching again vote view results

'America's Funniest Home Videos' unleashed online

"America's Funniest Home Videos" "America's Funniest Home Videos" finds another existence online in transformed form. Extended-running ABC series continues to be repurposed online that has also loved success featuring backyard stunts and stumbles: YouTube. FishBowl Worldwide Media, a digital-minded studio whose principals include "AFHV" creator Vin Di Bona, is beginning a YouTube funnel devoted to pets that will include the majority of the clips that have already broadcast on ABC incorporated within the series' 21-year run. The funnel does not take advantage from the "AFHV" brand, however. The funnel, Petsami, includes original series for instance "Leash Line," an each week newsmag profiling interesting animals around the globe. FishBowl put "AFHV" to great experience another YouTube series, "CuteWinFail," which enables clients election by themselves favorite clips. The concept will probably be elevated in animal-centric form on Petsami as "CuteWinTail." Di Bona has removed the rights to all or any the information that has ever work on "AFHV," which supplies him possession total the footage which has been round the series. FishBowl may also be introduced by leader/Boss Bruce Gersh. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Thai film fest set to produce

BEIJING -- The very first edition of Thailand's Hua Hin Film Fest is placed to bow Jan. 26 using the screening of South Korean pic "Always," then the unspooling of 50 movies over four days. Photos available includes Luc Besson's "The Woman,Inch Taiwanese Oscar entry "Players from the Rainbow: Seediq Bale," Hong Kong's "Revenge: An Appreciation Story," and also the first commercial thriller available in Laos, "In the Horizon." Festival director Sorajak Kasemsuvan stated that in addition to tests, there'd be also workshops on subjects for example cooperation among Southeast Asian nations and also the role of government in filmmaking. There'd be also discussion about other method for fund-raising, the potential for joint endeavors and co-productions, and also the problem of copyright protection. There'd be also a film workshop. Hua Hin is how Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej holidays and also the festival is going to be situated in the Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort and also the Major Cineplex. The fest is backed through the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, using the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in addition to city and regional government authorities. The film federation and TAT were both backers from the Bangkok Film Festival, that has not run since 2009. The backers were at pains to worry the Hua Hin event is extremely different using its own identity. The festival "will assist you to put ASEAN cinema around the world stage, and also to present the numerous points of interest of Thailand, and for that reason profit the economic growth and development of the Thai film industry," stated festival chairman Suwat Liptapanlop. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jim Carrey in 'Bruce Almighty' Follow-up? Authors In Talks For Follow-Around 2003 Hit

It seems like Jim Carrey wasn't kidding relating to this "Bruce Almighty" follow-up. Universal has began discussions with Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel ("Health spa Time Machine," "Yes Males") to produce a script for just about any follow-within the 2003 comedy. Hardly anything else is well known in regards to the project at this time around around, nevertheless the script will probably be fashioned for Carrey to star. The first film made $484 million worldwide, enough to warrant a follow-up -Body that really didn't feature Carrey's titular character. That film, "Evan Almighty," dedicated to Steve Carell's supporting character and moved things more toward family fare. Not remarkably -- despite Carell inside the lead -- it washed in theaters, producing $310 million less worldwide than its predecessor. For his part, Carrey remains speaking in regards to a "Bruce Almighty" follow-up since last summer season. "We're talking about maybe returning having a old figures that everyone remains asking about," Carrey told Not Remote in June of 2011. "There's 'Bruce Almighty' and that we are talking about maybe another 'Dumb and Dumber.'" Whether "Dumb and Dumber" follows round the Carrey nostalgia tour remains to look. Fingers joined he squeezes in another go at Fire Marshall Bill too. [via Variety] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

The Good Wife: Parker Posey and Amy Sedaris Returning For Star-Studded Sweeps Episode

Parker Posey, Amy Sedaris Parker Posey and Amy Sedaris, who play Eli Gold's ex-wife and work rival, respectively, will return to The Good Wife in a special sweeps episode that will bring back many of the legal drama's biggest guest stars, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Rita Wilson, Edward Herrmann, The Big C's John Benjamin Hickey, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jack Carpenter will all reprise their roles in the same hour, as first reported by Entertainment Weekly. The Good Wife exclusive: Court is back in session for Denis O'Hare Denis O'Hare, whose return was previously reported by TVGuide.com, will also return to the bench as Judge Abernathy in that episode, set to air Feb. 19. Frequent Glee guest star Jonathan Groff will also appear. In the episode, Lockhart & Gardner lead a class action suit against a software company that let the Syrian government "disappear" U.S. citizens. The Good Wife airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.