Forex renews 'Justified'

FX's 'Justified' is calculating a good 4.3 million audiences this year.Forex is returning Kentucky-set "Justified" for any 4th season. Cabler has purchased 13 additional episodes for that series from Forex Prods. and The new sony Pictures Television. Show is dependant on rapid story "Fire within the Hole," along with other books, from author Elmore Leonard. The present third season, by which six episodes remain to air, is calculating 4.3 million total audiences and a pair of.a million within the 18-49 demo for first-run episodes, marking an 8% rise in both groups from last year. When weekly multiruns from the show are cumed, the series is drawing 7 million audiences. " 'Justified' is just one of television's best series which season has strengthened that excellence," stated Nick Grad, FX's professional Vice president of original programming. "We anticipate a lot more seasons in the future.Inch Among its ensemble cast, skein stars Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy and Natalie Zea. Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson are earning seasonlong guest looks. Showrunner Graham Yost professional produces with Leonard, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Michael Dinner and Fred Golan. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Biz's taxing questions

Benjamin Master and helmer Timur Bekmambetov around the group of 'Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter,' which required benefit of Louisianas creditsIn 2004, Film Production Capital leader Will French visited the Cannes Film Festival and set up a booth having a sign reading through "Louisiana Tax Credits Can Help You Save Money," wishing he could interest producers within the state's year-old film and television production incentive program. "Nearly everyone stated, 'What the heck is really a tax credit?, ' " recalls French. It isn't an issue French will probably hear at present day Winston Baker Film Finance Forum West panel Soft Money: Making money with on New Tax Incentives and Subsidies. You will find 40 U.S. areas offering film and television tax credits or rebates, including Puerto Rico and also the District of Columbia, and "you would be hard-pressed to locate a major production that does not involve a tax incentive component," French states. Incentives compensated out by states have reduced from the record $1.4 billion this year to $1.3 billion this year as popular production locations for example Michigan and Boise State Broncos have assigned their programs. "I believe states are returning to their programs, but they are clearly this is not on the decline," states panel moderator Frederick Chianese, senior Vice president of economic development and production incentives planning Entertainment Partners. "States like Arizona (which in fact had a course that closed this year) have pending legislation to create back a far more user-friendly incentive program. Similarly, in Washington condition, the home chosen 8-to-1 (recently) to create back their incentive." If there is any decline in incentives worldwide, it had been because of forex rates, states Chianese. Still, the classic issues remain. "It's dangerous starting a brand new condition that isn't proven," states panelist Kevin Segalla, CFC Capital leader. "Exist really deck hands avail able or will you be shipping everyone in and putting them in hotels? Could they be likely to get back a credit they guaranteed you?" Nj Gov. Chris Christie did that very factor this past year as he vetoed a $420,000 tax credit for that first season of MTV's "Jersey Shoreline." An growing trend to be careful for is states staggering the payout of credits over many years, as Boise State Broncos and NY now do. "It limits the producer's capability to pay that loan in a timely manner and also to access its value for production reasons because much more of it needs to be devoted to interest carry and such things as that," French states. "Galleries can wait a long time to have their tax credits, but it is dangerous towards the independents."HIGHLIGHTSMONDAY12:30 p.m: Workshop registration 1-4 p.m.: Track A: Financier Workshop -- The The inner workings from the Movie Business. Workshop leaders: Chuck Rose bush , founder and Boss, Great Road Capital Robert H. Steinberg , partner, Gipson Hoffman & Pancione 1-4 p.m.: Track B: Filmmaker Workshop -- Fundraiser Recommendations and Tactics. Workshop leaders: Travis Knox, leader, Chapman Entertainment Peter Trinh, ICM Douglas Wroan, leader, Front Row Media WEDNESDAY7:30-8:30 a.m.: Registration & networking breakfast 10:45-11:45 a.m.: Hybrid Options: Utilizing Alternative Techniques of Financing to Fill the Gaps 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Soft Money: Making money with on New Tax Incentives and Subsidies. Moderator: Frederick Chianese , senior Vice president, Entertainment Partners 1:45-2:15 p.m.: Broadening Finance and Co-Production Possibilities With China. 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Pre-Purchase Strategy Session: Talent Acquisition and Management THURSDAY8-8:30 a.m.: Networking breakfast 8:45-9:15 a.m.: Keynote presentation around the Era of Digital Innovation. Mitch Singer, chief digital strategy officer, The new sony Pictures Entertainment 9:15-10:15 a.m.: The Distribution Evolution: Creating New Revenue Streams within the Multimedia Age. Moderator: Jay Cohen , the Gersh Agency 10:45-11:45 a.m.: From P&A to D&A: Marketing Movies on a tight budget Related Links: Platforms answer to tapping new revenue streams Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Idol' an easy Wednesday champion

Fox controlled Wednesday's primetime ratings race getting a 2-hour episode that brought having a series lows alternatively systems. Meanwhile, though lower a bit more again this year, CBS opened up in the 24th edition of ''Survivor'' to great amounts.According to preliminary national estimations, "The The American Idol Show ShowInch averaged a 6./16 in 18-49 and 18.6 000 0000 audiences overall from 8 to 10 p.m., on componen with last week's hourlong episode and just the night's No. 1 enter in most groups. In grownups 18-49, "Idol" won its opening hour over "Survivor" by 7 shares, assigned "Modern Family" by 5 shares at 9 o'clock then elevated with a 9-share advantage at 9:30 when CBS' "Criminal Minds" was runner-up. If "Idol" edges up to 6.one out of the superb, it'll edge the Monday delivery of NBC's "The Voice" to put as television's No. 1 show among teens for your week.CBS started ''Survivor: One World'' getting a 3./8 in 18-49 and 10.7 million audiences overall, lower from last winter's premiere (3.2 inside the demo) but nevertheless a great second-place finisher to ''Idol'' inside the 8 o'clock hour. It absolutely was then ''Criminal Minds'' inside a season low (3./7 in 18-49, 11.9 million audiences overall), but ''CSI'' edged up week to week to win at 10 (2.7/7 in 18-49, 11.millions of audiences overall) as auds up-to-date straight into start to see the premiere of Elizabeth Shue just like a regular cast member. For your evening, CBS went second in 18-49, 25-54 and total audiences.At ABC, ''The Middle'' (2.5/7 in 18-49, 8.millions of audiences overall) and ''Suburgatory'' (2.4/6 in 18-49, 6.9 million audiences overall) were lower just a little week to week at season-'abnormal' amounts for just about any regular original. Similarly within the shallow finish in the pool were ''Modern Family'' (4.7/12 in 18-49, 11.2 million audiences overall) and ''Happy Endings'' (2.5/6 in 18-49, 5.8 million audiences overall), which required to do fight with ''American Idol'' now and for that reason dipped more week to week in comparison to net's opening-hour comedies. At 10, ''Revenge,'' despite an important episode inside the soap's plotline, edged lower slightly week to week (2.4/6 in 18-49, 7.6 000 0000 audiences overall), placing second in lots of groups and first among the tv producers in grownups 18-34 (1.9/6).The Alphabet was really the only major network to write gains versus. its performance round the comparable evening this past year. NBC's ''Whitney'' (1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.5 million audiences overall) ticked up week to week, drawing its greatest overall audience in 5 days, but ''Are You There, Chelsea'' went just a little inside the other way (1.4/4 in 18-4, 3.5 million audiences overall). Also lower week to week were 9 p.m. newsmag ''Rock Center'' (.8/2 in 18-49, 3. million audiences overall) and 10 p.m. drama ''Law and Order: SVU'' (1.7/4 in 18-49, 5.8 million audiences overall).CW's ''One Tree Hill'' held steady (.7/2 in 18-49, 1.4 million audiences overall) while ''Remodeled'' dipped week to week (.2/one out of 18-49, .5 million audiences overall) . but in very good news, it cannot dip much farther.Preliminary 18-49 earnings for your evening: Fox, 6./16 CBS, 2.9/8 ABC, 2.8/7 Univision, 1.4/4 NBC, 1.3/3 CW, .5/1.In general audiences: Fox, 18.6 000 0000 CBS, 11.2 million ABC, 7.9 million NBC, 4.3 million Univision, 3.4 million CW, .9 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Nu Image/Millennium woo Fremes

FremesJohn Fremes has been tapped as head of international at Nu Image/Millennium Films after serving as a top exec at Essential Entertainment.He's reporting to principals Avi Lerner and Trevor Short in a move announced Thursday at the Berlin Film Festival, where the Nu Image/Millenium slate includes "Lovelace," "The Iceman," "Killing Season" and "The Expendables 2."The appointment comes eight months after Mark Gill was recruited as president of Millennium Films, Nu Image's production arm. Fremes is overseeing international sales, distribution and marketing while Gill oversees development, financing and production of Millennium's slate of eight to 10 star-driven movies annually.Fremes was prexy of worldwide distribution at Essential, overseeing sales, distribution and business affairs on "Barney's Version," "The Expatriate" and "Defiance" along with exec producing Roadshow Australia's "Red Dog." Fremes was formerly president of Element Films Intl. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

American Idol's Randy Jackson on Swooning, Stern Steven and How Season 11 Is More Intense

American Idol While American Idol hasn't changed its format significantly for its 11th season, there are some surprises in store. On a call earlier this month, judge Randy Jackson sidestepped questions about the new performance challenges, but teased that everything will be tougher this year - to the point that medics were even called in to treat fainting people auditioning in the Hollywood rounds, which begin Thursday (8/7c, Fox). Is this an indication that Idol has turned up the heat? American Idol's Randy Jackson: Mariah Carey would be an "amazing" X Factor judge Let's take a look at Jackson's (occasionally vague) hints of what may be in store for the competition: Hollywood rounds send hopefuls swooning (literally). "We had people fainting and passing out. It was crazy," Jackson said. "More than ever, it was kind of weird. It just shows the intensity of what's going on. This Hollywood Week was the toughest I think we've ever had on the kids. What's interesting about this time is I would glance at the kids waiting to get up to sing... [and they would] stand up for almost every other performer. It was like, 'Wow, they're really good.' You have to see a lot of talent that goes before you, and when you're sitting there with your nerves in a bunch and you're seeing great voice after great voice after talent after talent, I think you really start doubting yourself." The Judges' Save could get a tweak. "One of the things we've been tossing around and had some ideas about is that judges' save thing," he said. "Last season, we saved Casey, and it was the right time because it was the right person to do that with, but I certainly wish we had another one or two because I think it didn't serve the rest of the team well." Familiar faces have returned, renewed and improved. "Every year, if you watch the auditions closely, we say, 'You're not ready yet. Maybe you should come back.' Guess what? This year, a lot of them came back," Jackson said with a laugh. "They actually listened to us and they came back. They've gotten better or grown... I think that the only edge that they have is that they've been there before... maybe that helps with the nerves a little bit." American Idol slams its music show competition, reveals new performance challenges Howard isn't the only "Stern" judge. "It's Steven [Tyler] and Jennifer [Lopez]'s second year. I think they're being a little bit more stern, not tougher - stern," Jackson said. "They're a little bit more comfortable with it, but they're having a good time, we're all having a really good time. You'll see some change in that in them... It may surprise you." The Dawg may have learned new catch phrases. "What I do and what I say always changes because we grow and evolve a little bit," he said. "I may not be saying this year, 'Are you in it to win it?' [laughs] I think that one's been retired. That was last season, man. It's so last season! You've got to feel it in the air, come on!" American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on Fox. How are you liking Season 11 so far? Do you think the competition is tougher?

Sellars, 'Wild Things' headline L.A. Phil season

The La Philharmonic's 2012-13 season, which begins Sept. 27, is going to be marked by nine new commissions, seven world premieres and many stars within the classical and jazz area who'll bring their talents to Wally Disney Concert Hall.Highlights -- all being carried out by L.A. Phil music director Gustavo Dudamel -- range from the second installment from the three-year Mozart opera project, "The Wedding of Figaro" L.A. Phil creative chair John Adams' oratorio "The Gospel Based on the Other Mary," directed by Peter Sellars and Oliver Knussen's one-act opera "In which the Wild Situations Are,Inch according to Maurice Sendak's classic children's book.Two multi-year projects may also be released that focus on the job of merely one composer: Mozart with Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and also the Bach Keyboard Cycle, which marks the start of pianist Andrs Schiff's two-year study of Bach's keyboard music.Other celebrated artists featurted within the season's programming include violinists Itzhak Perlman and Hilary Hahn pianists Hlne Grimaud, Yefim Bronfman and Yuja Wang and vocalists Rene Fleming and Susan Graham.Past L.A. Phil music company directors Esa-Pekka Salonen and Zubin Mehta will even return for choose dates to wield the baton, getting their particular Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra together.Amongst the jazz choices curated by Herbie Hancock incorporate a co-commissioned piece compiled by Wayne Shorter for bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding, who's writing the lyrics and supplying the vocals for that piece along with a visit through the Jazz at Lincoln subsequently Center Orchestra brought by Wynton Marsalis.For an entire rundown from the year visit laphil.com. Contact Steve Chagollan at steve.chagollan@variety.com

Up With The Evening Sneak Look: Will Arnett and Dean Winters Face Off

Up With The Evening The Brinkley's are likely to welcome another new accessory for his or her household relating to this week's episode of Up With The Evening. Dean Winters (30 Rock, Save Me) guest stars as Chris' (Will Arnett) older brother, also it doesn't take extended for edge against your rivals to become launched, much for the dismay of Reagan (Christina Applegate), who's getting baby Amy proven to some exclusive preschool. Look at this exclusive clip and catch this week's new episode on Thursday at 9:30/8:30c on NBC. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

New director and author for that Crow reboot

Appears like situations are ready to go once again around the lengthy-looked forward to remake of medieval classic The Crow, with a brand new director and film writer apparently in foretells join the oft-postponed project.F. Javier Gutierrez may be the guy being drawn on to fill the director's chair, getting formerly done fantasy crime drama Prior To The Fall. He will probably be became a member of by scribe Jesse Wigutow, who lately rewrote The Osterman Weekend for Summit Entertainment.Not quite big names then, but Relativity Media will you need to be pleased to achieve the project back around the rails again, getting been entangled inside a suit using the Weinstein company within the privileges towards the character.Yesterday saw an finish compared to that dispute, using the two parties choosing to stay from court, and also the eco-friendly light provided to Relativity to carry on apace using their reinvention from the avenging undead rock-star.With a brand new director and author around the edge of signing on, hopefully we ought to soon acquire some concept of the direction the brand new film will require prior to the casting whispers start anew. As long as Bradley Cooper is not within the title role (as used to be stated), we'll provide an opportunity...

George Lucas To Retire?

States Red-colored-colored Tails is his final blockbusterTake this getting a pinch of salt, since we're not able to imagine we'll be saying goodbye for the great guy in the near future. But a extended and fascinating profile inside the NY Occasions sees George Lucas proclaiming he's planning his retirement, since Red-colored-colored Tails is almost done and dusted."I'm departing the organization, in the organization, all this kind of stuff," according to him.InchAll this kind of stuff" means fight he's required to get his extended-valued Second world war epic just before the cameras. Switched lower by every major studio, he's been expected to finance and publicise the film themselves. Now according to him, barring possible future Indiana Manley films, that he's tugging from blockbusters, which any future projects will probably be small, experimental, "esoteric and examined mostly in art-houses."Lucas also states he's weary of constant criticisms of his testing out the Alien saga, making the matter that he made the decision on the path of independence, but has ended up purchasing and selling studio interference for fanboy hectoring. "On the internet, all people same males that are worrying I made changes arecompletelychanging the film,Inch according to him. "Fine. But my movie, with my title about it, that states I did so it, should be the means by which I'd like it. Why would I make any longer [Alien movies] when everybody yells for you constantly and states just what a terrible person you are?InchCurrent comments by Ron McCallum however, do declare that Alien features a future in a few form, which we can not suppose Lucas wouldn't be yanking numerous people strings..."Since he's proven his commercial moviemaking abilities,you are prepared to show his other area,In . states Francis Ford Coppola of his friend's retreat within the limelight. Can you agree? Give to us your opinions inside the comments below.Red-colored-colored Tails, really directed by Anthony Hemingway, is going in the united states around the month of the month of january 20. Lucas' just like Institute Benjamenta is, we guess, in development...[[Poll566]]

CBS at TCA: Scoop on 2 . 5 Males, 2 Broke Women and much more

CBS logo design Is Ashton Kutcher one and completed with 2 . 5 Males?The actor's one-year contract expires in the finish of year, but Kutcher stated in the Television Experts Association winter TV previews that he's certainly thinking about coming back next season, because of the fan response and boffo rankings.Have more scoop in your favorite shows within our Winter TV previewResponse to Men's network-mate 2 Broke Women and it is barrage of apparently racist and stereotypical jokes, however, continues to be under benign. But that does not mean they are going anywhere: Executive producer Michael Patrick King stated he feels you don't need to discontinue his show's make of "classy-dirty" comedy.Get swept up wonderful ABC's TCA news below:CBS boss downplays controversies on 2 Broke Women, The Talk and Person of InterestIs coming back to 2 . 5 Males?

UltraViolet preps for mass appeal

The UltraViolet platform has attracted 750,000 households to create accounts since the digital rights locker opened its doors in October.That's far from the tens of millions Hollywood is waiting for to call UltraViolet a mass-market product -- and add more movies than the initial 19 titles currently available.But the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), the large consortium of more than 75 content owners, retailers and tech firms, will launch a major multimillion dollar marketing campaign to lure more users this year, with the ad effort set to bow in the fourth quarter.Mark Teitell, the DECE's general manager and executive director, said from a Tuesday press event at CES, that new marketing materials would look to create a consistent message to drive mass adoption among consumers under the slogan, "Your movies in the cloud."Key to growing UltraViolet is getting more consumers used to what UltraViolet does, studio chiefs said. And adding more content, of course.This year, Sony Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros. will make most of their theatrical releases, as well as studio catalogs and TV titles available with UltraViolet rights, with hundreds of millions of UltraViolet-enabled DVD's and Blu-rays to hit U.S. shelves in 2012. Paramount also recently announced that the Jan. 24 release of "Paranormal Activity 3" will be UltraViolet-enabled, its first such title.Fox views UltraViolet as "a component to the digital ecosystem we're trying to construct and not the digital ecosystem, itself," according to Mike Dunn, president of Fox Home Entertainment. "Our job is to build this digital ecosystem to deliver an exciting and simple customer experience that we hope will lead to mass consumer adoption. It's not going to lead to mass consumer adoption if our infrastructure is not successful."Dunn added that the purpose of UV is to restore the consumer purchase model to the level at the height of DVDs' popularity.But studios say that will take some time, with UV not expected to come out of its current beta mode until the fourth quarter. Many of DECE's members have stressed that they didn't want to wait to launch UV until it was completely perfect; they wanted to fix the system's bugs as consumers learn how UV will benefit them and enable them to seamlessly transfer their films to 12 different devices, similar to how they can currently move songs or e-books around.The magic number to reach that mass market is 25 million, many say."When you're talking 25 million members or people involved with UV, that starts to become mainstream," Dunn said. "Blu-ray has tipped into the mass market now and it did that when it crossed the 25 million household mark."I think we're on the verge of another monumental event, because very rarely do you have the living room escalating into high-def TVs, thin TVs, and portable devices proliferating at a rate that's never been seen before," Dunn added. "It really allows the consumer very simple operation to move rights around. Rights extension is what made DVD what it was, and this is rights extension on steroids."Also expected to help grow UltraViolet's usage is a new deal between Amazon and a major studio to support UltraViolet rights.The e-tailing giant, however, is keeping quiet on just which studio that is."We have to keep that a secret," said Bill Carr, executive VP, digital media for Amazon.Samsung also unveiled a new smart Blu-ray player with a "disc-to-digital" feature that adds titles from consumers' existing DVD and Blu-ray collections to their UltraViolet locker. When a disk is inserted in the player, the consumer gets the option to add it to UltraViolet, and if it's a DVD, they can upgrade to HD for "a nominal fee." The app was developed by Flixster and Rovi.Netflix won't be part of UltraViolet's growth, however.The company was not on stage during the DECE's press conference -- mainly because it's no longer a DECE member.UltraViolet is aimed at ownership, not rental, DECE members said, and Netflix is not interested in getting into sell-through to buyers anytime soon.Only a few minutes was spent on Disney's decision to hold out from being an official DECE member."I don't think there's any company we haven't talked to about UltraViolet," said Mitch Singer, chief technology officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment. "It would be terrific to have them join. I'm not holding my breath but we're certainly talking." Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Don Cheadle Applies to Laughs Within the "Bold and Harmful" House of Lies

Don Cheadle Don Cheadle realizes he's most widely known for dramatic roles such films as Crash, Hotel Rwanda and Traffic. But he finds it odd that a lot of audiences aren't looking to see him flex his comedy muscles from him in the new series House of Lies. "I do all of it time around my buddies," he informs TVGuide.com having a laugh. "It isn't a brand new side of me in my experience.Inch VIDEO: Watch the premiere of Showtime's House of Lies The Oscar-nominated actor can have many new sides of themself within the new Showtime comedy, premiering Sunday at 10/9c. Within the series, that they also executive-produces, Cheadle plays Marty Kaan, a callous, tricky, selfish management consultant whose team travels all over the world examining companies and helping them close large business deals. Marty's among the best in the united states. The only person better? Marty's crazy ex-wife Monica (Beginning Olivieri), who's even the mother from the couple's gender limitations-pushing boy who'd rather audition for that role of Sandy than Danny in Grease. "If you notice a task that goes so far as it goes and it is as bold and harmful and funny because this is with this particular company that people could assemble - it had been only a no-brainer," Cheadle states of his decision to pursue the project. Levity might be not new for Cheadle, but creator Matthew Carnahan states the actor's largely dramatic background was a primary reason he got the part. "Don Cheadle suits the role on a lot of levels," Carnahan states. "He's hysterically funny and the comedy isn't tired because we do not think about him this way. So it's actually a fresh factor to determine him inside a comedy." Fortunately, Cheadle is encircled on the program by several stars - Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson, another people of Marty's team - who're more familiar within the comedy world. Since breaking to the scene like a teenage wunderkind detective on Veronica Mars, Bell has moved towards more comedy material like Failing to remember Sarah Marshall, Couples Retreat along with a two-episode arc on Party Lower. Schwartz, also known to Parks and Entertainment fans as Jean-Ralphio (RIP Entertainment 720!), is definitely an Upright People Brigade improv comedy group regular, and Lawson is definitely an alum from the acclaimed improv troupe "160 Figures." "It had been great to possess a playground," Cheadle states from the atmosphere his co-stars produced. "It had been great to achieve the chance to utilize company people such as this who're well-experienced inside it and merely start tossing the ball around." Take a look at photos from House of Lies Cheadle's fellow company people appear to agree. "It ups your game. Don Cheadle's here and Kristen Bell's here, and so i reached be the greatest version of me will be able to when I am acting," Schwartz states. "But simultaneously, when its break time, they have fun with us and that we joke around and be buddies. It causes it to be to ensure that you cannot wait arrive at work every single day.Inch House of Lies premieres Sunday at 10/9c on Showtime.

Some Speculation On The Hobbit Finale

Benedict Cumberbatch reveals tidbit?The following is both complete conjecture and a possible spoiler for The Hobbit:There And Back Again, so please think carefully before continuing. But when we spoke to Benedict Cumberbatch on set of Sherlock a little while back, we asked him about his roles in Peter Jackson's new epic, and he said something that may very well be a spoiler, so let's discuss that just a bit.Cumberbatch said of his role," I'm playing Smaug through motion-capture and voicing the Necromancer, which is a character in the Five Legions War or something which I'm meant to understand. He's not actually in the original Hobbit. It's something [Peter Jackson]'s taken from Lord Of The Rings that he wants to put in there."Now those familiar with the book will notice immediately the big new piece of information here.Assuming that Cumberbatch does mean the Battle of Five Armies (which seems safe), then this points to one way that PeterJackson and co. have expanded the book's story to fill two films, and provide a more seamless link to TheLord Of The Rings.Readers will know that the Necromancer is Sauron, and that Gandalf disappears halfway through (the book of)The Hobbit to lead a coalition force and drive the Necromancer out of his Mirkwood stronghold. But in the book they dispatch the Necromancer back to (as it turns out)Mordor well before the Battle of Five Armies.Here, however, it looks like he's going to turn up to the finale in person, presumably at the head of the goblin and Warg army, and face Gandalf's team there.If that is the case, it's a narratively neat way to combine the two story threads, that of Bilbo and the dwarves and the other following Gandalf and his team. It also gives the goblins a stronger motivation to suddenly turn up: in the book, they're avenging the earlier death of one of their leaders and (like all the other armies present) hoping to get their grubby hands on the dragon's hoard. If they're incited or led by Sauron, however, their actions will hang more coherently with their behaviour later in Lord Of The Rings.Of course, this is all just speculation for now. We'll know more when we see The Hobbit:An Unexpected Journey this December 14, and see for sure with the release of There And Back Again in 2013.[[Poll565]]

Amnesty's 'Chimes' ring on Dylan's 50th

One of the more unlikely guest artists around the Dylan compilation is Ke$', a professed fanatic.To mark its 50th anniversary, Amnesty Worldwide is delivering a 75-song compilation having a slew of famous artists covering Bob Dylan, who also remembers half a century like a artist this season.Tingle, Pete Townshend, Tom Morello and Pete Seeger line on "Chimes of Freedom" alongside some surprising contributing factors for example Miley Cyrus, Adele and Ke$' (a self-professed Dylan fanatic) to pay for the main one-time politically billed troubadour, with all of proceeds supporting a persons privileges organization.Executive producer Shaun Ayeroff desired to top the ambitious John Lennon tribute "Instant Karma" he assisted orchestrate for Amnesty in 2007. "I stated the only method I'd get it done ended up being to get Bob Dylan to give his posting," Ayeroff states. "Lo and behold, Shaun Rosen, who handles Bob Dylan, caused that happening."Ayeroff, co-producer Julie Yannatta and also the folks at Amnesty started their enormous Rolodexes and contacted some favors. "There is no recording or perhaps a&R budget," Yannatta describes. "Every artist contributed their art, skill, some time and craft.""The example would be to a rent party," adds Ayeroff. "We stated, 'Hey, come to the home and produce a beer, bring your buddies and lead something.' And rather than 15 people turning up, 76 did."The majority of the taking part music artists possess a strong interest in both Amnesty and Dylan. Lucinda Williams, who covers "Looking to get to Paradise," states she could not refuse when Amnesty came calling. "To begin with, it's for Amnesty -- an excellent cause," she states. "Also, I really like Bob Dylan's music. Individuals are generally great reasons ... and so i leaped aboard immediately."Ziggy Marley, who offers up a moving, acoustic rendition of "Blowin' within the Wind," highlights there is a natural affinity between your work of Dylan and Amnesty. "Dylan did lots of protest tunes against war that fully stand up for that privileges of people. He's a symbol for your therefore it is appropriate to complete Dylan tunes due to what he's done."A number of behind-the-moments videos have appeared online, including Ke$ha's emotive, mostly a cappella rendition of "Don't Think Hard, It's All Regulated Right" (showing a far more fragile side from the brazen pop star) and Townshend talking about Dylan's long lasting influence. In addition, Local cafe will release an abbreviated, two-disc version from the compilation (lower in the original four) within 24 hours since it's U.S. release Jan. 24 through Fontana Distribution.For a "Chimes of Freedom" concert, Karen Scott, Amnesty International's manager of music relations, is hopeful:"We'd fascination with there to become a tour or concert behind this album," she states, mentioning that Amnesty's incredibly effective Human Privileges Concerts within the 1980s and 1990's featuring the kind of U2, law enforcement and Bruce Springsteen were brought through the artists themselves. "We have discovered that probably the most effective concerts happen once the artists fully stand up and say they do for Amnesty."Go Back To MUSIC FOR SCREENS: WINTER 2012 Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com