1. Is “Jane Got a Gun” the most troubled movie in recent history? It sure seems like it. Add Bradley Cooper to the long list of talent who’ve signed on and then dropped out of the film. Cooper was all set to replace Jude Law, who’d already been brought in as a replacement himself, as the film’s villain, but due to scheduling conflicts with David O. Russell’s “American Hustle,” along with publicity commitments for the “Hangover Part III,” he was forced to step aside. No word yet on who will replace the Academy Award-nominated actor, but we’re pretty sure that the producers are used to having to think on their feet at this point. [Deadline]
2. William Friedkin, director of such classics as “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist,” will be honored with a special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s Venice Film Festival. According to the event’s artistic director, Alberto Barbera, the filmmaker has “contributed in a prominent way — the revolutionary impact of which has not always been recognized — to the profound renewal of American cinema regarded as the ‘New Hollywood.’” A restored version of the director’s 1977 film, “The Sorcerer,” will also screen at the festival. [THR]
3. Chris Kelly, one half of the 1990s rap duo Kriss Kross, has died. The rapper was found unresponsive at his home in Atlanta. As part of Kriss Kross, Kelly, who went by “Mac Daddy,” and Chris Smith, who went by “Daddy Mac,” scored a major hit in 1992 with “Jump,” a song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, still a record for a hip-hop single. [NYT]
4. Fans of highbrow cable TV rejoice! Two of this season’s critically acclaimed offerings, Sundance’s Aden Young-starring “Rectify” and HBO’s Julia-Louis Dreyfus-starring “Veep,” have been renewed for a second and third season, respectively. While the legal drama and political comedy may be miles away from each other on the emotional spectrum, this just shows that quality programming will sometimes be rewarded. [LAT and Zap2It]
5. We get a feeling Morrissey’s not like this one bit. Last night, former Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr performed (and sang, in case you were wondering) the beloved Manchester band’s “How Soon Is Now?” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” The song sounds pretty great if you ask us, but anyone hoping for a Smiths reunion will probably have to wait that much longer. [Flavorwire]
Previously: Woody Allen, “Downton Abbey,” The Metropolitan Museum, J.J. Abrams, Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros
Image: Bradley Cooper/Jason Merritt/Getty Images
