Russell Armstrong's Funeral Held in Hollywood Hills; Not Taped by Bravo

The first funeral for Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Russell Armstrong was held Wednesday night at the Church of the Hills-Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills.our editor recommends'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Husband Russell Armstrong Slams Bravo in One of His Final Interviews'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'' Russell Armstrong at L.A. County Coroner's Office Among the mourners was Armstrong's estranged wife, Taylor, and co-stars Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof-Nassif and husband Dr. Paul Nassif and Kyle and Kim Richards. Two early-evening services were held, according to UsMagazine.com. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths Armstrong is to be cremated, and his remains will be sent to his native Texas, where a second funeral will take place. Entertainment Tonight says that Cedric Martinez, who appeared in a storyline on the RHOBH and had a falling out with the Vanderpumps, was turned away from the service. The funeral service was not filmed, ET reports, and it was closed to the public. The second season will premiere on Sept. 5, but insiders have told The Hollywood Reporter that it may be pushed back by at least a week. Bravo head Frances Berwick maintains that no decisions have been made. Taylor and Russell Armstrong's rocky relationship was well documented on the Bravo reality show. The second season was being re-edited after Russell's body was found hanging on Aug. 15 in the Los Angeles home in which he'd been living since their separation in July. The coroner's office confirmed to THR it was a suicide. Related Topics Reality TV The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Oppenheim to pen 'Wargames' remake

EXCLUSIVE: Noah Oppenheim's come on board to pen MGM's remake of its 1983 thriller "Wargames" with Seth Gordon attached to direct.MGM attached Gordon in June to its "Wargames" reboot. The original "Wargames" starred Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy with John Badham directing the tale of a supercomputer running a nuclear war simulation that nearly starts World War III. "Wargames" was a box office hit with $80 million in domestic grosses.Oppenheim signed last fall to write "Snabba Cash" for Warner Bros.' remake of the Swedish crime drama with Zac Efron attached to star. Oppenheim is the former producer of "Today" co-creator of "Mad Money with Jim Cramer" and exec producer of "Scarborough Country."Oppenheim's been an active writer since turning to screenwriting, penning "Jackie" for Fox Searchlight with Darren Arnofsky attached to direct, "Maze Runner" for Fox," "Houdini" for Summit and "Snabba Cash" for Warner Bros.' remake of the Swedish crime drama with Zac Efron attached to star. Oppenheim is a former Reveille exec and the former producer of "Today," co-creator of "Mad Money with Jim Cramer" and exec producer of "Scarborough Country." MGM, which received a $500 million cash infusion late last year, is moving ahead on a 23rd James Bond pic and has launched development of Vin Diesel action-comedy "The Machine" and animated children's book adaptation "Punk Farm." MGM has also co-financed "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo" and "21 Jump Street" at Sony and Paramount's "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters." Oppenheim's repped by CAA, Management 360 and Zifrren Brittenheim. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

John Carpenter 10-Word Review Contest: We Have Winners!

Let’s hear it for all of the readers and fans who participated in our John Carpenter 10-word review contest for The Ward. In just over 24 hours, we received nearly 50 submissions, all thoughtful, creative and hilarious, just like our Movieline readers. Alas, only six could be winners. It was difficult to narrow down the participants, but we finally picked six. Let’s hear it for the following poster winners: · @steinlicht: “John Carpenter’s Starman” Jeff Bridges. Karen Allen. Surprisingly few murders.” · Martini Shark: “Why cast Chevy Chase? He’s off screen half the time!” (for Memoirs of an Invisible Man) · Shawn: “Little girl wants ice cream, instead eats a bullet, brilliant.” (for Assault on Precinct 13) · Dr. Angelface: “Foxy Brown and Lewis Skolnik fight Martian ghosts, then die.” (for Ghosts of Mars) · Randy Von Hatten: “Everyone around you is scared because of what She does.” (for The Ward) · Diane: “He’s not trick or treating for UNICEF. Michael comes Home.” (for Halloween) Congrats to the victors, whom we’ll contact privately from your submission info, and thanks to everyone who participated. Keep on the lookout for more Movieline giveaways!

Kim's 'Amen' preems at San Sebastian

MADRID -- Showing up without warning, Kim Ki-duk's latest feature, "Amen," will world preem at September's San Sebastian Film Festival. A late Competition entry, "Amen" is backed by South Korea's Fine Cut, and activates a Korean girl's mysterious voyage and her encounters having a guy on her behalf trail. Pic was shot individually distinct in Europe. It comes down just several weeks after "Arirang," Kim's docu-drama, shared Cannes' top Not Certain Regard prize. The pic offered a self-portrait of Kim like a allegedly near terminally cleaned-up filmmaker. Amen" is became a member of in primary Competition by "Rampart," from Yank helmer Oren Moverman ("The Messenger"). With different James Ellroy script modified by Moverman, "Rampart" toplines Woodsy Harrelson being an LAPD cop under analysis. It co-stars Ice Cube, Ben Promote, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver and Steve Buscemi. In further San Sebastian game titles revealed Wednesday, South Korean Lim Woo-seong's "Scars," Chilean Alejandro Fernandez Almendras' "Through the Fire" and Brit Dexter Fletcher's "Wild Bill" will compete for San Sebastian's Kutxa-New Directors' Award, which has a Pounds 90,000 ($130,000) cash prize. Relevant the sufferings of the lady by having an disloyal husband, "Scars" is Lim's follow-as much as 2010 Sundance screener "Vegetarian." Fernandez Almendras' "Fire," concerning the love story from a guy along with a crictally ill lady, received a $72,000 award from Berlin's World Cinema Fund and performed the Toulouse Festival's Films happening showcase this season. It's the helmer's second pic in the fest, following "Huacho." Wild Bill," the directorial debut of Brit actor Fletcher ("Kick Ass"), is really a comic undertake an ex-con' hardships after he turns into a single parent. Varying broadly, the brand new Directors' selection also consumes Yank director Simon Arthur's first feature "Silver Tongues," an account of deceit and sexual control, which split experts at Slamdance, docu "Ending Note (Dying of the Japanese Salesperson)," from Japan's Mami Sunada, relevant the final several weeks within the existence from the director's father, and German helmer Jan Zabeil's "The River Was previously a Guy," in regards to a German guy lost in Africa, seen only at that year's Munich fest. Iceland's Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurosson competes with kid buddy dramedy "In Either Case,Inch and Austrian director Sebastian Meise with family strife drama "Still Existence." The kibbutz-set "An Attractive Valley," from Israel's Hadar Friedlich whose 2003 short "Slaves of God" performed Directors' Week, gathers the nine just-introduced New Company directors challengers. Fest runs Sept. 16-24. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Patrick Wilson Joins Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus'

Patrick Wilson, that hunky-boy-next door who steamed up the big screen with Kate Winslet in 'Little Children,' paid his dues with roles in blockbusters (but really 'B'-fare) like 'Watchmen' and 'The A-Team,' and again heated up the screen with his role in 'Insidious,' has been cast in Ridley Scott's ultra-secretive 'Prometheus,' according to The Playlist. Little is known about the film outside of the fact that it started out as a prequel of sorts to Scott's 'Alien,' then, when scribe Damon Lindelof came on to rewrite the original script, it supposedly changed course and was touted as a stand-alone sci-fier, though there would be more than a passing nod to 'Alien.' Thus, we know nothing about Wilson's role. What we do know is that Charlize Theron will play the head of The Company, there's going to be at least two androids with a major presence, and the film is shooting both R-rated and PG-13 versions. Also starring is Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Rafe Spall, Logan Marshall-Green and Guy Pearce. The film is scheduled for June 8, 2012. Here's Fox's official line on the film: Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life's ultimate mystery.

Bouchareb slates trio of English-lingo pics

French-Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb has lined up a trio of English-language films with Arabic sensibilities, including pics toplined by Forest Whitaker and Sienna Miller. Bouchareb, whose "Outside the Law" was nominated for the foreign-language Oscar last year, will produce the three films with partner Jean Brehat through their American company Taghit, which was formed in 1999. First pic will be the American production "Just Like a Woman," which will star Miller and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani ("Body of Lies") as two women from different backgrounds who embark on a journey of self-discovery after escaping from broken marriages. Miller's character pursues a passion for belly-dancing after catching her husband cheating, while Farahani plays an Arab immigrant to Chicago who works at a supermarket and is berated by her mother-in-law for not having produced any children. Charles Cohen ("Frozen River") is also producing "Woman." The second film will be "Belleville's Cop," which Bouchareb co-wrote with Larry Gross ("48 Hrs."). Pic, which will begin filming in late summer 2012, is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a French-Arabic cop sent to work alongside a LAPD policewoman. Whitaker is attached to star in the untitled third pic, which is set in Arizona along the Mexican border. Whitaker will play a Muslim parolee released from prison after a 10-year stint who takes up residence in a small city full of paranoia about outsiders. Story focuses on his relationship with his parole officer and the town's sheriff, who's convinced that terrorists are crossing the border along with illegal immigrants. Production is skedded for 2013. Cinema Libre Studio will release Bouchareb's "London River" later this year. Set in London of 2005, pic stars Brenda Blethyn and Sotigui Kouyate as strangers in search of their son and daughter, who have been missing since the underground terrorist bombings. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Jennifer Gray States She's "Excited" About Dirty Dancing Remake

Jennifer Gray Jennifer Gray states she's excited that Dirty Dancing has been remade. "I am so looking forward to what is the news and i believe there's nobody better to get this done than my beloved Kenny Ortega who's as responsible as anybody for the prosperity of the first,Inch she stated inside a statement towards the Wall Street Journal. I can not wait to determine what he's going related to it." Dirty Dancing remake within the works: Wise decision or will it should be include a corner? Ortega, who choreographed the 1987 original, lately signed with Lionsgate to direct a brand new version. Gray, 51, came from the role of Frances "Baby" Houseman and co-starred with Patrick Swayze, who performed dance instructor Johnny Castle. The 1987 film cost $six million to create and made $214 million worldwide. For his part, Ortega stated he thinks he is able to discover the next Gray and Swayze: "In my opinion everywhere you appear there's evidence the talent is available and that i can't wait to start the entire process of finding the following breakout triple risks."

Hulu Makes First Foray Into Lengthy-Form Original Programming

It isn't exactly "House of Cards," which Netflix is carrying out $100 million to, but Hulu can also be diving into original lengthy-form programming, its first effort being with filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.Hulu is placed to announce today that Spurlock, whose documentaries "Super Size Me" and "Where on the planet is Osama Bin Laden" are popular choices among Hulu customers, can make six instances of a show known as "Each Day within the Existence."Each 22-minute episode from the show, created through Spurlock's production company Warrior Poets, is really a documentary-style take a look at 24 hrs within the existence of somebody famous.The very first episode, about Richard Branson, will stream solely at free Hulu and also the subscription service Hulu Plus beginning August. 17 and new episodes, for example one about music star will.i.am, is going to be added weekly.Within the Branson episode, we are first informed he's "a university dropout who switched a mail-order record store right into a $1 billion fortune." His day begins with taking his wife to dinner working in london using the full and Leader Obama, then flying the following morning towards the U.S., where he'll put on boxing robes imprinted with "Bruiser Branson" to be able to advertise that certain of his 300 companies, Virgin America air carriers, now flies between Bay Area and Chicago.Hulu will not disclose how it is investing about the project, climax without doubt a smaller amount than its competitor Netflix is investing on its foray into original TV programming, that will contain 26 instances of "House of Cards" from Kevin Spacey and David Fincher.Just before "Each Day within the Existence," Hulu's only other effort at original programming continues to be "The Morning After," a five-minute comedy recap of movie and TV news. "Each Day within the Existence," though, signifies Hulu's first lengthy-form original show, stated Andy Forssell, senior vice president of content and distribution, and much more such programming is in route.InchYou are able to expect us to continue doing this," Forssell stated. "Dealing with our major network and studio partners will be our core, but we are constantly casting the internet wider."Forssell stated it had been no coincidence it switched to Spurlock first."We all know our audience very, perfectly. The information clearly signifies this really is something they'd want to consider,Inch he stated. "Those who are fans of his stuff often love it, and share it with other people. We do not need that it is a hit within the first four days. It will discover a home with time." The Hollywood Reporter

Time Warner Beats 2Q Estimates With Help From 'The Hangover Part II'

The entertainment giant ended 2Q with net income of $638M, up 13.5% vs the period last year, on revenues of $7B, up 10.2%. Earnings at 60 cents a share handily beat the Street's forecast of 56 cents. Analysts also anticipated revenues of $6.8B. The cable networks generated $3.5B in revenues, up 9% due to improvements in ad sales and deals for HBO originals including True Blood and Game Of Thrones. In filmed entertainment, sales of video games includingMortal Kombat 9 and home video income from Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 helped to raise revenues 13% to $2.8B. Publishing was the laggard, up 3% to $946M. CEO Jeff Bewkes noted that the company has bought back $2.3B of its shares so far in 2011 which reflects "our confidence in our competitive position and growth prospects." For what it's worth, the company slightly updated its profit outlook for 2011: In May it said that the percentage growth in its adjusted earnings per share would be in the low teens this year. Now it says the increase will be "at least" low teens.