Takakura returns to bigscreen

Tokyo -- Actor Ken Takakura, an icon in Japan since the 1960s, is making his first pic in six years, "Anata E" (To You). Best known for his work in the gang genre, Takakura, 80, will star as a prison counselor who journeys to Kyushu Island to scatter his dead wife's ashes. Yasuo Furuhata, who has made 18 pics with the actor over the years, will helm, while Takeshi Aoshima is scripting based on a story by the film's producer, Seichi Ichiko. With a legacy of near 100 movies, Takakura has become very choosy about the projects he takes on. But he said he was deeply moved by "Anata E." Shooting will start on Sept. 7 and wrap in November. Release is skedded for fall 2012. In addition to his domestic work, Takakura has starred in several foreign pics, including Zhang Yimou's "Riding Along for Thousands of Miles" (2005), Fred Schepisi's "Mr. Baseball" (1992) and Sydney Pollack's "The Yakuza" (1974). Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Disney Exec Still Pulling for 'The Lone Ranger,' With or Without Gore Verbinski

First it got shut down, then we heard there was going to be werewolves in it, but despite everything that's happened, 'The Lone Ranger' might still be a possibility. In a recent interview with Deadline's Pete Hammond at Disney's D23 Expo, Disney chief Rich Ross gave his two cents on the status of what could have been Disney's next big Western. According to Ross, "I'm hoping to do it. I'm certainly hoping. I think it's a compelling story and no one wants to work with Jerry [Bruckheimer] and Johnny [Depp] more than me, so we'll see how it works." Not only does Ross seem to think 'The Lone Ranger' is far from dead, but he also failed to mention director Gore Verbinski's name alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp who was slated to play Tonto. Considering Ross' long relationship with the director who helmed the first three movies in Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise, one would assume that Verbinski would earn a mention. Maybe we're just reading into things, but it sounds like Verbinski may have been one of the many things that led to 'The Lone Ranger's' downfall. Head over to Deadline for the full story and interview with Ross. So do you think 'The Lone Ranger' would be better off without Gore Verbinksi? [via Deadline] Photo courtesy of Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Football fuels Fox ratings victory

A preseason matchup of two of the NFL's most popular teams , the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles , lifted Fox to victory in key demos Thursday, a night on which CBS' ''Big Brother'' remained the top-rated broadcast series. According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, Fox's coverage of the National Football League contest between the Steelers and Eagles, two teams from Pennsylvania that hold big national appeal, averaged a 3.0 rating/9 share in adults 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall on the net's stations from 8 to 11. These numbers are subject to revision since the live nature of sports isn't accurately reflected in affiliate-based preliminaries, but the game is expected to show significant growth vs. last year's comparable game (Patriots-Falcons), which earned a 2.0 demo rating in the nationals. Fox is expected to win the night in all key demos as well as total viewers. At CBS, repeats of ''The Big Bang Theory'' (1.9/7 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) and ''Rules of Engagement'' (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) were followed by ''Big Brother'' (3.0/8 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall), which was easily the No. 1 broadcast series on Thursday in all key categories and again up vs. last year. Closing out the night was a repeat of ''The Mentalist'' (1.2/4 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall). The Eye's program averages may come down in the nationals due to a football preemption in the Boston market for the Patriots' preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ABC's ''Wipeout'' (1.9/7 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall), ''Expedition Impossible'' (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) and ''Rookie Blue'' (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) all edged up from last week when the net's lineup was ravaged by football preemptions. NBC had another low-rated Thursday, offering repeats of comedies ''Community'' (0.6/2 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall), ''Parks and Recreation'' (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall), ''The Office'' (1.0/3 in 18-49, 2.5 million viewers overall) and ''30 Rock'' (1.0/3 in 18-49, 2.5 million viewers overall) followed by an encore of crime drama ''Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'' (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall). Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 3.0/9; CBS, 2.0/6; ABC, 1.5/5; NBC, 0.8/3; CW, 0.3/1. In total viewers: Fox, 8.4 million; CBS, 7.0 million; ABC, 5.3 million; NBC, 2.5 million; CW, 1.0 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Video Discussion: Is 'The Help' Part of the Racial-Equality Solution, or Part of the Problem?

Five Good Reasons To See 'Rise From The Planet From The Apes'

Finally, "Rise from the Planet from the Apes" shifts into theaters, delivering a reboot that hopes to complete towards the "Apes" series what "Batman Starts" did towards the Electricity Comics franchise. In lots of ways, it hits that benchmark.In other, more human ways, it does not quite measure. But despite its defects, our prime points of "Apes" are extremely far above the lows that there are very little reason behind popcorn movie fanatics to skip on this latest summer time crowd pleaser. Just in case you are still undecided, click beyond the jump to look at five reasons why you need to begin to see the latest "Planet from the Apes." Caesar From plotting and writing the smoothness to motion capture master Andy Serkis' physical execution from the ape, there's little question that Caesar is among the best heroes (or anti-hero, based on your stance) that you will see all summer time. Caesar is not only a supporting effects gimmick he's a complete-fledged character having a genuine arc that ranks among the most effective of the season. Personally speaking, in my opinion, he sits just one step behind Michael Fassbender's Magneto because the most watchable primary character associated with a movie this summer time season. That's really impressive for any creature that does not even really exist! Andy Serkis Lay because the duty for Caesar's success about the authors and director Rupert Wyatt as you would like, but ultimately, everything comes lower to Serkis. The guy is absolutely unequalled if this involves the motion capture performance, and Caesar might actually be his finest achievement up to now, Gollum incorporated. It is a effective, poignant performance that leaves one wondering just why within the hell Serkis has not acquired a Best Supporting Actor nomination in the Academy awards right now. It will not be lengthy before public perception turns in the favor, because Serkis' unfair quantity of talent seen here (everywhere, really) has become absolutely impossible to disregard. Weta Workshop and also the Other "Apes" Caesar and Serkis would be the decisive highlights of "Rise from the Planet from the Apes," but they are only some of the chimps that will get to possess an enjoyable experience. Individuals at Weta Workshop the great effects team accountable for "The almighty from the Rings" along with other projects receive an attractive playground to the almighty in "Rise," with no a person's worrying regarding their lunch money getting stolen. Each and every ape has character, personality, physicality and believability on the side because of the wonderful work of Weta and also the males and ladies following Serkis' motion capture lead, leading to probably the most impressive visual effects work not only from the summer time season, however in the whole of cinema. The Golden Gate Bridge Really, saying anything says an excessive amount of. The reality is, the Bay Area landmark supplies a superbly brutal playing area for that blockbuster's final act. Fine, yet another word: BUUUUUCK! The "Rise from the Planet from the Apes" Increases Maybe the very best factor I'm able to say about "Rise from the Planet from the Apes" is the fact that I truly, truly cannot wait for follow up for this movie. The way in which situations are left off within the story combined with breathtaking talent pushing the results forward offers the foundation for what's certain to be "The Dark Dark night" for this reboot's "Batman Starts." Quite simply, visit this movie at this time your hard-gained ticket money can help determine whether it impressive reboot launches the "Apes" franchise within the direction people need it to use. Inform us that which you think about "Rise from the Planet from the Apes" within the comments section as well as on Twitter!

Lionel Richie: Live in Paris

Legendary singer, songwriter, producer and five-time Grammy award-winning recording artist Lionel Richie presents his FIRST EVER full concert DVD, LIVE IN PARIS. Taped this past May at Bercy Arena in Paris, this incredible concert features ALL of Lionel's greatest hits, including "Hello," "Dancin' On The Ceiling," "Say You, Say Me," and a very special "Endless Love."

'Glass' cuts distrib deal in North America

'Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass'The Collective and BloodyDisgusting.com have acquired North American rights to "Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass" for theatrical, VOD and DVD release as part of their Bloody Disgusting Selects film series. Theatrical release will take place late this year as part of their partnership with AMC Theaters.Montreal-based director Pat Tremblay wrote, directed and played the titular character in "Hellacious" along with editing, co-scoring and creating most of the visual effects. Cast includes Navin Pratap, Jamie Abrams, Paula J. Davis, Laurent Lecompte and Francis Dubois.Story centers on a man suffering from amnesia who wakes up inside a cryogenic freezer as a robotic voice bombards him with information about World War III. Tremblay's most recent films "Heads of Control: The Gorul Baheu Brain Expedition" and "Truck Lover" screened as part of Montreal's Festival du Nouveau Cinema. "Hellacious Acres" had its North American premiere as an official selection of the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com