MADONNA INKS DEAL WITH INTERSCOPE RECORDS

Madonna in Toronto - October 2008

Although she's been snubbed thus far for any Awards for her directorial debut W.E., some good news was announced earlier today for Queen of Pop, Madonna. Back in 2007, she had signed ten-year $120 million deal with Events Promoter Live Nation Entertainment, which would include Touring, Ticketing, Merchandising, Digital Assets and a total three Albums. With the Promoter now ailing a bit financially, Madonna has just inked a deal with Interscope Records rumoured to be worth between $20 to $40 million for both Madonna and Live Nation.

Yes, this in effect makes Lady Gaga and Madonna Labelmates, opening a world of possibilities for the latter who of late has been v. keen on new Collaborations. Other Artists currently signed to Interscope Records include No Doubt, American Idol, Black Eyed Peas, La Roux, M.I.A., Eminem, Fergie, LMFAO, U2, Timbaland, 50 Cent and many more.

Next month will be an all-Media Blitz for the Madonna with her W.E. finally seeing a release after some date shifts, her much talked-about Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance and her debut Single on Interscope Records, Gimme All Your Luvin. Her twelfth Studio Disc is slated for the end of March.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

MADONNA CONFIRMED FOR "SUPER BOWL XLVI"

Madonna in Toronto - October 2008

Confirming what we all pretty much knew already, Madonna will indeed be performing at Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on Sunday, February 5, 2011 at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. Concert Director Jamie King and Cirque du Soleil will be collaborating with the Queen of Pop for the Spectacle. It is said that M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj will be joining her on-stage for the prior-leaked track Give Me All Your Love in a special Remix for the occasion.  NBC and CTV will be airing the Game.

Madonna's Directorial Debut, W.E. also hits theatres on Friday, February 3, 2011 and the Theme Song from the Film, Masterpiece, has just leaked also.  What do you think of it?

Listen below:

NEW TRAILER: "W.E." BY MADONNA

Still from W.E.

"You have no idea how hard it is to live out the greatest Romance of the Century.".

A proper Trailer for Madonna's W.E. has finally surfaced and although the Dialogue seems a bit literal, it looks rather lovely. The Romance/Drama intertwines the forbidden Romance of King Edward and Wallis Simpson, with that of a present day Love Story.  Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy, Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac star.

See the Trailer in full below:

W.E. gets a Limited Release December 9, 2011 and a formal release on February 3, 2012. It would appear despite a bit of panning in its Festival rounds, The Weinstein Company still feels this will be a Contender come Awards Season.

Visit W.E.'s Official Facebook Page here.

(Photo/video credit: The Weinstein Co.)

MADONNA & ANDREA RISEBOROUGH COVER DECEMBER 2011 "HARPER'S BAZAAR"

Madonna & Andrea Riseborough on December 2011 Harper's Bazaar

Tom Munro shot this beautiful Cover for December 2011's Issue of Harper's Bazaar, in which Pop Legend Madonna and Actress Andrea Riseborough sit-down and talk about their new Film W.E., due for release in North America. on December 9, 2011.  There were two Covers shot for the Issue - perhaps with the Film's other beautiful Star, Abbie Cornish?  Madonna looks absolutely alluring here and my eyes just can't stop veering over to her.  Sorry, Andrea!

In regards to the Leak of her new Track, Give Me All Your Love, Madonna's Manager Guy O'Seary indicated he's pleased at all the positive reactions but quotes his most famous Client as saying, "My true Fans wouldn't do this".  So there you have it.  If you have listened to the Track, enjoyed  and shared it, you should feel v. ashamed of yourselves right this moment!  Bad.

(Photo credit: Harper's Bazaar)

DID MADONNA MISTREAT TIFF VOLUNTEERS?

Madonna at TIFF 2011 W.E. Premiere

You've all been patient and here they are finally! Photos of Madonna from the Red Carpet of W.E. at Roy Thomson Hall courtesy of Photographer Saul Porto.

Despite all this current hoo-ha about Madonna being an absolute Diva in allegedly mistreating TIFF volunteers, one hired member of Madonna's Toronto Security Team had spoken to me yesterday to clarify ,"She is a wonderful person. I had no problems with her whatsoever and would be skeptical of reports otherwise without any corroborative stories. I was with her the whole day. We had no issue.".

What you need to check out is my good Friend Maurie's interview with Madge herself on the Red Carpet with his signature Headcam. Maurie - I know how much this meant to you and I'm so happy it happened!

ABBIE CORNISH AT TIFF 2011 FOR MADONNA'S "W.E."

Abbie Cornish & Mr. Will-W.

The immensely-talented Abbie Cornish and I crossed paths earlier today, with the Actress being here at TIFF 2011 as one of the stars of Madonna's W.E.  The Fan-friendly Cornish was the only Cast member not to have to go through an underground entrance at the Press Conference for the Film yesterday and she even made time to sign a few Autographs.  

Cornish who was amazing in Box Office-topping Limitless opposite Bradley Cooper, is now attached to star in TIFF favourite Bruce Beresford's next Film, Whisperings and Lies.

MADONNA LOATHES HYDRANGEAS

Madonna at W.E. Press Conference

Amaze. This provides me hours of entertainment on-end. At Madonna's Press Conference for the widely-panned W.E., to premiere here in Toronto next Monday, a Fan thoughtfully walked up to her and gifted her a Bouquet of Hydrangeas. Sweet, right? Well, the Queen of Pop looks absolutely disgusted with the choice of flowers, whispering "I absolutely loathe Hydrangeas", which was picked-up by the Microphone.

Watch it all unfold below:

MADONNA AND CAST OF "W.E." AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

Madonna at W.E. Premiere - Venice Film Festival 2011

Photographer Gareth Catermole of Getty Images captured lots of great Photos of Madonna arriving on the Photo Call for W.E. in Venice earlier today.  She looks absolutely stunning!  

Visit Zimbio for the full set of Photos.

It's hard to believe that She plus Cast members Abbie Cornish and Andrea Riseborough will be here in Toronto in a little over a week!  Early Reviews, including one from Variety however, aren't so promising.

And I'm thrilled to say I got to meet one of the Stars of W.E. already, Natalie Dormer, back in March.  An absolute Doll.

(Photo credit: Gareth Catermole/Getty Images)

NEW STILLS FROM "W.E." BY MADONNA

Still from W.E.

No this isn't a Photo from Chanel's latest Throwback Collection, these are official Stills from Madonna's directorial debut W.E. featuring Andrea Riseborough and James D'Arcy. My sources tell me that the Gala for the Film is slated to premiere Monday, September 12, 2011 at TIFF, although this is still yet to be confirmed. And surprisingly, I've been told that Alliance Films, which normally handles titles from The Weinstein Co., isn't handling distribution for this Love Story which parallels a modern relationship with the controversial romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.  Then who will it be?

Let's look further, shall we?

CONFIRMED TIFF 2011 TITLES

Still from Moneyball

So the first TIFF 2011 Press Conference was held at 10:00 AM today with various Galas and marquee titles announced.  Although weekly announcements still are to come over the next month, here are some of the more buzzed Movies we will be seeing in Toronto come September:

Trishna – directed by Michael Winterbottom – The tragic love story of a Property Developer’s Son and an Auto Rickshaw Owner’s Daughter; stars Freida Pinto.

The Lady – Luc Besson’s Biopic about pro-Democracy Activist Aung San Suu Kyi played by Michelle Yeoh, who was blacklisted in Burma after filming this one

W.E. – Madonna’s directorial debut. A film which criss-crosses a modern day love story with the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

POSSIBLE 2011 TIFF TITLES? (UPDATED)

Still from Like Crazy

Although the Toronto International Film Festival is only a little over two months away, there already is wide speculation about which major Oscars Keyplayers will be getting a Toronto Premiere here come September.  Although these are based purely on rumour, the below v. possibly could be screening in the City - meaning you just might be seeing these Stars here!

Here are a few Candidates:

We Need to Talk About Kevin – starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly; about a Mother recounting the series of events leading up to her Son’s massacring of students and teachers at his High School.

Sleeping Beauty – Australian film starring Emily Browning about a Girl who enters a secret underground Prostitution Ring, taking a sleep-inducing Drug which then allows her Clientele to have their way with her without any recollection.

The Ides of March – starring George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. A Staff Member to a new Presidential Candidate is given a quick, dirty Crash Course on Politics during his Campaign Trail.

THE WEINSTEIN CO. PICKS-UP MADONNA'S "W.E."

Abbie Cornish at TIFF 2007

I've been keeping a tab on this one for a while now and am excited about this bit of news! The Weinstein Co., purveyor of some of my favourites like NINE, Blue Valentine and Academy Awards Best Picture winner The King's Speech, announced yesterday that it will be handling the U.S. distribution for Madonna's directorial debut, W.E.

The Romantic Drama which criss-crosses the love stories of King Edward VIII  (James D'Arcy) who famously gave up his title as King of England to be with a Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), an American Divorcée, together with a modern day Love Story more than 60 years later between an American Girl named Wally (Abbie Cornish) and a Russian Security Guard Evgeni (Oscar Isaac).  Fans of The King's Speech will recall that Film touched upon this famous Romance between King Edward VIII and Simpson.  Natalie Dormer who I met in Toronto a couple months back filming ABC's Poe, also stars.

Weinstein issued a statement yesterday stating “Madonna has really come into her own as a Filmmaker with W.E.,” said Weinstein. “She’s taken one of the most famous romances of the 20th Century and brought it to life in a smart, sexy and thoroughly modern way. It’s a terrific addition to our U.S. release slate.”.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADONNA | FREE DOWNLOAD - CRAZY FOR YOU 2010

Happy Birthday, Madonna! The Queen of Pop celebrated her 52nd Birthday last night in London with daughter Lourdes and boyfriend Jesus by her side. The party was held at a members only club near Shoreditch House in East London.

In attendance was one of my favourites, Secret Diary of a Call Girl's Billie Piper, plus some talent from her new film W.E. which she is directing right now.

Madonna, there is only you.

In celebration of this momentous occasion, I'm giving my readers a free download of my 2010 remix of Madonna's Crazy for You. Enjoy and share it with your friends!

DOWNLOAD HERE

(Photo credit: Press Assocation)

MADONNA ON THE SET OF W.E. IN PARIS

When the person behind-the-scenes is grander than the project itself.... Here's a picture of Madonna at the set of W.E. in Paris, the which she is both Directing and Co-writing with Madonna - Truth or Dare Director Alek Keshishian. The film stars Abbie Cornish, who gained so much praise last fall for her performance in Bright Star.

W.E. is about a married British woman (Wally) who moves to New York.  Dissatisfied with her marriage, she falls in love with a Russian Security Guard, while also finding inspiration in the forbidden love story of King Edward VIII and a woman named Wallis Simpson. Production will take place in England, France and the U.S. Vera Farmiga, was once considered up for the role of Wally, but the part was offered to Cornish, as Farmiga is now expecting her second child.  Or perhaps Madonna saw The Orphan and changed her mind?

(Photo credit: Fame Pictures)