The daily gossip: Chiwetel Ejiofor might be in Star Wars: Episode VII, and more
5 top pieces of celebrity gossip — from the Anchorman 2 "superticket" to the new most-followed person on Twitter
1. Chiwetel Ejiofor might be up for a role in Star Wars: Episode VII
New Star Wars rumors only pop up on days that end in "y," so here's the latest for your skeptical perusal: 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor might be up for a role in Star Wars: Episode VII. According to ScreenCrush, the actor was recently spotted at the offices of Abrams' production studio Bad Robot, where he may or may not have met with Abrams about a project that may or may not be Star Wars: Episode VII. When asked about Ejiofor's presence, Abrams only replied, "I can't discuss casting. But he's a very talented gentlemen" — and unfortunately, Jedi mind tricks don't work on him. [Screen Crush]
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2. John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson are costarring in another Stephen King movie
The cast of upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Cell just got a little more familiar. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Samuel L. Jackson has joined John Cusack in the upcoming film — the second time that the duo has costarred in a King adaptation. (Remember 1408? Of course you don't.) "It's really exciting to have such a great cast continue to come together on this project," said producer Michael Benaroya. "Our goal is to create exciting commercial fare with top talent" — as opposed to all those people who try to make dull, unmarketable movies with stars you've never heard of. [The Hollywood Reporter]
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3. You can buy a "superticket" to see Anchorman 2 a couple days early
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If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that going to the movies is just too cheap these days — and fortunately, Paramount has found a solution. For the release of the upcoming Anchorman 2, the studio has announced plans to sell a pricier "superticket" that will let fans see the movie two days earlier, and come with a small package of other various goodies. Paramount hasn't announced what else the package will contain yet — but at a premium price point, we're crossing our fingers for some scotchy scotch scotch. [Entertainment Weekly]
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4. Vince Gilligan is going to guest-star on Community
In his ongoing quest to bring every person you've ever loved to the fifth season of NBC's Community, showrunner Dan Harmon has scored yet another coup: Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, who will guest star as "a smooth-talking gold-digger" in an upcoming episode. The list of upcoming Community guest stars now includes Firefly's Nathan Fillion, Justified's Walton Goggins, Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz, and your favorite childhood pet. [Entertainment Weekly]
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5. Katy Perry has surpassed Justin Biber on Twitter
In what counts as a major victory for Katy Perry by people whose definition of "victory" is totally insane, the pop star recently surpassed Justin Bieber to become the most-followed Twitter user in the world, with 46.5 million followers to the Biebs' meager 46.49 million followers. The top five is rounded out by Lady Gaga (40.4 million followers), Barack Obama (39.27 million), and Taylor Swift (36.25 million) — so if you want more Twitter followers but can't carry a tune, maybe you should try running for president. [The Guardian]
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
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