Jane Levy and Bruce Campbell talk Evil Dead

Evil Dead recently gained a replacement for Lily Collins in the form of Jane Levy, and the star of US show Shameless has wasted little time before waxing lyrical about her love for the franchise."I'm so excited," she said. "I'm a big fan of the original. To me it's the scariest movie, ever. But this one is really different. They've changed it a lot, but it's still a pretty gory movie. My mom probably can't see it!" "As for the tone," she continues, "I think the humour in the first one came from the special effects of the time. I don't know that they meant it to be funny...this one is not funny. It's definitely dark."Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell has also had a bit to say, albeit briefly, confirming that the malevolent trees of the original will be making a reappearance, and that, "they're not terribly well-behaved this time either."Girls, you have been warned... stay away from the shrubbery! Evil Dead will begin shooting in New Zealand later in the year, and will open in the US on 12 April 2013. A UK release date has yet to be confirmed.

Publicist Says Macaulay Culkin Is Not Ill, Calls Speculation "Reckless"

Macaulay Culkin Macaulay Culkin's rep says that the Home Alone actor is "in perfectly good health" and characterizes speculation to the contrary as "reckless."The response came after a photo of the 31-year-old actor ran Thursday on ET.com, which described Culkin as "gaunt" and suggested the image was "likely to spark concern for the actor's health."Check out more photos of Macaulay Culkin"Macaulay Culkin is in perfectly good health.For Entertainment Tonight - or any other media outlet - to speculate otherwise is reckless, thoughtless and irresponsible.We are asking them to discontinue the rumors," says his rep.His rep also says that reports Culkin is set to start in the upcoming film, Service Man, are incorrect. "Mr. Culkin is NOT starring in Service Man, don't take for face value everything you read on IMDb.They are not always accurate."Read the rest of today's news hereThe photo of Culkin shown here was taken at the Oscars on March 7, 2010, compared to the photo that is running on ET.com here.

Imax to release 'Hunger Games' day and date

Imax will release Lionsgate's high-profile ''The Hunger Games'' for a one-week window day and date with the pic's March 23 wide release. Digitally re-mastered into the Imax format, the film will have a limited one-week engagement in Imax theaters. ''With this news, the release of ''The Hunger Games'' has truly become an epic event,'' said Lionsgate's Joe Drake. ''The Hunger Games'' and Imax are a match made in heaven - fans love this book because its world is so vividly imagined and seeing the film in Imax will make them feel as if they have landed right in the middle of the action.'' The pic is the first installment of the trilogy based on Suzanne Collin's bestselling novels. Earlier this week, Imax announced that Marvel and Walt Disney will release a digitally re-mastered ''The Avengers'' day and date as well on May 4. Last year, Paramount's ''Mission Impossible , Ghost Protocol'' launched in previews on Imax for five days before its wide release. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

New you are able to city Sets TV Production Record this season

Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced on Thursday that television production in NY City hit accurate documentation filled with 2011, Variety reported. The city was the area for 23 series inside the 2011-12 season, in comparison to only nine about 10 years ago.Speaking inside a news conference round the number of "Gossip Girl" at Silvercup Art galleries on Thursday, Bloomberg mentioned, "NY City has surpassed all previous records for film and television production. Were proud being where you can the likes of 'Gossip Girl,' Warner Bros., and Silvercup Art galleries."In line with the Mayors Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, "Gossip Girl" spent $200 million on local development and hired greater than 120 principal stars, 180 crew people, well as over 7,000 background stars last season. In general, the mayor mentioned that 188 films and many 140 television shows were shot in New you are able to city a year ago. Bloomberg's office also looks at the industry adds about $5 billion yearly for the local economy, utilizes greater than 100,000 behind the curtain crew, and supports local companies. NY State's tax credits for film and tv production, similar to thirty percent of costs make the condition, have attracted producers to shoot in Gotham."The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment is devoted to investing a lot time to make sure the is growing and expand in 2012, getting a lot more jobs for NYers," mentioned Katherine Oliver, commissioner in the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

James Murdoch to stop as GlaxoSmithKline director

James Murdoch will exit being an outdoors director of GlaxoSmithKline at its annual shareholders' meeting later this season, the large pharmaceutical company stated today. Compelled with a phone-hacking scandal in great britan, Murdoch resigned in the boards of News Corp.'s U.K. newspapers last fall. ''James has had this decision to pay attention to his current responsibilities as non-executive chairman of BSkyB, and following his decision to re-locate towards the U . s . States, as chairman and leader, worldwide, of News Corporation,'' London-based GSK stated.''On account from the board, I must thank James for that quite strong contribution he's made since he was hired in '09 and desire him well for future years.''In November, News Worldwide stated Murdoch no more sits around the boards of News Group Newspapers, which puts out The Sun's Rays, or of Occasions Newspapers, which puts out The Occasions and also the Sunday Occasions based in london. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Nominee reaction: Jonah Hill

For Jonah Hill, the biggest reward of "Moneyball" was simply getting the chance to do the work, given his background as a comedy star."Getting into a Bennett Miller film written by Aaron Sorkin and starring Brad Pitt -- to me that was me winning the lottery, and the nomination is just a nice touch," said Hill. "It is so tough as a comedic actor for anybody to see you as anything else but that. I really want to be perceived as a drama actor as well. I hope this film and nomination helps that in the future." Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Technicolor beefs up French biz

PARIS -- Technicolor is aiming to become a key player in France's post-production and film distribution biz with the acquisition of a number of the bankrupt Quinta Industries' subsidiaries. A French commercial court greenlit Technicolor's bid to take over audio companies Auditorium of Joinville (ADJ) and SIS as well as post-production house Scanlab, which provides digital conversion, including VOD and digital cinema package mastering. Technicolor previously owned 17% of Tarak Ben Ammar's Quinta Industries -- which went bankrupt last month -- but didn't have an operational role. "Technicolor is already a world leader in digital post-production and distribution, notably in Hollywood, Canada, Italy, U.K., Spain and Asia, and we were looking for an opportunity to strengthen our position in France, which has one of the world's most powerful film industries," said Michel Vaquin, prexy of Technicolor Entertainment Services France, the recently launched banner that will regroup the former Quinta companies. Added Vaquin, "It makes perfect sense for us to have a larger presence in France, especially since our headquarters are in Paris and we're listed on the Paris stock market." Technicolor aims to earn 10 million ($13 million) this year from its Gallic arm, Technicolor's CEO Frederic Rose told business trade Les Echos. Vaquin said the company will use its credibility, research resources, vast network and expertise to turn the French shingles into profit-making outfits. Technicolor will keep on 70% of ADJ, SIS and Scanlab's workforce -- some 34 staffers. In addition, Technicolor is bidding to acquire Quinta's Duboi, Gaul's top vfx and post-production shingle. If the sale is approved by the courts, Technicolor will hire 20 more staffers from Duboi. Technicolor Entertainment Services France has also announced the opening of a dubbing facility for film and TV content near Paris. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com